Is Installing Kitchen Cabinets Hard? 5 Best Tips for Installing New Kitchen Cabinets

Planning to install your own kitchen cabinets? With your cabinets ordered and your renovation underway, you might be considering a DIY installation instead of working with tradesmen. While it’s certainly a challenging task to do it DIY, it’s not impossible. With the right tools, careful preparation, and a solid strategy, installing kitchen cabinets can be managed in a perfect way.

Whether you’re planning to install your kitchen cabinets yourself or not, there are several key things that can help you through the process. From preparation to setting a proper timeline, this guide will walk you through it all. Silk Touch Joinery understands that installing kitchen cabinets isn’t just about fixing boxes to a wall—it’s about creating a level, seamless, and lasting finish.

Our experienced installers know how to work with Melbourne’s unique homes, including those with uneven walls and floors, and ensure every cabinet is perfectly aligned and secure.

We bring the right tools, skills, and precision to complete the job efficiently. In this blog, we will help you handle the process with confidence and clarity. Whether you’re doing it DIY or collaborating with professionals, this guide is going to be all you need.

So let’s get started, shall we?

Is Installing Kitchen Cabinets Hard in Melbourne?

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Is installing kitchen cabinets hard? No one has a definite answer—but one thing’s for sure: it’s easier said than done.

Installing kitchen cabinets might not be as simple as it seems—but it could be handled like a professional with the right strategy and preparation. Additionally, in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, many homeowners prefer professional installation to save time and have a perfect finish.

However, DIY installation remains a popular choice—especially with Silk Touch flat-pack kitchens. Like other flat-pack cabinets, the installation is technical, in which you can ask for guidance from our installation team to make the process smoother.

So, is installing cabinets hard? It can be—depending on your personal experiences. Here’s where the real difficulty comes in:

Uneven Walls and Floors: Older homes in suburbs like Toorak and Camberwell always have uneven surfaces, which requires blockers and wedges to level cabinets properly.
Heavy Cabinets: Cabinets are heavy, and trying to install them alone isn’t not a good idea. Lifting and holding cabinets while securing them can be physically hard and risky without help or the right support tools.
Consistency Required: Have patience and consistency to achieve a great, perfect finish.
Cabinets must be perfectly level and aligned to ensure that doors and drawers operate smoothly.
Coordination with Other Trades: Plumbing, electrical, and tiling work need to be done carefully. Installing a couple of cabinets is one thing—handling the entire job is another. To ensure everything is done right, it’s often best to leave it to the professionals.

Timeline for Installing Kitchen Cabinets

Understanding the timeline for installing kitchen cabinets can give you a big head start. Wondering how? Wondering how? For instance, it helps you set realistic expectations and plan your kitchen renovation step by step. Starting the job one day without knowing when or where it will finish won’t help you complete your kitchen renovation smoothly.

A simple installation might take about four days, but without a timeline, your renovation can easily stretch to three or four weeks.

Here is a typical step-by-step timeline for installing kitchen cabinets:

Preparation (4-6 hours): Clear the kitchen space, remove old cabinets, and prepare walls and floors. This includes sweeping and vacuuming floors to avoid dust affecting your new kitchen cabinets.
Measurement and Layout (1-2 hours): Measurement is the most important part—make sure to do it carefully. Mark stud locations and draw level lines for both base and upper cabinets. Correct measurements are crucial to avoid fitting problems later.
Cabine Preparation (4-8 hours or more): Collect and gather your ready-to-assemble cabinets or prepare your custom ones. This step will vary depending on the type of cabinets you’re using. If you are using Silk Touch flat-pack kitchen cabinets, it won’t take much time to assemble them.
Installing Upper Cabinets (4-8 hours): Install upper cabinets first to avoid damage. This approach helps you install your base cabinets easier.
Base Cabinets (4-8 hours): Make sure to secure base cabinets properly to avoid having uneven cabinetry.
Finishing Touches (1-2 hours): Put on the doors and drawers, attach handles, and add some trim to give your cabinets that perfect, finished touch.

Keep in mind that the total installation time is flexible—from just a day to several days—depending on your skill level and the size of your kitchen. The more skilled you are, the faster it goes. Doing it alone might take longer, especially when installing upper cabinets. Hanging those alone can lead to uneven cabinets, so be sure to get some help!

Communication and Coordination

Is installing kitchen cabinets hard? Definitely not with the professionals and tradespeople. Keep in mind that things can be quite different when you’re not doing a DIY kitchen cabinet installation. In that case, clear communication with professionals and tradespeople is crucial to make sure the project runs smoothly.

A smooth kitchen installation depends on more than just good craftsmanship—it requires smart coordination. That’s why Silk Touch Joinery takes responsibility for managing the entire process from start to finish, working directly with plumbers, electricians, tilers, and other trades to make sure everything is done in the right order and at the right time.

We communicate clearly with you and every team involved, ensuring timelines are met, disruptions are minimised, and your kitchen comes together without surprises or delays. It’s how we make the complex process of kitchen renovation feel simple and stress-free.

When installing kitchen cabinets, managing and setting timelines with electricians, plumbers, designers, and contractors comes first. This process helps ensure that all necessary work is completed before cabinet installation begins.

For instance, all plumbing and electrical work should be finished in advance to avoid damaging your new cabinets later on. Professional installers often call clients the night before—and again about an hour before arrival—to confirm the schedule and help homeowners prepare for noise, dust, and temporary disruption.

Clear communication also helps manage expectations around costs. Some joinery companies separate cabinet prices from installation fees and keep clients informed about any changes along the way.

How to Prepare for Your Kitchen Cabinet Installation?

Before setting a timeline for your kitchen cabinet installation, there are some things you should handle—whether you’re hiring professionals or doing it yourself. Preparing your kitchen for the process can help reduce stress and avoid unnecessary delays.

Here is what needs to be done before installing kitchen cabinets:

Prepare Floors and Walls: Before installing kitchen wall cabinets make sure the floors are clean and the walls are ready for hanging cabinets. Cabinets should be installed on subflooring, not directly on finished floors.
Complete Plumbing and Electrical Work: Finish all related work before cabinet installation to avoid rework or damage.
Double-Check Measurements: Measure several times to make sure you have the correct data. This can prevent fitting issues.
Plan to Be Out of the Kitchen: Installation can be dusty and noisy, if you are not doing a DIY, make sure to stay out of the kitchen unless you are needed. Keep in mind to prepare meals and activities outside the home during the work.

Conclusion

Installing kitchen cabinets in Melbourne’s suburbs doesn’t have to be hard if you understand the timeline, communicate well, and prepare your home properly. Whether you’re installing kitchen wall cabinets or adding LED strip lights under kitchen cabinets, good planning and clear communication with your installer will make your kitchen renovation smoother and more enjoyable. Keep in mind to prepare your kitchen before contacting tradesmen or starting your DIY.

FAQs

1. Is It Better to Install Upper Cabinets or Base Cabinets First?

It’s best to install upper cabinets before base cabinets because it makes the installation easier and prevents damage to the base cabinets during the process.

2. Do You Tile a Kitchen Wall Before Installing Cabinets?

Usually, tiling is done after installing cabinets so tiles run behind them for a cleaner look, but it depends on your backsplash and lighting plans.

3. Can Kitchen Cabinets Come Pre-assembled?

Yes, many manufacturers offer pre-assembled or ready-to-assemble cabinets that can be installed quickly without the need for construction. Keep in mind Silk Touch joinery offers sth better than those options and that is the flat-pack kitchen customization.