Hi there, I am installing the below Kaboodle laundry. And have a question about mounting cabinets 9 & 8 in the below diagram. They need to sit 20cm away from the back wall so the front is flush with the fridge and washing machine. However the middle cabinet 5 will be set back and screwed into the back wall studs. Do I need to attach 9 & 8 to the back wall and if so how would I go about doing that with the 20cm gap? Or will they be ok not being screwed into the back wall as one side of each cabinet I can screw into wall studs in the side wall then the other side can be screwed to the middle cabinet (which will be screwed to back wall). thoughts?
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @mdacre. It's awesome to have you join us and many thanks for your question on mounting cabinetry.
If these cabinets will be flush against the ceiling, that could provide an additional fixing point, as the cabinets could potentially be secured back to the ceiling joists, which would add considerable stability.
Ideally, in a layout like this, you would incorporate two full-height end panels either side of cabinet 5. This would allow the weight of cabinets 8 and 9 to be transferred directly to the floor rather than relying primarily on fixings and the cabinet carcasses themselves. I appreciate that available space may not allow for this solution, but it would be the preferred approach from a structural perspective.
Provided cabinets 8 and 9 are securely fixed to the adjacent wall studs, connected firmly to cabinet 5, and potentially secured to ceiling joists if they are ceiling-height, that should provide a solid installation. I wouldn't rely solely on the cabinet-to-cabinet fixings to support them over the long term.
With a 200mm gap behind the cabinets, another option would be to install a simple timber frame fixed back to the wall studs. These can act as spacer blocks, allowing you to screw through the cabinet backs and into solid timber while maintaining the required setback from the wall. I've created a rendering below to illustrate.
Please remember to wear appropriate PPE when drilling and fixing cabinetry, including safety glasses, hearing protection and a dust mask if cutting timber components.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mitchell
