One, Is the cabinet renovation a hard or soft renovation?
"Light renovation typically refers to traditional home renovation tasks such as demolishing walls, painting, installing ceilings, and laying pipes and electrical wiring. It also includes the addition of any decorative elements to the building's surface or interior, such as colors, to meet the structural, layout, functional, and aesthetic needs of the house, in addition to the essential infrastructure. These decorative elements are generally considered permanent fixtures.
Soft decoration refers to the use of easily replaceable and movable decorative items such as wallpaper, fabrics, carpets, furniture, accessories, and lighting fixtures after the main construction is complete. It enhances the interior's secondary furnishing and arrangement.
After the kitchen cabinets are installed, they are typically fixed in place and cannot be moved, which constitutes the "dry" part of the kitchen renovation.
II. Steps for installing cabinets
The kitchen cabinets consist of several parts, and typically require two skilled installers for installation. After the kitchen cabinets arrive, they are usually installed in the following order: base cabinets, hardware, countertop, upper cabinets, and finally, the range hood and appliances.
1、Installation of the base cabinet
Ensure the floor is clean to allow for accurate measurement of the floor level. After installers measure the floor and walls using a level, they can determine the floor level and then adjust the cabinet accordingly. If the cabinets are in an L-shape or U-shape, a reference point must first be established. For L-shaped cabinets, the reference point should be at the right angle, and cabinets can be installed from both sides. However, if cabinets are installed from the center, there may be gaps. For U-shaped cabinets, the central one-piece cabinet should first be placed neatly, and then the two corner cabinets should be placed from the two corners. once the cabinets are placed, they need to be leveled. The cabinet leveling legs can be used to adjust the cabinet's level. Generally, 4 connection pieces are needed to connect between cabinets to ensure a tight fit. Some cabinet manufacturers use cheaper self-tapping screws to save on installation costs.
2、Installation of hardware
When installing cabinets, the drain installation will typically involve creating holes on-site. Using a specialized drill, holes should be created according to the pipe size, with the hole diameter being at least 3-4 millimeters larger than the pipe. After drilling, the hole area should be sealed with sealant.
To prevent water leakage from the sink or drain, the connection between the pipe and the sink should be sealed with a rubber gasket or silicone sealant. The pipe connection to the drain should also be sealed with silicone sealant.
3、Hanging cabinet installation
When installing cabinets, to ensure the horizontal alignment of expansion bolts, a horizontal line should be drawn on the wall. Typically, the distance between the horizontal line and the countertop is 650mm. When installing cabinets, it is also necessary to connect the cabinet body with connecting components to ensure a secure connection. After the cabinet installation is complete, the cabinet must be adjusted to ensure its level. The level of the cabinet directly affects the aesthetics of the kitchen cabinet.
4、Installation of countertops
Currently, most people opt for artificial stone or natural stone countertops. These countertops are typically made by joining several pieces of stone together. The bonding time, amount of adhesive used, and degree of polishing all influence the aesthetic appearance of the countertop.
Generally, bonding countertops in summer requires 30 minutes, while in winter, it takes 1 to 1.5 hours. Use professional adhesives during bonding. Installation workers should use grinders for sanding and polishing.
5、Installation of cooktop appliances
Installing built-in appliances within kitchen cabinets only requires drilling a power outlet on-site. However, the outlet hole should not be too small, as this could make future repairs and disassembly difficult. The outlet should also not be covered. The typical distance between the range hood and the stove is between 750-800mm. If the installation height is too high, it can affect the ventilation performance.
When installing the range hood, ensure it aligns with the range. The height can be adjusted according to the actual situation. When installing the range, the most important step is to connect the gas supply. It is crucial to ensure that the gas inlet is airtight.
6、Adjust cabinet doors
The final step in installing kitchen cabinets is adjusting the cabinet doors to ensure even gaps and proper alignment, with the depth of base cabinets typically 550mm and that of hanging cabinets 300mm. Consumers can also adjust these dimensions to suit their specific needs. After adjusting the cabinet doors, the installer should also clean up any debris left from the installation, ensuring a clean kitchen.