How to prepare your kitchen, what happens each day, and what a quality install looks like when it is done.
New cabinets are one of the biggest upgrades you can make to a kitchen, laundry room or garage. Knowing what happens during the install helps you plan around it and spot good work when you see it.
Before install day
- Final measurements: we confirm the room against the cabinet layout and flag anything that will not fit as drawn.
- Delivery check: boxes are opened and checked for damage or missing pieces before installation starts, so nothing holds up the job later.
- Clear the space: empty the area and remove anything fragile from nearby walls and shelves.
- Utilities ready: plumbing and electrical rough-ins should be in place and in the right locations for the new layout.
How the install goes
Every kitchen is different, but most installs follow the same order:
- Layout lines: we find the high point of the floor and mark level lines on the walls. Everything is set from these lines.
- Base cabinets: set, shimmed level, joined together and fastened to the wall.
- Wall and tall cabinets: hung on the layout line and fastened into the framing.
- Fillers and panels: scribed to the walls so there are no uneven gaps.
- Trim: crown molding, light rail and toe kicks finish the look.
- Adjustment: doors and drawers are aligned so the gaps are even, and hardware is installed.
Tip: Countertop templating usually happens right after the base cabinets are set and leveled. Ask your countertop company how soon they can come, since it often decides the overall timeline.
How long it takes
A small vanity or laundry room may take a day. A full kitchen with tall pantries, crown and panels can take several days. Your written proposal includes the timeline, so you know what to expect before we start.
What a quality install looks like
- Cabinet faces line up flush with each other, with no steps between boxes.
- Door and drawer gaps are even across the whole run.
- Doors stay where you leave them and close without rubbing.
- Fillers and panels meet the walls with tight, clean edges.
- Crown runs straight and the corners are tight.
Planning a cabinet project?
Whether you are a homeowner or a designer with cabinets already ordered, we are happy to review the layout and walk the space before install day.
