How to Hang Kitchen Cabinets

When This Old House contractor Tom Silva started his carpentry career over 35 years ago, he often built the kitchen cabinets he installed for his customers. "Back then, it was still cost-effective for small shops to build them," he recalls. "Today, manufacturers assemble them faster and more economically than we can."

Cabinetmakers also offer an overwhelming variety of styles, features, and price points, but with the help of a knowledgeable kitchen designer, finalizing your order can be the easiest part of a major remodel.

The goal is to take this collection of boxes and bring them together to make a beautiful piece of built-in furniture. The basic installation sequence is straightforward: You want to get everything straight, plumb, and level. But more often than not, the room itself lacks those attributes. "When walls aren't flat, floors aren't level, and corners aren't square, that's when it gets interesting," Tom says with a smile.

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Helpful Info

Skill Builder: How to Plumb and Level a Cabinet

Skill Builder: Easy Angle Finder

Skill Builder: Building a Ventilated Cabinet Door

Gallery: Kitchen Cabinets

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