Are there cabinets on each side?

Only on one side...see picture. The area is about 40" wide and the stove and microwave is 30". The wall above the existing hood is brick tiled (real, thin brick). I hate my kitchen. :)

You would need something to screw this to on each side. So if the space is 40" you would need at least a 10" cabinet on the other side that was securely attached to the wall. This is basically just a 4" box with a top and shims, screwed and glued on the inside to attach the microwave to. The box itself would have to be well built with 3/4" plywood. screwed and glued. It would be screwed to the wall on one side and the back and screwed to the cabinet on the other side. The microwave would have to be vented to the outside. Good installation would be critical.

eagledzines, I already thought of what you drew, then thought against it. If you were to attach that 4" box to the wall alone it wouldn't support itself, so you are basically relying on the sheer strength of the screws driven into the side of it from the inside of the tall cabinet, and someone might even try drywall screws. That's why I didn't suggest a homemade fix.

The shear strength on the screws, which would be each side and in the back wouldn't be any different than if a cabinet were hung above and would be supporting less weight. A cabinet would be hung the same way.

Good and professional construction and installation is a must. 3" #10 cabinet installation screws need to be used for the walls and the screws need to be imbedded into the wall framing.

One change I will make is that the shelf would be better turned upside down and the bottom should be placed in a dado. No shims used but the microwave attached to the bottom directly. The box would then be attached to the wall and then a shelf nailed down to the top.

So to answer your question Dana Britt--There are different opinions, and whatever was done, it should be done by a professional.

eagledzines, your idea will probably work, I just get nervous reinventing the wheel, and then being responsible for it.

For extra comfort, use a 6" box with two screws to each stud.

I just looked at the photo again, enlarged, the cabinet to the right looks like it is sitting on something???

I guess it's just the microwave slid under it, so scratch that last comment.

Good eye. If this idea was used, the cabinet to the right needs to be checked to make sure it's solid on the wall.

Thanks for your help! We aren't sure what we are going to do.

Hello,

We are trying to remove the hood above our stove and replace with microwave. Our problem is the installation instructions on the microwave calls for 13" cabinet mounting and our cabinets only extend 11". Any suggestions?