IKEA UNIT Kitchen Kitchen Cupboards Instruction Manual
- June 13, 2024
- Ikea
Table of Contents
- Kitchen Kitchen Cupboards
- ENHET kitchen installation guide
- The installation guide
- Tools and materials
- Preparing your room
- Assembling the cabinets and frames
- Installing the wall cabinets
- Mounting the suspension rail for wall & base open frames
- Installing the base cabinets/frames
- Installing the countertop
- Installing the sink and faucet
- Installing the appliances
- Installing the plinth
- Installing lighting, drawers, doors, shelves, knobs and handles
- You’re done! Congratulations on your new kitchen!
- Services
- References
- Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
- Download This Manual (PDF format)
A guide to installing
a new ENHET kitchen
Kitchen Kitchen Cupboards
ENHET kitchen installation guide
The installation guide
Installing your new ENHET kitchen correctly
This brochure is your guide to preparing and installing your new kitchen
yourself. Inside you’ll find clear steps tofollow as well as useful tips and
ideas. Use thisguide along with your IKEA assembly instructions tomakesure
your kitchen is installed in the right
way.
Before you begin
Go through this brochure before you begin to see what stages are involved in
putting in your new kitchen and organizing what tools you’ll need. To make
sure you have everything for your new kitchen, compare the packages and parts
you have at home against the order list and the freight list. You should only
dismantle your old kitchen when you have all your new parts and appliances.
Your kitchen parts and countertop should be stored indoors, with normal room
temperature and humidity.
Before you remove your old kitchen, make sure that your electricity, gas and
water are shut off. Use a qualified professional to disconnect and connect
your gas, water and electricity.
You can do it yourself but you don’t have to
Although our kitchens are designed to be as simple as possible for you to
assemble and install yourself, it isimportant to consider all aspects of a
kitchen renovation, where some key operations, such as safeguarding a proper
wall cabinet installation or cutting your countertop, require more skill and
experience than others.
We can offer you services ranging from planning and delivery to complete
kitchen installations. For more details see the back page of this guide,
kitchen section of IKEA.ph or contact your local IKEA store.
Tools and materials
Here is a summary of the basic tools you’ll need. In addition you’ll find what
tools to use for each product in their respective assembly instructions.
Tools
Materials
Preparing your room
Whether you’re replacing an old kitchen or starting from scratch, it’s key to
understand that the properties of the room dictate how complex or smooth your
installation process will be. With this in mind, it’s important that you spend
sufficient time assessing walls and floors before you start the installation.
Now is also the time to prime and paint your walls and change your flooring.
Don’t apply the final coating of paint at this point since you will need to
make markings and drill holes in the walls. If you plan to have tiles or
similar, it’s best to install these after the cabinets and countertop have
been installed.
Marking cabinet positions
Draw a layout of your new kitchen directly on the wall. Check that everything
fits with the measurements from your plan and that your electricity, water,
gas and ventilation connections are where you want them to be, see page 6.
Assess your walls
Since your walls will hold the weight of your kitchen cabinets and frames,
start by evaluating the quality and construction of your walls.
| Drywall or plaster with available wood stud
---|---
| Drywall without available wood stud
| Masonry
Make sure that your electricity, gas and water are shut off. Use a qualified professional to disconnect and connect your gas, water and electricity. What you are looking for is a fixed structure inside the wall that is strong enough to carry the load of your cabinets. Keep in mind that this fixed structure needs to align with the fixation points of your cabinets. Check that your walls are strong enough to hold the cabinets. Depending on your wall material, your cabinets and frames must be installed onto a stud or support beam. Use a stud finder to locate the studs.
Find out what type of wall you’ll be working with. For solid core materials like masonry that are hard to penetrate and can support great loads, you need special anchors and screws.
If you have a light wall construction with gypsum (drywall) wall panels supported by studs, it’s not enough to fix your cabinets onto the thin gypsum board alone (not even using drywall anchors).
Instead, you need to locate the studs inside the wall using a stud finder. Studs are mostly vertical posts made of wood, but can also be thin metal profiles, and run from the floor all the way to the ceiling. The wall studs, normally located 16” and/or 24” apart, can carry the load of your wall cabinets/frames. However, as the cabinets come in different widths, it is highly likely that the fixation points of the cabinets/ frames and position of the studs won’t align. In order to provide proper support for the cabinets/ frames, you might need to add horizontal structural support between the studs. As this requires the properskills, be sure to contact a professional for help. NOTE! Even if your new cabinets/frames will be located at the same position as your old ones, it is important to secure that the walls have been properly reinforced.
