Cabinet installation is a very basic task that most experienced DIYers will tackle at some time. Most of the time, it’s just a matter of locating the studs and ensuring that your installation hardware hits them to ensure appropriate strength for long-lasting cabinet installations. Some installation sites may not meet code requirements.
It’s best to create a means to distribute the load over the available framing members in these situations. It’s difficult but not impossible to install cabinets without enough studs.
It appears that hanging a cabinet from one stud is acceptable if it is adjacent to another cabinet secured into two studs and the two cabinets’ face frames are screwed together.
Table of Contents
Required Supplies For Hanging A Cabinet With One Stud
- Cabinets of your choice
- Screws
- Drywall anchors
- Board cuts
- Tape measure
- Stud finder
- Drill bits
- Level
- Crown molding
- Screw driving bits
- Prepare The Wall Area For Cabinet Installation:
Locate the existing studs with a stud finder and carefully mark them. Mark each stud at the top and bottom of your wall cabinet installation area. If each cabinet has at least one stud behind it, use the following procedure.
Consider shifting your cabinets or tearing down the drywall and adding studs to the wall before installing your cabinets if there is less than one stud per cabinet. The next step is to utilize a stud finder to determine where your stud is hiding in your wall. Make a small pencil mark on the wall to help you remember where the stud is.
Measure the distance between the stud and the corner and mark it on your cabinet. Before transferring the measurement to the rear of the cabinet, make sure to deduct the distance that the face frame sticks out on the front of the cabinet.
Cut Plywood Panels
Make plywood panels that are the same height as your cabinets and long enough to cover the entire installation space. Cut your panels long enough to span at least three studs for each piece. Place each panel’s outline on the wall in its proper location.
For screw placement, draw lines on the plywood that align with the middle of each stud.
Use Construction Adhesive On The Back Side Of Panels
On the other side of the plywood from your screw lines, apply a liberal bead of liquid nail types construction glue an inch from the edge of the panel. Apply liquid nail lines across the panel inside this rectangle.
Install Anchors
You’ll need to physically hold the cabinet against the wall and mark through the holes you predrilled to determine where you want to set the anchors. Measurement is another option. However, your cabinet installation will become difficult later if you’re slightly off anywhere.
You must also determine the location of the cabinet’s bottom edge on the wall. If you don’t have somebody to assist you, temporarily screw a board to the wall with the top edge aligned with the pencil mark. The rear of the cabinet may then rest on the board, making for considerably easier lifting.
Install Cabinets
Check for level by placing the cabinet against the panel. Screw into the plywood panel from the back of the cabinet, hitting the stud wherever feasible and carefully going through the horizontal installation cleats in the back.
Level the second unit, flush it with the first and screw it into the first cabinet via the side panel. As with the first unit, screw it to the wall. Follow the same technique for higher cabinets, ensuring the cabinet is supported until it is fully affixed to the wall.
Each unit normally has two horizontal cleats at the top and bottom. Find these and screw them in place. Drive as many screws as possible into studs for the most secure installation.
Final Thoughts
After reading this post, installing a cabinet with limited or one stud is no more an issue! If you still need guidelines and assistance, you can also hire professionals for the appropriate installation of cabinets. However, focus on your budget before hiring the experts to save yourself from stress in the future.
