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 Crystal Lake & nearby Lake Zurich, Elgin
Kitchen Cabinet Installation & Replacement in Crystal Lake, IL
We tear out worn-out kitchen cabinets in Crystal Lake and install new ones level, square and anchored to the studs.
- Local crews working in Crystal Lake ZIP 60014, 60012, 60098
- Design, permits and every trade on one schedule
- A written, itemized estimate before any work
Cabinet problems we replace and fix in Crystal Lake
Some Crystal Lake 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.
Boxes are falling apart
Drawer bottoms that drop out, face frames pulling loose and hinges that won't hold a screw mean the boxes are finished. New cabinets with sturdier construction are the lasting fix.
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.
New appliances don't fit the openings
Older cabinet runs were built for smaller appliances. We plan the new run from your model numbers, so the fridge, range and dishwasher slide in with the right clearances.
Cabinets that don't match after a patch job
A kitchen with three shades of oak and two kinds of pulls has outgrown repairs. We replace the set so the whole room matches again.
Wasted space in the corner
A blind corner base with a door you have to crawl into hides half its storage. New cabinets can use a corner pull-out, a lazy Susan or a drawer layout instead.
Swollen sink base from an old leak
Sink cabinets take the most water of any box in the kitchen. When the floor of yours is swollen or stained, we replace it and make sure the plumbing above is dry.
Cabinets bought, no one to install them
If your cabinets are already in the garage, we can take it from there: assembly, setting, trim and adjustment, plus a heads-up if a piece is missing or wrong.
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-outFloors and doorways covered, appliances pulled, old cabinets and counters removed and hauled away.
- Wall and floor prepStuds located and marked, high spots found, drywall patched where old cabinets came off.
- Base cabinets set levelBase cabinets shimmed level from the high spot, screwed together and fastened to the wall.
- Wall cabinets hung on studsUpper cabinets lifted onto a temporary ledger and screwed into studs, not drywall anchors.
- Fillers, panels and scribingScribed fillers and finished end panels that close every gap and keep doors from hitting the wall.
- Doors, drawers and hardwareEvery door and drawer adjusted for even gaps, with knobs and pulls drilled from a jig.
Materials and options
Door stylesClean Shaker doors are the most requested, with slab fronts for modern kitchens and raised panels for traditional ones.
Soft-close hinges and dovetail drawersLook for soft-close hardware and dovetail or dowel-joined drawers — they last far longer than stapled ones.
Ready-to-assemble cabinetsFlat-pack cabinets can work well if they are assembled square and installed carefully; we do both.
Stock, semi-custom and custom linesStock cabinets come in set sizes and ship fastest; semi-custom adds sizes and finishes; custom is built to your room and usually takes longest.
Framed and frameless cabinetsFramed cabinets have a face frame around the opening; frameless boxes give slightly wider openings and a cleaner modern look.
Kitchen Cabinet Installation & Replacement before and after — Crystal Lake homes
Before
In progress
AfterA Crystal Lake 1990s two-story colonial: before and after
This one is a 1990s two-story colonial near Coventry. Before: golden-oak cabinets with oak soffits above and white Corian-style solid surface with a yellowed seam. The reason for the call: 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 wall and floor prep, base cabinets set level, plus doors, drawers and hardware.
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1990s two-story colonial in Lake Zurich
A 1990s two-story colonial in Lake Zurich, a typical kitchen for Lake Zurich. 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. After: new cabinets in light terracotta with brushed nickel bar pulls, installed level and ready for black honed granite counters. The job covered protection and tear-out, wall and floor prep, plus doors, drawers and hardware.
Kitchen Cabinet Installation & Replacement in Lake Zurich →
Before
AfterA Hoffman Estates raised ranch: before and after
A raised ranch in Hoffman Estates, a typical kitchen for Hoffman Estates. The kitchen as it was: medium-brown stained oak cabinets with wide frames and harvest-gold laminate. The main complaint was dated cabinets in a layout that no longer worked. Finished kitchen: new cabinets in light sand beige with brushed nickel bar pulls, installed level and ready for light marble-look quartz counters. On site this meant protection and tear-out, wall and floor prep, plus wall cabinets hung on studs.
Kitchen Cabinet Installation & Replacement in Hoffman Estates →
Before
AfterCrystal Lake kitchen, two-story colonial from the 1990s: custom kitchen cabinets
What changed: built-to-fit cabinetry to the ceiling in charcoal gray with polished nickel pulls and dark soapstone-look quartz counters.
Custom Kitchen Cabinets in Crystal Lake →
Before
AfterA Crystal Lake 1990s two-story colonial: before and after
Warm walnut butcher block countertops with a tight seam, an undermount sink and a new faucet.
Countertop Fabrication & Installation in Crystal Lake →From first visit to final walk-through
- Visit and measurementsWe look at the old cabinets, measure the room and talk through what you want to change.
- Cabinet plan and written estimateYou get a cabinet plan and a written quote that lists every part of the job.
- Ordering and deliveryCabinets are ordered; lead time depends on the line, and we inspect every box when it arrives.
- Tear-out and installationRemoval, prep, leveling, hanging and trim — usually a few days for a typical kitchen.
- Adjustment and walk-throughDoors and drawers adjusted, hardware on, and a walk-through before countertops are templated.
Kitchen Cabinet Installation & Replacement questions from Crystal Lake homeowners
Can I swap upper cabinets for open shelves?
We can. Open shelving needs solid anchoring, so we fasten the brackets into studs and finish the wall behind them.
How long does kitchen cabinet installation take?
Most installs take several days on site. The longer wait is often the cabinet lead time before that, which depends on the line you choose.
Should I replace or reface my cabinets?
Refacing changes doors and covers the frames; replacement changes everything, including layout and box quality. We check your boxes and recommend one.
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 you remove and haul away the old cabinets?
We do. The old cabinets and counters leave with us, and the room is swept before installation starts.
Which Crystal Lake homes do you most often see for cabinet replacement?
In Crystal Lake we see Many older lakeshore homes varying in size and style and Downtown homes range in size and age. Each comes with its own walls, wiring and plumbing, and we plan the job around them.
Crystal Lake building permit for cabinet replacement: where do I apply?
Permits go through City of Crystal Lake Community Development - Building Division (ezAPP online permits), phone (815) 356-3605. When your scope needs one, we prepare the application and schedule the inspections.
Can Crystal Lake bulk pickup take my old appliance or cabinets?
Hauler: Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS), (844) 633-3577. One bulk item per week included. If you'd rather not deal with it, we haul old units and debris away.
Do I need a permit for cabinet replacement in Crystal Lake?
It depends on the scope. Crystal Lake's rule in short: Kitchen alteration handout (Nov 2019) requires a contractor list and two sets of plans showing floor plans, electrical layout, structure and plumbing changes; inspections for rough electrical, plumbing, framing, insulation and final. We handle the permit when one is needed with City of Crystal Lake Community Development - Building Division.
Do you work in my part of Crystal Lake?
Yes. Our crews work across Crystal Lake, including Downtown, Coventry, Four Colonies, The Villages — ZIP 60014, 60012, 60098 — and nearby Lake Zurich, Elgin, Hoffman Estates.
Working in Crystal Lake
- A lot of Crystal Lake kitchens date from the 1990s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Crystal Lake homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- Live in a historic district? Interior kitchen work is usually not reviewed. We check before anything touches the exterior.
DowntownCoventryFour ColoniesThe VillagesWedgewoodBurtons Bridge
ZIP 60014ZIP 60012ZIP 60098
Kitchen Cabinet Installation & Replacement nearby
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Other kitchen services in Crystal Lake
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.