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Your new build or renovation is complete. However, you’ve noticed the nasty gaps between your walls and cabinets, and they look genuinely horrible. They make your kitchen, bathroom, or any other room in your home look unfinished.
There is a way to get rid of them and give your room the final look it needs. Cabinet fillers are easy to install and will solve your problem.
Contents
What are Cabinet Fillers?
Cabinet fillers are strips of wood 3 to 6 inches wide that matching your cabinet’s finish. You install cabinet fillers to “fill” unsightly spaces between cabinets and walls. They are generally installed vertically but can be used as trim horizontally ceiling gaps.
Depending on the type of cabinets you have, the strips can be made from a wide variety of materials. Metals and plastics are the most common ones used outside of wood. For the purposes of this article, I am going to be looking at how to install wooden cabinet fillers.
Sometimes, you can buy them directly from cabinet manufacturers or easily make them yourself if you know what you are doing. Home improvement store will carry them as well, along with everything you’ll need to install them.
Most manufacturers will include a few cabinet fillers when you buy premade cabinets. These will match the cabinets, and all you need to do is install them. However, there are times when there are too many spaces around your cabinets, or the gaps are too broad. If this is the case, you will have to make your own.
How to Install Cabinet Filler Strips
Before you begin, you will need to make sure that the wood or material you are using matches the cabinet. The easiest way to do this is to buy your filler strips from the cabinet’s original manufacturer. If you are making them yourself, you will have to select the correct wood type and grain. Matching the finish or paint exactly. If you don’t, it will be immediately apparent.
If you are staining your own strips, check any stain or finish product on scrap wood of the same type or the back of the wood you want to use. Paint can be applied to any wood type. There is no need for the wood to match the strips.
Safety Tips
As with any DIY job, you will need to make sure you prevent injuries. Always stick to the following when attempting any kind of construction project.
- Wear safety glasses, hearing protection, gloves and masks
- Work with enough lighting so you can see what you are doing clearly
- Always use clamps to hold wood, never your hands.
- Position your wood away from the cutter
- Have a first aid kit on hand
- Ensure you unplug or turn off your power tools before changing blades and drill bits.
- Never use blunt blades or drill bits.
Tools Needed
You will need a saw of some sort to cut the cabinet fillers to size. While I recommend a table saw or circular saw, a hand saw will work just fine.
- Table saw or circular saw
- Wood Clamps or claw clamps
- Tape Measure and pencil
- Belt sander (or sandpaper if you don’t have one.
- Handheld drill with long woodworking drill bits
- Wood screws or cabinet screws or glue
- Color putty
- Ladder for higher cabinets
Step One: Measure the Space
A cabinet filler strip will not fit precisely into the space you need to fill most of the time. This is because of the differences between how walls and cabinets are designed. So, you will have to make sure the two line up.
- Measure the width of the gap and the height of the cabinet.
- Take measurements near the top and bottom of the gap. They will most likely not be perpendicular to each other.
- Cut a piece of cardboard to the dimensions you measured. Doing this will let you see the fit before you start cutting.
- Trace the outline of the cardboard piece onto your filler strip.
Pro Tip: Using a wood scribe is an excellent way to ensure a perfect fit to the contours of the wall.
Step Two: Cut the Cabinet Filler Strip
Once you have the measurements, it’s time to cut the filler strip.
- Using your saw, cut the strip to the height and width you have measured. Leave a little extra room on the sides, just in case you need to make further adjustments.
- Sand the wood using a belt sander to smooth the edges and shape it to the wall contours. You can use an orbital sander if need be.
- Make sure the strip fits tightly into the gap. Make adjustments if needed.
- Clamp your finished strip to the wall for a final fitting test and attachment.
Step Three: Attach the Cabinet Filler Strip
With a properly cut strip that you have checked and verified, its time to install the cabinet filler strip.
- Clamp your strip firmly to the cabinet.
- Mark pilot holes for drilling on the inside of the cabinet wall.
- Drill through the cabinet wall and partly into the strip.
- Using cabinet or wood screws, attach the filler to the cabinet.
- If you install a three-inch or smaller strip, wood glue or silicon can be used instead of drilling.
- If you find there are small spaces to fill afterwards, use colored wood putty for them.
Pro Tip: Wood glue also helps with stability when installing a six-inch or larger cabinet filler.
The steps above outline the standard method of installing cabinet filler strips. No matter if you have wall-mounted cabinets or base mounted cabinets, the process is the same.
If you have gaps between corner cabinets, the process is a little bit easier.
You will need two strips of filler, one strip each for the front and one for the top. Measured and cut to size. The strips will generally line up precisely with the cabinet walls, so there’s no need for sanding and contouring.
Attach them with clamps and screw or glue them into place as above.
Why You Should Install Cabinet Filler Strips
If a cabinet doesn’t fill the entire space next to a wall, you’ll need to install fillers. Your wall might look perfectly straight, but they generally aren’t a lot of the time.
Cabinet manufacturers allow for this in how they are designed. While it is a good thing to allow for this, having unsymmetrical walls and gaps doesn’t look very nice.
Corner cabinets next to doors opening towards a wall will also need a filler strip. These will prevent the cabinet from blocking the door when the door opens.
Another function is allowing corner-cabinet doors enough room to open fully. Cabinet fillers are also a great way to hide gaps around appliances.
Conclusion
Kitchen cabinet fillers are an essential aspect of the design of a room. As a result, fillers are used to cover any empty areas and gaps. No matter the size of the holes, you can have a cabinet filler constructed to fit the available space between the wall and the cabinet snugly.
Installing your new cabinet fillers doesn’t have to be a costly or complicated process. By following the correct methods and making sure you have everything you need. Enhance the look of your room with smooth, symmetrical finishes between your walls, ceilings and appliances.
Choosing to install your own cabinet filler strips can be an enjoyable and fulfilling weekend job that you can complete on your own. If you plan ahead before beginning the installation, you should be able to handle any problems that arise.
