Soffit above the uppers
Many 1990s kitchens have a boxed soffit over the wall cabinets. During replacement we check what is inside and, where possible, run the new uppers higher.
Serving Batavia & nearby Geneva, St. Charles
Kitchen Cabinet Installation & Replacement in Batavia, IL
We tear out worn-out kitchen cabinets in Batavia and install new ones level, square and anchored to the studs.
- Local crews working in Batavia ZIP 60510, 60539
- Design, permits and every trade on one schedule
- A written, itemized estimate before any work
Cabinet problems we replace and fix in Batavia
Some Batavia homeowners need a full set of new cabinets in a new layout; others bought cabinets and need them put in right. Either way we take out what is there, prepare the walls and floor, and hang every box plumb with doors and drawers adjusted before we leave.
Wasted space in the corner
Corners are where old kitchens lose the most room. We plan the replacement with a corner unit you can actually reach.
Boxes are falling apart
Once particleboard crumbles around the hinge screws and the frames separate, no amount of tightening keeps the doors straight. We replace the boxes themselves.
Wall cabinets pulling off the wall
A gap opening between an upper cabinet and the wall is a warning sign — it may be hung on drywall anchors instead of studs. We remove it and fasten new cabinets into the framing.
Peeling thermofoil or failing edges
Thermofoil that bubbles from heat and laminate edges that peel are hard to repair. If the cabinets are tired underneath as well, we replace the whole set.
Doors that won't line up
Crooked reveals rarely come from the hinges alone. When the cabinets were never set level, we reinstall them so every door hangs even.
New appliances don't fit the openings
If the new fridge sticks out past the counters or the range gap is an inch short, we rebuild the run around the appliance specs.
Too many doors, not enough drawers
Lower cabinets with a single shelf waste space and hurt your back. Drawer bases with full-extension slides let you see and reach every pan.
Everything in a cabinet replacement
- Measuring and site checkWe measure walls, ceiling height and appliance openings and check floor level before anything is ordered.
- Protection and tear-outWe protect the house, disconnect the sink and appliances, remove the old boxes and take the debris with us.
- Base cabinets set levelLower boxes leveled, clamped and joined into one straight run, then secured to the framing.
- Wall cabinets hung on studsWall cabinets hung plumb and anchored into the framing with cabinet screws.
- Fillers, panels and scribingScribed fillers and finished end panels that close every gap and keep doors from hitting the wall.
- Trim and toe kicksCrown molding, light rail and toe kicks installed so the cabinets look built-in.
- Ready for countertopsThe base run is left level and solid for the countertop template, with sink and appliance openings checked.
Finishes and options
Soft-close hinges and dovetail drawersSoft-close hinges and full-extension slides are standard on most lines today; dovetail drawer boxes are a sign of solid construction.
Door stylesClean Shaker doors are the most requested, with slab fronts for modern kitchens and raised panels for traditional ones.
Framed and frameless cabinetsA face frame adds rigidity and a traditional look, while frameless construction gives easier access to the full box.
Ready-to-assemble cabinetsFlat-pack cabinets can work well if they are assembled square and installed carefully; we do both.
Plywood vs. particleboard boxesParticleboard keeps the price down; plywood holds up longer near water. Many owners choose plywood at least for the sink base.
Kitchen Cabinet Installation & Replacement before and after — Batavia homes
Before
In progress
AfterBatavia kitchen, 1990s two-story colonial: kitchen cabinet installation & replacement
The site: a 1990s two-story colonial in Batavia. The kitchen as it was: white thermofoil cabinets peeling at the edges, oak trim and white ceramic tile with dark stained grout lines. The main complaint was peeling cabinet fronts on boxes that were wearing out. After: new cabinets in warm taupe with satin brass pulls, installed level and ready for dark soapstone-look quartz counters. The job covered protection and tear-out, base cabinets set level, plus ready for countertops.
Before
AfterGeneva kitchen, two-story colonial from the 1990s: kitchen cabinet installation & replacement
This one is a two-story colonial from the 1990s near Mill Creek. The kitchen as it was: honey-oak cathedral raised-panel cabinets with worn finish near the handles, brass knobs and almond laminate with a backsplash lip. The main complaint was worn-out cabinets that no longer closed properly. The result: new cabinets in light terracotta with brushed nickel bar pulls, installed level and ready for black honed granite counters. The job covered measuring and site check, wall cabinets hung on studs, plus fillers, panels and scribing.
