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Installing Kitchen Cabinet Hardware
A full kitchen remodeling is a difficult, extensive, and expensive project. You can give your kitchen a minor facelift without having to deal with these headaches by purchasing new cabinet handles and drawer pulls.
Handles, knobs, and pulls won't dramatically change the functionality or look of your kitchen, but they will provide an additional visual feature that is a prominent focal point of the room. You can employ amazing, colorful, and detailed designs in this hardware, as well as unique materials and finishes that would look overwhelming in other aspects of the kitchen.
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Installing Kitchen Cabinet Hardware
Listed below are a few pieces of advice to consider when installing your new cabinet hardware.
Adding or Substituting Hardware
Although replacing or adding hardware to your existing cabinets is not as time consuming as replacing entire portions of your kitchen, it is still a process. Rushing through the project can lead to messy and unsatisfactory results. Here are some steps to make the process go smoother:
1. Place Your Handles in "Test Positions" - Take a piece of your new hardware and place it in different locations on your cabinet. Your initial thoughts on handle placement may vary when you have the new pieces in hand.
2. Consider Usability - While you may find a certain placement to be more visually appealing, you should consider how it would affect the functionality of the drawer or cabinet. If it is too off-center, the act of opening and closing can be stunted.
3. Mathematical Positioning is Not Perfect - Placing knobs and handles at an exact measurement may not be the best installation method. Consider how the hardware will look for the entire kitchen, not just for an individual cabinet or drawer. You should have an eye for the entire stretch of drawers or doors, rather than being a slave to the measurements.
4. Breaking Into Sets - When deciding on the best method to tackle this project, you should break the installation into horizontal and vertical sets. You can tackle an entire line of drawers or cabinets in a smaller time frame than haphazardly installing pieces here and there. Many kitchens will have 40, 50, 60 or more cabinets and drawers to deal with.
5. Masking Tape Usage - Place a small square of masking tape on the point that you would like to drill. This will help to prevent any "walking" of the drill, which can create unsightly grooves and blemishes in the cabinet or drawer finish. Masking tape will not prevent any splintering of the wood when drilling, so you should make sure to drill slowly to mitigate this issue.
6. Single vs. Double - Hardware that is attached by a single screw will be far easier to install than double screw pieces. You will save time on drilling and have any easier time in positioning the new knobs and pulls.
New cabinet and drawer hardware can upgrade the look of your kitchen at a relatively low cost to you. With sufficient planning and time, you can install the new knobs, pulls, and handles that will provide a fresh, new appearance to one of the most popular rooms in your home.
