New kitchen cabinets change the look, feel, and function of a kitchen more than almost any other single upgrade. The installation process involves more coordination and disruption than most homeowners anticipate, but knowing what each phase looks like makes the experience far less stressful.
From the initial measurements to the final hardware installation, a cabinet installation follows a predictable sequence that homeowners can prepare for.
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What Happens Before The Cabinets Arrive?
The project starts with precise measurements of the kitchen space. Every wall, window, doorway, and plumbing location gets documented because cabinets are built or ordered to fit specific dimensions.
Even a fraction of an inch matters; a cabinet that is too wide for its opening cannot be forced into place without damaging the box or the wall.
Once measurements are confirmed, the cabinet order goes in. Stock cabinets from a manufacturer's standard line typically arrive within a few weeks.
Semi-custom and custom cabinets take longer because they are built to the specific dimensions and finish selections for that kitchen.
The lead time can stretch to several weeks or more depending on the manufacturer and the complexity of the order.
During this waiting period, other preparation work can happen. Electrical outlets may need to be relocated if the new cabinet layout differs from the old one.
Plumbing rough-in adjustments for a repositioned sink or dishwasher happen before the cabinets go in, not after.
Flooring decisions also come into play; whether the cabinets sit on top of the finished floor or directly on the subfloor affects the installation sequence.
How Are Old Cabinets Removed?
Demolition is the messiest phase but usually the fastest. Old cabinets come out within hours once the countertops, plumbing connections, and appliances are disconnected.
Upper cabinets are removed first because they are lighter and easier to handle once the countertop below is out of the way.
The wall surface behind the old cabinets often needs attention. Drywall may have holes from old fasteners, patches of missing paint, or water stains that were hidden for years.
These issues get addressed before new cabinets go up because the back wall will be partially visible behind the new installation, especially at the tops of wall cabinets and in the gap between uppers and lowers where a backsplash will eventually go.
How Does The Actual Installation Work?
Cabinet installation starts with the upper wall cabinets, not the base cabinets. Hanging the uppers first gives the installer unobstructed access to the wall without having to lean over base cabinets.
A level reference line is marked on the wall at the height where the bottoms of the upper cabinets will sit, and every cabinet is aligned with that line.
Each cabinet is screwed through its back panel into the wall studs. The installer checks for plumb and level on every unit and uses shims where the wall surface is uneven, which is nearly every wall in a real house.
Adjacent cabinets are clamped together and fastened to each other so the face frames create a smooth, continuous surface.
Homeowners in the Bothell area working with Solid Kitchen & Bath can expect this kind of methodical process during the installation phase.
Base cabinets go in next. They are leveled from the highest point of the floor outward, with shims under the low spots.
Getting the base cabinets perfectly level is critical because the countertop sits on top of them, and any unevenness in the base shows up as a gap or a rock in the finished counter.
What Comes After The Cabinets Are Set?
Once all cabinets are in place, several finishing steps follow. Filler strips close gaps between cabinets and walls where the dimensions did not allow a full-width cabinet.
Trim pieces and molding cover the joint between the top of the wall cabinets and the ceiling or soffit. Toe kicks, the recessed panels at the base of the lower cabinets, get installed and cut to fit.
Doors and drawers are adjusted so they open, close, and align properly.
Soft-close hinges need calibration so the doors shut evenly without slamming. Drawer slides are checked for smooth operation and adjusted if they bind or sit crooked.
The process of kitchen cabinet installation is not complete until every door and drawer operates the way it should.
Hardware, pulls, knobs, and handles go on last. Pulls centred on drawer fronts and knobs positioned consistently on every door create a clean, uniform appearance.
How Long Does A Cabinet Installation Take?
A straightforward replacement of existing cabinets in a standard-sized kitchen typically takes two to four days for installation.
That does not include the demolition day, countertop templating and installation, or plumbing and electrical reconnection, each of which adds to the overall project timeline.
Complications extend the schedule. Walls that are significantly out of plumb require more shimming and adjustment time.
Discovering water damage or electrical issues behind the old cabinets can pause the installation until those problems are corrected.
Cabinets that arrive with damage or incorrect dimensions need to be reordered, which can delay the project by weeks.
The kitchen is largely unusable during the installation phase. Cooking, dishwashing, and access to stored food and utensils are all disrupted.
Setting up a temporary kitchen station in another room, with a microwave, a cooler, and basic supplies, keeps the household functional during the work.
FAQ'S
No. The old cabinets must come out to allow proper mounting of the new ones. The new cabinets need to be fastened directly to the wall studs, and the wall surface behind the old cabinets usually needs repair before new ones go up.
Cabinets go in first. The countertop is templated after the cabinets are in their final position so the counter fits precisely. Installing countertops before cabinets would make it nearly impossible to level and adjust the base units.
Sometimes, but it depends on whether the new cabinet layout matches the old one exactly. If the base cabinet dimensions change at all, the existing countertop will not fit. Stone countertops cannot be cut down easily, so a layout change almost always means a new counter as well.
What Mistakes Should Homeowners Watch For?
Skipping the initial measurement verification is the most consequential mistake. Cabinets ordered to the wrong dimensions cannot be corrected on site.
Measuring twice and confirming against the order before the cabinets ship prevents the single most common cause of installation delays.
Ignoring the condition of the walls and floor behind the old cabinets creates problems that surface after the new cabinets are installed. Mold, water damage, or pest evidence should be dealt with before new cabinets cover it up again.
Choosing hardware after the cabinets are installed sometimes leads to drilling holes in the wrong location.
Selecting pulls and knobs before installation allows the installer to drill during the finishing phase, when alignment is easier to control and mistakes are easier to correct.
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