So you have chosen to undertake a kitchen remodel. That’s great! That, combined with the fact that you are going to install RTA kitchen cabinets, means that you are most likely a very savvy consumer, and have done your research as to the quality of RTA kitchen cabinets and the low prices you can expect. What you may not have considered, though, is everything that goes into installing them yourself. It can be a great money saver as compared to hiring a contractor to do it, but making sure you are prepared can mean the difference between a successful installation and a frustrating one.
Tools, Tools, Tools
As you might have guessed, a certain number of tools are necessary to install your RTA kitchen cabinets. The first and most important tool you will need: a pencil. Most people forget about this simple item, but, believe us, no carpenter would ever be caught without one. It goes without saying that you will want to have a pad of paper handy to make scribbles and do a bit of math.
You will also need a tape measure, different-sized flathead and Philips screwdrivers, a level at least three feet long, a corded drill, including screw bits and wood and masonry bits of different sizes, a hammer, a utility knife (razor blade knife), and a few wood clamps. You will utilize everything in there at some point in the construction. A few extra items which are nice to have but not strictly necessary are a flat pry bar, a thick drop cloth, sawhorses, a small furniture dolly and sandpaper. If you want to make your life really easy, get yourself a cabinet jack, though we definitely recommend trying to rent this one. While this list of materials may seem a bit daunting and expensive, installing RTA cabinets is truly not that hard, and consider the cost of these tools against the cost of a contractor, and the tools needed don’t seem so expensive after all. If you don’t have the full list, you can also ask a friend or neighbor to borrow a few.
Know Your Stuff
As the saying goes, forewarned is forearmed. There is no substitute for knowledge, and never is that more true than here, as you want everything to go perfectly. For a medium-sized kitchen, you can ideally install cabinets in a weekend, provided that everything else is done first, i.e. your new floor is done, the walls are painted.
Going for the reduced cost of installing yourself is great, but you will have to spend the time to bring yourself up to speed. One of the best things about the information age is access to, you guessed it, information.
Get online and watch a number of videos about kitchen remodeling, specifically RTA cabinet installation. Get yourself prepared and know what you will do. Also, speak with your RTA cabinet supplier about the process. Oftentimes, you will have a custom installation plan already if you have taken advantage of the free services offered by reputable cabinet dealers, such as RTA Cabinet Store.
Realize the Scope
The project that you are going to tackle, as we mentioned, isn’t that hard, just time consuming. Follow the instructions on putting together the cabinets exactly, and it really isn’t much more complicated than building a Lego building. Don’t forget though, many hands mean light work. Make sure you have someone to help you, as moving those cabinets around by yourself is going to be difficult to say the least.
A Few Tips
Take all your kitchen measurements before doing anything else. Mark out on the wall, with your trusty pencil, where the edges of the cabinets should go. Don’t worry, your pencil marks will be hidden by the cabinets when installed. It is also a good idea to install the top cabinets first, especially if you have a cabinet jack available. Good luck on your new kitchen, and get installing!