Use a cross line laser level to find the highest point (marked A in the picture on page 6) of the floor and mark where that is on the wall. This will be the reference point from which to measure when marking the key measurements. Prepare your space by making sure your corners are even and your walls and floor are straight. Use your trysquare for the corners and a spirit level for the walls and floor. If your corner and/or walls aren’t straight you may need to use shims to make sure your kitchen cabinets/frames become level and align properly. For advice contact you local specialized dealer.
Preparing your room
Marking key measurements
There are some critical measurements you need to consider and mark on your
walls in order to secure proper alignment, leave adequate room for your work
area and follow appliances requirements. Remember to consider the space needed
for doors and drawers to open properly, making sure there will be no
collisions with, for instance radiators or windowsills, when opening drawers
and doors.
- From the highest point (A) that you have found at the very beginning, mark on the wall 34½” (876 mm), then use the cross line laser level to trace a line across tthe wall where the base units will be placed. This is where the top of your base cabinets and frames will end up.
- Finally, mark the top line wall units at 84½” (2146 mm) from the highest point (A) and trace a horizontal line as with the other mark. The line represents the top position of the wall cabinets and frames.
- With the lines marked, double-check that your plumbing and electrical outlets fit with your layout plan.
- Pay attention to the required minimum distance between cooktop and hood. This can be found in the extractor hood assembly instruction.
- If you have a kitchen with a corner, you build the corner base solution with a regular ENHET base corner cabinet and an ENHET corner panel. For the positioning of this solution, see page 10.
- Mark the end and the beginning of a cabinet, frame and appliances. Draw it on the wall to complete your kitchen layout.
- The dishwasher should only be installed between two cabinets or at least between one cabinet and an end panel. This in order to secure the appliance properly and provide support for the countertop.
NOTE! For free standing appliances secure the enough space, 1/2” on each side, to fit and handle it.
Assembling the cabinets and frames
Before you start assembling the cabinets/frames, try to set up a good work
area that is safe and where you have enough room. Be sure to protect the
floors and make sure you have the recommended equipment/ tools close-by.
Sort the packages into groups to avoid confusion over which pieces belong to
the cabinet/frame assembly and which belong to appliances, for example.
For a good workflow, it is a good idea if you assemble all cabinets/frames one
by one and push them aside until the time comes to install them. It’s helpful
if you arrange your cabinets in the order you will be installing them. Use
your packing list and IKEA home planner drawing to help you.
IMPORTANT
ENHET cabinets are supported by legs and can be installed with or without a
plinth, depending on your personal preference.
See assembly instruction for info on how to assemble the legs with or without
plinths. If you are using the plinths, in order to finish a side kitchen you
will always need a extra leg installed in the back of the last cabinet of the
row.
Installing the wall cabinets
In most kitchens, it’s best to install your wall cabinets and frames first.
This way, you have room to move without base cabinets in the way.
IMPORTANT
Fastening/fixing devices for the wall (i.e. screws and plugs) are not included
with the cabinets and frames since different wall materials require different
types of fastening devices. Use fastening devices suitable for the walls in
your home. For advice on suitable fastening devices, contact your local
specialized dealer.
| Drywall or plaster with
available wood stud
---|---
| Drywall without available wood stud
Not enough to fix your cabinets onto the thin gypsum board alone.
| Masonry
If you have an extractor hood placed under a cabinet, or over the range micro hood under cabinet you might need to make some cut-outs. Follow the installation instruction of the appliance to prepare the required cutouts. After you’ve made the required cut-outs, remember to seal the open edges with silicone, to prevent the deterioration of the product. Start from the corner if you have an L-shaped lay-out. If not, start from one end and move on. Just make sure that you follow the marks you made for your kitchen layout, the units should be aligned with the top line wall units draw by you. The first unit will set the standard for the rest. Important to secure that the units are levelled in all direction. This to minimize work later on It’s important that you use the proper type and size of fixing devices to attach your cabinets. The minimum screw thickness is 3/16” and the screw needs to penetrate at least 11/2” into the wall stud or solid core material. For advice, contact your local specialized dealer. NOTE! If you do not have a horizontal structural support between the studs and you have problems to hit two studs with the metal brackets you should use the wall back rail that gives you the oportunity to hit both studs. Please follow the Assembly Instruction steps were this option is presented. Move on to the second unit in the same way as the first one. Please use shims if necessary to keep the units aligned with the wall. Don’t forget to mount it to the wall securely. As you place the cabinet adjusted for the extractor hood, make sure you can access the electrical outlet via the previously made cut-out.
