This might seem like an insignificant thing to think about, but cabinets are an important thing that needs to be prepared prior to Silestone countertops installation. Here’s everything you need to know about it.
Take Proper Measurements
The first and most important thing you need to do regarding the preparation of cabinets for the countertops is to get proper measurements. The measurements make all of the difference in how the final result looks.
It’s very important that you take your time when taking measurements because the countertops need to sit exactly at the top of the cabinets and there shouldn’t be any crookedness in the countertop installation. That’s why measurement needs to be taken with great precision. You can’t expect the cabinets to fully straighten the countertop slabs if they are crooked in the first place.
For the right measurements, take a stiff measuring tape and use it to measure the perimeter of the cabinets, and leave a 2-inch border on each side, if you want the countertop to drape the cabinet. This will give a nice look to the whole assembly in the end.
Leveling Is Important
Over time, there can be a lot of things that can make the cabinets sag and ruin the level. This is why you will need to keep the level in mind, before installing new countertops. If the cabinets are slightly skewed, then it can lead to the whole thing looking arched and it doesn’t have a good look either.
To make sure that the level is straight, you will need to use a leveler to see whether or not the cabinet surface is skewed. If it is, then you need to find the side where the sag is. From there, you can figure out what is causing the cabinet to sag in a certain direction.
Once that is figured out and that can be anything, like cracks, hollow spaces in the surface of the cabinets, or more, you can fill the space up or have it done by someone professional. This might look like a lot of work, but it will pay off in the end.
Alignment Is Key
Another important which will make a world of a difference in how your countertops and cabinets look is the alignment. The alignment is for both cabinets and countertops. You need to look out for any crooked lines or skewed installation.
A lot of the time, this can be a problem if you have this work done by someone who is not professional and didn’t figure out the measurements and level beforehand. If the cabinets are not aligned, then it can be hard to open and close them with ease and it puts unnecessary pressure and stress on the foundation and hinges of the cabinets.
As far as the alignment of countertops is concerned, it needs to be perfect as well, because then there is no issue of seams showing through the pattern of the slab since seams can look extremely unpleasant.
Remove Old Cabinets
If you are planning on changing out your countertops and installing new ones, then you might also want to consider changing out your cabinets, especially if they’re out of shape, the alignment is out of whack and the foundation is very weak.
It’s better to get the cabinets removed as well and have new ones installed because the old ones might not be able to hold the weight of the new countertop slabs and they might collapse if the force is too much. If the foundation is not straight and the cabinets are out of alignment, then it’s better to start from the bottom and have it repaired.
You will also need to check the level of the foundation and the cabinet to make sure nothing is skewed and out of alignment. For heavier countertops like granite and quartz, you will need stronger and sturdier cabinets for better support and durability.
Conclusion
There you have it! Once you know how to keep the cabinets in the equation of installing countertops, you will see how much put together the entire thing will look, when it’s done. Moreover, it goes without saying to choose quartz countertops NC that match your cabinets.
