Anchoring a free standing cabinet to the wall
A freestanding cabinet provides added storage space when your kitchen does not have enough cabinets to store your small appliances, dishes, cookware, or food. This type of cabinet can be set directly on the floor, or it can also be mounted to the wall. To anchor this cabinet to drywall it must be secured to wall studs, which are located behind the drywall. This will keep your cabinet from falling over on an uneven floor, or from falling off of the wall.
Instructions
1. Place the cabinet against the wall where you want it to be located. Place your level on the top of the cabinet. Ask a helper to hold the cabinet level while you trace a horizontal line with the pencil down the left side of the cabinet. Make a pencil mark on the wall across the top and bottom of the cabinet.
2. Use your stud finder to locate the wall studs. Wall studs are normally placed every 16 inches inside of the wall. A well placed cabinet that is at least wider than 16 inches is capable of covering two wall studs, and will be more secure than anchoring the cabinet to a single stud. Place the stud finder with the base flat to the wall. Beginning with the left side of your outline, turn the stud finder on and slide it across the wall until the indicator light flashes and holds steady. This is the location of the first stud. Mark it on the wall with your pencil. Repeat this step until you locate the second stud.
3. Measure from the left horizontal line that represents the left side of the cabinet to the first stud. Mark this same measurement on each wood shelf brace inside of the cabinet. Measure from the left side of the cabinet across the brace, and mark the stud location with the pencil. The shelf braces are located inside of the cabinet underneath each shelf. Repeat this step for the second stud and mark the measurement on each shelf brace.
4. Insert a drill bit that is at least one size smaller or narrower than the wood screws into your drill. Drill pilot holes through the shelf braces on the pencil marks that indicate the stud locations.
5. Ask your helper to hold the cabinet to the wall aligned with the traced outline of the cabinet. Set the level on the top of the cabinet and make necessary adjustments before securing it to the wall.
6. Use your drill to drive screws through the braces into the wall studs. You should have a minimum of 6 screws holding your cabinet in place.
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