At this point, you should be done with your wall combination. Level it once more to secure that it has been done correctly.
Mounting the suspension rail for wall & base open frames
Now it’s time to install the open frames.
For the frames installation, you will use a suspention rail that will help
secure your frames to the wall.
IMPORTANT
Fastening/fixing devices for the wall (i.e. screws and plugs) are not included
with the cabinetsand frames since different wall materials requiredifferent
types of fasteningdevices. Usefasteningdevices suitable for the walls in
yourhome. For advice on suitable fastening devices, contact your local
specialized dealer. IMPORTANT! Before installing wall cabinets/frames,
it’s important to check the type of material used to build the wall. Before
installing wall cabinets, find the studs before you start. This is to ensure
that the cabinets and frames are safely attached to the wall. When working
with concrete walls, it’s important to know what kind of fittings and tools to
use.
NOTE! The screws provided by IKEA do not work in concrete. Contact your
local dealer for information on what to use.
When mounting the suspension rail, use the top line of the wall units as a guide. This way, the top of the open frame will be aligned with the top of the adjacent cabinet before you mount the frame to the wall. Mark and level where to place the suspension rail where you want apply your openframes. NOTE! Please read the installation guide provided with the product. You will find more information on how to install the suspension rail on different walls. Next, follow the assembly instruction to apply and safely secure the open frame to the suspension rail.
At this point, you should be done with your wall combination. Level it once more to ensure that it has been mounted correctly.
Installing the base cabinets/frames
Once you are done with the installation of the wall cabinets, move on to the
base cabinets. Again, start from the corner if you have an L-shaped layout. If
not, start from one end and moving on. Just make sure that you follow the
marks you made for your kitchen layout. If you build a line kitchen, make sure
you leave somespace between the wall and the cabinet to allow for doors or
drawers to open properly.
If you have a corner kitchen, you build the corner basesolution with a 36”
(915 mm) base cabinet in combination with the ENHET corner panel. For this
solution, follow the assembly instructions included with the ENHETcorner
panel.
NOTE! ENHET open frames can’t be used under a sink, built-in cooktop or
for a built-in oven. If you build a corner base solution with a 12” (305 mm)
door, place the cabinet 3” (76.2 mm) from the wall (A). If you build it with a
18” (454 mm) door, place the cabinet 9” (228,6 mm) from the wall (A). Proceed
with the next cabinet, working with the legs adjust the cabinets to the base
top line. Same procedure as for the wall units. Level and align it. Fix the
cabinet using the appropriate type and length of screw. (Throughout the
installation process you may need to loosen the screws a bit in order to make
smaller adjustments when aligning the cabinets and frames.) As you proceed
with the next cabinet, level and align the two cabinets by using a clamp. Use
the screws provided to attach the adjacent cabinets. Don’t forget to level
your units. When you reach the place where you want your sink and faucet, use
the designated ENHET cabinet for sinks, which is constructed to allow for
pipes coming from either the wall or the floor. See assembly instructions for
how to build the different configurations. For your size of (18” or 24”)
dishwasher, both scenarios, another cabinet or a dishwasher end panel, follow
the marks in the wall and leave the space empty to carry on your instalation
To install a cabinet after the dishwasher niche, make sure the spirit level
reaches both cabinets at the front and at the back of the cabinets. Make sure
the distanceat the front and back of the niche remains 18”, 24”, 30”. Once you
have the correct alignment, secure the cabinet to the wall.
When installing an open base frame, don’t use a supporting strip. Instead, use
the suspension rail the same way as when you mounted the wall frames. Align
the top of the open frame with the top of the adjacent cabinet before you fix
theframe to the wall. Follow
the assembly instructions to mount and safely secure the open frame to the
suspension rail and wall. Once all your base cabinets/frames are installed,
check that they are level and that you are happy with the result before
securing them by tightening the screws a final time.
Installing the countertop
With your cabinets in place, it’s time to install your countertop. Before you start, be sure to read the countertop assembly instructions to learn about the things you need to consider as you prepare and install it. When cutting the countertop to fit it with your kitchen, keep in mind that you are handling rather thick and heavy material, so make sure you have the proper workspace and tools. It’s helpful to use a pair of sawhorses as a workspace for making adjustments. Here, you can benefit from having a second person available, to help carry and hold the countertop while you perform the different steps. If you need to customize your countertop for a sink or cooktop, follow theassembly instructions of your sink or cooktop.
