7 Tips For An Efficient Kitchen Installation

No one wants a complicated kitchen installation. However, it’s easy to draw out the process for weeks, leaving you without a usable kitchen. The good news is it doesn’t have to take this long. It just takes some planning to ensure the process goes smoothly from start to finish. In most cases, the planning should take longer than the kitchen installation itself. This is a sign you’re doing it right and you’ll likely enjoy your kitchen even more without having to deal with installation stress.

1. Plan What You Want Before You Start

7 Tips For An Efficient Kitchen InstallationNothing sets a kitchen installation back worse than having to make changes throughout the process. For instance, you might suddenly want to change the layout or want larger appliances. This means all the work done so far has to be re-done to accommodate the changes.

Create a clear plan of exactly what you want. This includes your kitchen layout (which determines how everything will fit), appliance sizes, kitchen purpose and more. You’ll even need to plan out whether new wiring is necessary to fit a new layout, such as adding outlets to an island or moving your stove to the other side of the room.

2. Organize What You Need To Do

A common mistake is trying to do everything at once. For example, you might tear down your old cabinets the same day you hire someone to build new ones. This leaves you without cabinets until your new ones are finished.

Look at everything that needs to be done. Stagger the process so there’s a smooth flow. For example, if you want custom cabinets built, it’s a good idea to start here. Then, while the cabinets are being built, you can pick out new appliances.

The week before your cabinets are ready to be installed, consider what else needs to be done. If you’re remodeling your entire kitchen, you might need to have your floors redone and the walls painted. Schedule both of these to be done during that week. You’ll also want to hire an electrician for any major re-wiring that may need to be done before your cabinets are installed. Of course, you can save time and money on your kitchen remodel by skipping certain things. Instead of having to wait around, you only end up without a kitchen for about a week. That’s much easier to deal with.

3. Determine Appliance Spaces

what-to-consider-before-replacing-your-kitchen-cupboardsAlways determine how much space you’ll need for appliances before measuring for cabinets. Wanting that extra-large refrigerator after you’ve decided on cabinets that definitely won’t leave space for that will lead to a more complex kitchen installation.

Pick out the appliances you want first. If your kitchen can only support a certain type of layout, you’ll want to pick your cabinets first and then pick appliances that fit those spaces. This is usually a common issue when using stock cabinets as they don’t come in custom sizes.

4. Opt For Custom Cabinets

For an efficient kitchen installation, opt for custom cabinets. You won’t have the usual trouble that comes with trying to make things fit. After all, custom cabinets are designed to fit your space, not vice versa. Plus, you can get the appliances you want. Just make sure you give the cabinet builder your appliance dimensions and the kitchen layout to avoid any issues.

5. Clean Out Space

While you don’t have to take down your cabinets yourself, clean out your kitchen as much as possible before anyone arrives to work on it. This applies even if you’re doing everything yourself. Trying to constantly move things in and out of cabinets, move around chairs and stacking things in the corner just gets frustrating. Instead, make the kitchen installation easier by moving everything that’s not a major appliance or cabinet out of the kitchen.

6. Let Professionals Handle The Installation

In most cases, it’s easier and more efficient to let professionals handle the installation of your cabinets and even appliances. First, it’s easier on you as you’re not having to lift and tug heavy appliances and cabinets. Second, they’re less likely to make a mistake.

All it takes is a single measuring mistake to make you start over. For instance, you might measure 5″ from the window and start your upper cabinets when you should have measured 4″. That simple mistake might leave you without room for your refrigerator and having to take your upper cabinets down.

7. Install Cabinets First

Finally, install your cabinets first. Obviously, flooring and walls technically come first, but it’s easier to install cabinets before appliances. There’s more room to move around and the appliances aren’t getting scratched or dented.

Ready for a more efficient kitchen installation? Start with custom cabinets from the cabinetry pros at Edgewood Cabinetry.

Image: Creatv Eight