Weight limit for wall-mounted cabinets?

[pgray007]

I'm thinking of going with metal cabinets and storage lockers in my garage, probably from NewAge, and was considering mounting them to the walls. I have standard 2x4, 16" OC framing, and while I've never heard of problems with wall mounting cabinets, my spidey sense tingles a bit when I consider slapping a few hundred pounds of steel to the wall, and then loading it with another few hundred pounds of junk.

Should I be concerned at all? I'm considering wall mount mostly for aesthetic and easy cleanup reasons, so it's not imperative I wall mount and I can just out all the base cabinets and lockers on the floor if that's safer.


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[Toolfool]

Your wall will be fine, just use appropriate fasteners.

 

[Musicinabottle]

I second that especially if both sides of the walls are sheeted.

 

[pgray007]

I second that especially if both sides of the walls are sheeted.

It's an exterior wall with drywall on the interior so it sounds like I'm set. The power of the lowly 2x4 never ceases to amaze me! Thanks!


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[four.cycle]

The lowly 2 x 4 (if made of Douglas Fir) will hold an incredible amount of weight.

I prefer 1/4" lag screws for fastening shelves to walls myself. Usually with a 1/4" fender washer under the head.

 

[wfopete]

I like using cleats for this type of wall mounting. Helps spread the load. Super strong.

 

[rlitman]

...I prefer 1/4" lag screws for fastening shelves to walls myself. Usually with a 1/4" fender washer under the head.

I used to prefer that.
Nowadays, they make button head lags that are better in many ways.

 

[bob15]

The lowly 2 x 4 (if made of Douglas Fir) will hold an incredible amount of weight.

I prefer 1/4" lag screws for fastening shelves to walls myself. Usually with a 1/4" fender washer under the head.

That is the old fashion way.....

Try a TimberLok or a HeadLok screw in the future. Stronger than a lag bolt and no pre-drilling. http://www.fastenmaster.com/products.html

For the OP, I would go with a HeadLok screw

 

[Jeff May]

I had used wood kitchen cabinets. I thought I had them secured well.
As you can see, apparently not...
I had screws with washers into every stud behind them.
I was working in the shop and started hearing this creaking and cracking noise. I was watching as they slowly started just falling off the wall.
It wasn't the securing of the cabinets, it was the construction of the cabinets. The backs were still attached to the wall.
Let a fine ol mess of nails, screws and hardware....
Just make sure you get or make sturdy or heavy duty cabinets....

 

[Dr Stan]

Just gotta love chipboard.

 

[lakeroadster]

Bob Speaketh The Truth..

I was at the local lumber yard, asked the guy "Got any good fasteners to attach cabinets to a wall" He says "they're right behind ya, they're Cabinet Screws". Who Knew

 

[krcoomer]

Bob Speaketh The Truth..

I was at the local lumber yard, asked the guy "Got any good fasteners to attach cabinets to a wall" He says "they're right behind ya, they're Cabinet Screws". Who Knew

I will second both of these options. Have used both in various construction projects since I read an article which was titled something like "not your father's lag bolt" several years ago. For hanging cabinets I believe I would tip toward the Headlok which has a little more surface area for the cabinet. Since you are using metal cabinets, if the head is too large for a mounting hole near a corner, the GRK would be the better choice.

 

[dittle fart around]

Here's some information on mounting your cabinets to the wall with lag bolts.

View media item 63811
View media item 63812
View media item 63813

Sounds easy to me.

 

[Dobie]

Yep, I install office furniture and we use the French cleat method. I attached one at the house and the wife has a couple hundred pounds of Christmas china in it plus the weight of the cabinet and it has not failed yet. They are Steelcase cabinets, but that picture of the cabinets falling and the back still attached makes me a little nervous!

 

[Alchymist]

All good advice above. A lowly 1X2 screwed to the wall studs for the bottom of the cabinets to rest on adds a lot of strength to the installation as well as aiding in getting the cabinets up initially. Painted to match the wall, hardly noticeable.

 

[Lsilkes]

I had used wood kitchen cabinets. I thought I had them ....

I'm dealing with this right now in my garage. I noticed the cabinets (our old kitchen cabinets) pulling away from the wall.

I picked up some of the Sears Gladiator Metal cabinets and this thread comes at the perfect time since I need to get them mounted

Lorne




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[lakeroadster]

I had used wood kitchen cabinets. I thought I had them secured well.
As you can see, apparently not...

I guess the good news is you didn't have a vehicle parked beside the cabinets.

Curious, how much weight did you have in them?

 

[Jeff May]

Apparently a lot more than I realized.
Over the course of time one doesn't realize just how much "stuff" he can cram into cabinets.
Once I started cleaning up the mess I did in fact realize I had WAY to much weight in them.
I now have open shelving out of 3/4" plywood and plenty of cleats and support....

 

[Richard Cranium]

I had never seen cabinets pull away from the wall leaving the back of the cabinet on the walls.

 

[doorfx]

Assembled with staples in particle board.

 

[ToddW]

I put up 7 gladiator cabinets like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008UQ0FAQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I put 4-6 lag bolts with huge washers depending if I hit studs or not. (the walls are OSB)

Under the cabinets I have 2x4s that allowed me to install them myself... ended up just leaving those there to mount little shelf onto so I can hold misc stuff. They're screwed in over and over with wood screws or drywallscrews whatever I could reach

I don't think they're going anywhere, but this thread is proof I may be wrong!!!

 

[EOC_Jason]

Bob Speaketh The Truth..

I was at the local lumber yard, asked the guy "Got any good fasteners to attach cabinets to a wall" He says "they're right behind ya, they're Cabinet Screws". Who Knew

Those look identical to the Spax screws you can get at Home Depot... Same head, same thread... Same Dimensions... Probably made by the same company... lol

 

[bczygan]

I had used wood kitchen cabinets. I thought I had them secured well.
As you can see, apparently not...
I had screws with washers into every stud behind them.
I was working in the shop and started hearing this creaking and cracking noise. I was watching as they slowly started just falling off the wall.
It wasn't the securing of the cabinets, it was the construction of the cabinets. The backs were still attached to the wall.
Let a fine ol mess of nails, screws and hardware....
Just make sure you get or make sturdy or heavy duty cabinets....

THIS!!!

I had same thing happen with my new cheap kitchen cabinets. Had to reinforce them and rehang and watch what I put in them.

Bill

 

[mray312]

Use a french cleat secured to stud with GRK cabinet screw. It will support a ton of weight.