Is it better to install upper or lower cabinets first?

Author: Kavon Oberbrunner  |  Last update: Saturday, October 7, 2023

Lots of people install the lower cabinets first. Once the lowers are in place, it's easy to use them as a handy shelf for holding tools and for bracing the uppers as you install them. As you see in the video, we like to install the uppers first with nothing underneath them to get in the way.

Which kitchen cabinets to install first?

Always install the upper cabinets before the lower cabinets. This way you won't have to awkwardly work over the lower cabinets, risking damaging them in the process.

Do upper cabinets need to align with lower cabinets?

Upper and base cabinets can match if you want them to. However, if you want to add variation to your space, ​​they don't have to match. It's all about the appearance and mood you would like to achieve.

Is it better to install cabinets before or after flooring?

In most cases, the cabinets are installed before the floor covering but after the subfloor and underlayment. The floor covering or finish is usually cut to fit and butted against the cabinets, with a small gap between the two that is covered by nailing a shoe molding or baseboard to the bottom of the base cabinets.

Why don't you put flooring under cabinets?

A floating wood floor has to be free to expand and contract with seasonal changes in humidity, and it can't do that with heavy cabinets resting on top of it.

How To Install PERFECT KITCHEN CABINETS (DIY GUIDE)

Do kitchen cabinets sit on bare flooring or finished floor?

Yes and no. It really depends on your preference, the type of cabinet, and more importantly, on the type of kitchen flooring you have and how it is installed. It isn't necessary to have your kitchen cabinets sit on the subfloor, and it certainly isn't the desired option among contractors.

Should I leave a gap above kitchen cabinets?

It's not necessary that the kitchen cabinets have to touch the ceiling. It's completely dependable on your choice. So do you prefer the smooth, continuous appearance provided by cabinets that extend all the way to the ceiling? Some people prefer the look of a continuous wall cabinet with no space above it.

What is the standard gap between upper and lower cabinets?

The recommended space between upper and lower cabinets is typically 18 inches. This measurement allows for sufficient workspace on the countertop while providing enough clearance for appliances and tasks.

Do cabinets need crown molding?

While it is necessary to use some types of kitchen cabinet molding to complete a project (especially fillers, toe kicks, and skins), crown molding and light rail molding are optional enhancements that add a polished look to any kitchen.

Can cabinets be installed in one day?

Depending on the size of your kitchen, the kitchen installation timeline may vary by a few hours to an additional day or two from the average 5 to 14-day installation timeframe. Smaller kitchens may only take 1–2 days to replace kitchen cabinets, whereas larger spaces can take up to 14 days or more.

Do base cabinets go against the wall?

Leave a space between the cabinet and wall as recommended by the cabinet manufacturer. Shim beneath the cabinet to align it with the top-of-cabinet line you drew on the wall. When determing how to install base cabinets on uneven floors, check for level and plumb, and add shims until the cabinets are at the same level.

Do cabinets go on before or after hardwood floor?

Putting down the floor before the cabinets makes for clearer sailing now and into the future. Treat the floors under your cabinets like a permanent installation. They should receive the same treatment as the rest of your floor. Just because they won't show doesn't mean you can cut corners.

In what order do you install a kitchen?

Numerical steps to remodeling your kitchen safely:
  1. Demolition/ Tear-Out.
  2. Rough-In Work/Plumbing & Framing.
  3. Comprehensive Inspection.
  4. Finish setting up your wall.
  5. Install all windows/doors.
  6. Install plumbing fixtures & cabinets.
  7. Install new appliances.
  8. Add new floors.

What should be installed first in kitchen?

In most cases, given standard flooring heights, you will install the cabinets or kitchen island before the floor covering. You will also install flooring before appliances.

Do kitchen cabinets go in before or after laminate flooring?

Because of this installation process, its recommended cabinets go in before floating floors. Cabinets, especially those with heavy stone countertops, could damage your floating floors. These types of floors also shift, expand, contract and settle after installation, causing the cabinets on top of them to move.

How high should wall cabinets be from countertop?

The standard height for upper cabinets from the counter is 18 inches, or 1 foot and 6 inches. They shouldn't be less than 15 inches away or more than 20 inches away. This also means the height to where the bottom of your upper cabinets starts. This gives enough space to put things like toaster ovens and blenders.

What height should base to wall cabinets be?

However, a good rule of thumb is to have your kitchen wall cabinets be somewhere between 36 and 42 inches from the floor. Wall cabinets should be 18 inches from the floor to avoid obstructing counter space and range hood access.

Should kitchen cabinets go to 9 foot ceiling?

Cabinets come in standard sizes, and to reach the ceiling, you will need to figure out what size works best. Most kitchen ceilings are 8 to 9 feet high. You can likely use 42-inch tall wall cabinets, with 12-inch additions on top if needed, to achieve the height you want. You can fill any gaps with crown moulding.

Should upper kitchen cabinets touch the ceiling?

It's better to keep things more accessible,” Ashley says. Always work with your designer to determine what height will look best in your space. “Leave a foot or more between the top of the cabinet and the ceiling. This looks intentional and gives your kitchen the polished, elevated look you're seeking.”

What fills the space between cabinets and ceiling?

You can build the cabinets to the ceiling (most expensive option), keep the area open (no cost!), build a soffit to match the cabinets, or add a drywall soffit.

How far should cabinets be from the ceiling for crown molding?

1) Never leave crown moldings closer than 9 inches from a ceiling. Once you get within a foot of the ceiling you should have the cabinetry and molding meet the ceiling. Don't create spaces that look odd and that can't be cleaned.

Do you replace flooring under cabinets?

Do you put flooring under kitchen cabinets? Yes, you can put flooring under kitchen cabinets. Installing flooring before cabinets gives the kitchen a much cleaner look. You don't have to spend time cutting around the cabinetry and you can be flexible with the layout of your cabinets.

Should you put tile under your kitchen cabinets?

Always install the tile to the wall, under appliances, and cabinets. Good flooring could be in place for 20 years or more. In that time there could be water leaks, appliance failures cabinet damage that requires replacement, electrical problems that require cabinets to be moved, etc...

Do kitchen cabinets go on top of hardwood flooring?

Traditionally hardwood flooring is more commonly installed prior to the cabinets and sanded and finished as one of the last steps, but with the increasing popularity of prefinished hardwood flooring the risks of damage during installation becomes greater.

Previous article
Why is my water hammer so loud?
Next article
How long does the wax seal on a toilet last?