ᐅ How can I securely mount Ikea Metod wall cabinets in an older building?
Created on: 3 Jul 2022 14:17
L
LOLITA
Hello everyone,
I am facing the challenge of securely mounting my Ikea Metod wall cabinets in an older apartment. The wall consists partly of old brick masonry and partly of timber studs, and is not completely even. My specific question is: Which fastening methods and materials are particularly suitable for securely and permanently installing the Metod wall cabinets without damaging the wall or the structure?
I am especially interested in advice on screws, anchors, spacers, and, of course, the load-bearing capacity of the fastenings. Additionally, it would be great if someone could provide tips on how to compensate for unevenness in the wall without compromising the installation.
Thank you in advance for your expertise!
I am facing the challenge of securely mounting my Ikea Metod wall cabinets in an older apartment. The wall consists partly of old brick masonry and partly of timber studs, and is not completely even. My specific question is: Which fastening methods and materials are particularly suitable for securely and permanently installing the Metod wall cabinets without damaging the wall or the structure?
I am especially interested in advice on screws, anchors, spacers, and, of course, the load-bearing capacity of the fastenings. Additionally, it would be great if someone could provide tips on how to compensate for unevenness in the wall without compromising the installation.
Thank you in advance for your expertise!
LOJOPAR schrieb:
A common mistake is to use only universal wall plugs in old bricks, which rarely provide secure anchoring.I completely agree, because I initially had those cheap nylon plugs in mind. Thanks for the tip!
PULAU schrieb:
Also, if the wall is very uneven or old plaster layers are loose, the mounting rail should possibly be screwed onto a relatively flat wooden board, which is fixed in several places with sufficiently large anchors.That’s an interesting suggestion. How exactly would you fasten and size this wooden board? My wall is somewhat irregular but not extremely warped.
Would a plywood board about 18 mm (0.7 inches) thick be advisable, for example? Or would something else be better? How do I correctly determine the required lengths of plugs and screws if I also install the wooden board?
R
RonJarrett4 Jul 2022 13:07LOLITA schrieb:
How do I correctly measure the required dowel and screw lengths when also mounting the wooden panel? Here is a structured approach:
- Add the thickness of the wooden panel (e.g., 18 mm (0.7 inches) plywood) to the depth of the dowel anchorage in the wall material.
- Example: If the dowel is supposed to be anchored 6 cm (2.4 inches) deep into the wall, add the 18 mm (0.7 inches) wooden panel plus the thickness of the cabinet or mounting rail (approximately 10 mm (0.4 inches)), and some allowance for the screw head.
- The screw must be long enough to securely penetrate all layers and still anchor deeply enough in the wall.
- For the dowels (e.g., heavy-duty anchors), make sure they are approved for the specific wall material and that the anchorage depth follows the manufacturer’s recommendations.
- In general: screw length = dowel length in the wall + wooden panel thickness + cabinet or rail thickness + about 1 cm (0.4 inches) for the screw head.
This method ensures precise measurements and gives you confidence during installation.
Hello LOLITA and everyone else 🛠️,
I think the idea of using a wooden board is really practical! An 18mm (3/4 inch) plywood panel is sturdy enough and easy to work with. Especially in older buildings, where walls are often not perfectly straight, such a “mounting base” is worth its weight in gold.
Tip for installation: Pre-drill the board and fix it to the wall with dowels (chemical or heavy-duty) every 40-50 cm (16-20 inches). This distributes the load really well.
One more trick: Attach the board to the wall with common mounting foam or construction adhesive as well; this improves stability and prevents cabinets from rattling.
And yes, the screws definitely need to be long—better to allow a bit more length than not enough 😉
Good luck, it’ll definitely turn out great!
I think the idea of using a wooden board is really practical! An 18mm (3/4 inch) plywood panel is sturdy enough and easy to work with. Especially in older buildings, where walls are often not perfectly straight, such a “mounting base” is worth its weight in gold.
Tip for installation: Pre-drill the board and fix it to the wall with dowels (chemical or heavy-duty) every 40-50 cm (16-20 inches). This distributes the load really well.
One more trick: Attach the board to the wall with common mounting foam or construction adhesive as well; this improves stability and prevents cabinets from rattling.
And yes, the screws definitely need to be long—better to allow a bit more length than not enough 😉
Good luck, it’ll definitely turn out great!
RonJarrett schrieb:
In general: screw length = wall anchor length + wood panel thickness + cabinet/rail thickness + about 1cm (0.4 inches) allowance for the screw head.Perfectly explained! That’s exactly how I did it in my project 🎉
One more tip: If you want to save some time and avoid stress, first attach the rail to the wall, then hang a simple cabinet box to test the set height and level. This will save you from frustration later on.
Don’t stop halfway—this will turn out great, so go for it!
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