Ever had the feeling that your kitchen’s appearance would be greatly improved if the top cup-boards were located somewhere else?  Why not move them? It’s not such a difficult job and the end result could be brilliant, to say nothing of a potential increase in kitchen efficiency.

Cupboards are normally fixed to the wall by screws. In the case of timber frame construction, the screws usually go into studs. With masonry construction the wall is drilled and plugged to provide solid fixing. All that has to be clone, therefore, is to undo the screws, remove the cupboard or cupboards, and refix the unit in the morefavoured position (but first carefully measure the area to make sure it will fit).

Remember also to check with your local authorities as to how many millimeters you should keep above a stove (and a refrigerator)should they be involved. And above all, when nailing or screwing, watch you don’t hit any electrical wiring or plumbing!

TOOLS AND MATERIALS
Buy new screws (unless you can get the old ones out without dam.-aging the heads) and plugs if necessary. You’ll need a hefty screwdriver (ratchet if possible)that neatly fits the screw heads, ahand or electric drill plus drill bits (include a tungsten-tipped masonry bit if drilling brick-work), a tape and pencil, level, hammer, 50 mm nails, and half kilogram of fortitude.
PROCEDURE
1. Remove the contents of the
Cupboard and then clear the screw heads of any -paint with, say, a nail file or steel skewer.
2.Look to see whether the top cupboard is a single unit or several units fixed together. If inspections, undo the side fastenings(but check each unit is secured to the wall).
3. To support the cupboard, enlist the aid of a sympathetic and robust friend or build two pillars of support under each end using say books or paint tins. Then undo the screws and remove the cupboard (if you’re by yourself and it’s too heavy, it may pay to remove the cupboard doors to make the unit lighter).
4. Mark the position where the bottom of the cupboard will go, using the tape. Level this line across the wall (if you haven’t got a level, you could measure ofthe floor cupboards).
With the help of a friend5place the cupboard in the new location. Use a nail punch or narrow screwdriver to mark theexisting screw holes on the wall; then remove the clipboard. Drill and plug the holes (make sure they’re at least 3 mm deeper than the amount the driven screw will project past the cupboard), and then fix the cupboard in place. For timber frame walls you can locate the stud positions by tapping the wall while listening for a solid sound. Drive in a mailto verifies solid fixing. Mark these stud positions (usually at 450 or600 mm centers) below the level line, then, with the cupboard in place, drill new screw holes in tieback of the cupboard opposite these positions and rescrub the unit to the wall.

Mark the new position of the new cupboard.
With cupboard held in new position, punch through screw holes.
Plug walls and cut off excess plugs with a chisel.
With a friend’s help screw the cupboard in the new position.

Related posts:

1. Brighten Your Kitchen with Under Cabinet Lighting

Tags: kitchen cabinets, move cabinets

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 17th, 2008 at 6:29 pm and is filed under Kitchens. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.