Next find the studs using a stud finder to locate studs into which fasteners will be attached to support the cabinet installation. After they have been found get use strips of lumber with very straight edges and fasten these with the top of them reaching the 54” line.

You will be able to use these for wall cabinet support when they are being installed. This is especially important if you are going to do this work all by yourself. Be attentive to electrical sockets and plumbing pipes behind the walls.

 

Step 2: Strips of Lumber

Fasten strips of straight edge lumber to the wall to support the weight of the upper cabinets that you will be installing. Remove doors, shelves and anything that will reduce the weight of the cabinets.

 

Step 3: Installing the Wall Cabinets

Begin your cabinet installation in the corner of the walls. Never begin the cabinet installation at any other point. It may turn out to be very frustrating if done the other way. After you have leveled the corner cabinet then fasten as many cabinets together as you can comfortably lift and using the straight edge as support place those cabinets next to the corner cabinet.

Use clamps to ensure evenness and to help hold the cabinets together. Before fastening make the cabinets level and the face frames flush with each other. Predrill and fasten the cabinets together on the right and or left sides of the cabinets. Place fasteners at both top and bottom of the cabinets. Shim the cabinets where necessary.

Once you have shimmed for plumb and level, secure the cabinets into the wall at the studs. Be sure to predrill and affix the screws through the thicker framing piece along the top of the cabinets.

Check for plumb and level while you’re securing the cabinets. Repeat this process for all of the wall cabinets. If a gap exists between wall and the last cabinet, use a filler bar (supplied by the manufacturer) to enclose the gap.

Before securing the last cabinet, measure, mark, cut and secure this piece to the side of the last cabinet. After all the cabinets are in place, attach the doors and hardware. Remove the straight edge from under the upper/wall cabinets after they have all been installed.

 

Step 4: Install Base Cabinets

For uneven floors begin the base cabinet installation as close to the highest point of the floor as possible. It is much quicker and wiser to shim lower floor cabinets that to build up trim so base cabinet tops can match. Use markers to set up a level line on the wall from that highest point of the floor to the desired height on the wall.

The desired height will be determined by the overall height of the base cabinets which can vary from one manufacturer tot he other. Use a level to ensure the accuracy of this line. Find the studs that will be needed or use the studs found for the upper cabinets as a guide to install the base cabinets.

Begin the installation of the base cabinets in the corner as in the case of the wall cabinets and work from there ensuring that all your cabinets are level and even across the top. Ensure the evenness of the face and top of the cabinets as you install. DO this until all the cabinets are installed. Replace all doors and shelves when the installation is complete.