Kitchen Cabinet Installation San Francisco
Professional Custom & Manufactured Cabinet Installation – 35+ Years Experience
You ever watch someone try to install kitchen cabinets themselves? It starts out confident, then about halfway through they realize the walls aren't straight, the floor slopes, and nothing's quite square. What should've taken a weekend turns into a month-long project with gaps, crooked doors, and cabinets that don't quite line up.
We've been installing kitchen cabinets in San Francisco for over 35 years now. Most of our work is installing the custom cabinets we build, but we also install cabinets from other manufacturers when clients need professional installation. The process looks simple until you're actually doing it – then you realize why experience matters.
San Francisco homes present unique challenges. Victorian kitchens in the Mission have plaster walls and floors that settled decades ago. Modern condos in SOMA have concrete walls that require special anchoring. Edwardian flats in the Sunset have quirky layouts where standard installation techniques don't work. We've handled all of it.
We've been installing kitchen cabinets in San Francisco for over 35 years now. Most of our work is installing the custom cabinets we build, but we also install cabinets from other manufacturers when clients need professional installation. The process looks simple until you're actually doing it – then you realize why experience matters.
San Francisco homes present unique challenges. Victorian kitchens in the Mission have plaster walls and floors that settled decades ago. Modern condos in SOMA have concrete walls that require special anchoring. Edwardian flats in the Sunset have quirky layouts where standard installation techniques don't work. We've handled all of it.
Our Installation Services
Experience That Counts
When we install the custom cabinets we've built for you, we already know exactly how everything fits together. We designed them, we built them, and we engineered the installation from the beginning. This makes the process smoother and more predictable.
✓ Designed specifically for your space
✓ Pre-engineered for efficient installation
✓ Perfect fit guaranteed
✓ Soft-close hardware standard
✓ Designed specifically for your space
✓ Pre-engineered for efficient installation
✓ Perfect fit guaranteed
✓ Soft-close hardware standard
Quality You Can See
Sometimes clients purchase cabinets from other manufacturers and need professional installation. We handle this too. Whether you bought semi-custom cabinets from a supplier or ordered from a specific brand, we can install them properly.
✓ Work with any cabinet brand
✓ Pre-installation assessment
✓ Problem-solving for imperfect spaces
✓ Professional finish and adjustment
✓ Pre-installation assessment
✓ Problem-solving for imperfect spaces
✓ Professional finish and adjustment
Professional Installation Process
1
Space Preparation
Old cabinets come out, walls get patched if needed, and we verify all measurements one more time before installation begins.
2
Upper Cabinet Installation
We start with upper cabinets, getting them level and securely mounted to wall studs using appropriate hardware for your wall type.
3
Base Cabinet Installation
Base cabinets are shimmed and leveled perfectly. This ensures your countertops will sit level and align properly.
4
Plumbing & Electrical
We coordinate with plumbers and electricians, cutting necessary openings and ensuring all connections align correctly.
5
Doors & Hardware
Doors, drawers, and hardware are installed and adjusted for perfect alignment and smooth operation with soft-close function.
6
Final Inspection
We conduct a thorough quality check and walk through everything with you, addressing any concerns before we consider the job complete.
Installation Expertise That Matters
Wall Preparation & Mounting
Proper wall mounting is critical for cabinet safety and longevity. Cabinets need to be secured to wall studs, not just drywall or plaster. In earthquake country, this isn't optional – it's required by code.
Finding studs in old San Francisco homes can be tricky. We use multiple methods to locate studs accurately and use appropriate fasteners – heavy-duty screws for wood-framed walls, concrete anchors for brick or concrete walls common in newer buildings.
Finding studs in old San Francisco homes can be tricky. We use multiple methods to locate studs accurately and use appropriate fasteners – heavy-duty screws for wood-framed walls, concrete anchors for brick or concrete walls common in newer buildings.
Leveling & Alignment
Getting cabinets perfectly level and aligned is what separates professional installation from DIY attempts. Floors slope, walls lean, and corners aren't square – especially in older San Francisco homes.
We start by finding the highest point of the floor, then shim all cabinets to create a perfectly level plane. Small adjustments with precision make the difference between cabinets that look professional and cabinets that look obviously crooked.
We start by finding the highest point of the floor, then shim all cabinets to create a perfectly level plane. Small adjustments with precision make the difference between cabinets that look professional and cabinets that look obviously crooked.
Island Cabinet Installation
Kitchen islands require special installation techniques because they're not attached to walls. The cabinets need to be secured to the floor and to each other to create a stable structure.
We're careful with screw placement in homes with radiant floor heating to avoid damage, and pre-drill tile floors to prevent cracking. Islands must be perfectly level since they're visible from all sides.
We're careful with screw placement in homes with radiant floor heating to avoid damage, and pre-drill tile floors to prevent cracking. Islands must be perfectly level since they're visible from all sides.
Installation Timeline
Small Kitchen (8-12 cabinets): 2-3 days
Day 1: Upper cabinet installation
Day 2: Base cabinets and island
Day 3: Doors, drawers, hardware, final adjustment
Day 2: Base cabinets and island
Day 3: Doors, drawers, hardware, final adjustment
Medium Kitchen (15-25 cabinets): 3-5 days
Days 1-2: Upper and base cabinet installation
Day 3: Island and specialty cabinets
Days 4-5: Doors, drawers, hardware, adjustment
Day 3: Island and specialty cabinets
Days 4-5: Doors, drawers, hardware, adjustment
Large Kitchen (25+ cabinets): 5-7 days
Days 1-3: Cabinet box installation
Days 4-5: Doors and drawers
Days 6-7: Hardware and final adjustment
Days 4-5: Doors and drawers
Days 6-7: Hardware and final adjustment
Timelines assume the space is ready – old cabinets removed, walls patched, plumbing and electrical roughed in. We coordinate with other trades to minimize disruption.
Service Areas
We provide professional kitchen cabinet installation throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area:
San Francisco
Mission, SOMA, Sunset,
Richmond, Nob Hill,
Pacific Heights
Richmond, Nob Hill,
Pacific Heights
Peninsula
Daly City, Pacifica, San Bruno,
South San Francisco
South San Francisco
East Bay
Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda
Why Professional Installation Matters
Cabinet installation looks straightforward until you're actually doing it. Then you discover walls aren't straight, floors aren't level, corners aren't square, studs aren't where they should be, and plumbing is slightly off from the plan.
Professional installers have seen all these issues before and know how to handle them. We have the tools, the experience, and the problem-solving skills to make cabinets fit properly in imperfect spaces.
DIY installation might save money upfront, but mistakes are expensive to fix. Cabinets that aren't level, doors that don't close right, mounting that fails – these problems cost more to repair than professional installation would've cost initially.
Professional installers have seen all these issues before and know how to handle them. We have the tools, the experience, and the problem-solving skills to make cabinets fit properly in imperfect spaces.
DIY installation might save money upfront, but mistakes are expensive to fix. Cabinets that aren't level, doors that don't close right, mounting that fails – these problems cost more to repair than professional installation would've cost initially.
Ready to Start Your Cabinet Project?
Call (415) 660-8162 or email info@nietoswoodworking.com for a free consultation. We'll discuss your project, answer questions, and provide an honest assessment of what's possible.