I am set to install some cabinets in my kitchen. There is a small issue; the layout is a L shape. I set a laser on the walls to determine where to put the upper cabinets. On the short end of the L there is a 1 and 1/8th difference between the floor heights of that end and the end of the long side. The difference between the floor and the top of the bottom cabinet on the east end is set to zero, on the northwest end it is +1 and 1/8th inches. To make it a bit clearer envision a triangle. The two straight ends are the walls, the long end slopes down about 1 inch from the corner of the triangle to the end.
So what would you do?
My first thought is to cut the bottom of the carcasses on the long end of the installation.
Other info:
There is bad tile (linoleum) on the floor right now that will be ripped up, 90 year old maple under there and it looks good so far. So no go on leveling the floor.
Issue of sagging floors, if it was happening it stopped a long time ago, the sub floor is 1×6 laid diagonal over 2x12s and the basement had been reinforced some time prior to my purchase. 1X2.5 maple was laid down about 90 years ago over the sub floor on 3/4 sleepers. It looks pretty sweet on the corners I have lifted.
This is a true brick construction house so there was, I think a bit of an error in the floor joists, I have seen it in other rooms, The joists may not have been set true level from front to back.
So, on the cabinet install do I cut down the height on the long end or shim up the ones on the other end? I am leaning towards cutting down.
Thanks in advance. Rob.
Edited 1/9/2004 1:15:10 AM ET by rjgogo
Replies
rjgogo
When it comes to that much shiming or that much cutting. I do both cut down the high side only half way & shim up the other side half way . Spread the problem out so it is not seen all in one place.
If you cut it all off on one end, the cabinets will noticely feel lower. If you shime the entire problem the reverse will happen & you will have to conseal a lot of shimes somehow & that will some kind of special trim that will look hokey.
Hope this helps
PJE
Absolutly try to split the difference, shave some down and build some up..and don't try to get it ALL worked out..old homes ARE crooked..you can live with a little out of level/plumb..but to go
"dead nuts on" everything will stand out..IMO looks worse.
ditto on others replies, split the difference
on the high side, cut down the cabinets half of the difference and shim the low side
the toekick on the high side will have to be scribed to fit and the low side either wider toekick or live with the gap at the top
panels on the back of a peninsula are another matter though, they will have to be scribed to fit the floor and any wall they meet, make sure they are high enough
caulking is not a piece of trim
thanks for the responses. For some reason I had not thought of splitting the difference. That seems the best plan of action. Thanks again.