PowerPoint ® Presentation

Unit 60

Cabinet and Countertop Installation

Constructing Cabinets • Installing Kitchen Cabinets • Countertops

Unit 60 — Cabinet and Countertop Installation

Most cabinets and countertops used in residential construction are located in the kitchen.

Unit 60 — Cabinet and Countertop Installation

Rabbet joints make an attractive and sturdy fit for cabinet corners.

Unit 60 — Cabinet and Countertop Installation

Butt joints may be used when constructing cabinets. A reinforcing block should be installed in the corner if the material being used for the cabinet is less than 3/4″.

Dado joints provide good support for cabinet shelves.

Unit 60 — Cabinet and Countertop Installation

Unit 60 — Cabinet and Countertop Installation

On a typical base cabinet, a face frame attaches to the front of the cabinet and a web frame attaches to the top.

Unit 60 — Cabinet and Countertop Installation

The rails and stiles of the face frame of a cabinet may be joined by mortise-and-tenon, dowel, or plate joints.

Unit 60 — Cabinet and Countertop Installation

Cabinet backs are best attached by rabbeting the cabinet sides. At left, the back is flush with the edge of the sides. At right, the rabbet is deeper and the side projects about 1/4″ past the back, making it possible to scribe the side against an uneven or out-of-plumb wall.

Unit 60 — Cabinet and Countertop Installation

Drawer sides are joined to the front or back with dovetail, lock-shouldered, or square-shouldered joints.

Drawer slides allow drawers to be easily opened and closed. The slides may be mounted on the side, on the bottom, or under the drawer.

Unit 60 — Cabinet and Countertop Installation

Unit 60 — Cabinet and Countertop Installation

Detail drawings provide information for the layout and placement of kitchen cabinets.

A T-brace supports a cabinet while it is fastened to the wall.

Unit 60 — Cabinet and Countertop Installation

Unit 60 — Cabinet and Countertop Installation

A T-brace prevents a cabinet from falling forward while it rests on the back T-brace.

Unit 60 — Cabinet and Countertop Installation

Screws driven through mounting rails and wall surfaces fasten cabinets to wall studs.

Unit 60 — Cabinet and Countertop Installation

Cabinets are fastened to each other with wood screws driven through the face frame stiles. C-clamps may be used to temporarily hold the stiles tightly together.

Unit 60 — Cabinet and Countertop Installation

After wall cabinets have been installed, level and plumb base cabinets and fasten them to the wall.

Unit 60 — Cabinet and Countertop Installation

The proper procedure must be employed when installing kitchen wall and base cabinets. The kitchen cabinet details for this installation are shown in Figure 60-10.

Four types of doors are often used for base and wall cabinets. Various types of hardware are available for each type of door.

Unit 60 — Cabinet and Countertop Installation

Hinges connect cabinet doors to the cabinet frame or case.

Unit 60 — Cabinet and Countertop Installation

Cabinet sliding doors at least 3/4″ thick may be rabbeted to slide in grooves at the cabinet top and bottom. Cabinet sliding doors thinner than 3/4″ thick are inserted in plastic tracks.

Unit 60 — Cabinet and Countertop Installation

Unit 60 — Cabinet and Countertop Installation

Drawer pulls and knobs are available in many designs and finishes.

A block clamped to the back of the cabinet piece being drilled prevents the wood from splitting.

Unit 60 — Cabinet and Countertop Installation

Unit 60 — Cabinet and Countertop Installation

Door catches hold a door in place when it is shut.

Unit 60 — Cabinet and Countertop Installation

A freestanding cabinet can be secured by driving screws through the toeboards into 2 × 4s fastened to the floor.

The sink opening size is determined by the dimensions of the sink installed.

Unit 60 — Cabinet and Countertop Installation

Unit 60 — Cabinet and Countertop Installation

Screws are driven through the web frame and into the bottom of the countertop.

A plastic laminate strip at the top edge of the backsplash may need to be scribed and attached to the top of the backsplash after the backsplash has been secured to the countertop.

Unit 60 — Cabinet and Countertop Installation

Unit 60 — Cabinet and Countertop Installation

Solid-surface materials provide outstanding durability and stain resistance.