issues on ikea kitchen cabinet installation

11 years ago

last modified: 11 years ago

I am very nervous about these two issues for installing ikea cabinets:

1. The subsequent studs in my wall are at 24" intervals, and I ended up getting only 3 studs on suspension rail to hang 3 wall cabinets, 40" high and 78" wide in total. Can they stay on the wall for a long time not collapsing in near future?

2. I found out left side of 15" wide cabinet got slightly warped while granite was put on top of it yesterday. The caulk on the edge already got dry. Can I leave as the side is a little bent, or should I remove the caulk and make it straight up and re-caulk it?

I'm in the middle of kitchen renovation, and my contractor hasn't had any experience with ikea cabinets, which wasn't completely unexpected. It's been a disaster past over five days. I just wanted to cry and wished to go back in time to tell myself to find a real pro for ikea cabinets. I'm really hoping there is someone who can answer to those questions with confidence. Thanks!

Featured Answer

PRO

Joseph Corlett, LLC

11 years ago

last modified: 11 years ago

xedos:

The IKEA rail system makes your hanging-by-three-screws analogy flawed.

The rail is attached to the studs by the three screws and the cabinets are attached to the rail, more evenly distributing the cabinet load over the screws. On IKEA cabinets, the toggles would have to mount behind behind the prescribed holes. Unless the rail is left short or drilled, it will block toggle installation. Neither seems like a good idea to me. As long as the rail is shimmed to flat (and level) on a bowed wall, it cannot torque. Those rails are quite stout.

I'd put 78" of IKEA cabinets on a rail on three studs, load 'em, and sleep like a baby at night. They aren't coming down.

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Comments (6)

User
11 years ago
Get yourself some toggle bolts and attach the rail with those between the studs roughly where two cabinets meet.

Toggle bolts
mrsyeh thanked User
practigal
11 years ago
Are 24 inches between the studs to code? If you paid for things to be to code I would sure find that out.
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PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
mrsyeh:

3 studs for 78" of cabinets is fine, especially with the IKEA rail system. Don't worry about it. Toggle if it makes you feel better.

I have never seen nor heard of granite countertops causing cabinet side deflection in over 30 years in the business. Recaulk if it makes you feel better.
mrsyeh thanked Joseph Corlett, LLC
User
11 years ago
Problem is Joe, without the toggles (or more fastening points) cabinets on rail systems will exert too much torque and bend the rail itself between the fastening points.

While this isn't likely to make them fall off the wall , it will make it difficult or impossible to keep the cabs plumb if the rail flex exceedes the adjustment in the hanging bracket - which is very possible. This usually happens where two cabinets join together and there are two brackets pulling on the rail. And guess where thet usually happens ? Right in the center of rail fastening points. Murphy's law.

It's also happens at the end of an open cabinet run where there is no stud to fasten the rail too. There , you must use something like a togglebolt. Or your cabinet will just flap in the breeze.

Just use the bolts or similar, the cost and time savings Joe is advocating by not using them is just too great a risk.

Joe , would you hang 6.5 feet of traditional wall cabinet by only 3 screws ?

I doubt it. And if say you would then your hack, which I don't think for a even a second.
mrsyeh thanked User
User
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
"Joe , would you hang 6.5 feet of traditional wall cabinet by only 3 screws ?"

I'm certainly not questioning either of you, but having installed a few Ikea kitchens, I really like their hanging rail system. And I've had to get by with less screws than I would have been ordinarily comfortable with. If it makes you nervous; use Timber Lags; you can buy short ones at McFeely's, and at some Home Depots. They have incredible shear strength. The only real concern I'd have is at the ends; those really should go into something solid.
mrsyeh thanked User