Are you look for a guide on how to install handles on kitchen cabinets. If so then you are in luck. Let’s go over the steps that can help you prepare for this.
Replacing Old Hardware
Sometimes no matter how good you can spray paint kitchen hardware it does not always work out how you want it to look on your kitchen cabinets. Old kitchen hardware can always be reused in several ways including changing the colors and positions they are installed in but it can be hard to ignore that the design on the hardware may just be outdated and out of style for out modern kitchens today.
If you are going to replace old hardware and get a new style then you will need to cover up all the old hardware screw holes because there may be an indention left in its place. The best solution to fill up old hardware screws is not wood putty or caulk, but instead always try to use Bondo .
Yes Bondo is the car repair solution that comes in to 2 different components. The grey compound is what makes up most of the can substance that is then mixed with a red colored reactor that activates the hardener so it gets sand and paint ready from within 30 and 60 minutes.
The reason why you want to use bondo is because you can easily build it up around the hole so the entire indention and circumference of the hole is completely covered out of sight and out of touch.
Installing New Hardware
To install the new hardware on your kitchen cabinets you just need to know the main components that make up the cabinet door. The kitchen cabinet is made up of the frame and the face panel. The frame has an upper and lower horizontal piece called the Rails. On the left and right of the frame are the Stile pieces running vertically.
Generally speaking you always want to maintain your hardware on the opposite side of hinges and on the lower area. The objective should be to center the cabinet hardware on the door stile and the inline with the top edge of the bottom rail. That will be the exact spot to drill your first hole. Where the top edge of the bottom rail and center of the stile location cross each other in a perpendicular manner.
Example: Where to drill hole for knob or pull
Lets just say that your rails and stiles are 2 inches wide each which is normal they should be the same width to keep that consistency around the cabinet door frame. So lets suppose your door hinges are on the left side so your hardware will go on your right side of door. From the bottom right corner you will measure 2 inches up and from the right to left side you will mark 1 inch. So where those 2 points meet is the exact point where you will drill your first hole for your hardware.
Types of Hardware
There are mostly 2 kinds of cabinet hardware
- Knobs
- Pulls
Even though there are only 2 styles of these kitchen cabinet door hardware there are lots of designs for each style. There are basically thousands of designs that have been made over the years and as time passes by they get discontinued or voted out of style.
Round or Square Cabinet Hardware
As a kitchen cabinet carpenter I would recommend that you stick with the round designs. That is because the square designs have to be installed particularly close to exact perfection which are tedious but totally possible with little patience and precision.
The problem is that as time passes by and the wood of your cabinets began to expand and retract according to the humidity levels of your home then it may take a few weeks for months for your wood cabinets to finally stay in their final form, even though the changes are minimal the daily use of squared hardware will tend for them to slightly shift in one direction or the other. If you are a picky person then a slightly slanted hardware will be an eye sore that will keep bothering you very often until you take time off your day to some adjustment.
Round hardware on the other hand especially referring to round knobs these kind of kitchen hardware is more universal and is mostly low maintenance. Round edges will not be noticeable when or if the hardware shifts from one side or the other.
Some modern kitchen designs are including now either hidden kitchen hardware of no kitchen hardware what so ever. You can have built in hand placements under the doors of the cabinets to act as integrated hardware.
Universal Design Kitchen Cabinet Hardware
When it comes to a universal kitchen solution that will work for literally anyone regardless of age or disability there are plenty of options available like the following:
- Push to open- This is a kitchen format that will help you open any door with out pulling on a actual handle, simply press on the door with your hand, elbow, or whatever body part is free at the moment and the door will eject outward enough for you hold the edge and open.
- Step to open- This feature is available for the base cabinets only because its based on a step contraption below the door that releases it open when you trigger the step with a light step with your foot.
- Hidden Handles- These kind of handles are hidden below, above or on the side of cabinet doors. They are simply an opening gap on the door for you to be able to slide your fingers into it and pull.
How to install handles on kitchen cabinets
To set up the brand new hardware for your kitchen doors you simply want to realize the primary additives that make up the cabinet door as we discussed earlier. The Rails are the frame pieces running horizontal on top and bottom. The stile parts are running vertically from left and right sides.
When installing pull hardware on kitchen cabinet then this means you will be drill 2 holes for each piece. At this point you will drill into the actual face panel of the drawers and on the stile piece for doors.
The pulls on doors will go on just like knobs but this time you will add the second hole on the stile piece just above the first hole according to what your space is between the holes of your hardware.
The drawer pulls will go directly on the face panel. You will simply find the center point from top to bottom and center point from left and right. With those perpendicular points intersecting you will then find the center of your pull hardware and drill your holes in a horizontal fashion.
How to install knobs on kitchen cabinets
The knob will be placed on the center of stile and go in line with the top edge of the rail. So where the 2 points intersect each other that is where you will drill the hole for your knob.
For wall cabinets you will install the knobs on the bottom corners away opposite of the door hinges. The base cabinet knobs will be installed on the top corners of the cabinet door and on the opposite side of your hinges.
Take Away
Hope you have enjoyed this quick instructional article on how to install different kitchen hardware. If you have enjoyed this please follow us on our youtube channel where we share and explain how to install various kitchen components.
Cheers!
