DIY Kitchens - Base Units

Base units come in various configurations and are available in flat pack or rigid format. Board thickness, construction methods and accessories also highlight the differences between manufacturers. The majority have adjustable legs fitted for ease of fitting and to prevent water ingress.

Try to choose a carcass of at least 18mm construction with a back of at least 9mm board thickness and metal sided drawer boxes again with a solid base of at least 15mm board. Rigid units will save on installation time but otherwise carry no major advantage over flat pack units.

Many manufacturers build co-ordinated carcasses that match their door finishes. This is a useful advantage when ends are visible but as an alternative you can fit a coordinated end support panel or even a door fascia.

The majority of carcasses are constructed using melamine faced chipboard and particular care should be given to the sink base carcass which will be extremely vulnerable to water ingress over its lifetime.

Tools required for the job

The tools required for fitting the base units are as follows:

	Cordless screwdriver
	Hand Tools
	Jigsaw
	5mm HSS Drill bit
	50mm, 25mm, 30mm and 16mm screws
	Pair of clamps
	Hole saws
	Spirit level
	Tape Measure
	Power Drill
	Compass and pencil
	Safety Equipment - Goggles, Dust Mask etc
	Extension Lead

The fitting

Fitting should commence in the corner of the kitchen. Starting at the highest point in the floor, a level line should be transferred to the walls marking the finished height of your cabinets.

Corner cabinets are generally available in two configurations, an L-shaped unit, usually 900mm width and a conventional corner cabinet available in sizes from 900mm to 1200mm. If the design allows then one, the other, or both will be suitable for your kitchen.

Adjust the legs to ensure the cabinet meets the line and, using a spirit level, adjust to ensure the unit is plumb and level. Continue the above method with all subsequent units and clamp together making sure all edges are flush and level.

To connect units together, use clamps inside the units to adjoin the units both top and bottom, ensuring that the front and top edges are flush. When clamping together protect units by using hardboard off cuts or similar behind the clamp jaws.

Remove one screw from each of the hinge back plates and rotate back plate to expose area behind. Using a 5mm wood bit, drill part way through the first carcass behind the hinge back plate and fix the two together with a cordless screwdriver using 30mm screws for 18mm units and for 25mm screws for 15mm units. Reposition back plate and fix. This will serve to conceal the fixing. If however, both units are connecting on the closing side of the doors - use the same procedure and cap the screws.

Where ends are not visible it is advantageous to cut off the service void from the bottom of the cabinets leaving 80mm of the full cabinet depth from the top of the unit. This will serve to overcome any out of true plastering behind the base units and provide an easy means of running cables behind the units after fitting.

Most manufacturers employ a service void of approximately 50mm at the back of base units and this is essential not only for plumbing and electrical services but also for scribing to the walls if necessary. To ensure that no gaps are visible where the last unit meets the wall you may need to scribe the cabinet. To do this, level the cabinet and clamp it to the adjacent one leaving it 30mm proud of the front edge, clamp the units together, set the compass to 30mm between pencil and point and run the point of the compass down the wall keeping it parallel with the pencil point. The pencil line left on the carcass will act as a guide for cutting with a jigsaw. After cutting, fit the cabinet as described above. This will leave a perfect finish to the wall.

When all the cabinets are levelled and in place, they will require fixing to the walls. This will only be required at alternate gables. Hold a 25mm right-angled bracket to the wall and against a gable interior. Mark through the bracket with a pencil to the wall and drill at a downward angle. Insert a rawlplug and fix to the wall using a 50mm screw. Fix the bracket to the cabinet gable using a 16mm screw.

Fitting appliances

An important thing to remember is, when fitting a conventional corner cabinet that has an appliance fitted on the return, to allow sufficient space for the door to open 90° and to ensure that the appliance door has clearance to open without infringing on the door handle. This may require the fitting of a corner fillet manufactured on site but will ensure that your dishes can be placed into a fully open dishwasher.

Remember to align the hob base unit with the extractor. This task takes precedence over all others for the efficient operation of the extractor. It may be necessary to reposition the corner unit but this can be amended by again utilising a filler on the corner base.

When fitting integrated appliances you will need to leave a space between cabinets. Using a straight length of wood or plinth, clamp flush to the already levelled cabinets and use this as a guide for fitting the next cabinet making sure you leave the correct space between the units and this applies to both the front and the back. This method also applies when fitting units either side of a freestanding or range cooker.

© Based on an original article by T Foley Installations 2002 - Reproduction prohibited without the express consent of the author - All rights reserved.