ᐅ How can I safely install IKEA Metod wall cabinets on older building walls?
Created on: 26 Apr 2021 09:17
Q
QUINNDEOHello everyone,
I am planning to install several IKEA Metod wall cabinets in my old apartment. I am unsure how to securely fix the cabinets to the typically somewhat unstable walls found in older buildings. Most of my walls are made of old masonry, partly covered with drywall, and I feel that conventional wall plugs do not provide enough support.
Does anyone have experience with securely mounting Metod wall cabinets on such walls? Specifically, I am interested in:
- Which fixing materials are best suited for masonry walls in older buildings?
- Are there any special techniques or preparation steps I should consider?
- How should I deal with walls that are partially uneven or crumbly?
I would be very grateful for any tips, personal experiences, or suggestions for ensuring a safe installation. My main concern is that the cabinets hang securely and permanently, without damaging the wall or risking the cabinets falling down.
Best regards,
QUINNDEO
I am planning to install several IKEA Metod wall cabinets in my old apartment. I am unsure how to securely fix the cabinets to the typically somewhat unstable walls found in older buildings. Most of my walls are made of old masonry, partly covered with drywall, and I feel that conventional wall plugs do not provide enough support.
Does anyone have experience with securely mounting Metod wall cabinets on such walls? Specifically, I am interested in:
- Which fixing materials are best suited for masonry walls in older buildings?
- Are there any special techniques or preparation steps I should consider?
- How should I deal with walls that are partially uneven or crumbly?
I would be very grateful for any tips, personal experiences, or suggestions for ensuring a safe installation. My main concern is that the cabinets hang securely and permanently, without damaging the wall or risking the cabinets falling down.
Best regards,
QUINNDEO
Hello QUINNDEO,
you have described the topic very precisely, which makes it easier to provide assistance.
For old masonry walls, I often recommend heavy-duty anchors or chemical anchors. The latter offer particularly good grip in crumbly masonry because the adhesive acts as a bond between the wall and the anchor. It is also important to clean the drill holes thoroughly, as dust can reduce the holding strength.
If drywall panels are present, special drywall anchors or drywall plugs are suitable, but for heavy metal cabinets, you should always check whether the wall behind is load-bearing. In some cases, additional wooden battens behind the drywall may be helpful, although this increases the effort.
Another option, if available, is to find sturdy studs or beams in the wall cavities and anchor to those.
If you like, I can provide more detailed advice for your specific situation if you tell me how thick the walls are and whether you have already checked the attachment points.
you have described the topic very precisely, which makes it easier to provide assistance.
For old masonry walls, I often recommend heavy-duty anchors or chemical anchors. The latter offer particularly good grip in crumbly masonry because the adhesive acts as a bond between the wall and the anchor. It is also important to clean the drill holes thoroughly, as dust can reduce the holding strength.
If drywall panels are present, special drywall anchors or drywall plugs are suitable, but for heavy metal cabinets, you should always check whether the wall behind is load-bearing. In some cases, additional wooden battens behind the drywall may be helpful, although this increases the effort.
Another option, if available, is to find sturdy studs or beams in the wall cavities and anchor to those.
If you like, I can provide more detailed advice for your specific situation if you tell me how thick the walls are and whether you have already checked the attachment points.
In addition to Ethan’s tips, I would like to add the following:
- For older walls, it is advisable to check the wall material quality before installation. Sometimes, facing bricks with thin plaster and higher porosity are used. This can affect the choice of anchors and the installation method.
- Heavy-duty anchors with metal sleeves are often better than plastic anchors alone for load-bearing masonry.
- When installing IKEA Metod wall cabinets, it is important that the drilled holes meet at least the specified safety load. An 8 mm (5/16 inch) drill hole for metal anchors is often standard.
- When hanging the cabinets, do not rely solely on the existing screw holes; consider using additional cross braces to improve weight distribution.
- You can compensate for irregularities in the wall using spacer washers or special wall distance mounts.
- In general, the IKEA installation instructions should be followed, but standard techniques may need to be adapted for older buildings.
- For older walls, it is advisable to check the wall material quality before installation. Sometimes, facing bricks with thin plaster and higher porosity are used. This can affect the choice of anchors and the installation method.
- Heavy-duty anchors with metal sleeves are often better than plastic anchors alone for load-bearing masonry.
- When installing IKEA Metod wall cabinets, it is important that the drilled holes meet at least the specified safety load. An 8 mm (5/16 inch) drill hole for metal anchors is often standard.
- When hanging the cabinets, do not rely solely on the existing screw holes; consider using additional cross braces to improve weight distribution.
- You can compensate for irregularities in the wall using spacer washers or special wall distance mounts.
- In general, the IKEA installation instructions should be followed, but standard techniques may need to be adapted for older buildings.
I would like to add that before installation, the loads must be estimated. Metod wall cabinets can become very heavy when fully loaded, especially with multiple units.
As mentioned before, chemical anchors are a reliable solution for older walls with porous masonry. Alternatively, large metal anchors can be used, installed in deeper drilled holes.
If the wall is uneven, it helps to mount a sturdy backing board (for example, a relatively thin plywood sheet) horizontally. This board distributes the weight across several fixing points and provides a level surface for the wall cabinets. This method is often used by professionals.
Careful preparation and a robust backing board can therefore minimize the risk of damage to the wall or cabinets.
As mentioned before, chemical anchors are a reliable solution for older walls with porous masonry. Alternatively, large metal anchors can be used, installed in deeper drilled holes.
If the wall is uneven, it helps to mount a sturdy backing board (for example, a relatively thin plywood sheet) horizontally. This board distributes the weight across several fixing points and provides a level surface for the wall cabinets. This method is often used by professionals.
Careful preparation and a robust backing board can therefore minimize the risk of damage to the wall or cabinets.
Ethan schrieb:
If drywall panels are present, special drywall anchors or inserts are suitable, but for heavy Metod cabinets you should always check whether the wall behind is load-bearing.That helps me a lot! I have exactly that combination: drywall with masonry behind it. However, the drywall panels are installed with varying thickness, sometimes the gap to the masonry is 6cm (2.4 inches), other times only 3cm (1.2 inches).
onron schrieb:
I would like to add that the loads need to be estimated before installation. Metod wall cabinets can become very heavy when fully loaded, especially with several units.Can you give an estimate of the total weight of the cabinets with contents? Then I can consider whether to have a professional handle the installation.
And thanks for the tip about the mounting plate; that sounds like a good solution for uneven walls.
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