Kitchen Cabinet Installation & Replacement in Geneva →
Before
AfterA St. Charles 1980s two-story: before and after
This one is a 1980s two-story in St. Charles. Before: golden-oak cabinets with oak soffits above and white Corian-style solid surface with a yellowed seam. What bothered the owners most: wall cabinets that stopped well short of the ceiling. After: new cabinets in light greige uppers and muted blue lowers with satin brass pulls, installed level and ready for charcoal concrete-look quartz counters. The job covered protection and tear-out, base cabinets set level, plus ready for countertops.
Kitchen Cabinet Installation & Replacement in St. Charles →
Before
AfterBatavia kitchen, 1990s two-story colonial: custom kitchen cabinets
Built-to-fit cabinetry to the ceiling in charcoal gray with polished nickel pulls and dark soapstone-look quartz counters.
Custom Kitchen Cabinets in Batavia →
Before
AfterCountertop Fabrication & Installation in a 1980s two-story, Batavia
What changed: black honed granite countertops with a tight seam, an undermount sink and a new faucet.
Countertop Fabrication & Installation in Batavia →From first visit to final walk-through
- Visit and measurementsAn in-home visit to measure, check the floor and walls and hear what isn't working.
- Cabinet plan and written estimateA drawn layout with cabinet sizes and an itemized estimate for removal, install and trim.
- Ordering and deliveryCabinets are ordered; lead time depends on the line, and we inspect every box when it arrives.
- Tear-out and installationOld cabinets out, walls prepped, new boxes set level, hung on studs and trimmed.
- Adjustment and walk-throughWe fine-tune every door, clean up and walk the kitchen with you.
Kitchen Cabinet Installation & Replacement questions from Batavia homeowners
What's the difference between stock, semi-custom and custom cabinets?
Stock comes in fixed sizes and finishes and ships fastest. Semi-custom adds more sizes, finishes and options. Custom is built to the exact room and usually has the longest lead time.
Can you replace lower cabinets with drawers?
Yes. Drawer bases are a common upgrade: deep drawers for pots, a narrow stack for utensils, and pull-outs where doors used to be.
Do I need a permit to replace kitchen cabinets?
It depends on the scope. Swapping cabinets in place is often permit-free; relocating the sink or adding outlets typically is not. We handle the permit when it's required.
How long does kitchen cabinet installation take?
Expect a few days of work for an average kitchen, more for large runs or lots of trim. We put the schedule in writing before tear-out.
Do you install cabinets I bought myself?
Yes — just send us the order list. We confirm it matches the room and flag missing or damaged pieces before install day.
Does cabinet replacement need a Batavia building permit, and who files it?
Permits go through City of Batavia Community & Economic Development - Building Division, phone 630-454-2700. When your scope needs one, we prepare the application and schedule the inspections.
Can Batavia bulk pickup take my old appliance or cabinets?
Refrigerators (doors removed), water heaters (drained) and dishwashers set out by calling hauler 630-587-8282 at least one day ahead, one refuse sticker each. Freon appliances arranged through the hauler. If you'd rather not deal with it, we haul old units and debris away.
Do I need a permit for cabinet replacement in Batavia?
It depends on the scope. Batavia's rule in short: Building permits are required for all construction; a Residential Alteration handout is available. We handle the permit when one is needed with City of Batavia Community & Economic Development - Building Division.
Do you work in my part of Batavia?
Yes. Our crews work across Batavia — ZIP 60510, 60539 — and nearby Geneva, St. Charles, West Chicago.
Working in Batavia
- A lot of Batavia kitchens date from the 1990s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Batavia homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- Live in the Downtown Historic District? Interior kitchen work is usually not reviewed. We check before anything touches the exterior.
ZIP 60510ZIP 60539
Kitchen Cabinet Installation & Replacement nearby
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Other kitchen services in Batavia
Custom Kitchen CabinetsBuilt-to-fit cabinetry up to the ceiling.
Kitchen Cabinet ModificationCabinets resized for new appliances, panels and fillers.
Countertop Fabrication & InstallationQuartz, granite and butcher block, templated and installed.
Kitchen RemodelingFull kitchen remodels, from layout to last cabinet pull.
Kitchen Cabinet PaintingFactory-smooth painted cabinets without replacing them.