How to Install Kitchen Knobs

Things You Need:

• Pencil
• Drill
• Scrap wood
• Cabinet hardware

Many homebuilders are installing kitchen cabinets free of hardware, giving homeowners a blank slate with which to play. Kitchen cabinet hardware can transform cabinets from plain to anything from formal to fun. Cabinet hardware is available in almost any design, material or color you can imagine, making it possible to find the perfect knob for your kitchen. Installing kitchen knobs requires accuracy, patience and a couple of tools, but is not a job that requires a professional.

Installing Kitchen Knobs:

1. Cabinets. For cabinet hardware, choose a location for the knobs on the doors and mark one door with a pencil at the selected location. Do not place the knobs too close to the edge of the door, or the wood may splinter when you drill the holes. Measure from the edge of the door to the marked spot and the bottom of the door to the marked spot, and make a note of both measurements. Measure the remaining doors for knob placement using the measurements noted from the first door. Mark the location of each knob with a pencil.

2. Drawers. For kitchen drawer-pulls, measure the length across a kitchen drawer and make a pencil mark at the center. Measure from top to bottom on the drawer at the center mark and make a mark for the center of the height. Repeat this process for each drawer to ensure you mark the drawer at the exact center regardless of the size of the drawer.

3. Drill. Use a power drill and a drill bit the same size as the screws that will be used to attach the knobs. Drill through the front of the drawer or door to the back. To prevent splintering, have a helper hold a piece of scrap wood against the inside of the door or drawer. Make sure the helper keeps the door steady to prevent slipping with the drill. If you do not have a helper, use a clamp to hold the scrap wood in place.

4. Install knobs and pulls. Insert the knob screws through the back of the drawers and doors, and twist the knobs around them. Hand-tighten the knobs so that they do not move easily, but avoid over-tightening. If you over-tighten the knobs, you could strip the threads.