AboutVan Wilson Expertise I can answer questions to installing and repairing kitchen and bathroom wall and vanity cabinets including installing cabinet hardware. and Including building and installing laminated countertops and installing plumbing fixtures into cabinet tops.
Experience 30 years on the job experience.
Education/Credentials Have taught installation classes for local homecare centers 2 years
Expert: Van Wilson Date: 5/24/2008 Subject: New pantry cabinet
Question Hi Van,
We are trying to install a new pantry into an existing kitchen space. We removed some old cabinets and now we can see the original subfloor.
Unfortunately, there is a ceiling sophit that is prohibiting us from dropping the pantry down into the sub floor evenly!
I'm not sure what to do about fitting the 7ft cabinet under the sophit?
I could saw off the bottom(toekick) of the pantry.
Try to remove another upper cabinet under the sophit and work the pantry under the sophit some how.
Or tear up the vinyl floor layer and other plywood subfloor in order to get down to the original MDF that covers the floor joices.(sp)
Are there other alternatives? I don't want to remove the sophit - too much work and very messy.
Trying to get a new pantry into an existing kitchen layout is not easy - especially with an "old" sophit that measures 7' 3/4" to 7' from the wall towards the center of the kitchen.
I hope most of my ranting makes sense. <smile>
Thanks for any input.
SP
Answer Hi Scott,
I come from an era where we had to custom build everything so in your place I would build a cabinet to fit the space. In your case if your cabinets are installed as individual cabinets you can simply remove the
cabinet over the area you want to install the cabinet, install the pantry and put the cabinet back.
Cutting off the toe kick is not a good idea because it will destroy the integrity of the pantry cabinet.
If your cabinets are built as a single unit called " stick built " you will not be able to remove one cabinet for for your purpose. You do have
a poser for sure since I can not see you area it makes it difficult to help you decide which way to go.
My best advice to you is to get a cabinet builder out to your house for close inspection and on site advice.
