Looking to get a set of used kitchen cabinets? Kitchen remodeling can be expensive with even basic remodels costing in the 10′s of thousands of dollars. Buying used kitchen cabinets is a great way to save money on a remodel and if you are dilligent, it isn’t to hard to find nice quality used kitchen cabinets at a fraction of the price that you would pay for a new set.
The first question is of course, where do I find a good set of used, inexpensive kitchen cabinets?
Where to Find Used Kitchen Cabinets
Craigslist.org – Craigslist.org is one of the best places to find used products in general and kitchen cabinetry is no exception. People remodeling their homes often rip out their used kitchen cabinets and throw them away. If you offer to do the job for them, you may be able to get their old cabinetry at a fraction of the price or even free. Savier remodelers may be selling their old cabinetry, but it will still be at a fraction of the price you would pay for new cabinets.
Habitat for Humanity – Check your local area for a Habitat for Humanity. Lots of them will have donated cabinetry that is in perfect condition. Some people have remodeled their whole kitchen using only Habitat for Humanity.
Network – Put the word out among friends, family, neighbors and coworkers that you are looking to remodel your kitchen cabinetry. If you use facebook or any other social media, it can’t hurt to put the word out as well. The larger you spread your net, the more likely you are to find someone. It’s also a lot more likely that someone will feel comfortable letting you come into their home if you have a personal friend in common.
Contact remodelers – Many remodelers will let you put your name on a list so that next time they remodel a house, you will be able to pick up the used kitchen cabinets. Make sure that you either do the removal yourself or the remodeler takes the cabinets out carefully. Most remodelers just rip out old cabinetry with little concern for preserving it. Offering to pay a nominal fee for careful removal isn’t a bad idea. Also, make sure that they have the right kitchen cabinet style to fit your home.
So now that you have your used kitchen cabinets, what do you do?
First consider how the cabinet set fits into your kitchen. Consider it a bit like a jig saw puzzle where you have to adapt the cabinetry to a new maze. Take your time trying out different possibilities and be sure that you are happy with how it arranged before you begin installing.
The actual installation process itself isn’t very difficult, but it will take a considerable amount of time and require a lot of careful measuring on your part. No matter how even you think your kitchen floor is, you will have to use a leveler to get the cabinets properly even. Using a handyman at the stage of the process is a good idea. Someone with all the proper tools and experience will have a much simpler time installing the cabinets than you would.
