Clarksville remodel calendars do not forgive a missed install day. If
floors are still wavy, stub-outs are wrong, or the OTR outlet sits too
low, the crew cannot finish — and fall PCS or holiday cooking plans
take the hit.

Homeowners and builders ask the same question every week: what does
“site ready” actually mean before cabinet install day? This guide
answers it with the tolerances, clearances, and customer items that
must be true on a Montgomery County job so delivery and install stay
on schedule.

What “site ready” means on an R3 job

“Ready” is not a vibe. It means the install area is clear, the
structure is within published tolerances, utilities are prepped to the
approved plan, and every customer-supplied item is already on site.

R3 Cabinets is veteran-owned and based in Clarksville. Founders Kevin
Piper and Zachary Leggett — former Green Berets after Fort Campbell —
built the company for local kitchens that need a custom look at a
local price, without pretending we do every trade. We sell semi-custom
and stock / factory / RTA cabinets. We assemble, deliver, and install
cabinets. We do not do plumbing, electrical, appliance install, or
drywall repair.

If the site is not ready when the crew arrives, the install may be
rescheduled. A return-trip fee of may apply.

Floors, walls, and openings: the tolerances that matter

Cabinets sit on what the house gives them. Out-of-level floors and
bowed walls show up as gaps, crooked toe kicks, and doors that will
not line up — especially in older Clarksville and Fort Campbell-area
homes that settled for years in Tennessee humidity.

Use these checks before install day:

– Floors and ceilings level within 1/2″ over the entire length of the run
– Walls plumb and straight within 1/2″
– Corners and openings square within 1/4″ per foot (AWI standards)

R3 can shim at the toe base up to a maximum of 1/2″. More than 1/2″
out of level is not a cabinet problem — the owner or GC must correct
the floor first. That is how you keep soft-close doors working and
moisture-resistant boxes sitting true in a Middle Tennessee kitchen.

Builders and GCs: put these numbers on the punch list before you call
for cabinets. A half-day of floor or wall correction beats burning an
install slot in late September.

Clear the room, keep access open

Install day is not a multi-trade stack. The cabinet area needs to be
clear of other trades, furniture, debris, packaging, and old fixtures.
Safe access and parking matter too — crews work Monday through Friday,
7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Someone needs to be on site, or a lockbox
arranged, so the team is not sitting in the driveway.

Fort Campbell and Hopkinsville jobs add commute and gate timing. Clear
paths and confirmed access keep the day productive for everyone on the
schedule.

Plumbing stub-outs and electrical that match the plan

Cabinets go in after the rough work matches the approved layout — not before.

**Plumbing.** Floor stub-outs need to be at least 8″ tall, capped, and
without valves. R3 does not run water lines or set valves. Your
plumber or GC owns that prep so bases and sinks line up later.

**Electrical.** Outlets and wiring must match the approved cabinet
plans. For an over-the-range (OTR) microwave, the bottom of the
electrical box should be no lower than 75″ from the finished floor.
That height is easy to miss on a fast remodel and expensive to fix
after uppers are hung.

Again: R3 does not do electrical. We install cabinets to the plan you
approved. Wrong box height or missing receptacles stop the clock.

Customer items that must be on site before we start

If you are supplying parts of the finish, they need to be in the house
before install starts — not “arriving tomorrow.” That list typically
includes:

– Handles and knobs
– Sinks
– Appliances
– Decorative range hoods (blower and liner are not included)
– Any other customer-provided items called out on the order

R3 installs only R3-provided materials. Custom appliance panels can be
made to the specs on the plan, but installing those appliances is not
included. Decorative hoods are decorative from our side — the
blower/liner package is yours or your HVAC/appliance partner’s job.

Worrying about cabinets so you don’t have to starts with knowing what
still sits on your punch list versus ours.

How site prep fits the R3 four-step process

Site ready sits after design approval and before the crew rolls. The
flow stays the same for Clarksville, Fort Campbell, Hopkinsville,
Middle TN, and Western KY jobs:

1. **Measure & Consult** — Free, no-pressure in-home consult with real
samples and a 3D / virtual walkthrough. Most consults run 45–60
minutes.
2. **Approve Design** — You lock the layout and product (semi-custom
or stock / RTA — not full custom, not handmade in our shop).
3. **Set Delivery Date** — After approval, plan around the 21-day prep
window (or 5-day RTA flat pack from the Clarksville warehouse on
select colors).
4. **Delivery or Install** — Pickup, site delivery, professional
assembly, and professional installation are service levels you choose.

Use the prep window. That is when floors get leveled, stub-outs get
set, OTR boxes get raised, and customer hardware lands in the garage.
Fall remodelers racing holiday cooking calendars win when that work is
done before install day — not during it.

Homeowner checklist vs. GC checklist

**Homeowners.** Walk the kitchen the week before. Photograph floors
with a long level if you have one. Confirm your plumber and
electrician finished to the plan. Collect knobs, sink, and appliances
in one spot. Clear the room Sunday night.

**Builders and remodelers.** Treat site ready as a gate, not a hope.
Document tolerances, stub heights, and OTR box height on your own
pre-install form. Keep other trades out of the cabinet zone on install
day. Right cabinets, right place, right time only works when the
jobsite matches the drawings.

Office for samples and appointments: 211 South 2nd St Suite 208,
Clarksville TN 37040 (The Press, by appointment). Questions for sales:
sales@r3cabinets.com.

Ready to lock an install date?

Call or text (931) 263-8600, or book a free in-home consult at
r3cabinets.com/contact-us/. Bring your timeline, your GC’s
punch list, and the rooms that need to be done before holiday cooking
— we will tell you straight what still has to be true before the truck
shows up.

FAQ:
**What does “site ready” mean before cabinet install in Clarksville?**
It means the install area is clear, floors/walls/openings are within
tolerance (level and plumb within 1/2″; corners/openings square within
1/4″ per foot), plumbing and electrical match the approved plans, and
customer-supplied items are already on site. If the site is not ready,
the install may be rescheduled and a return-trip fee may
apply. 

**How tall should plumbing stub-outs and OTR electrical boxes be?**
Floor plumbing stub-outs should be at least 8″ tall, capped, and
without valves. For an over-the-range microwave, the bottom of the
electrical box should be no lower than 75″ from the finished floor. R3
does not perform plumbing or electrical work — your trades complete
that prep before install day.

**Does R3 fix out-of-level floors or install my appliances?**
R3 can shim at the toe base up to 1/2″. More than 1/2″ out of level
must be corrected by the owner or GC first. R3 installs R3-provided
cabinet materials only. Appliance install, plumbing, electrical,
drywall repair, and decorative-hood blower/liner packages are not
included.