[riono]

My husband and I are not regular DIYers, but I like to think we can follow directions. I didn't see anything in the installation area or general questions, so I hope this is an ok place to ask...

Is there anything inherently tricky with putting these cabs together? Any reason why we wouldn't be able to do a good job? On average, how long does it take to install each cabinet? I'm going to IKEA tomorrow to look again (without kids, yay!), but I know we want to get moving on this in 2007.

TIA!

Elizabeth

[Susan]

If you're reasonably intelligent, have a fair amount of patience, and don't mind asking questions and taking advice online (you're here, so I think you don't), you shouldn't have a problem assembling and installing these cabinets. A few simple tools will help.

Assembling a standard cabinet (i.e., not a pantry cabinet) will take about an hour the first time, then 20-30 minutes a piece after that, maybe more if you use all hand tools. It really gets to be kind of fun! There are some details on the instructions that aren't exactly clear on first glance...you have to be sure to look at the tiny nuances - particularly regarding the positioning of the sides/back, etc. while you're assembling.

Installation is a separate animal - you have to figure on adding time in for unplumb, unlevel walls and floors and many other factors. Ask ahead and you'll be prepared - this will save you the most time of all. Have fun tomorrow, and take your camera!

Hope that helps!
Susan

[lanstan]

Putting the cabinets goes very well after the first one. There is wonderful advice here. One thing to do is watch the video on the home page on how to put a kitchen together.
We took a little longer than others. We did one cabinet the first evening. My husband and 20 yr old DD and myself. After that we did about 2 an evening. I suppose if you really got to work you could do them faster. We had lots of fun and feel a big part of our kitchen.
We hired a retired contracter to help my husband install them and am glad we did. Putting them up isnt too hard but the fill in places look much better if someone is skilled. So if your cabinets fit perfect without having to do fill in for 3 inches here 2 there it could be easy.
You will save alot even if you dont do it all yourself.

[bogiesan]

I'd suggest you get two or three good buddies who have some DIY skills. As others have said, Ikea kitchens are not particularly difficult to assemble and tweak but if you have never built a kitchen there are hundreds of little things that can and will go wrong. These are just weird little gotchas that happen with all remodels and scratch builds. Coping with them is easier if you have some experience in the team. Avoiding them is easy, too, but requires extensive experience with other kitchen projects or previous Ikea systems.

Umm, in all cases, it is assumed 'experience" imparts knowledge.

david boise ID

[nicollet]

Assembling the cabinets was the easiest part of our kitchen. Attaching them to the walls, not too tough; cutting the trim has been kind of difficult because we don't really have the right tools. The hard parts for us were dealing with the utilities and installing the appliances - not nuclear physics but not as straightforward as the cabinets, and some aspects we just could not do - should have left that whole end of the job to pros.

I'd say make a start on it, and if you run into trouble you can't solve by reading here, call a kitchen contractor.

[Shouva]

Adding to the info of the previous posts:

Electrical and plumbing leave to the pro's unless you are a serious DIY.

Invest in a few tools: a small compressor and brad nailer for installing the backs (less than $100 for both), 4' or even 6' level for leveling base cabinets to each other as well as checking level of floor, ceiiing etc., a few large C clamps, an electric drill. these tools should cost you less than $200 total.

Shouva