Common Mistakes People Make On Their Kitchen Cabinet Installation

When looking for kitchen cabinet installation services, it is important to work with a professional that knows what they are doing.  Many homeowners try to do this themselves, thinking that it will be easier than it is.  Fortunately, whether you have us create customized cabinets or order them online, we can provide the kitchen cabinet installation services you need to get the job done correctly.

Here are some common mistakes people make:

• Not finding the studs.  When your home was built, the contractor would have created a frame using studs (typically 2X4 pieces of wood).  The insulation would have gone in between, with drywall secured to them.  When you look at your wall, you see the drywall and not the studs underneath.  Drywall is a thin material and should only be used to hang the lightest of picture frames.  If you try to hang cabinets without securing them to a stud, they will fall down, if not immediately, once the dishes are in place. 
• Hanging them crooked.  It is fairly easy to hang cabinets and have them come out crooked.  As the house settles, the ceiling and floors may dip slightly so you can’t do this by site alone. You need to use a level and check it frequently.  We make sure that they are straight and level when completing a kitchen cabinet installation.
• Damaging the surface or face.  If you struggle while putting your cabinets in place, it can be easy to damage their surface.  After spending money on new ones, this is a fast way to instantly make them appear old or dated. 
• Not measuring correctly.  It is important to properly measure the space so that your cabinets are the right size.  Otherwise, you could end up with a kitchen that only looks partially finished.
• Gaps.  People, that are new to installing cabinets, may find it challenging to connect them perfectly, creating gaps in between them that leads to an unprofessional or unfinished appearance. 
• Trouble opening and closing.  If the hinges are not installed correctly, your cabinets may not open and close like they should.  This is especially challenging with installing the drawers since they need to smoothly open and close.

We provide professional kitchen cabinet installation services so that you can avoid all of these common mistakes when remodeling your kitchen.  Cabinets are a significant investment into your remodel.  Whether you have them created specifically for your home, buy them online or at the hardware store, they are not cheap.  Paying money for your new cabinets then taking a shortcut with the installation is unwise.  This can lead to further damage of your cabinets or worse yet, your kitchen.  If, for example, they are hung without using a stud, you never know when the unit will fall down. When it does, someone may be hurt; your dishes broken and a hole created in your wall.  In order to avoid a situation like this, we highly recommend working with a professional that is licensed and bonded such as ourselves. 

Why You Should Hire a General Contractor Instead of a Handyman

For many homeowners, it can be difficult to know the difference between a general contractor and the local handyman.  With both adverstising the ability to do home repairs and remodeling, many people get confused and simply hire the first person they come across or someone advertising a special rate. Unfortunately, this can get you into a lot of trouble.  For most families, their home is their largest and most expensive asset.  As such, it is unwise to risk it by working with someone that can’t get the job done right. 

The Local Handyman
When a person puts themselves out to be a handyman, they may or may not have any professional training.  This is based on the individual but certainly none is required to fulfill this role.  They may be someone that did small jobs here and there and decided to go into business for themselves.  Additionally, many handymen are not licensed or bonded as a contractor.  This means that if they don’t finish the job or do it incorrectly, there is no bond to go after. They can work by themselves or as part of a franchise. 

The General Contractor
In order to become a general contractor, you must go through training. In fact, many general contractors have either an associate or bachelor degree in construction management.  After obtaining this classroom training, most will then enter an apprenticeship program or work as an assistant to gain on the job experience before becoming an official general contractor.  This is a high ranking position within the construction industry because a general contractor knows how to complete the work but more importantly, coordinates it.  A general pulls together all of the other tradesmen to get the job completed correctly, on time, and on schedule.  For example, they coordinate the electrician, plumber, carpenter, and tile worker for a bathroom remodel.  A general contractor is also bonded and insured in order to provide additional protection for homeowners. 

The difference between a handyman and general contractor are vast.  It would be similar to working with someone trained in first aid and a certified nurse or doctor.  One has the skills necessary to tackle basic and common issue while the other is trained to handle more complicated cases and understand all aspects of what must be done.  As a homeowner, it is important to hire someone that you can trust to get the job done correctly so when interviewing people, be sure to ask if they are a general contractor. 

It is also important to note that when a company is bonded and insured, you have protections under the law.  If, for example, you hire someone to remodel your kitchen and they start, but never finish, you can go after their bond. General contractors have one, so this can give you additional confidence. Most handymen, do not have a bond so if they don’t finish the job your best option will be to pursue them in small claims court.  This is one additional reason you should work with a general contractor for any major home repair or remodel.