Finish your kitchen cabinets installation by installing toe kick boards.
That small, recessed space between the bottom of your cabinets and the floor is known as the toe kick. The toe kick allows you to stand next to your base cabinets without stubbing your toes. Depending on the cabinet manufacturer, the toe kick could be 4 or 4 1/2 inches high, and the depth could vary. Toe kick boards are installed to protect the base cabinet. They also cover any gaps between the floor and the bottom of the cabinet created during installation.
1
Measure the height of your toe kick, so you purchase the correct toe kick board height. A too tall toe kick board will require trimming, and one that is too short will leave a gap between the cabinet and the top of the toe kick board.
2
Measure the length of your cabinets to get the total linear footage of the base cabinets. Add 10 percent to the measurement when purchasing the toe kick boards to allow for damage.
3
Paint or stain the toe kick boards to match the color of your cabinets. Let the boards dry before continuing the installation.
4
Take the measurement of the longest run of base cabinets. Transfer the measurement to the back of the toe kick board. Use a miter saw to cut a 45-degree inside miter cut if the end of the toe kick board butts up to another cabinet run. Make a straight, 90-degree cut if cutting a toe kick board for a straight length of cabinets.
5
Fit the toe kick board against the base cabinets. If the toe kick board fits too snugly in some areas because of an uneven floor, use a hand-held planer to shave off small amounts of wood at the top of the board.
6
Nail the toe kick board to the base cabinets with finishing nails. Position a nail setter on the head of each finishing nail. Strike the nail setter with the hammer to countersink each finishing nail.
7
Fill each countersunk hole with wood putty that matches the color of your cabinet finish. Smooth the wood putty with your fingertips.
8
Install the remainder of the toe kick boards using the same installation procedure as you did with the first toe kick board.
Things You Will Need
- Tape measure
- Paint or stain
- Miter saw
- Hand-held planer
- Finishing nails
- Hammer
- Nail setter
- Wood putty
About the Author
Cecilia Harsch has been writing professionally since 2009. She writes mainly home improvement, health and travel articles for various online publications. She has several years of experience in the home-improvement industry, focusing on gardening, and a background in group exercise instruction. Harsch received her Certified Nurses Assistant license in 2004. She attended Tarrant County College and studied English composition.
Photo Credits
- Hemera Technologies/Photos.com/Getty Images
Have Feedback?
Thank you for providing feedback to our Editorial staff on this article. Please fill in the following information so we can alert the Home Guides editorial team about a factual or typographical error in this story. All Fields are required.
×
Travelling is my life
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon