Update With Faucets and Cabinet Hardware

Insert the new faucet into the empty opening where the old faucet sat. Caulk the base of the faucet with either silicone caulk or plumber's putty, applying a bead about 1/4" thick. Move the faucet into position, being sure that the base is parallel to the back of the sink. Now press the faucet down firmly so that it's tightly sealed to the sink. Scrape away any excess caulk from the surface of the faucet. Let the putty set.

Use your basin wrench or channel-type pliers to connect the metal friction washers to the tailpiece underneath the sink. Then attach the mounting nuts. Attach the supply tubes to the tailpiece, and then use your basin wrench or channel-type pliers to tighten the coupling nuts.

Now that the supply tubing is attached to the sink, connect it to the water source at the shutoff valves using compression fittings. Tighten the mounting nuts, first by hand and then with an adjustable wrench, turning them 1/4 of a turn to make sure they're not too tight.

Helpful Tip

When you're tightening the supply tubing to the valve, hold the valve with another wrench to keep it from turning.

If your new faucet has pre-attached tubing, it is not necessary to connect tubing to the faucet. Connect the pre-attached supply tubes to the shutoff valves with a basin wrench or channel-type pliers. The tubing with a red label connects to the hot water source and the tubing with a blue label connects to the cold water source.

If you're replacing a kitchen faucet and an old sprayer, follow these guidelines. Apply a 1/4" thick bead of either silicone caulk or plumber's putty to the bottom edge of the sprayer's base. Insert the end of the sprayer hose into the sink opening and press the sprayer firmly into place. Scrape away any excess sealant and let the base and sealant set for a few minutes. Place a washer over the tailpiece, then screw in and tighten the mounting with a basin wrench or channel-type pliers. Scrape away any extra putty from the base of the sprayer. Connect the hose to the hose nipple found on the bottom of the faucet. Use your basin wrench or channel-type pliers to tighten the screw a 1/4 of a turn (remember, not too tight).

Remove existing hardware with the necessary tools. In most cases, this will be just a screwdriver. For cabinet doors, as opposed to drawers, remove the door completely by detaching the door hinges from the cabinet frame.

Once you've removed a knob or pull, there will most likely be a mark left on the cabinet surface due to the amount of time that the hardware has been in place. Use a mild detergent, water and a sponge or rag to clean off any residue that was hidden under the hardware. For tough, gummy residue, use steel wool or a fine-grit sandpaper to lightly scrub it away. Be sure that you don't rub too hard or in too large of an area; you don't want to scratch or otherwise mar the surface before you add the new hardware.

If you're going to be adding hardware with different screw alignments, you need to patch the old hardware's holes before drilling new ones. Use a wood putty stick to fill in the old holes and wipe away any excess with a rag. Find a putty color that's as close to your cabinet's wood tone as possible.

Attach new hardware the way you removed it, by attaching it with a screwdriver and the screws or other fasteners provided with the new hardware. If you have to make new holes for screws, do so with a power drill and a bit that is approximately the same or a size smaller than the screws that will fasten the hardware to the door or drawer. Before drilling, measure the drawer's surface with a tape measure to be sure you're installing the knob exactly in the center of the drawer's surface.

If you're installing pulls with more than one screw location, measure the distance between each screw on the hardware and transfer the measurement to the cabinet or drawer and mark the locations with a pencil. Be sure you place the pull in the center of a drawer by measuring the drawer face. Also, use a level to be sure your new pull will be installed in the right place.

That's it, you're done! Enjoy your kitchen and/or bath's fresh, new look.