Whether it’s a graduation open house, an upcoming family reunion, or just the beautiful weather it seems that this time of year brings home improvement projects for many. There are a few things that really make a big impact for little money. One is painting the walls in your home. The other is adding or updating the knobs and pulls on your kitchen or bathroom cabinets. If you don’t know How to Install Cabinet Hardware this simple tutorial will make it seem less intimidating!
How to Install Cabinet Hardware
Supplies:
- cabinet hardware
- screws
- screw driver/drill gun and drill bit
- cardboard for template or cabinet hardware template
- tape measure
Cabinet hardware comes in just about every shape, size, and price range you can imagine. When I designed and sold kitchens it was amazing to see the options! From knobs for less than $1 a piece to single handles that retail for $100+ you can find something to fit your style and taste. Cabinet hardware is a great style boosting feature in any kitchen.
Screws are something that can easily fool you. Most cabinet hardware comes with screws but often they are too long or too short for your needs. The screw needs to be long enough to go through the door thickness and have enough thread left over to securely hold the hardware on. If you’re installing on drawers, the screw must also be long enough to go through the drawer box itself. This means 2 different lengths of screws typically. Or you can purchase “break off” screws which are longer than necessary but have score lines that allow you to “break off” the extra length you don’t need. These work great!
Most home improvement stores sell cabinet hardware templates for installing hardware. They are made of plastic and have holes for the different size pulls you might use. They are inexpensive and make installation easy.
How To Make A Cabinet Hardware Template
If you don’t have a cabinet hardware template or don’t want to purchase one you can make your own using cardboard.
Once you’ve purchased your hardware simply measure the distance between holes and mark this distance on a piece of cardboard. Use a punch or something sharp to create a hole where you marked. This will let you quickly mark your cabinetry for drilling.
Make sure the cardboard has straight edges. The straight edge will be held against the top of your drawers or the sides of your doors to make sure your hardware is installed straight. Mark the holes on the template the same distance in from the edge that you want the handle to be in from the edge of your door.
You are ready to learn how to install cabinet hardware.
Place the template along the edge of your door or drawer and mark your holes.
When you have marked your cabinets (and double checked to be sure the holes will be in the right place), the next step in how to install cabinet hardware is to carefully use a drill and drill bit to drill the holes for each pull or knob.
Once your holes are drilled you are ready to install the hardware. If you are using break off screws measure and break off the screws you will need. Use a screw driver to securely attach each knob and pull to the cabinets.
I hope you find these tips for how to install cabinet hardware useful. Let us know if you have questions or show us how your cabinets turn out by tagging @familyfocusblog. You’ll love the difference adding or replacing hardware makes to your kitchen or bathroom!
Follow us on Instagram @familyfoucsblog for more fun ideas!