Kitchen Renovations 101: Choosing Materials for Building Kitchen Cabinets
By Cheri WatkinsRefacingCabinet.com Columnist
Depending on whether you plan to build raised-panel doors, create custom trim, or manufacture complicated angles, you will need one to three types of saws:
- Miter, Circular, or Table saw with dado joint set or router
You will also need these essentials:
Tools and Hardware To Build Kitchen Cabinets
- Power drill
- Claw hammer
- Layout square
- 4d finish nails
- Tape measure
- Pencil
- Woodworker's glue
- 3-inch and 1 1/2 inch deck screws
Asssuming you have decided what type of wood to use, estimate that you will need the following lumber for each cabinet:
- Two 4' x 8' sheets of 3/4 inch wood
- One 4' x 8' sheet of 1/4 inch wood
- One 8-foot long 2' x 4'
- Three 8-foot long 1' x 2'
Standard Dimensions for Kitchen Cabinets
Base cabinets:
Depth: 24"
Width: Should mirror upper cabinets
Height: 36" - 34" lower cabinet with a 1 1/2" thick countertop
Upper cabinets:
Depth: 12"
Width: 9" to 48"
Height: 30"
For extra storage capacity:
Base cabinets can be created 30" deep. In these cases, Workbench Magazine recommends 15" deep upper cabinets to retain visual appeal. For upper cabinets, height can extend from 36" to 42", if ceiling space permits.
Next
The two most common styles of kitchen cabinets are face-frame and frameless. In part 3 of our Kitchen Renovations 101 How to Build Your Own Kitchen Cabinets series, Refacingcabinet.com teaches you how to build cabinet carcases for the two main styles of kitchen cabinet, using plans based on the standard dimensions above. Check out the Part 3 Face Frame or Frameless Kitchen Cabinets.
To see the full list of articles in this series visit our How to Build Your Own Kitchen Cabinets series page.
About The Author
Cheri Renee began her professional writing career at Greenspun Media Group's Showbiz Weekly magazine (now LVM). Several years later, she discovered an interest in interior design and home improvement, while on assignment for GMG's H&D magazine. Cheri has consulted as an English language arts editor for McGraw-Hill Education, and a biomedical research copyeditor for faculty at UNLV, and Sunrise Children's Heart Center. She holds a B.A. in Creative Writing from Augusta State University and an M.S.T. in Adolescent English Education from Fordham University.
