Assemble-it-Yourself Cabinets

Unpack the assemble-it-yourself cabinet kit. Organize all of the cabinet panels and supplies that come in the kit, including placing side panels in one pile and top and bottom pieces in another. In addition, organize all of the individual screws in small piles, so the long screws are in one pile and shorter screws are in another.

Read through the instruction manual, so you familiarize yourself with all of the steps in the assembly process. Knowing all of the steps involved with assembling one cabinet decreases the chances of making assembly mistakes with additional cabinets. In addition, it is time-consuming if you make one mistake on all of the cabinets and must fix it by disassembling them.

Assemble the cabinet panels following the steps in the instruction manual. Use the cabinet clamp to hold the panels in place, so it is easier for you to insert the screws in the corners. The clamp must be used on the corners, so the side panels are attached to the top and bottom panels to create a cabinet frame.

Use the screws for the cabinet frame assembly as identified in the manual. Use the power drill to insert the screws in the installation holes in the cabinet panels. Continue this step until all four corners have been connected with the cabinet frame screws. If no screws are available, use 1-inch screws. Follow the instructions to attach the back side of the cabinet using the appropriate screws and the power drill.

Assemble the cabinet doors using the door panel, hinges and hinge screws that come in the kit. Identify the sections on the cabinet door where the hinges must be attached. These sections are often outlined for simple assembly. Line the door up to the frame, so the opposite ends of the hinges are placed inside the cabinet frame. Use the hinge screws to attach the hinges inside the cabinet.

Place the stud finder on the wall where you wish to hang your assembled cabinets. Make a small pencil mark on the wall, when a stud is found. Find at least two studs per cabinet for optimal support. Hold the cabinet up to the wall and drill 2-inch screws through the back side of the assembled cabinet into the wall, so the screws attach to the studs. Repeat this step for each additional cabinet you want to hang.