Installing a Kitchen Island

If you are looking for a simple, though effective, method for giving your kitchen a new look then you may want to consider installing a kitchen island. Kitchen islands are wonderful items in that they are multifunctional. Not only do they provide counter space that offers a larger area to work and prepare your meals, they can also provide some extra and often much needed storage space. Installing a kitchen island is actually a fairly easy and simple building project that most people can accomplish in a few hours. All you really need to do is follow these simple steps, and you will quickly find that you have a new kitchen island to play around with.

1. Mark your spot. Have a friend help you place the island exactly where you would like it to go in your kitchen. The reason that you have a friend help you is simple, these things are heavy. Once you have your island in place, trace the base of the island with a pencil. This outline will let you know where you should, and should not, place your cleats.
2. Create some cleats. Pickup and move the island out of the way of the work area. Using the outline on the floor as a guide cut some short 2 inch x 4 inch pieces of wood so that they will fit along the interior edges of the outline. You should only need three or four of these cleats. Screw them into place on the floor.
3. 3. Set the island in position. Replace the island, making sure that the cleats are flush against the cabinet edges of the island. Once the island is in place begin checking to ensure that everything is nice and level. If necessary shim the island to make it as level as possible. Once the island is level, go around the base and begin drilling some guide holes for the nails or screws that will attach the island to the cleats.
4. Attach the island to the cleats. Following the guide holes that you have, begin attaching the island to the cleats. This will help ensure that the island is firm and steady, and will not wobble around while you do your work.

Now that you have installed your kitchen island, you only have a few things left to do. These are basically to clean up from your work, and to prepare the island for use. Stain or paint the island to match the decor of the rest of your kitchen, and set the countertop onto the island. Once everything is in place, stained, and cleaned, have fun!