Discuss Effektiv Cabinet Installation on IKEAFANS.com. We're Personalizing the IKEA Experience. Effektiv Cabinet Installation - Please limit the posts in this section to questions and answers about assembly and installation issues only..
Hey all, this is my first post. I searched the forums for this, and only found one topic like it.
I have three Effektiv cabinets I want to install (similar to how it's setup at IKEA Tempe above the Galant desk set). All across a wall, side to side.
The holes in the back of the Effektiv for the keyhole hang are 29 1/2" apart. I'm installing them in sheetrock walls. I'm not sure what standard US build studs are but the best I can measure using a studfinder and several "exploratory" holes is I can get two mount holes around 32 1/2" apart.
So, do you think it's ok to put one into the sheetrock with a Toggle bolt or heavy duty molly? The only other think I could think of was to run a small piece of wood, like a 1x1 or 1x2, painted to match the wall, across the bottom edge to provide a lower rest.
I do plan to put some significant stuff in them (books, etc), so I don't want one of them coming down later
Standard construction is usually 16" on centre (that makes the studs line up nicely with the edges of your 48" wide sheetrock).
The toggle bolts are designed for pull-out strength (i.e., in the line of the bolt, not perpendicular as in a hanging cabinet).
I'm not familiar with the Effektiv cabinets, but I'm assuming they don't use the same mounting rail as the
Akurum
system does (which is a really brilliant solution).
Try drilling some small pilot holes about halfway between the studs you've found and checking for wood to see if your studs are closer together than what the stud finder is sensing. Your estimate of 32" sounds like you might just be missing the one in the middle (unless AZ building practice is to hang drywall with the 96" side parallel to the floor).
Akurum definition
Akurum is the North American equivalent of FAKTUM; that is the fitted, frameless, component kitchen cabinet line, which when paired with door and drawer fronts as well as interior accessories makes up the full kitchen cabinet system.
Studs in a stick-built (wood) home are 16" on center (I live in AZ so I can verify this fact is true even here) which leaves you about 14 1/2 inches between studs. If you're going to have heavy stuff in them, you will need to make sure they are in studs. The typical way to do this is with a French cleat system, which is basically a 1x3 cut lengthwise on a diagonal and then one piece (point of angle facing the floor) is mounted along the back of the unit to be hung, and the other (point of angle facing ceiling) mounted on the wall into the studs. The unit is then placed onto the cleat on the wall, locking the 1x3 in place and providing support all along the entire length of the unit.
Google "French cleat" and you'll get all the info you need. It's a very easy, very sturdy, very common system to use.
I looked at the
Akurum
cabinet on ikea.com and it looks exactly like the same mounting style. It's called a "keyhole" mount I think. You put a non-flat screw into the wall, put the cabinet over the screw, and put a small keyhole style plate over the screw, and it hooks into the small part of the keyhole, then tighten the screw.
The problem is that the center of the holes in the backboard are 29 1/2" apart, but most houses have studs space either 12" or 16" apart (both working well for 48" cabinets". The best I can measure on my walls with "discovery holes" is 32 1/2" apart (given that studs are approx 2" in width).
So what I have to do is mount one (say the left side) into the stud, and the other one into the drywall. That reduces the load I an put on the shelf heavily. The only thing I can think of to do is mount a piece of wood across the bottom of the cabinet to shore up the vertical stress that is mounted into the studs.
Akurum definition
Akurum is the North American equivalent of FAKTUM; that is the fitted, frameless, component kitchen cabinet line, which when paired with door and drawer fronts as well as interior accessories makes up the full kitchen cabinet system.
If it's got the same kind of holes in the back as the
Akurum
, then you may be able to use the suspension rail that is used with the Akurum cabinets. Take a look at the FAQ on the Fansite side (click on Home in your upper right corner, then follow the navigation to FAQ, Installation, Suspension Rail). If you use the suspension rail, you can attach it at the point of your studs, then hang the cabinet on it.
You'll need some of the hardware that comes with the Akurum cabinets (let us know if you can't get it at the parts desk in returns/exchanges your local IKEA), the suspension rail, and then something to cover the extra couple of inches of suspension rail that extend beyond the end of your cabinet.
Hope that helps! (Hope that works!)
Susan
Akurum definition
Akurum is the North American equivalent of FAKTUM; that is the fitted, frameless, component kitchen cabinet line, which when paired with door and drawer fronts as well as interior accessories makes up the full kitchen cabinet system.
I just googled French Cleat, and that does give me some options. I could "center" the cabinet over two studs, or even simply modify an inside mount for the underside of the top of the cabinet.
Ok, I'm not sure the French Cleat will work. It requires a sort of ridge along the back of the cabinet, but the backs of the Effektiv's are flat, and the hinge hardware is only 1/2" from the back of the cabinet.
Still exploring some other options:
1)Mount a piece of wood inside the cabinet into two studs (16" apart) and through the back, hanging the cabinet off of it's top. Downside: I don't think it will be able to support alot of weight on the top.
2) Above with added support along the bottom edge also mounted into studs
3) Run a mount rail and mount cabinets to that (1" think or so). Also at bottom. Downside: not sure if the rim will handle the weight as well.
Anyone know the final results of this member's install quest? I've a pair of Effektiv Wall Cabinets that I want to install and am hoping to learn from these efforts.
Otherwise I'm going to try installing the
Akurum
Suspension Rail since the Effektiv cabinets appear to have identical mounting brackets.
One thing I'm curious about: when looking at the AkWall.pdf here, I noticed that on page 6 it shows how to mount to a wall and then on page 8 it shows the suspension rail method. Is this just to show different mounting options?
Sorry for the newbie question as I'm brand new to the world of Ikea installs. I bought a Galant corner desk with T-legs and other home office stuff and love it, though I learned some things about where to mount the legs and the like. Good thing the screws can be removed and reinstalled. :/
Thanks!
Akurum definition
Akurum is the North American equivalent of FAKTUM; that is the fitted, frameless, component kitchen cabinet line, which when paired with door and drawer fronts as well as interior accessories makes up the full kitchen cabinet system.
I finally got this installed, but I had to hack it a little bit. Since the studs are not exactly the same width as the mounting holes for the cabinets, I chose to mount one mount using the stud, and one with a drywall anchor. I chose one that is based on a toggle bolt and is rated for 90 lbs. This means I can probably put around 120-180 lbs on the shelf max.
The only other option I have if I need the extra support is to mount a wood bar across the bottom of the shelf unit that is mounted into to studs.
I was not able to use a french cleat because I did not want to cut into the shelf unit.
Thanks for the update! I've purchased the
Akurum
rail and acquired the necessary hanging hardware from my local Ikea so I'll "git 'er done" this weekend. Hope it works like it should...
I'll post pics when it's all finito. Thanks!
Akurum definition
Akurum is the North American equivalent of FAKTUM; that is the fitted, frameless, component kitchen cabinet line, which when paired with door and drawer fronts as well as interior accessories makes up the full kitchen cabinet system.
