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rkoenke
my little piggys
Member since 3/08 4315 total posts
Name:
rachel
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DIY Kitchen cabinets - should we try it?
I know some of you folks did it (CAMACHO?) and did a GREAT job. WHere do you start? Are there any videos that you watched to learn how to do it? Books from the library that you would suggest?
I am so concerned that they won't be hung evenly.
Any help would be great!
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Posted 1/21/09 7:02 PM  |
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anjerandunder
Positive thoughts worked!!!
Member since 6/06 1909 total posts
Name:
J
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Re: DIY Kitchen cabinets - should we try it?
the first cabinet was the hardest but after that they all went into place. if you have a soffit they just bump up against that and if you're leaving space from the ceiling you just have to put a two by two across the wall so that you can keep them straight that way. its tiresome though, good luck
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| Posted 1/21/09 7:15 PM |
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rkoenke
my little piggys
Member since 3/08 4315 total posts
Name:
rachel
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Re: DIY Kitchen cabinets - should we try it?
Posted by anjerandunder
the first cabinet was the hardest but after that they all went into place. if you have a soffit they just bump up against that and if you're leaving space from the ceiling you just have to put a two by two across the wall so that you can keep them straight that way. its tiresome though, good luck
The 2x2 goes above where the cabinets should be or do the cabinets get drilled into the 2x2?
I am asking for DH, he might know your answer, but i figured i should know too!
sorry!!
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| Posted 1/21/09 7:54 PM |
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Re: DIY Kitchen cabinets - should we try it?
Posted by anjerandunder
the first cabinet was the hardest but after that they all went into place. if you have a soffit they just bump up against that and if you're leaving space from the ceiling you just have to put a two by two across the wall so that you can keep them straight that way. its tiresome though, good luck
You need to make sure the soffit is is level before butting up the cabinets.
I highly recommend Ikea cabinets. You hang the cabinets on a steel rode that is screwed into the studs. The nuts slide on the steel rode and then you just literly hang the cabinets (their is whole at the top in the inside of the top cabinets and then you tighten the nuts).
If you guys are handy then it isn't hard.
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| Posted 1/21/09 8:38 PM |
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nferrandi
too excited for words
Member since 10/05 18538 total posts
Name:
Nicole
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Re: DIY Kitchen cabinets - should we try it?
I had nothing to do with it, but DH put together all of our kitchen cabinets by himself. I think the toughest part was sorting through all of the boxes. We bought from Ikea and every single piece was packed separately, so I know that was a big frustration for DH. But he did a bang up job in the end. I was, and still am, so proud of him! 
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| Posted 1/21/09 9:36 PM |
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rkoenke
my little piggys
Member since 3/08 4315 total posts
Name:
rachel
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Re: DIY Kitchen cabinets - should we try it?
Posted by nferrandi
I had nothing to do with it, but DH put together all of our kitchen cabinets by himself. I think the toughest part was sorting through all of the boxes. We bought from Ikea and every single piece was packed separately, so I know that was a big frustration for DH. But he did a bang up job in the end. I was, and still am, so proud of him!
Do you have pics to post? or in your album? i think i remember that project. OH BOY!
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| Posted 1/22/09 6:31 AM |
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Erica
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 11767 total posts
Name:
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Re: DIY Kitchen cabinets - should we try it?
we didn't put the cabinets together, but we hung them (actually in 2 kitchens) - it's not hard at all and the amount that you save in labor is tremendous!
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| Posted 1/22/09 7:44 AM |
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CaMacho
Sisters :)
Member since 7/06 15112 total posts
Name:
Jess
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Re: DIY Kitchen cabinets - should we try it?
We saved about $2k doing it ourselves, but DH, his bro and dad are super handy and his bro and dad I believe had done it before. My dad's best friend also had installed kitchens for years so he gave us some pointers. Just know that it's not going to be as quick as when professionals install, but definitely worth the $$ saved.
Are you ordering from HD? We ordered from HD and the cabinets came already put together which was great (i've heard ikea cabinets you have to put together from scratch).
Here are some photos and details of them being put in:
The bottom cabinets went in first... and everything was triple checked that it was level!
