Cabinets are an essential part of the modern kitchen that helps to provide sufficient storage to keep utensils arranged.
Kitchen cabinets lose their integrity over time, and you should be careful and avoid factors that can result in their falling off the wall.
How to Fix Kitchen Cabinets Coming Off the Wall? Kitchen cabinets come off the wall due to several reasons like overloading, faulty installation, and damaged studs due to exposure to humidity. You can fix cabinets on the kitchen wall by screwing them into studs to make their attachment correctly. Ensure the use of shim sheets behind hinges to give additional support and fill the gap between cabinets and the wall. The use of metal L brackets and French cleat wood can be effective in re-hanging saggy cabinets. You should prefer using a special type of drywall anchors instead of self-drilling to reduce the risk of getting off the wall.
It is challenging to fix the loose cabinets, and you can hire a professional for this purpose. However, you can also avoid this problem if you pay attention to its installation process so that faulty installation will not be a reason for its falling afterward.
Why are my Kitchen Cabinets coming away from the wall?
The saggy cabinets will ultimately result in falling when you open them. Here are the details:
Overloading in the cabinet
Placing much weight on them is one of the reasons for them to become loose and saggy. This extra weight affects their construction and ultimately causes them to separate.
Fasteners are installed in them to keep them attached to the wall, and they can also be affected by overloading.
The holding power of these fasteners is reduced when they are stressed beyond a limit.
Poorly constructed kitchen cabinets become saggy when you start their overloading by placing heavier items.
You can remove extra contents placed in them to reduce the chances of their hanging. You can also reduce this risk by rearranging heavier items in them.
You should place heavier items on lower shelves and avoid placing them on top shelves to reduce stress on the fasteners that can cause them to pull away.
Damaged studs
A stud in the cupboard is used to hold the screw in place and support the cabinet’s weight.
Rust and termites can damage them, ultimately leading to the loss of integrity and holding power of the studs.
It is essential to replace these rusty studs to reduce the chances of coming off from the wall.
Faulty installation
Kitchen cabinets should be installed correctly to ensure that they are secure and aligned on the wall.
They should be aligned to form a complete unit, but faulty installation is a significant factor to keep them out of alignment.
Floor cupboards do not require installation with fasteners because they are supported by the floor but hanging them with the wall requires attention.
The correct method to install them requires hanging on the wall by screwing them into studs that have more capability of holding.
It is essential to use the best quality fasteners to make them long-lasting, but if you use low-quality fasteners, they will cause them to be loose.
Using a hammer and glue to install them instead of screws is not a good idea and will also lead them to pull away from the wall.
The installer should be careful to use studs, and if he does not use them, it will result in loss of their integrity.
Installation of kitchen cabinets during excessive hot temperatures will cause the wood to expand and ultimately lead to cracks.
Their installation during excessive cold temperatures will also result in their cracking due to contraction.
You should be careful about their installation in extreme temperatures because resulting cracks will cause their detachment from the wall.
Cabinets installed tightly against the wall will put pressure on the corners that will eventually cause cracks along the edges, and they will come off the wall.
They tend to become loose and seem to come off the wall if screws are not installed correctly to hold them securely to the wall.
Presence of moisture
The kitchen is the place that is exposed to excessive moisture, and with time it starts to destroy and darken the wood by damaging its finishing.
Water leaks in your sink damage the cabinets and leave them useless.
Moisture-filled kitchen is no longer a safe zone for woodwork because they tend to swell and fall apart even a small amount of water enters them.
Moisture causes wear and tear of cabinets that also reduces their average age due to cracks.
It is usual for them to wear and tear if they are old, but it can also happen due to moisture.
The breaks will start to appear in them, which becomes one of the main reasons for their falling off the wall.
Low-quality wood
They are an essential part of the kitchen, and you should use durable and good quality material.
Medium-density fiberboard (MDF) is a good choice for kitchen cabinets because it is versatile and inexpensive.
MDF is considered low-quality material compared to plywood because it is not stiff and prone to damage.
MDF having holding capacity is also less resistive to humidity and high temperature, and it will begin to sag.
Plywood is the best quality material used for kitchen woodwork because it has more strength and stability than MDF.
It is also resistive to water and heat, making it more durable to be used as the best quality material and preferred over MDF.
Methods to fix kitchen cabinets coming off the wall
There are several methods to improve the cabinets that come off the wall, but I will discuss some of the following.
Use of shim sheets
A Shim sheet is a piece of wood is installed behind each hinge between cabinet frames to provide additional support.
You can use one or multiple sheets depending upon the severity of sagging because it helps in their attachment by making adjustments.
Shim pieces can also be used as a space-filler to cover up the gap between cabinet frame and wall by using screws to provide them tolerance to reduce the risk of falling from the wall.
Screw cabinets into studs
Mounting them into studs is a more efficient method to re-hang a detached cabinet than simple nails and glue.
You can fix them to the wall is to screw them into a stud on all four sides instead of screwing in one place.
You should locate the position of studs and screw them tight if they are pulling away from the wall.
It is essential to drill holes and screw them from the top to extend towards the ceiling.
Use of metal L brackets
An L bracket is a metal brace made up of aluminum to reinforce the loose kitchen cabinet units to the wall.
Use of drywall anchors
Self-drilling to secure heavy wood on drywall is not an effective method.
Hanging them on drywall using drills will not secure them correctly because the drywall is brittle and not suitable to hold screws resulting.
The result will be ripping out of screws, and the best way to hang them on drywall is to use drywall anchors.
They come in various materials and sizes, and it is essential to use the correct type of anchors, especially when hanging heavy cabinets.
Re-fit veneer of the cabinet
A veneer comprises thin layers of wood and has become a significant part of furniture that is used to laminate kitchen cabinets to stop them from coming off the wall and make them more stable.
Their backside is made up of thin veneer and becomes prone to damage if exposed to humidity for a prolonged time.
Fix it to the wall by ensuring the use of screws to the top and bottom and the edges to provide additional support.
French cleat method
French cleat method is an effective way to hang heavy objects to prevent detachment of cabinets.
A French cleat uses a pair of interlocking wooden wedges whose one piece is mounted on the wall, and the other is attached to the back of the item.
This method is strong enough to make a strong bond between cabinet and wall with no fear of falling off.
Easy steps to attach a hanging kitchen cabinet
Measure the size of the kitchen cabinet from top to bottom and from side to side and then mark on the wall accurately with a pencil according to measurements to hang it securely.
Drill holes on the wall where you want to install the cabinets and clean the debris.
Install studs and screw them against the wall in a regular pattern and attach the hanging cabinet.
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