Replacing Hardwood Cabinets

Measure your old cabinets. You’ll need to have measurements that detail the height, length and depth of the cabinets. Additionally, if you have any corner cabinets, measure these separately. When ordering new cabinets, it is simplest to go with a similar shape. If you want more cabinets or a different kind of cabinet, it will require removal and installation of new strips.

Remove anything from inside the cabinets. If possible, also remove the shelves inside the cabinets.

Mark the bottom and sides of the old cabinets against the wall, using chalk for referencing.

Set your drill to reverse with a screwdriver bit and remove the supporting screws. Make sure that someone is holding the cabinets when you do this to avoid the cabinets collapsing and damaging the wall.

Inspect the supporting backer strip. If it has been at all damaged by the removal, then remove it as well and install a new one. Before you remove the old strip, trace its bottom line with chalk so that you have a reference point for leveling the new strip. Install the new backing strip, making sure that each screw is directly into a stud.

Lift the new cabinets onto the wall, following the referencing points of the old cabinets and screw each into position, placing screws every 6 inches along the support strip.