How to Install Full Overlay Cabinets

Turn Off Water and Power

• The first step in installing the new cabinets is to turn off the utility lines in the area where the cabinets are located. Turn off the water supply to the sink, using either the valves underneath the sink or the valve on the water main that leads into the kitchen, then disconnect the pipes connected to the faucet and sink. Shut off the electrical power to any circuits in the cabinets, such as those used for lighting, the garbage disposal or electrical outlets.

Removing the Old Cabinets

• Pull the drawers out of the old cabinets, and unscrew the hinges to remove the doors from the cabinets. Pry off the trim or molding that runs along the floor or ceiling. Remove the bottom cabinets first -- by removing the screws that attach them to the wall and to each other, and pulling them away from the wall. After the lower cabinets have been removed, remove the upper cabinets. Have someone help you with this, as the cabinets are heavy.

Preparation

• Remove any nails or screws in the wall, and patch any holes in the drywall created when you tore out the old cabinets. If the cleat used to hold the upper cabinets in place is still on the wall, remove it. Measure the length of the walls where the cabinets are being installed, as well as the height of both sets of cabinets. If money is an issue, consider purchasing pre-fabricated cabinets slightly smaller than the space you have available. You can fill the gaps between the cabinets and walls with ferring strips, and save yourself money, because custom cabinets can be very expensive.

Installing the Cleat

• Locate the studs in the wall where the cabinets are being installed, and mark their location by drawing a light line down the length of the wall at each stud. The studs provide extra support for the cabinets when they're screwed to the wall. Screw a 1-by-3 cleat to the wall along where the bottom edge of the upper cabinets will be. The cleat helps hold the cabinets in place.

Installing the Upper Cabinets

• Place the first cabinet section into position on top of the cleat, and check it for level. If the cabinet is uneven, slide a shim between the wall and the cabinet until it's level, then drive screws through the back of the cabinet and into the wall directly over the studs. Move the next section into position, and clamp it to the first section. Ensure it's level, then screw the second cabinet section to the wall and to the side of the first cabinet section. Continue installing the upper sections of cabinets until you're finished.

Installing the Lower Cabinets

• The process for installing the lower cabinets is similar to installing the upper cabinets. Slide the first bottom section into position, and check it for level. If needed, slide a shim between the floor and the bottom of the cabinet. Drive screws through the back of the cabinet and into the studs, then drive screws through the bottom of the cabinet into the floor. Clamp the next cabinet section to the first section, checking it for level. Screw it to the wall, floor and first cabinet section. Continue installing the rest of the cabinet sections until you're finished. Place the countertop on top of the bottom cabinets, and attach the countertop by driving screws into the bottom of the countertop through the bottom cabinets.

Installing the Doors and Drawers

• Install the hardware for the cabinets onto the doors and drawers, following the measurements provided by the manufacturer. Have your assistant hold the doors in position, and mark the screw holes for the hinges onto the cabinets. Drill pilot holes into the cabinets, then attach the doors to the cabinets. Slide the drawers into the slots on the front of the cabinets. Install any ferring strips you need, to cover a gap between the cabinets and the walls, and nail the trim or molding to the joints along the floor and ceiling.