Q: What should I know about hiring a cabinet installer?

• <div>There are some <a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/how-hire-right-cabinet-company.htm">tips when hiring a cabinet installer </a>that&rsquo;ll help prepare you to create a new space. When installing new cabinets, keep the following in mind:<ul><li>Hire the same cabinet installer professional to measure, design, and install the cabinets, as opposed to jumping between companies. </li><li>Discuss what types of cabinets the installer offers, including stock, semi-custom, and custom, to give yourself options.</li><li>Discuss financing options with your installer, as this project can be expensive depending on your chosen cabinets.</li><li>Discuss your cabinet installer&rsquo;s prior experience, including asking for photos of previous projects. </li></ul></div>

Question 1

What is the 1/3 rule for cabinet hardware and why is it important?

Accepted Answer

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The 1/3 rule is a design guideline used by interior designers and cabinet installers to select appropriately sized pulls for cabinets and drawers. The rule suggests that for a balanced and cohesive look, a cabinet pull should be approximately one-third the height of the cabinet door or one-third the width of the drawer face. This guideline helps create a symmetrical appearance because the human eye tends to follow the length of the pull across the cabinet face.

While the 1/3 rule is a helpful starting point, it is not the only option. If a measurement falls between available pull sizes, it's generally best to size up. For an ultra-contemporary aesthetic, you can also opt for full-width pulls that span the entire drawer.

Question 2

How can I save money when building an outdoor kitchen?

Accepted Answer

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There are several ways to save money and keep costs down when building an outdoor kitchen. Building on an existing patio can reduce the cost of a new foundation, especially if it's close to the house. You can also save on utility line installation by opting out of a sink and using a built-in propane or charcoal grill. If you have the skills, tackling parts of the project yourself—like building or finishing cabinets, installing fixtures, and constructing seating—can lead to significant savings. Reusing appliances you already have is another great way to cut costs. Finally, consider starting small with just the essential components and adding more features over time as your budget allows.

Question 3

Do you place heavier loads on lower or middle shelves?

Accepted Answer

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Any of your garage shelves should be able to hold heavier loads, but it’s best to place heavier items on middle shelves. The only reason for this is to prevent injury—lifting heavy loads from down low requires squatting or bending over, which can lead to back injury, and lifting heavy loads off of high shelves in the garage can be especially dangerous if you drop them.

Question 4

What should I know about hiring a cabinet installer?

Accepted Answer

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There are some tips when hiring a cabinet installer that’ll help prepare you to create a new space. When installing new cabinets, keep the following in mind:

Hire the same cabinet installer professional to measure, design, and install the cabinets, as opposed to jumping between companies.
Discuss what types of cabinets the installer offers, including stock, semi-custom, and custom, to give yourself options.
Discuss financing options with your installer, as this project can be expensive depending on your chosen cabinets.
Discuss your cabinet installer’s prior experience, including asking for photos of previous projects.

Question 5

What is the most common type of kitchen cabinets?

Accepted Answer

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When it comes to kitchen cabinets, most homeowners opt for stock cabinetry. Not only is stock cabinetry more affordable than custom or semi-custom options, but it’s also typically readily available for a quick installation. RTA cabinets are popular types of kitchen cabinets as well, but often aren’t as durable and can be difficult to build.