I want to get new countertops but the company is unable to install because my cabinets are not level. We have ruled out sinking foundation although the floor is still uneven by a half inch. It seems like the previous cabinet installers tried to level it but shaved off the wrong side of the cabinets by a half inch so now we are off by a whole inch. I would like to avoid purchasing new cabinets. How do we fix it? Should we shim to level or just take off an inch on the higher side? Would it look funny?
I would suggest shimming because you can cover the gap with baseboard.
Jack
It is better to alter the bottom of the cabinet, or shim them because, as Jack points out, you can cover any gap with baseboards yet keep all the lines of the front of the cabinets straight. If you shim or shave the top of the cabinet, then the doors/drawers are going to be wonky in relation to the new top, something that will be an eye sore until the end of time.
If you do it right now, you won't have to do it right later.
Shim from the bottom so that the rails on the cabinet faces are straight, level, and even, and that the cabinets are level back-to-front. Cover the bottom edge with baseboard.
If the floor is unlevel, it will still look better to have the cabinets level rather than parallel to the floor.
If possible, level the floor first.
Quote from fence: "If possible, level the floor first."
Solve the main problem first (level the kitchen floor), and to do a complete job, level under the cabinets too. This will eliminate all your problems.
Almost. Can you find out why the floor was uneven to begin with?
Order cabinet levelling feet. At this point it's your best bet. Then order matching toe kick molding, and perhaps base shoe/quarter round to cover the gap to the floor.
http://www.leevalley.com/us/hardware/page.aspx?p=40409&cat=3,40993,41283&ap=1
Casey
Thank you all for taking the time to respond. You were very helpful.