How Long Does it Take to Install Kitchen Cabinets
Why Does Kitchen Cabinet Installation Time Matter?
Your kitchen remodel timeline matters for more reasons than just convenience.
- Cost Efficiency: A drawn-out project will hurt your bank account. The longer the timeline, the longer you are requiring the services of your contractors.
- Planning: If you're working on a kitchen renovation project, knowing how long it will take to install the kitchen cabinets is essential for finalizing plans.
- Convenience: Of course, this is a factor. If you're not going to have a fully functional kitchen, you need to be aware of how long you'll be inconvenienced in this way.
In short, minimizing the installation time of your kitchen cabinets can save you time and money, reduce inconvenience to your daily life, and help you plan your entire renovation project.
Factors that Influence Installation Time
The timeline for your home improvement projects will vary. A cabinet installation timeline can be anywhere from a few hours to a month.
Yes, that is quite the range. How are you supposed to plan with those expectations? Here are a few things to consider before solidifying ideas for your kitchen update.
Size of the Kitchen Cabinets
Larger cabinets usually have a slower installation process. They are more difficult to handle, more difficult to measure and cut out, and just the fact that they're non-standard sizes means that you're dealing with custom cabinets.
Also, depending on just how large these cabinets are, you could be looking at having to make special cuts to fit around corners or pipes, which is necessary but will slow down the entire process.
Number of Cabinets
Of course, installing many cabinets is more complicated than one or two. The more cabinets there are, the more initial planning and coordination you're going to need.
In addition, your total cost will be more for several cabinets, purely from the extra time for installation.
Custom Cabinets vs. Prefabricated Cabinets
Everyone knows what "custom" means, but what exactly are prefabricated cabinets?
Prefabricated cabinets are cabinets constructed in bulk, well ahead of the time homeowners make a purchase. They typically come in standard sizes and designs that are very generally pleasing.
There are a couple of benefits to these cabinets in terms of your timeline: Since they're already constructed, you're only waiting on the delivery and installation date. Also, their standard construction creates a very average time for installation that you can count on.
Custom cabinetry is what most homeowners will think of when they're picturing their dream kitchen. Custom work can help you achieve your final design, but it will always take longer than ordering prefabricated cabinets.
When you custom order, you are no longer considering just how long it will take to install the cabinets; you're undertaking the idea of being very involved with your kitchen remodel. Going into the process knowing what you want can help keep the process simple and efficient.
Incorporating Specialty Cabinetry Features
Specialty items, such as intricate moldings, unique finishes, and all sorts of lovely shapes and sizes, will require even more planning and precision. Installing these designs will often require materials that even a professional contractor won't just have on hand.
For example, if you would like hand-carved molding incorporated into your kitchen design, that will require time and expertise.
Pre-Installation Preparation to Install Cabinets
Checking Your Cabinets
Check the cabinets for any damage, especially the corners. If they were wrapped or transported in cardboard, they should be fine, but it's worth looking at regardless of whether the cabinets are from a manufacturer or are custom cabinets. Catching any issues early on is always better.
Inspecting the Space
It is an essential part of pre-installation to ensure your space is clean and the old cabinets are removed before the cabinet installation process has begun.
You should consider not throwing the old cabinetry away but, instead, putting your cabinets in a storage space since they could still be usable.
Check the walls and your floor for any uneven spaces. If there are even slight variations in your floor, especially, this can lead to your appliances not fitting properly.
The Moldings
The last thing to install is the molding. This will go over the face frame of your cabinets against your ceiling and walls. It finishes the look quite nicely.
You will need to make sure your new cabinets and ceilings are clean and ready to go for this step in the remodel.
Appliance Panels
Appliance panels are custom-made, and their purpose is to fit over the front of your kitchen appliances, such as your dishwasher, refrigerator, and oven.
You will need to have the panels on-site in your desired material and color, as well as with the correct measurements.
Kitchen Cabinets Installation Process
Design Phase
This is where you can explore your creative freedom with the remodeling. Custom-made doors, crown molding, even door handles: the sky is the limit.
Work on the design for your new kitchen on your own, then take your designs to a contractor and prepare to be flexible. Our dreams sometimes outweigh our abilities, but a good contractor will help you find a happy balance when necessary.
Measuring and Planning
For the best outcome, measuring and planning must both be meticulous. If your measurements are off, you won't be happy. Take the extra time and care to be confident. It's worth it.
Install Kitchen Cabinets
This is it! Whether it's you or a contractor doing the actual work for this step, you can go into it confident that you've done everything right.
After installation, there might be a little bit of touch-up work to be done, but then you get to kick back and enjoy your new kitchen.
Taking Expert Help to Reduce Installation Time
Hiring a professional comes with advantages to your timeline. The main one is they've done this many times before.
There's nothing wrong with wanting to install kitchen cabinets on your own, but if it's your first time, you can expect the installation schedule to be longer than it would be if you had hired it out. You also have access to more of those specialty items you might have had your eyes on.
Our team installs custom Italian kitchens in the Palm Beach area of Florida - if you're not in our area, then be sure to research the teams in your area for the best possible experience!