How can we update the height of our kitchen cabinets?

Herman
by Herman

How can we use existing kitchen cabinets, add 1/2 inch of flooring over existing flooring and come up with cabinets that are not too short? We will be putting a new quartz counter on the top, but it will not make up for the height that will be lost. I might add, the cabinet box now is 31.5 inches high. Thanks!

  4 answers
  • Gk Gk on Nov 07, 2018

    Removing your lower cabinets is not a difficult job--it's a matter of removing screws and sliding them out--especially if you plan on replacing counter tops. You may have to add something under your cabinets to match the height of your new flooring. What do you have for existing flooring? If it is already under the cabinets you may be able to add some plywood to bring up that height. It's probably not what you want to do but it will help your situation.

  • Mogie Mogie on Nov 07, 2018

    You can raise or lower your cabinets to a height that is more useful for you. I am short so we lowered the cabinets in our utility room by about a foot. Made a huge difference. Just be sure to secure them to the wall better then they were to begin with since they hold so much weight.

  • Kelli L. Milligan Kelli L. Milligan on Nov 07, 2018

    Befor the countertops go on. Remove old one and apply 1/2" X 1/2" strip of wood applied to front edges of cabinets and along the back secured to wall. Finish to match cabinets or make it an accent.

    Don't forget to put flooring under dish washer. We do this all the time, it works great. Make sure it is all level!


    • See 3 previous
    • Kelli L. Milligan Kelli L. Milligan on Nov 08, 2018

      I totally agree with new construction, it's the going behind shotty remodels that cause all sorts of issues. The dishwasher trapped issues mainly occur when they add ceramic tile and build up is an inch or so. It's pathetic, happens all the time here.

  • William William on Nov 07, 2018

    Most kitchen cabinets are installed before flooring goes in. Flooring generally goes in last to prevent any damage or OOPS to it. You can raise the cabinet height, which in your case is very minimal, by adding thin boards to the cabinet tops before installing the countertop. The countertop will need to be shimmed level anyway. Dishwasher is not a problem since it has adjustable feet in the front to lower and raise it flush with the counter top. Being a former Homebuilder flooring always went in last. Why put expensive flooring under cabinets where they will never be seen. Such a waste of money that could be used somewhere else.

    • Kelli L. Milligan Kelli L. Milligan on Nov 08, 2018

      We install the floors last but build up under cabinets with plywood to same level as to not waste quality flooring on new construction. I find the flooring guys would rather work cabinet free and cabinet installers finish out the base with their product. As for remodelling , it seems the hobby floor installers are lazy and always trap in the dish washer to where you can't even get to the adjustable feet. I get a lot of kitchen remodels due to clients needing to replace dish washers. Remodeling is always a challenge.