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What special details, do you need to pay attention to, when designing a cabinet that will be hang?

I plan to make several cabinets to hung in the hollow block walls of my garage. I'm not too sure how to go about the job... worried that the cabinet would fall apart when screwed to the wall? I was going to use those melamine compressed boards. Special screws? Actually, I need to know whether I screw the sides to the back, or screw the back to the sides. I think attaching the side to the back is better(?) and maybe I should use a thicker backpanel sothat the screws from the side would have more to cling to?

Public Comments

  1. One way of hanging them would be to fix a long 4 inch strip of the same board with one edge cut at 45 degrees with the edge sloping up and away from the wall and the high edge facing out.Fit the same sort of strip on the back of the cabinets with the longer end of the 45 degree angle facing dowm and to the outside. By nailing the first strip to the wall using short masonary nails along its length the weight of the cabiners is carried along its full length and not just on a few screws. Also you can then screw from the Cabinet into the wood for extra strength. You could also tie all the cabinets together by screwing the sides of each together.
  2. I have built and hung hundreds of signs, which are built like cabinets. basic rule is support the weight at the top with suitable anchors, and hold the bottom back with additional anchors, or support the weight at bottom and hold the top back. but best to support the weight at top when possible,and be sure to have lateral strength in the materials used on ends or sides
  3. Hanging with a 4in. strip attached to the back is an excellent method. I use this method for everything from custom Headboards to cabinets. My concern is that you are going to use melamine boards for the job. Unless your garage is pretty well climate controlled using the compressed boards (sawdust glued togather) is, in my opinion, a waste of your time. They will absorbe moisture and before you know it you have a bunch of nothings that you have spent a lot of time and money on. Use a pretty good grade of plywood, good one side, and they will last you a lifetime. In making the cabinets, there is a lot of special screws etc. but you will have a better job is you take the time to use a router and or biscuit cutter and good carpenters glue. Gorilla glue is great but pretty nasty to work with until you get the hang of it. Even using all of the special screws and predrilling and countersinking, plywood is pretty easy to split. Build them "Hell for stout" because I promise you that you will overload them.
  4. the 4" rails are a good answer that's how i hang cabinets...using real plywood instead of sawdust is a good answer too......i do suggest that you use ALOT of F-26 or liquid nails to glue up the rails in addition to using masonry nails....even better go buy a Remington .22 masonry gun nailer. they're around $30 for the simple kind that u whack with a hammer. get a box of "green" loads and some 2" nails to go with it and shoot 1 nail in the center (not the mortar line) of every block you cross.
  5. take a trip to your local depot or kitchen cabinet type store and have a look, remember the back panel is what your hanging it by, so it takes all the weight of the cabinet and whats inside what ever you do, i suggest you include carpenter's glue in to it.
  6. First and most important thing you should consider before going for wall cabinet is to know more information about the wall it self. 1. whether the wall can take the extra load in Kilogram, you are thinking to add on. 2. If yes, whether your wall of the garage remains wet during rainy / winter season. If you are not facing any of the above mentioned problem. then my suggestion is to provide additional support and the bottom of the cabinet, so that the load of the cabinet can be shared by your back melamine boards and the bottom support of either wood or melamine it self. but wood would be better solution.