Cabinet Door & Undermount Drawer Glides Installation Tips
HOW TO INSTALL CABINET DOORS, DRAWER BOXES AND DRAWER GLIDES
With the right instructions and tools, installing new cabinet doors and drawer boxes can be quick and straightforward. You may need an extra set of hands to help, but the process is beginner-friendly and requires inexpensive tools. Read on to discover how to install cabinet doors and drawer boxes yourself.
CABINET DOOR INSTALLATION GUIDE
Installing new cabinet doors is an easy way to freshen up your space. If you're taking on this project by yourself, use the following tips to do it right the first time:
1. GATHER YOUR SUPPLIES
Ensure you have everything you need before you install cabinet doors. Start by collecting your materials:
Cabinet doors: Purchase high-quality cabinet doors that fit your existing cabinets perfectly. At Cabinet Doors 'N' More, we'll create custom cabinet doors according to your specifications. Use our handy online cabinet door configurator to determine the correct size.
Hinges: You'll also need hinges and suitable screws. This guide focuses on mounting doors with European-style hinges, specifically, Blum soft-close hinges. European hinges are the most common type of cabinet door hinge designed to stay hidden from view when the door is closed. The right size hinge depends on your cabinet door's overlay.
Next, grab the following tools:
Screwdriver
Tape measure
Straightedge or pencil
2. INSTALL THE HINGES
Begin the DIY cabinet installation process by installing hinges on the doors. If you order your cabinet doors from Cabinet Doors 'N' More, you can choose to have our professionals add the hinge holes. These include acup hole bored into the door and two pilot holes on either side. You can measure and add the hinge holes yourself, but errors can cause issues with how the door hangs and opens.
Place your cabinet door face-down and check the orientation is correct. Then,place the hinge inside thepredrilledholeandpress down so it's flatandsnug.All the holes should line up nicely. Use the measuring tape to ensure the hingeiseven andsquare-shouldered to the edge of your door.Finally,drivetwoscrews into the open holes. That's all there is to it. Nowyou're ready to installyourdoor onto the cabinets.
3. MOUNT THE CABINET DOOR
Onceyou've installed your hinges,you canmountthedoor to the cabinetframe. For Blum soft-close hinges, you need to mount the hinge and doorright to the side of theframe. Before you do this, measure where to install the hinge on the frame for the correct overlay. You can either measure it and draw a line or use a straightedge as a guide.
Position your doorat the height of the overlay you're looking for in your kitchen,and center the hingeon the face frame.You may need someone to hold the door to make this process easier. When it's in the right spot, drivethe screwsinto the hinges to secure the door to the frame.
4. MAKE ADJUSTMENTS
Now that you've hung your door onto your cabinetry,you mayneed to adjust itto fix any issues. Sometimes, the door can beout of square and unlevel,or it might not close correctly. Blum soft-close hinges offer three adjustment dimensions — width, height and depth.
Take a look at the reveal — the part of the cabinet frame you see when the door is closed. If it is uneven, you can adjust the hinge horizontally or vertically to correct it. You can also change the hinge's depth to lift the door closer to or away from the cabinet frame. This type of adjustment can stop the door from wobbling against the frame.
Now,your doorshould sit flush against the frame and align with the bottom of the other cabinet doors.
UNDERMOUNT DRAWER GLIDES AND DRAWER BOXES INSTALLATION GUIDE
As part of your DIY kitchen cabinet project, you may want to replace your cabinet drawer boxes. Follow the steps below to easily install undermount draw glides and drawer boxes into your cabinets:
1. GATHER YOUR SUPPLIES
Along with the tools mentioned in the cabinet door installation guide above, you will need:
Draw boxes: Choose a solid drawer box that fits your cabinets well. If you plan to replace existing drawer boxes, measure them to get the specifications for your new ones. You can refer to our helpful measuring guide to get the right size. Send your measurements to us and we'll create custom, 5/8" thick drawer boxes for you and ship them fully assembled.
Drawer glides: A drawer glide helps the draw open and shut smoothly. This guide provides instructions for installing Blum undermount drawer glides that connect to the drawer box's sides and underside. They comprise two runners, two rear brackets and two locking devices. Your glides should be 3" less than the drawer's depth. If you're ordering drawer boxes from Cabinet Doors 'N' More, request the "notch and bore"optionsothe guidesfitin the back ofthedrawer.
2. INSTALL THE RUNNERS
To begin installing your undermount glides, you need to mount the runners to thecabinet.There aretwo ways to mount these— either directly to the sides of the cabinet or to the back with the rear brackets. Ifyou haveold-stylecabinetrywithout aninsetbehindthe face frame, you can attachthe runners to the sides of the cabinetusingtheholes in the side of the rail.
If there is an inset, you'll have touse the mountingbracketthat attaches to the back of the cabinet. Screw the bracket in at the back and slide the runner into the bracket's grooves. The second notch on the front of the runner should line up with the face frame. When it's in line, drive two screws into the first holes in the runner guide so it's secured to the frame.
3. ATTACH THE LOCKING DEVICES
With the runners installed, you can attach the locking devices to the drawer box. The square shoulders on the devices should sit in the front corners of the underside of your drawer boxes. Predrill the holes to ensure you don't split the wood, and use two small screws to mount the locking device into the holes.
4. INSERT THE DRAWER BOX
You can insert your drawer box into the cabinet when the locking devices are in the right spot. Extend the drawer runners fully and place your drawer box on them. The locking devices should automatically engage with the runners, but you can check by pushingit in until you hearaclick.Pull the drawer out to its full extension to check that it's secure.
5. MAKE ADJUSTMENTS
If the draw is catching on the frame, you may need to tweak its position using the locking devices. They have two adjustment options — vertical and horizontal. Use the dial on the device to move the drawer box left and right, and the other one to raise or lower it. You can reinsert the drawer box to ensure it works smoothly.
Now,you're all set to re-install your drawer front and hardwareto finish your DIY project.
GET CUSTOM CABINET COMPONENTS FROM CABINET DOORS ‘N’ MORE
Whether you need replacement cabinet doors, drawer fronts or drawer boxes, Cabinet Doors 'N' More can help. We manufacture custom components according to your specifications so they're the right size. With a wide range of colors, materials and styles, you can create the perfect replacement parts for your design. We can also ship unfinished cabinet doors and drawer fronts to you so you can easily match them to your existing cabinets. Additionally, you can buy high-quality hinges and drawer glides from our online store, so you have everything you need for your project.
Place your order with us today to get started — we offer free shipping and can get everything to you in 15 business days or less! Our ordering process is straightforward, but our support team can assist if you get stuck. Simply submit a contact form online.
