Let's Get Started

• Completed installation of upper cabinet units.
  
  Begin by finding your leveled and unleveled points and noting possible problem areas such as a concave or bowed area within the wall. Once you have your design put together, measure and mark the wall at the specific locations where you want the unit to be installed, keeping in mind that it will need to be set and fit to the exact measurements.
  With base cabinets, first find the low point of the floor and use that spot for your level point of reference. Note how the floor slopes either from the wall out or toward the wall. You will need to shim the base cabinets accordingly. Next, go through and use a stud finder to mark all your stud points on the wall. All cabinets must be fastened to studs.
  
  

Helpful Strategies

• Have a few clamps on hand to hold the cabinets good and tight before you screw them together. Using 3 1/4-inch trim screws to attach the cabinets to one another is ideal. Predrill these holes to avoid cracking the wood or breaking the screw off.
  Wall cabinets are difficult to install on your own, so having someone available to lend a hand can really reduce the workload. In most cases, you will want to first install the upper section of the cabinets, then the base units.
  When you are laying out the wall cabinets, start from a corner and work your way out, or, if you are centering them on the wall, find the center and choose one side to work from. Fasten a ledger board to the wall at the bottom point of your cabinets according to your design layout's height. This height can vary, but the most frequently used measurement is 54 inches from the ground.
  Verify that you have enough room to install your trim or crown molding at the top of the cabinet. If you have full or partial overlay doors, you will need to make sure you do not get them too close to the ceiling, where the molding would not install correctly.
  
  

Wrap It Up

• After you have properly placed the ledger board, rest the cabinet on it while securing the screws. The ledger board helps keep the cabinets at the same height. Before lifting the cabinet, consider marking the inside back of the cabinet at the point where the studs will be located to ensure you will know exactly where to screw.
  If you employ these strategies alongside the included manufacturer's direction and remain mindful of keeping a level surface at all times, you will complete a professional installation of your new cabinets.