Brand-new cabinet installation can truly transform the appearance of your space, giving it a fresh and updated look. Whether you’re upgrading your kitchen, bathroom, or other rooms, new cabinets instantly add style, functionality, and a sense of order to your environment.
However, mounting wall cabinets, can be a risky job. Even professionals and seasonal DIYers can run into installation problems such as misaligned doors, drawers, and handles, loose screws, poor quality equipment, and incorrect positioning.
So, before jumping into your next DIY cabinet installation job, let’s first take a look at the five common mistakes people make during the installation process and how to avoid them so that everything goes smoothly and securely. Let’s get started!
Top 5 Common Mistakes on DIY Cabinet Installation
1. Poorly Planned Layout
When it comes to cabinet installation, a poorly thought-out layout can significantly affect the functionality and flow of your space. For instance, if you’re renovating your kitchen, following the kitchen triangle rule is key to ensuring everything works together seamlessly, from the stove to the sink to the refrigerator. This helps optimise efficiency and makes cooking and moving around the kitchen much easier.
Following this layout or plan means you can easily and efficiently work around the kitchen. Failing to do this or failing to plan with precision can result in misaligned cabinets, stoves or doors, resulting in a non-functioning space. So, make sure you plan, measure, and take all the key features of the space into account, such as appliances, countertops, and the position of your stove and door. In the next section, we’ll discuss how a poorly planned layout with inaccurate measurements can ruin your cabinet installation process.
2. Inaccurate Measurements
Another common mistake in cabinet installation that many experts or DIYers make is measuring inaccurately. Even a difference of a few mm in height is a recipe for disaster. This difference in measurement means a door that won’t fit or a cabinet row that is not aligned. So even if you consider yourself a pro cabinet installer, you’ll still need to measure everything to the last millimeter. The question is how to avoid falling into this pitfall.
Well, it’s simple: Do not drill holes and cut materials before taking measurements! As obvious as it sounds, you’ll be surprised DIYers and seasonal professionals do not always go for this route. Take precise height and width measurements of the areas where your cabinets will be installed. Do not miss any flat surfaces when you measure wall cabinets and floor.
Go the extra mile and purchase good quality and essential tools such as laser level or tape so that you don’t make any costly mistakes. When it comes to cabinet installation, precision and position are the keys.
3. Inappropriate Plumbing or Lighting
You’ll be amazed to know that some professionals just don’t plan how the plumbing and lighting will be installed in relation to the cabinets before installing them.
As with other mistakes, the key to avoiding them during your bathroom renovation is simple: Plan! Step back and take a moment to review and visualise how the cabinets will be installed in relation to the plumbing and the natural and artificially installed lights.
Secondly, work with a professional plumber and electrician, as they can give you a good idea of where to accommodate your cabinets when it comes to plumbing and lighting.
4. Wrong door set-up
I think this is one of the most frustrating and common mistakes in the cabinet installation process: inaccurately aligned doors! So, let’s say you have installed your cabinets and are stepping back and admiring how beautiful the whole room looks until you open the cabinet door.
A deformed or wrongly aligned door can ruin the cabinet frame and the entire look of the space. This problem arises when you rush into things and don’t take time to position the doors before you mount them. So, what can you do here to avoid this mishap?
Well, double-check when you attach doors and use hinges and level tape to place the doors perfectly. Also, while we’re discussing using hinges, ensure that you use top-quality materials and the perfect screws to level the hinges.
Don’t freak out if your door frame looks unaligned. You can always adjust the hinges and shuffle the screws to streamline everything into place. This small efficiency can save you from a disaster later on.
5. Cutting back on Quality materials
This is a common and the most subtle misstep that DIYers make. While cutting costs may seem appealing, opting for cheap materials will eventually reveal its downsides in the long run.
Sooner or later, you’ll see that these materials will deteriorate over time and will cost you more to repair. On the other hand, good quality materials cost more, but it’s kind of an investment you’re making for your home. You should not cut back or compromise here.
By using high-quality materials, you will get a durable, elegant cabinet and something that will last for years to come. Plus, using high-quality materials also increases your home value. In the future, if you want to sell your beautiful house, having high-quality tools and materials will pay off.
Our Final Thoughts on Successful Cabinet Renovations!
Planning is essential to avoid common mistakes in cabinet installation and bathroom renovations. Take time to visualize the placement of cabinets concerning plumbing and lighting to ensure a seamless fit. Proper planning can save you from costly errors and enhance the overall look of your space.
In conclusion, thorough preparation will lead to a successful installation, so prioritise planning to achieve your desired outcome.
Ready to transform your home with expert cabinet installation and renovations? Contact Freo Carpentry & Maintenance today for a consultation and let us help you bring your vision to life!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of wall cabinets?
Wall cabinets are designed for easy access and are a great way to add more storage in your kitchen or bathroom, making it convenient to organise appliances and items. If you’re short on floor space, mounting wall cabinets is an excellent alternative. In today’s world, where organisation is key, these cabinets offer a smart solution for storing and arranging products in a neat, orderly fashion, ensuring everything is within reach while helping you maximise space.
Can you install cabinets yourself?
Yes, you can install cabinets yourself. With the right tools, materials, and some DIY experience (easily gained from YouTube tutorials), it’s doable. However, precision is key—measurements, leveling, and alignment need to be spot on. Invest in quality materials and tools for the best results. If you’re unfamiliar with mounting or leveling cabinets, consider consulting a professional or following an online guide. It can be challenging, especially for first-timers, but the sleek, finished look of your cabinets will be worth it!
Why is it so expensive to install cabinets?
Several factors affect the pricing of cabinet installation. The number one reason why cabinets are expensive is the cost of the material. If you’re buying high-quality materials such as wood, hardware, finishing, etc, you can expect the price to go up.
Secondly, if you’re hiring labour for, let’s say, screwing in hinges or mounting cabinets etc, you can add that too to the expenditure list. Carpenters, plumbers, or electricians have their own separate fees for whatever task they perform.
To get an accurate cost, contact Freo Carpentry & Maintenance your professional cabinet installers for a quote!
What does a cabinet installer do?
So, as the name suggests, a cabinet installer is someone who professionally installs cabinets for you. Their job isn’t just about mounting and installing cabinets. In fact, they first review your plumbing, ventilation and lighting and then measure the space where the cabinets need to be fitted.
They then remove old cabinets, prepare the site and make sure every surface is levelled where the cabinets have to be installed. In this step, many cabinet installers may need the help of a plumber and/or an electrician so that plumbing and electricity do not come in the way of cabinet installation and no further mishap can happen.
How long does it take to install cabinets?
The cabinet installation duration depends on a lot of factors, such as the size of the area and the complexity of the project. But if you’re going for a custom-built cabinet or something that is a little complex, then it may take as long as a week or two.
What tools do I need for DIY cabinet installation?
So basically, for DIY cabinet installation, you’ll need basic tools such as measuring tape, a drill machine, screws, stainless steel hinges, a level, a stud finder, a circular saw, a jigsaw machine and safety gear.