Then they mounted the top cabinets from the fridge over to the end of the wall.
They did use a long piece of wood and mounted that first along the wall where the bottom of the upper cabinets would be and made sure it was level. This worked out well b/c you could actually put the cabinet up and use that piece of wood as a ledge to hold the cabinet up so you don't have to use all your strength holding it up while the other person drills it to the wall. Then once the cabinets are up just take that piece of wood off the wall.
We also added cabinets to a wall that never had cabinets there. If you're going to do that make sure there is wood or beams in there to hold the cabinets up, you can't just drill them into drywall or they will fall. We had to add wood to the beams so we could drill the cabinet screws into the wood to hold the cabinets up.
This got long... but any details or questions you have let me know.
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| Posted 1/22/09 9:02 AM |
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nferrandi
too excited for words
Member since 10/05 18538 total posts
Name:
Nicole
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Re: DIY Kitchen cabinets - should we try it?
Here are a couple of before and afters...
YOU CAN SEE ALL OF THE BOXES
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| Posted 1/22/09 10:07 AM |
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rkoenke
my little piggys
Member since 3/08 4315 total posts
Name:
rachel
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Re: DIY Kitchen cabinets - should we try it?
You guys did AWESOME WORK!!
So you suggest starting at the bottom, then doing the top?
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| Posted 1/22/09 10:25 AM |
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nferrandi
too excited for words
Member since 10/05 18538 total posts
Name:
Nicole
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Re: DIY Kitchen cabinets - should we try it?
I think it's much easier to do the top first so there's nothing in the way to lean/climb over, then do the bottoms. You can put the doors on last if you want or complete each cabinet as you go.
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| Posted 1/22/09 10:31 AM |
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CaMacho
Sisters :)
Member since 7/06 15112 total posts
Name:
Jess
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Re: DIY Kitchen cabinets - should we try it?
I actually suggest doing the bottom first, making sure that is level and then measuring the distance you want the upper cabinets to be (i think we did 18"? in between the uppers and lowers). Then make your line and put up the wood that you'll use to level the cabinets.
Unless your cabinets hit the ceiling (ours don't) then I don't think it matters what you do first.
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| Posted 1/22/09 10:57 AM |
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nferrandi
too excited for words
Member since 10/05 18538 total posts
Name:
Nicole
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Re: DIY Kitchen cabinets - should we try it?
Posted by CaMacho
I actually suggest doing the bottom first, making sure that is level and then measuring the distance you want the upper cabinets to be (i think we did 18"? in between the uppers and lowers). Then make your line and put up the wood that you'll use to level the cabinets.
Unless your cabinets hit the ceiling (ours don't) then I don't think it matters what you do first.
Ours do go right up to the ceiling, we removed a soffit.
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| Posted 1/22/09 11:11 AM |
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rkoenke
my little piggys
Member since 3/08 4315 total posts
Name:
rachel
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Re: DIY Kitchen cabinets - should we try it?
THANKS GUYS!! THIS IS GREAT INFO!
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| Posted 1/22/09 11:12 AM |
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Re: DIY Kitchen cabinets - should we try it?
Posted by CaMacho
Unless your cabinets hit the ceiling (ours don't) then I don't think it matters what you do first.
It does matter because changes are the ceiling is straight and you need to make sure your starting point is straight.
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| Posted 1/22/09 12:23 PM |
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CaMacho
Sisters :)
Member since 7/06 15112 total posts
Name:
Jess
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Re: DIY Kitchen cabinets - should we try it?
Posted by Seles81
It does matter because changes are the ceiling is straight and you need to make sure your starting point is straight.
I wouldn't rely on that.
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| Posted 1/22/09 1:56 PM |
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KvsGrl
Round 2!!
Member since 1/07 1202 total posts
Name:
Samantha
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Re: DIY Kitchen cabinets - should we try it?
In all honesty, unless you, your DH or someone in your family is handy AND you have the time to dedicate to the project, I would not attempt to do this yourself. There are other projects that are easier that you can do yourself and save money like laying tile, adding the backsplash and assembling the cabinets, but I would let someone who knows what they are doing actually hang the cabinets.
