While renovating a home or office, some gaps can be left between cabinets and walls. There might be different reasons, such as poor installation and incorrect cabinet settling. These unwanted gaps did not give a unique appearance to the house. Some people find it difficult to fill the gaps and take this process as a significant challenge.
However, you don’t need to worry as you can fill the gap quickly after choosing the appropriate material. What kind of material you’ll need all depends on the gap size. There are three different possible ways to fill these gaps. This article will discuss all three methods of filling a gap between cabinet and wall.
3 Easy ways to fill the gap
The three most common ways of filling the gap are using the following materials.
- Caulk
- Scribe molding
- Cabinet filler strips
These components are all ideal for completing the gaps. The choice of one of the three depends on the gaps width and size. In most cases, after cabinet installation, a three-inch gap is typically left. The drawers will be tough to open if your gap is left unfilled. However, choosing one of these materials also depends on your budget because installation processes are different.
1. Fill gaps using caulk
While installing a cabinet in your kitchen or bathroom and unintentionally, there is space left between cabinet and wall. You can quickly fill this slight crack or a gap with the help of a caulk. In the market, caulk is in diverse colors. You can select those colors which are suitable for your cabinets. This colored caulk makes your cracks flawless and cannot be recognized after filling. Using caulk is cost-effective, and you can fix your problem effortlessly. Before starting the process, make sure to gather the necessary things.
- Caulk tube
- Caulking gun
- Cloth
- Nails
- Painter tape
- Sponge
- Scissors
- Wire
When you collect all these things in one place, start the filling process. You can efficiently perform this task by reading the following steps to fill the gap between cabinet and wall.
- Carefully identify the area of gaps. Clean that specific area on the wall and cabinet and remove dust and drains. Then apply painter’s tape by making a straight line to the wall and cabinet. It will cover both sides of the gap. Using tape is essential for protecting the wall’s surface and woodwork from the caulk.
- Get ready for your latex tube by cutting the tip and waterproof caulk. Be careful while cutting the tip of the nozzle because it should provide you with your required bead size. The next step is marking a cut on the caulking gun with a knife or scissors. Always try to make a straight cut instead of an angled one because it makes its movement easy. Besides, the tip size should be smaller than the gap size.
- Now, pierce the inner caulking seal by using the tool given with it. However, you can use a nail or a wire if your piercing tool is missing. Fit the tube in the gun properly. After placing the tube into the gun, push the caulk towards the nozzle tip with the help of a trigger.
- Put the tip of a gun on the area of the gap. Hold your gun in the position where it can make an exact angle to the joint. Squeeze trigger for making the caulk flow out of the tube. Slowly move the tip downward and squeeze steadily to produce a continuous bead at the cracked area.
- When you are done with caulking the two feet area, stop the process. Use your fingertip to level up the bead. Use a sponge or wet cloth to clean out the excess caulk. Repeat the filling process until your whole gap is filled.
- Leave the caulk for some time and let it dry. After that, remove the tape from the wall and cabinet.
Note: If you want to paint your area, do not use silicone caulk after caulking. Silicone caulk will never allow your paint to adhere. So using an acrylic caulk is the best alternative option.
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2. Fill gaps using cabinet filler strips
Cabinet filler strips are used for integrated cabinets and mainly for imperfectly fit cabinets. Cabinet filler strips come in various sizes ranging from two to six inches. Undeniably, these fillers can fill more significant gaps, but their handling is also callous. As you want to fill the gaps with the uneven walls, you need to make the strip fit to fill the gap. It will need proper measurement and cutting of the strip.
For installing the filler strips, the first step will be its preparation. Cut the strips according to the cabinet’s length. Take the strip of the same length and mold its width with the help of a table saw. This strip must be slightly wide than the gap.
The next step is precisely aligning the strip against the wall. It could be a tricky step after pushing the wood strip against the wall. Fasten it to the cabinet and use a scribing compass to mark the curve of your filler down the wall. Then, cut the strip from the marked point using the belt sander.
3. Fill gaps using scribe moldings
Scribe moldings are the best for filling gaps with a half-inch width. Such gaps cannot fill with caulk. These delicate and thin wooden pieces are beneficial for filling the more significant gaps. These flexible strips are best for fixing curves and the back of the cabinets.
For installing moldings, follow the steps mentioned for filler strip installation. Similar to filler strips, these are also made of wood. It will need the exact cutting and fitting procedure.
Last Words
During the remodeling of your home, you could face different gaps between your cabinets and wall. These gaps generally vary in width and have to be dealt with according to size. Now you can easily hide them by following the steps mentioned above. Dealing with smaller gaps is an easy and less expensive process. Comparatively, more significant gaps need special tools and techniques.
FAQs
How can you fill the gap between cabinet and dishwasher?
If there is an unwanted gap between the cabinet and the dishwasher, you can quickly fill the gap by using the filler strips—all you need to do is cut this strip according to your gap space and fix it there.
How to select the best caulk for you?
According to the different needs of caulk, these are available in various forms. You can select one for you by reading the instructions given by producers. For example, acrylic caulk is best for filling the gap between cabinet and wall. Silicone caulks usually uses in water-prone places.