Kitchen cabinet mounting?

[1fastvx]

OK guys, I know this is not a garage, but i know you guys will have the info I need. The prior owners of our house had the kitchen remodeled. The cabinet installers were not the brightest bunch. As you can see by the pics the cabinet is having some issues. Well I am going to take down the cabinet and glue back together the parts that are pulling apart. When I put it back up I want to make sure nothing like this happens again. How would you guys attach it back up? They have three screws through the nailer strip on the upper back of the cabinet that are OK. They screwed one screw up into the ceiling and then the two on the bottom sides. I most likely want to get rid of the ceiling one and the two bottom side ones because they are pulling the cabinet apart. If I do that how do I make sure this cabinet is well attached to the wall?

The dimensions are:
25" High
35" Wide
24" Deep

 

[walrus]

. I most likely want to get rid of the ceiling one and the two bottom side ones because they are pulling the cabinet apart. If I do that how do I make sure this cabinet is well attached to the wall?

If the side ones were shimmed right, would they be pulling the cabinet apart?? A space when its screwed in place and its pulling the cabinet apart. Maybe use a longer shim the right thickness to go the whole length of the side instead of just that block

 

[ddawg16]

It should have a nailer at the bottom as well....when I build them I have a strip that runs along the bottom...in reality, this one carries the most weight...the one on top just keeps the top from pulling away from the wall.

I also put a back on them...typically 1/8" material....it's other purpose besides keeping **** from getting in from behind, is to provide the cabinet with regidity...

 

[1fastvx]

OK guys I pulled the cabinet down and it pretty much fell apart in my hands. I ended up just ordering a new replacement cabinet. One thing I am trying to figure out is do I bother with the screws on the side on the bottom as in the pics above or do I just screw in the back on the top and bottom where the nailer's are? Is that enough support for a cabinet this big?

Thanks!!

John

 

[JOHNMAN]

How much weight is in this cabinet?

Typically, I only screw the top and bottom "nailers" into studs in the wall.

As stated previously, the lower "nailer" typically would see the most load in this case.

The screws through the sides into the sidewalls may be due to the weak construction of the cabinets that you are showing. Upper cabinets like this are constructed so that the sides of the cabinet distribute the load of the cabinet to the "nailer" strips across the back of the cabinet. The back of the cabinet keeps the sides aligned by tying the two sides together. The top and bottom shelves help to strengthen the "nailers" as well as tie everything together into a unit. The movable shelves typically add no strength to the cabinet carcass.

The strength of the cabinet comes from how well the top, the bottom, the two sides, the upper and lower "nailers" and the back are fastened together. I use a combination of glue, screws and brads in the ones I make.

Some of the purchased cabinets that I have seen for sale are simply glued and stapled together.

You be the judge.

 

[crtt1976]

For future use, have you ever heard of a French cleat? I believe this to be the correct spelling. This method utilizes a strip mounted at the top of the wall with a 45degree cut along the edge with the tip of the 45 pointed up and the bevel facing the wall, screwed and mounted to the wall studs. The next step is a strip mounted to the top back of the cabinet with the same 45degree angle cut, this time the point of the bevel is facing down with the bevel facing the cabinet. This method creates a wedge as you slide the cabinet strip over the wall mounted strip transferring the weight of the cabinet over the width of the cabinet instead of a few screws here and there. You will have to have a strip the thickness of the beveled strip up top to place at the bottom of the cabinet in order for it to mount level.

 

[sharkytm]

french cleats work awesome

 

[Flathead Red]

Crtt is on the mark and beat me to it. French cleat is the way to go. It supports the majority of the weight and helps keep it secure to the wall. Also helps if you have to do it by yourself.

Flathead Red

 

[Mattlt]

Since this is only one cabinet, it really doesn't apply, but a lot of the integrity of the cabinets comes from screwing through the face frame into the neighboring cabinet. Makes the group of cabinets into a solid unit.

In your situation, if there would happen to be a stud even with the face frame, you'd be set. Highly unlikely, however.

Remove the hinges, clamp the cabinets together, drill a pilot hole for the screw so the hinge will cover the screw, and screw it together. When you reinstall the hinges you can''t see the screw.