Start by placing the countertop on top of the base cabinets and push it against the wall. Once in position, measure the countertop from the side edge of the cabinet underneath. With the addition of at least a 1.5 cm overhang, make a mark on the countertop. Use a circular saw and G clamps to keep a straight line as you cut the countertop. To avoid splinter, cut with the countertop underside facing up when using a buzz or jig saw, but with the top facing up if using a handsaw. A tip is to have a second person hold the piece to be cut off to avoid the edge from splintering. For a sink cut-out, start by tracing the inner boundaries of the sink cabinet on the underside of the positioned countertop. Prepare the cut-out by positioning the countertops in the correct position. Then mark out the sink cut-out and if needed also for tap. Secure that you do all the cut-outs before you fix the work-top to the cabinets. Place the countertop upside down, then place the sink upside down within the previously marked boundaries/ lines, making sure there is equal space all around. Trace the outline of the sink. Then, follow the assembly instructrions for the sink to mark the actual cutting line.
Use a jigsaw to cut out the space for your sink. It’s helpful to drill a hole on the inside corners of your outlinebefore cutting. Make these holes, big enough to fit the jigsaw blade, serve as the entry point for the jigsaw and enable you to make a cleaner cut.
After you have cut the countertop you need to seal the cut raw edge. Open edges create a entry point for humidity or water, which could cause swelling and deterioration. Follow the assembly instructions for the countertop to apply the edge band that comes with each IKEA pre-cut countertop. If you do not have a loose strip we recommend to seal the open edge using silicone. Clean the raw edges of the cut-out(s) and sand them a bit. Then apply silicone to prevent moisture from penetrating the countertop. Let the silicone dry before installing the sink. Corners can be tricky, so take your time and adjust both pieces until they are perfectly aligned and level. For small adjustments, shim between the cabinet and the countertop. Once the countertop pieces are level and align with the wall, secure the countertop to the cabinets using the screws provided. Apply silicone to prevent moisture from penetrating the countertop.
Installing the sink and faucet
Before you start to install the kitchen mixer faucet, switch off the main
shutoff valve, and also doublecheck that the connections between the water
supply and the faucet fit. Keep in mind that the installation must be
performed in compliance with current local construction and plumbing
regulations. If in doubt, contact a professional.
While some of our sinks come with a pre-cut hole for the faucet, there are
cases where you need to install it on the countertop. If this is the case,
make sure you use a drill that is powerful enough to drill through the
countertop material.
NOTE! The installation of the water trap and water is not done or
finalized until the plumbing is connected by an professional plumber and
confirmed by themthat it’s safe to use.
If you need to install the faucet on the countertop, see the faucet’s assembly instructions for the dimension of the hole. Once you’ve marked the position of the hole, check that it doesn’t collide with the top rail of the cabinet underneath. After you’ve drilled the hole, clean and seal the hole with silicone.
Before sliding the sink into position, follow the assembly instruction of the sink and attach the clamps that comes with it. Once in position, adjust the clamps in order to mount the sink. Once the sink and faucet are in place and secured, seal the edges around them with silicone for a watertight seal. Next, follow the assembly instructions of the water trap and faucet to finalize the sink and faucet installation.
Installing the appliances
When all countertop sections are secured and you’ve given the silicone time to
seal all raw edges of the cut-outs, it’s time to start installing your
appliances. Throughout the installation, be sure to follow the assembly
instructions and specifications that come with the appliances.
The extractor hoods at IKEA can be installed in two ways: either in extraction
mode (i.e. ducted to the outside) or used in recirculation mode fitted with a
charcoal filter. Each installation option and required cabinet preparation is
described in the assembly instruction of your extractor hood.
Most of the appliances that you will work with for ENHET is free-standing so
they will be easy to install like the freezeer/ fridge. But for the dishwasher
and hoods, you need to put in more work.
NOTE! All water, gas and electricity connections must be done by
qualified professionals according to valid local safety regulations.
Before you install your extractor hood, make sure you follow the specified
minimum distance between cooktop and extractor hood that is listed in the
assembly instruction. Again, we recommend that you get help from someone who
can help you hold and mount
the hood while you make the required preparations.
As you prepare for the dishwasher installation, keep in mind that some countries require floor protection underneath the dishwasher. Required or not, it is a good idea to place floor protection which can hold some of water if the dishwasher leaks or overflows. In order to protect the bottom side and edges of the countertop from the steam released when opening the dishwasher after a finished washing cycle, attach a diffusion barrier along the front edge of the countertop. After the dishwasher has been connected to water and electricity, follow the dishwasher installation guide to adjust the height of the dishwasher. Once the door is mounted, and the dishwasher is level with the adjacent cabinets, secure the dishwasher by following the instructions in the dishwasher installation guide.
