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How to install kickboards

One person cutting a length of kickboard with a circular saw while another person holds the end

Overview

Kickboards are one of the last things you install when you are building a kitchen. We'll teach you how to measure up your drilling points properly and install your kickboards neatly. You will also learn how to protect the laminate surface while you cut.

Steps

1Prepare the kickboards for cutting

Measure the lengths your kickboards need to cover under your cabinets and mark them up with a combination square. To protect the front of the laminate from the teeth of your saw blade, lay your board face down on the sawhorses and cover your cut lines with masking tape. 
A person kneeling on the floor measuring the length of a cabinet

2Cut the kickboard to size

Put some cardboard under the kickboard and clamp it to the sawhorses. This will help protect the front face from scratching. Then use your circular saw to trim the kickboard to size. To ensure you get a really clean cut, have someone hold the offcut as you saw. This stops the offcut snapping off early and stripping the laminate.
One person cutting a length of kickboard with a circular saw while another person holds the end

3Mark out the drilling points for the kickboard

Insert the kickboard under the cabinets, up against the legs. Now use your combination square to measure from the front of the cabinet to the kickboard. Then add half the thickness of your kickboard to that measurement to get your drilling distance. In this case, our kickboard is 19mm thick, so we add 9mm to our measurement and mark that line on our cabinets. 
A person marking a measurement on the bottom panel of a cabinet

4Install the kickboard

Remove the kickboard and drill pilot holes for the screws using the line marked out in the previous step. Drill two holes per cabinet, the whole way along the line. Then reinsert the kickboard and screw it into place using 28mm screws. To give your job a clean finish, drive your screws in until the heads ‘countersink' just below the surface.
A person inserting a screw through the bottom of a cabinet into the kickboard
Health & Safety

Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.

When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.