Redoing the cabinets is a major component of nearly any home improvement project involving the kitchen as well as pantries and bathrooms. You must be especially careful when dealing with these, otherwise you can create serious problems for yourself and your project. To save yourself, time, stress and money, read the following paragraphs for some helpful ideas to keep in mind during your next cabinet remodel.
Be very careful when you are removing cabinet doors in your kitchen. In some projects, you are just getting them out of the way and they are going back up. Even if you have no intention of putting them back up there are three good reasons to take them down carefully. First, you do not want to damage anything that remains standing. Second, if they are in good shape, you might be able to resell them or just donate them to a new home. Third, if your project hits a snag, you might have to put them back up temporarily.
Make sure that weight is supported properly when you hang a cabinet door. You want the finished weight to be evenly distributed through all the hinges and joints. So, you need to make sure that something is propping up the weight of the door while you work on this. A second person is best. You do not want to get one joint done and have it bear all the weight while you finish the rest, as this can result in a warped door or bent look.
Double check everything you do when you install a microwave if it is sitting in or hanging underneath cabinets. A countertop model is usually just plug and play, but a hanging or wall model has facets you need to take into consideration. The wiring needs to be right, since you are not really going to be able to reach it after installation. Clear the area of dust to avoid fire hazards. Also make sure that the unit has room for venting and circulation. Make absolutely sure that unit is installed level. The microwave should not run without a firmly shut door, but your kids might not understand this and get scared if they see a slanted machine operating.
The one tool in all this that needs to be the very best is your benchmark level. Without this, you can not be absolutely certain that you have things parallel or perpendicular relative to each other. Also test out your tool to make sure it still operates every day that you are working.
The mindful attention to and application of any or all of these tips will assist you greatly the next time you have to work with your cabinets. With some love and care, you can handle things like a pro. Cabinetry is perhaps one of the more individualized touches within your home, and it is all too easy to make them look hideous when not caring how you do things. So, for the sake of the look of your kitchen, be mindful in how you work with them.