Soffit above the uppers
A soffit steals the top of the wall. Before ordering, we open it up to see if it hides a duct or pipe, then plan taller wall cabinets or a neat finished box.
Serving Lake Zurich & nearby Palatine, Buffalo Grove
Kitchen Cabinet Installation & Replacement in Lake Zurich, IL
We tear out worn-out kitchen cabinets in Lake Zurich and install new ones level, square and anchored to the studs.
- Local crews working in Lake Zurich ZIP 60047
- Design, permits and every trade on one schedule
- A written, itemized estimate before any work
Cabinet problems we replace and fix in Lake Zurich
Some Lake Zurich 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.
Cabinets bought, no one to install them
Plenty of homeowners buy their own cabinets and hire us just for the install. We handle assembly, leveling, fillers and hardware so the job looks professional.
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.
Doors that won't line up
If you keep adjusting hinges and the doors still look uneven, the boxes themselves are twisted. New cabinets set plumb and level solve it for good.
Peeling thermofoil or failing edges
Peeling vinyl fronts are a common reason for calls. We check the boxes; if they are still sound we may suggest refacing, if not we install new cabinets.
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.
Layout that fights you every day
A dishwasher that blocks the only drawer, a corner nobody can reach, a fridge door that hits the wall — new cabinets let us change where things go, not only how they look.
New appliances don't fit the openings
A wider range, a counter-depth fridge or a second oven usually needs openings the old cabinets don't have. New cabinets are sized around the appliances you actually own.
What's included
- Protection and tear-outFloors and doorways covered, appliances pulled, old cabinets and counters removed and hauled away.
- Wall and floor prepWe mark framing, find the floor's high point and fix damaged wall sections before the first box goes in.
- Wall cabinets hung on studsWall cabinets hung plumb and anchored into the framing with cabinet screws.
- Fillers, panels and scribingFillers and end panels cut and scribed to uneven walls so doors clear walls and appliances.
- Trim and toe kicksFinish trim at the top and bottom of the run, matched to the cabinet color.
- Doors, drawers and hardwareHinges and slides tuned so reveals are even, hardware mounted in straight lines.
- Ready for countertopsWe hand off a flat, rigid base line for templating and reconnect what we can once the tops are in.
Materials and options
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.
Plywood vs. particleboard boxesParticleboard keeps the price down; plywood holds up longer near water. Many owners choose plywood at least for the sink base.
Door stylesClean Shaker doors are the most requested, with slab fronts for modern kitchens and raised panels for traditional ones.
Framed and frameless cabinetsFramed cabinets have a face frame around the opening; frameless boxes give slightly wider openings and a cleaner modern look.
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.
Kitchens like yours in Lake Zurich: before and after
Before
In progress
AfterKitchen Cabinet Installation & Replacement in a 1980s two-story, Lake Zurich
A 1980s two-story 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. Finished kitchen: new cabinets in light terracotta with brushed nickel bar pulls, installed level and ready for black honed granite counters. The job covered wall and floor prep, wall cabinets hung on studs, plus ready for countertops.
Before
AfterKitchen Cabinet Installation & Replacement in a two-story colonial from the 1990s, Buffalo Grove
A two-story colonial from the 1990s near Green Knolls, a typical kitchen for Buffalo Grove. What we started with: golden-oak cabinets with oak soffits above and white Corian-style solid surface with a yellowed seam. The main complaint was too little storage under an old soffit. 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. Work included protection and tear-out, wall and floor prep, plus wall cabinets hung on studs.
Kitchen Cabinet Installation & Replacement in Buffalo Grove →
Before
AfterArlington Heights kitchen, postwar bi-level: kitchen cabinet installation & replacement
This one is a postwar bi-level in Arlington Heights. The kitchen as it was: original birch cabinets painted white decades ago, sagging doors, chrome pulls and laminate with an aluminum edge band. The main complaint was worn-out cabinets that no longer closed properly. After: new cabinets in warm taupe with brushed nickel bar pulls, installed level and ready for charcoal concrete-look quartz counters. The job covered protection and tear-out, wall and floor prep, plus fillers, panels and scribing.
Kitchen Cabinet Installation & Replacement in Arlington Heights →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1980s two-story in Lake Zurich
What changed: built-to-fit cabinetry to the ceiling in white uppers and deep green lowers with matte black pulls and charcoal concrete-look quartz counters.
Custom Kitchen Cabinets in Lake Zurich →
Before
AfterCountertop Fabrication & Installation in a two-story colonial from the 1990s, Lake Zurich
What changed: warm walnut butcher block countertops with a tight seam, an undermount sink and a new faucet.
Countertop Fabrication & Installation in Lake Zurich →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-throughDoors and drawers adjusted, hardware on, and a walk-through before countertops are templated.
Kitchen Cabinet Installation & Replacement questions from Lake Zurich homeowners
Do I need a permit to replace kitchen cabinets?
Usually only when plumbing or electrical work is involved. We confirm the Lake Zurich requirements during the estimate and pull the permit if needed.
Do you install cabinets I bought myself?
We do. Install-only jobs are common: you buy the cabinets, we handle assembly, setting, trim and hardware.
Can I swap upper cabinets for open shelves?
Yes. We remove selected uppers, patch the wall and mount shelves on hidden brackets or cleats anchored to the framing.
Can you replace lower cabinets with drawers?
Absolutely — many owners switch most of their base cabinets to drawers because everything is easier to see and reach.
Can you replace cabinets without removing the countertop?
Uppers can be swapped while the counters stay. For lowers, the top has to come off, and whether it can go back on depends on the material and its condition.
Do I need a Lake Zurich-registered contractor for cabinet replacement?
All contractors and subcontractors must register with the Village before work: form, $120 annual fee (Illinois-licensed plumbers exempt), signed $10,000 surety bond. Village pages show differing fee amounts ($110/$120/$125). We take care of that before work starts.
Lake Zurich building permit for cabinet replacement: where do I apply?
Permits go through Building and Zoning Division (Community Services Department), phone 847-540-1696. When your scope needs one, we prepare the application and schedule the inspections.
What kind of Lake Zurich homes do you work in?
In Lake Zurich we see Housing development began in the 1950s. Each comes with its own walls, wiring and plumbing, and we plan the job around them.
What happens to the old appliance in Lake Zurich?
Hauler Lakeshore Recycling Systems (847-381-9300). One bulk item (<=50 lb, <4 ft) weekly on largest-cart plan. If you'd rather not deal with it, we haul old units and debris away.
What does Lake Zurich ask for on electrical work?
Electrical contractors must submit a copy of an electrical license when registering with the Village. New circuits and wiring are done by licensed electricians.
Do I need a permit for cabinet replacement in Lake Zurich?
It depends on the scope. Lake Zurich's rule in short: Permit required for remodeling (kitchen, bath, basement). We handle the permit when one is needed with Building and Zoning Division (Community Services Department).
Do you work in my part of Lake Zurich?
Yes. Our crews work across Lake Zurich — ZIP 60047 — and nearby Palatine, Buffalo Grove, Arlington Heights.
Working in Lake Zurich
- A lot of Lake Zurich kitchens date from the 1980s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Lake Zurich homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- We know how Building and Zoning Division (Community Services Department) handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60047
Kitchen Cabinet Installation & Replacement nearby
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Other kitchen services in Lake Zurich
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.