Installing the plinth
NOTE! If you’re not installing plinths, please move on to next chapter.
Generally, the base cabinets are fixed to wall and supported by legs in the
front of the cabinets. However, if you are going for a kitchen with a plinth,
you also need to consider the following steps:
For a plinth setup, place the legs with the leg-plate aligned to the cabinet edge. Since the plinth is attached via the legs, you also need an additional leg at the back of the cabinet sides. Start with the plinth for the short side of the cabinet and use a handsaw to cut a 22⅛” (562 mm) piece. Then, sand the open edge before you apply the pre-glued edge band that comes with the plinth. Follow the assembly instructions to attach the plinth. Remember to remove the plastic sleeves of the leg since they will obstruct the attachment of the plinth. For the front plinth, place the plinth in position and mark where to cut it. After you’ve cut it, repeat the pro- cess of attaching the edge band and the plastic fittings that connect with the leg. When two plinth sections meet and form a corner, you need to attach both plinth strips to the same leg. In order to avoid the clips colliding, place the clips upside down in one of the strips. NOTE! ENHET open frames can’t be combined with a plinth. For ENHET frames, use ENHET legs for frames.
Installing lighting, drawers, doors, shelves, knobs and handles
With your cabinets, countertops and appliances in place, it’s time to move
onto installing your lighting as well as fitting the cabinet interiors.Then,
take your time assembling doors, fronts, knobs and handles to make sure
everything looks the way you want.
NOTE! Always use your assembly instructions for help.
When installing lighting, keep in mind that all electricalconnections must be made by a qualified person. If drilling holes, use a piece of wood to meet the drill as it penetrates the surface to prevent the edges from splintering. Next, follow the assembly instructions to mount the oors and install the drawers. Once the doors and drawers are in position, you can adjust any potential misalignment by adjusting the hinges and drawers. Now it’s time to install your shelves inside your cabinets using the shelf support that comes with the shelves. Once you have decided on the placement of your knobs and/or handles, we recommend using the FIXA drilling template to assemble them for an easier process and a better result.
You’re done! Congratulations on your new kitchen!
Time to step back and admire your new kitchen. With a little care and
maintenance, your IKEA kitchen will look great for many years to come.
Caring for your cabinets
Clean the doors, cabinet interiors and wood surfaces with a soft, damp cloth.
Only use cleaning products intended for these materials. Do not use products
that contain ammonia, alcohol, bleach or abrasives. Rinse with clean water,
then dry with a clean, dry cloth. Make sure to clean up spills quickly.
Keep your sink sparkling
After each use, wipe the sink clean with a cloth or sponge damped in water or
a non-abrasive detergent, if necessary. Rinse the bowl with water and then
wipe the sink with a dry cloth. Avoid scouring powder, steel wool, or hard
objects which can scratch the stainless steel surface. The damp surface can be
discoloured if substances containing iron, such as steel wool, nails or
gravel, are allowed to remain on it.
Long-lasting countertops
Keep your countertop in top condition by cleaning spills quickly with water
and a mild detergent. Be sure to keep them as dry as possible after use.
Services
Our broad service offer gives you the freedom to decide how much you want to
do yourself and how much you want us to do for you.
Below you’ll find all the services that we can offer:
Planning
Get help with the planning of your new kitchen, by booking an appointment with
one of our experts at IKEA. You bring the measurements and drawing or a
picture of the area – we help you with inspiration and functional solutions
for everything, from the placement of cabinets and appliances, to lighting,
sinks and wash-basins.
Measuring
If you want to be sure that your room drawing is as accurate as possible, we
measure the room and check everything,from theplacement ofwindows, doors,
andpowersockets to the material and condition of thewalls.
Delivery
Whether you’re shopping in store or online, and no matter how big the
purchase, we’ll do the heavy lifting and bring it to your home or business. We
deliver on a day and at a time that suits you.
Assembly
Sometimes it’s nice to have someone else put your furniture together. We’re
happy to do it for you. Getting us to put it together can be a real time-
saver.
Installation
If you want to make things smooth and easy for you – we’ll install your new
kitchen and coordinate the job from start to finish. We handle all those time-
consuming jobs like fitting sinks, taps and countertops. And you can rest
assured that the installation of gas/
electric appliances is done properly. We also take the packaging with us when
your kitchen is in place.
Payment options
If you’ve found out how you want your dream home, but need some help spreading
the cost, we can offer you a range of finance options to help you make your
ideas a reality.
Please visit IKEA.ph/services for more details about our services.