When leveling cabinets you must use a high-quality level, and this might sound crazy, but you need to make sure your level measures level accurately. Low quality levels, and even some mid-range levels, are often not level. We mentioned this in other articles but when purchasing a level, if possible before you buy it, hold the level against a wall and once the level is reading perfectly level draw a line. Now turn the level over (not end for end) but the side of the level that was down now have it facing up. Line up the level with your line and see if it is reading level. If not, then your level is not level and look for a different one.
Always start with any cabinets that go all the way to the floor and then work your way out from that cabinet. You really are leveling from gable to gable but be careful when your level extends past a gable and lands in the middle of a shelf. The level might right unlevel and you make an adjustment to the gable itself, but a gap can form between the gable and the level. In this instance the shelf is holding up the level and you will need to skip over to the next gable and lower it. Then you can come back to the original gable you were working on and make it perfectly level. Repeat this process along the full length of the cabinetry until everything is level.
Taking your time and making sure everything is level will prevent problems later on in the installation especially if you are installing doors or drawers. After you’ve leveled your cabinets you’re ready for the next step.
