How difficult is it to fit kitchen cupboards?

[bimbabirba]

Just that really. DH is good at DIY and the house we've moved into last week has zero wall cupboards. I've managed to get hold of 3 double units and now I'm wondering if we can avoid calling a kitchen fitter.

Not very. I did mine, but I did get my brother to help me do the wall cabinets. Just need to make sure you get a good straight line to work off and that your walls will hold your fixings for wall cabinets. You can also do them onto batons. Loads of info online about doing it.

I think the base units are very easy. My DS1 (then 15) and I did them ourselves.

In a nutshell, it's...

1. Build the base units - it took an hour to do the first one, then got quicker, following the flat-pack instructions.
2. Fit the base units. They need attaching to the wall and each other. Use a spirit level to make sure they're absolutely level at the top, so the worktop will sit neatly and securely on top.
3. Fit the worktop. I paid a joiner to do a professional job, because it's the hardest bit, it was decent quality wood and I didn't want to wreck it, and I needed holes cutting for the sink and hob, and had an awkward chimney breast to work round, as well as a mitred corner.

I found the wall units harder, and they're definitely a 2 person job, because someone strong needs to hold them up on the wall while the other person fits them. But I think we may have found it harder than average because (a) we should have done them before the base units, but didn't, so it was more difficult to reach, and (b) our wall isn't load-bearing, so we attached them to the joists in the (low) ceiling instead...

There are online guides by B and Q, ikea, etc....

Good luck! :)

Thanks guys!

I stronglr recommend the Hanging Rails or strip.

These are like the little brackets you usually get included with cabinets, but are two or three metres long with lots of holes in them. That means you screw them to the wall at the correct height, using plenty of screws with no worries about exact spacing or positioning, and never having a place where you can't put a screw because of a pipe or cable in teh way. The cabinet hangers then hook on, and you can move the cabs sideways if you wish to a different position. The cabinets will easily be level with each other.

The rails are above eye level so if you paint them first to match or tone with the walls they will not be visually intrusive.

various suppliers and randomised pricing