Carpentry and Woodworking - help with installing new kitchen cabinets

I am completely gutting kitchen as part of my addition. will be putting in new floor, knocking out some walls, building new hip wall, and putting in new cabinets. How hard is it to install base and wall cabinets? Just wanted to see if this is DIY. Some basic advice or could someone direct me to some literature to guide me. The place wants $79/cabinet-I think that will work out to about $2000. I know they have to be pretty precise-completely level so may need to shim underneath, should be straight line so may need to shim between cabinets and wall. do you mark studs and then screw through cabinet to attach to studs? any advice appreciated.

Whether or not it is DIY depends on your skill levels and tools available, only you know that. Laser levels really make things easier, and are no longer high dollar items. Find the high point in the room. Strike a LEVEL line from that point around the room. From that you can set cabinet heights. For solid surface or granite countertops, the cabinets MUST be dead leve/plumbl.

Since this is a gut, when you have the bare studs in front of you, run a string line from cabinet end to end. Shim as needed to get a FLAT wall before installing drywall. I have yet to find a flat wall in a house. A flat wall makes things so much easier. Add blocking as needed for sinks, microwaves, etc. Insulate outside walls well. Run all your new electrical, plumbing, exhaust ductwork before closing the wall. DO have required inspections.

Good luck!!!

thanks for response. couple questions. Do I strike a line based on high point of the room-or high point of the area where cabinets will be? I would think just area where cabinets will be is relevent, but wanted to clarify since you said high point in room.

so I would strike line 34.5" from high point, and then shim all cabinets to line up perfectly with that line. how do shims underneath cabinets stay in place?

good advice on shimming wall before drywall. I have found that the walls are never flat.

not sure I understand about the blocking. the sink will be steel undermount to the silestone countertop. so I don't think I would need any blocking? Same for microwave. It is going to sit in a base cabinet. for now will just be my regular microwave. it is 21" and cabinet is 27" so I think I will be OK from venting standpoint till I can get a new 24" sharp microwave drawer that wife wants.

Should I block between all studs to support the wall cabinets? and what kind of screws are used to attach the cabinets to wall? and do you screw cabinets to each other?

Hello hammerash,

If I strip the kitchen down to the studs I like to place 12" wide plywood strips behind the drywall. That way the cabinets always have a secure point to screw to. I do the same around windows so the customer can have a secure point for curtain rods. With wall cabinets I tend to build them in different heights and weights; using a 1x3 firing strip at the laser point or spinner line. Placing the cabinets on the firing strip takes the weight off and makes it easier to secure the cabinet. Use screws to attach the fir strips for easy removal.
If you are installing a granite slab on the base cabinets they must be perfectly flat and level so the slab seams match. It is best to have an 8' level when installing base cabinets; it works as a level and a straight edge.

The high point location is within the area where the cabinets will be, not the entire room. When measuring on the backs of the cabinets to locate the screws fastening them to the wall, remember to allow for the overhang of the face frame, usually 1/2 in. total between two adjoining cabinets.

install kitchen cabinets - Google Books (http://books.google.com/books?ei=8h0KSqSpLKTgtAPf5ezhCA&ct=result&as_brr=3&q=install+kitchen+cabinets&btnG=Search+Books)
Click on the cabinet books, the rest are time wasters. Enjoy!
Be safe, Gary