10 steps for Installing Flat Pack Kitchen Cabinets

Purchasing flat pack cabinets are a great option for your new kitchen as they are a cost effective option. However, you don’t want to feel overwhelmed with the whole process of planning and installing your cabinetry once they arrive. We have pre-pared some steps/tips for you to consider when installing your Kitchen Cabinets.

1. Prepare your space – This might be on of the most important steps when getting ready. This will mean removing the old kitchen and ensuring the flooring and walls are level. Remove your base cabinets first as this will give you easier access to the overhead cabinets. If you do notice that your floors are significantly uneven you may need to get someone in to take a look.
2. Plan ahead – No matter how confident you are in your installation abilities, some flatpack kitchen installation can take time and there will be a period of time where you wont have access to your kitchen. Think about the best timing to install your kitchen and plan ahead of time in terms to what you’ll do without access to your kitchen area. Where will you store your cupboard items? Where will your fridge go? Where will you wash dishes in the meantime?
3. Confirm your measurements – We can’t stress this enough – measure and then check over your measurements. The last thing you want is for your new cabinets to arrive, only to realise that you’ve given the incorrect sizes. If you have gotten your measurement wrong, you may need to cut down cabinets or re-order new cabinets to fit your space.
4. Make sure you have the right tools – To be able to assemble and install your flat pack cabinets correctly you will need the right tools. You can contact a cabinet making company to get some advice on the tools you will require for installation.
5. Mark the positioning – Before you start fitting your cabinets, it’s a good idea to mark your walls first so you can easily see where everything will fit. Refer to your kitchen plan and use a pencil to measure where the cabinet will go against the wall. This makes it easier to slot in your cabinets and get started.
6. Install any corner cabinets first – to make your whole installation easier, start with your corner cabinet and work your way out. Start with a corner cabinet because they cant be moved, you can then line up the joining cabinets next to it. If you don’t have any corner cabinets, start with an end cabinet and work your way up from there. This can help ensure your cabinets look even at the end.
7. Prevent Chips – You don’t want to get to the end of your installation and realise there is already a chip caused during installation. Your cabinet doors can be the main victims of chips as they are on of the last items to be installed and being moved from place to place can cause damage. Keeping items fully packages until they are ready to be install can avoid any accidental damage.
8. Check for gaps – Even if you have taken accurate measurements, there could be small gaps between the wall and your cabinets. Make sure you measure your cabinets and the space to account for any gaps, center your cabinets if necessary so the gaps are even on both sides. This will look better than having a larger gap at one end and the other end is flush.
9. Take your time – As much as you want to get your cabinetry in and kitchen finished as soon as possible, it is better to take your time and not rush your installation process. It is normal for the process to take a little longer then expected. But you don’t want to rush through missing steps that could cause the overall finished product to not look or function as well as it could and be disappointed with the final result.
10. Ask for help – Although some people want to install their flatpack cabinets themselves, remember that you can always hire an expert to do the installation for you, whether you just don’t have the time to do it or your cabinets arrive and you realise it’s a bigger job than you thought, an expert will be able to get the job done quickly and professionally. Many carpenters will be able to do the installation for you.

Here at eKitchens, we offer custom size flat pack cabinets that are manufactured locally in Perth. You can visit one of our showrooms and speak with one of our experienced team members or contact us on (08) 9456 3108 or sales@ekitchens.com.au