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| Posted 1/22/09 5:40 PM |
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rkoenke
my little piggys
Member since 3/08 4315 total posts
Name:
rachel
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Re: DIY Kitchen cabinets - should we try it?
Posted by KvsGrl
In all honesty, unless you, your DH or someone in your family is handy AND you have the time to dedicate to the project, I would not attempt to do this yourself. There are other projects that are easier that you can do yourself and save money like laying tile, adding the backsplash and assembling the cabinets, but I would let someone who knows what they are doing actually hang the cabinets.
My husband is pretty handy and he is doing it with my dad, who is strong. i think the two of them will match up perfectly... haha.
I have a whole bunch of instructions and this link printed and also an instructional video found on the internet too.
All the other stuff is done in the house, aside from backsplash...
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| Posted 1/22/09 5:43 PM |
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nferrandi
too excited for words
Member since 10/05 18538 total posts
Name:
Nicole
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Re: DIY Kitchen cabinets - should we try it?
Posted by rkoenke
Posted by KvsGrl
In all honesty, unless you, your DH or someone in your family is handy AND you have the time to dedicate to the project, I would not attempt to do this yourself. There are other projects that are easier that you can do yourself and save money like laying tile, adding the backsplash and assembling the cabinets, but I would let someone who knows what they are doing actually hang the cabinets.
My husband is pretty handy and he is doing it with my dad, who is strong. i think the two of them will match up perfectly... haha.
I have a whole bunch of instructions and this link printed and also an instructional video found on the internet too.
All the other stuff is done in the house, aside from backsplash...
DH is pretty handy too and he had never done anything like this before, and he still did an awesome job. So if your DH feels somewhat confident, he should be just fine. DH even hung most of the cabinets himself, since he worked on them after work hours and didn't really have anyone helping.
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| Posted 1/22/09 8:52 PM |
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smdl
I love Gary too..on a plate!
Member since 5/06 32461 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: DIY Kitchen cabinets - should we try it?
Posted by CaMacho
Posted by Seles81
It does matter because changes are the ceiling is straight and you need to make sure your starting point is straight.
I wouldn't rely on that.
I would not rely on assuming the ceiling is straight either. You could end up having to redo it all if you happen to be off by 1/2 inch in the end. They do make molding to mask any irregularities for the ceiling if someone wants cabinets to the ceiling.
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| Posted 1/22/09 9:20 PM |
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sfp0701
Liam's Mommy!
Member since 1/07 9764 total posts
Name:
Tricia
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Re: DIY Kitchen cabinets - should we try it?
Very easy. I found some videos online that helped but really a good level and nailing in a piece of wood that you can rest the cabinet on to make it level, then move it to the next cabinet are all you need.
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| Posted 1/23/09 7:32 AM |
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Re: DIY Kitchen cabinets - should we try it?
Posted by CaMacho
Posted by Seles81
It does matter because changes are the ceiling is straight and you need to make sure your starting point is straight.
I wouldn't rely on that.
So I just re-read that and let me say it again in english this time .
It does matter that the ceiling is level and chances are more ceilings are not unless it is new construction and even you never know. House's settle and whatnot.
In our kitchen on a wall of 7 feet their is a difference of 1/4inch from one end to the next. Hanging them straight against the soffit wouldn't work so we needed to adjust for that 1/4 inch.
Hope this makes more sense know
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| Posted 1/23/09 8:24 AM |
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KvsGrl
Round 2!!
Member since 1/07 1202 total posts
Name:
Samantha
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Re: DIY Kitchen cabinets - should we try it?
Posted by rkoenke
Posted by KvsGrl
In all honesty, unless you, your DH or someone in your family is handy AND you have the time to dedicate to the project, I would not attempt to do this yourself. There are other projects that are easier that you can do yourself and save money like laying tile, adding the backsplash and assembling the cabinets, but I would let someone who knows what they are doing actually hang the cabinets.
My husband is pretty handy and he is doing it with my dad, who is strong. i think the two of them will match up perfectly... haha.
I have a whole bunch of instructions and this link printed and also an instructional video found on the internet too.
All the other stuff is done in the house, aside from backsplash...
Sounds like you should go for it!
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| Posted 1/23/09 8:51 AM |
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