Ikea is never helpful about that these days. They only recommend the company that has the installation contract, currently Traemund, I think.

Try craigslist and angie's list.

Try Thumbtack or Homeadvisor. At least you'll get to read reviews and have confirmed licensing, unlike Craigslist.

I looked on Homeadvisor and came up empty handed. I've never heard of Thumbtack and our area is probably too small for it, but I'll check it out. Thanks.

Do you have Nextdoor in your area? If so, you could put out a query there.

The whole point of IKEA is that it is DIY. Should you not be able to DIY, it takes a lot more time and money to do IKEA than you may realize.

We hired a carpenter to assemble and install our IKEA cabinets in the house we owned in the DC area. Our GC here in the San Francisco Bay Area has done several kitchens with IKEA cabinets. You may not need a specialist.

I'm on Thumbtack and I get requests to assemble and install IKEA-type cabinets. Since I have to pay to respond, I almost never do. Too many contractor wanna-bees and too few folks willing to pay what it takes.

Contractors we spoke with had done ikea kitchens. I don't think you need a specialist - any gc that does kitchens should be able to install ikea cabs. I'm not sure how the money works out after paying for this but I assume you would still be saving.

Anyone who can read and has opposable thumbs can put Ikea cabinets together. It's simply not that hard. ANY licensed contractor or handyman should be able to do it.

Assembly of Ikea cabinets is easy. For installation, just look for a good cabinet installer.

Please tell us your experience, writersblock, since you seem very negative towards this idea.

Once they're put together, it's like installing any other kitchen cabinet; actually easier with their rail system. If anything it's easier.

I'm not negative about it at all, but there are many instances of contractors thinking they don't need the instructions because they know all about how to install cabinets. The only major failures of IKEA cabinets I've ever heard about came from installers who disbelieved in the suspension rail and stuff like that. Many contractors do not want to learn a new way of doing things, so you need to be careful about whom you choose

That's all I'm saying. I personally changed my plans to use ikea because of what they did to ikeafans, but if I were still willing to shop at ikea, I'd assemble the cabinets myself and look for a trim carpenter to help hang them and trim them out.

To be fair, assembling IKEA stuff using their instruction is horrible. I and 2 contractors spent a day trying to figure out the Pax systems. With 2 college degree for two of us and 30 yrs of construction with the senior contractor, we were stumped for a while.

It costs so much with all the time they spent figuring out the IKEA Pax - $1500 in labor - that I did the kitchen assembly myself.

Watch videos and after the first one, it's easy. Just set up an assembly line so that you do them all at the same time.

I think any contractor should be able to do it, however I would still try to find someone with Ikea experience if possible.

Assembling Ikea cabinets is not hard, but "reading" their instructions is not easy. "Reading" is in quotes because in normal Ikea fashion, there are no words. Deciphering the pictures can be confusing. That is fine for assembling a bookcase, but when it comes to a kitchen, it is a little bit scarier. :-)

There are no overall instructions on the entire kitchen other than a 2 sheet thing that helps you figure out where the put the rails. Otherwise it is just instructions on the individual parts which fit together with other parts that have their own instructions. Figuring out the order of things and how it all fits together is confusing.

The other problem is that you start to assume that the instructions will be the same for all the cabinets, but they are not. Depending on the width of cabinets and drawers, or the placement of the drawers in the stack, you have to do different things. I got burned several times and had to take things apart because I stopped looking at the directions after I thought I knew what to do.

Every blog I read said installing Ikea cabinets is easy, and it probably can be depending on your layout. We took 5 weeks doing it ourselves not counting putting on the outside cover panels or trim work which still needs to be done. One of us is an extreme perfectionist however, and he redid things several times until they were perfect, so that is why it was slow. I do think realistically it can be done quicker, but again, it would still be better to have someone with experience with Ikea and the rail system. If we did another kitchen it would go much faster.

Sorry Kim! I have not given you an answer and am only responding to the conversation here. I would think a good contractor could do the work as long as they are comfortable with using the rails. If you are hiring someone to assemble the cabinets I would want to make sure they are willing to "read" the instructions also so they don't make mistakes like I did.

I will say despite the slowness of our project, I am extremely happy that we went with Ikea. I am really enjoying all the niceties of having lots of high quality drawers with great organizers that fit perfectly. It is an extremely functional kitchen at an Ikea price.

I'm in the process of having my second Ikea kitchen put in, by a "specialist." No - not everyone can put together an Ikea kitchen. As a single woman with 1 1/2 fulltime jobs, I don't have the time or skill or interest in using what little spare time I have to put in a kitchen. I'm lucky to have a small company in my area (Northern Ca) who specializes in Ikea kitchens. I did the basic design of what I wanted, and they made suggestions and tweaks to make it function the best.

They did the ordering, arranged for tear out of my existing kitchen, will handle any permits, and also handle any changes with or errors from Ikea.

And my kitchen installation will still cost me far less than Home Depot or contractors in my area.

There are no overall instructions on the entire kitchen other than a 2
sheet thing that helps you figure out where the put the rails. Otherwise
it is just instructions on the individual parts which fit together with
other parts that have their own instructions. Figuring out the order of
things and how it all fits together is confusing.

Every time I put in an Ikea kitchen, it came with a book detailing the steps from room layout to installation. It was simplistic, but it did have words. :)

I saw an ad for an ex-IKEA installer looking for that type of work. I think he was at $90.00 per box.

Every time I put in an Ikea kitchen, it came with a book detailing the steps from room layout to installation. It was simplistic, but it did have words. :)

Yes, there is an overall set of instructions. Found here. But it is very brief and leaves our many details that would be helpful.

The instructions for assembling the cabinets, drawers and the other pieces are all pictures and no words. I'm a visual person and also an engineer, so I usually can figure things out fairly quickly, but I was frustrated more than once during this process.

We figured it all out and I love it. I just want to share that unless you have done it before, it isn't as simple as you might think it will be. Also, because Sektion is only 1.5 years old, there are not as many helpful videos and instructional blog posts as there are for the previous line.

I am also in Greensboro doing an IKEA kitchen - what a coincidence I checked in today. You are welcome to msg me to compare notes. Coming from San Diego, I was spoiled by working with a general contractor who was also an IKEA specialist. I am down to reviewing detailed bids from two Greensboro contractors who are familiar with IKEA kitchen install, even thought that is not their main thing. KCS Home Improvement has been very involved in discussing my project and I feel confident that they understand the IKEA install and have actually done it before. Custom Construction and Renovation is providing their bid next week. The owner reiterated to me that they are okay doing IKEA when I pressed the issue but I have not clarified that they have actually installed an IKEA kitchen. In both cases, our bids are with the understanding that we are going to assemble the cabinets and they are going to install (as part of an overall kitchen gut/remodel).

Hmm, I can't figure out the messaging either. My email is m underscore gabriel at outlook dot com.

@m_gabriel I know this thread is from a long time ago, but I'm in San Diego looking for a GC who is experienced with Ikea kitchen cabinets. Can I please get their contact information?

@jenjen7880 - I had to think for a minute but here's the website: https://www.mecdesigninstall.com/
I was really happy with their work.

https://www.mecdesigninstall.com/

Did my first reply ever post?