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How to hang wall cabinets: Preparation and execution

Learning how to hang cabinets will save you time and money on your next renovation. Read on to find out how to mount wall cabinets yourself.

How to hang wall cabinets: Preparation is key

Preparing your workspace is imperative to successfully installing wall cabinets. With proper planning and prep, you’ll avoid ending up with wonky wall cabinets, gaps between walls, or even compromised electrical lines.

As always, preparation is key. When learning how to mount wall cabinets, here’s what you need to do:

  1. Locate the wall studs (the vertical beams that support lightweight walls) using a stud finder, making a mark in the middle of each stud.
  2. Using a tape measure, measure approximately 137cm from the floor. Using a level, draw a straight line to mark where you’ll attach the ledger board.
  3. Attach the ledger board to the wall along the stud line.
  4. Remove the doors on the new cabinets (to avoid them swinging open during the installation process).
  5. Clamp the cabinets together to ensure installation is precise. Important: Only connect as many cabinets as you can safely lift at once!
  6. Screw the cabinets together, connecting them as indicated on the product instructions.
  7. Pre-drill holes on the hanging rail on the back of the cabinet where you intend to affix them to the wall stud. You can do this by using the measurements you took in step 1, determining the position of the load-bearing beams/piers in the wall, measuring the distance between them, and then pre-drilling the holes on the hanging rail accordingly.

Aim for absolute precision when pre-drilling the holes on hanging rails back. You need to hang the cabinets exactly in the middle of the studs (vertical beams) to ensure the wall can sustain the load of the cabinets you’re hanging.

How to mount wall cabinets step by step

Once you’ve completed preparations, you’re ready to go. Here’s how to install wall cabinets:

1. Carefully lift the cabinets and place them onto the ledger board, pushing the cabinet flush against the wall.

2. Insert the mounting screws into the holes you pre-drilled on the cabinet’s hanging rail (making sure you attach directly onto the studs).

3. Check that the cabinets are level and plumb against the wall, then repeat the process with the remainder of the new cabinets until the installation process is complete. 

4. Remove the clamps holding the cabinets together and tighten the screws along the interior of the cabinets (both along the wall and adjoining cabinets). 

5. Reattach the cabinet doors and remove the ledger board from the wall.

Wondering how to install upper cabinets more efficiently? If your walls are uneven, try using shims along the back of the cabinet to fix any gaps. This also prevents any bowing of the cabinets when you drill them into place!

Now it’s time for the final touch – when learning how to mount wall cabinets, sealing the perimeter of the cabinets is a critical step. We recommend using Loctite RE-NEW, which provides a flexible, water and mould resistant seal that’s paintable in just 30 minutes. Better yet, the auto-smooth nozzle makes it so easy to use – simply open, squeeze and admire.

Ready to begin?

Check out Loctite’s great range of products to inspire your next DIY project today.
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