Expert: Jamie Yocono - 3/13/2007

Question
Hello,

The subject line probably already gives away my question.  I just tore out my entire kitchen.  Now I have 3 walls. One wall has a sink base and all of the pipes are still in the wall.  I tore the old sink base out around the pipes.

How do I put the new sink base cabinet on the wall with all of the pipes there?  Do I need to cut the pipes and then re-attach everything?  Can I just cut a huge hole in the back of the cabinet for the pipes?

Thank you for your help with this.

Evan

Answer
Hi Evan,

Most base cabinets that will hold the kitchen sink are installed without a back. They should have an upper and lower rail, and that's how you attach the cabinet to the wall. Try to figure out where the pipes run, so that you won't put a screw into a pipe. It's happened, and it's a total pain.

If you can't figure out where the pipes run, you can mark on the wall where the rail location is. Then- what I've done is pop a small hole in the drywall with my hammer, JUST TO MAKE SURE that you're not going to hit a pipe. If there's no pipe, you're fine. I usually plug the hole with a quick swipe of drywall mud, and then when the cabinet is in place, the rail hides everything.

I did a remodeling job one time, and at the very end, after 6 weeks of working on everything from electric to insulation to drywall, at the very end- I drove a nail through a phone line and cut off the phone service to the entire new room. I was upset, to say the least. So please be aware of the water pipes and don't hit them.

I wouldn't cut anything. I'm assuming that you have a drain and a couple of shutoffs sticking out of the wall. When you install the new cabinet, you'll level it and screw it in place. Then the countertop and sink will eventually go in place. Hopefully, all the connections under the sink will be pretty easy for you.

OK, good luck, I hope this helps. Please feel free to write back if you have any further questions after reading this. And if this answer was helpful... please take a minute and rate my service. Thanks!

Jamie Yocono
Wood It Is! Custom Cabinetry
Las Vegas, NV
www.wooditis.com