skip to main content

Shimming cabinets too much?

14 years ago

I'm installing Ikea cabinets on an exterior wall which is not plumb. To get the cabinets level I have had to shim them by as much as 1/2 inch in some places where the back of the cabinets meet the wall (at the top). Is that too much? I am getting a stone coutertop installed and I don't want to run into trouble with it.

Also, the cabinets are pretty level but I didn't get it absolutely perfect. It's within 1/16 of an inch or less. Is that good enough?

Thanks, Moses

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

writersblock (9b/10a)
14 years ago
Are you talking about base cabinets? If your wall is that far out, I'd use all four legs instead of a scribe board.
flamingvan
Original Author
14 years ago
Yes, base cabinets. Won't I have the same problem if I use four legs?
Thanks
Related Discussions
Cabinet Latches - Yes or too much work?
Q
Comments (61)
I can only say that we have had the Rejuvenation latches for 12 years and I still love-love-love them. No split wood or any other issues, and two of the cabinets get daily use. Ours are on flush inset cabinetry (and we also have one on our bathroom cabinet, with no issues there either). I will say that lining up the latches is important and takes some precision, so I can imagine a GC not being super excited about that. But our cabinetmaker had no problem getting it right, and that's not specific to Rejuvenation's latch design. ETA: We have solid poplar frames with MDF panel inserts for painted cabinets. The material could make a difference?
...See More
Cabinets shimmed up an inch
Q
Comments (31)
That would have been a lot more expensive later when the damage became more extensive and the floor would have to be ripped out to get to it. I found a similar thing in a small 20x30 building that came with my shop property. It sat on a slope so the front was level with the ground but the back had crawl space underneath. Decided we better open up the floor when it started to sag in the middle. Idiots who built it not only didn't use treated lumber for the floor joists, but they had a 2x12 untreated main beam not only touching the ground but purposefully buried halfway in dirt! Termites were all up in it and getting up into the subfloor and two wood support posts. I took 20 wheelbarrows of dirt out of there, put in two concrete footers and a new treated double 10x10 beam that didn't touch the ground anymore. Floor is solid as a rock now. People! What are they thinking....
...See More
Galley Kitchen - two tone cabinets too much?
Q
Comments (35)
Green and blue are my favorite colors, so I am biased, but both are very calming and good choices for cabinets. I don't think they will make you feel claustrophobic in your kitchen. I have been in small galley kitchens with all dark wood uppers and lowers and they did not feel claustrophobic because they had a window , and yours has three! Whether you choose blue or green is totally your choice. Why not order some samples of the colors you are considering and paint up several pieces of poster board in the various colors you are considering and get some painters tape and double the tape around on itself and stick the poster board to the cabinets for a few hours while you are home and see what you prefer at different times of the day. Blue, green? PPG Night Watch? PPG Royal Hunter Green? PPG Daring Indigo? PPG Dragonfly? The PPG colors with your choice of hardware and white walls and counter are reminiscent of a crisp military uniform. For a backsplash you can try something a little different, a 4" x 4" square subway tile, it is a fresh look, and you can do it as a running bond or a straight set. And if you want something different over the stove you can do them on a diagonal. .
...See More
Is 18 inches too much space in between hood and cabinets?
Q
Comments (9)
If you have the space to spare, then I think the spacing looks good. Are you doing integrated fridge and freezer? Is the freezer 18" ? I used a 24" Subzero freezer and 36" fridge and would not want to go any smaller than that. The 18" is really really narrow inside. I would have gone larger on the freezer, but didn't have the room to spare.
...See More
flamingvan
Original Author
14 years ago
Can anyone help with this?
Thanks,
Moses
Circus Peanut
14 years ago
If you're putting granite on top, I'd recommend screwing the bases to the wall studs wherever possible, as well as shimming. If this is your first cabinet hanging/screwing experience, I can very highly recommend the GRK brand cabinet screws, they are amazing.

I don't know about the 1/16th variance -- granite is probably extremely picky and you'd do best to really get those puppies dead level. (But I'm no expert!)

Good luck! :-)

Below is a link to some experts discussing the base cabinet shim/screw procedure:

Here is a link that might be useful: Woodweb discussion
cheri127
14 years ago
Our cabinets are shimmed as much as 1 1/4" in spots so I wouldn't worry about 1/2". It is important that they be level, though. I would call the granite fabricator and ask them if 1/16" is acceptable.
writersblock (9b/10a)
14 years ago
Yes, if your concern is the granite, that's why they come to your house to template: so they can allow for woogly walls. Unless you are doing DIY stone this shouldn't be a problem.

(And yeah, even if you use the legs you should attach to the wall.)

Related Stories

KITCHEN CABINETS What to Shop for in Cabinet Hardware and Millwork

By Ventana Construction LLC

Learn about finishing touches for kitchen and bath cabinets to pick the options that will work best for you

DIY PROJECTS Helpful Hangers: French Cleats Support Projects Big and Small

From cabinets to birdhouses, French cleats hold projects securely in place

HOUZZ TOURS AIASF Marin Home Tour: The Portnoy/Danzig Residence

By Becky Harris

BATHROOM DESIGN Bathroom Design: Getting Tile Around the Vanity Right

By By Any Design Ltd.

Prevent water damage and get a seamless look with these pro tips for tiling under and around a bathroom vanity

KITCHEN DESIGN Show Us Your Best Kitchen Innovation

By Mary Jo Bowling

Did you take kitchen functionality up a notch this year? We want to see your best solutions for the hardest-working room in the house

KITCHEN DESIGN Show Us Your Fabulous DIY Kitchen

By Mary Jo Bowling

Did you do a great job when you did it yourself? We want to see and hear about it

KITCHEN DESIGN Key Measurements to Help You Design Your Kitchen

By Steven Corley Randel, Architect

Get the ideal kitchen setup by understanding spatial relationships, building dimensions and work zones

LIFE You Showed Us: 20 Nutty Home Fixes

By Becky Harris

We made the call for your Band-Aid solutions around the house, and you delivered. Here's how you are making what's broken work again

NEUTRAL COLORS How to Bring Beige Walls to Life

By Laura Gaskill

Go for sprightly instead of snoozy by pairing beige walls with higher-octane hues

MOST POPULAR So You Say: 30 Design Mistakes You Should Never Make

By Mitchell Parker

Drop the paint can, step away from the brick and read this remodeling advice from people who’ve been there

Sponsored

Hope Restoration & General Contracting

35 Reviews

Columbus Design-Build, Kitchen & Bath Remodeling, Historic Renovations

More Discussions

Does anyone have Medallion cabinets in Maple Biscotti?

7

Thoughts on making galley kitchen more open?

31

kitchen countertops

2

Kitchen remodel in my future

0

Matt tiles - quality issues out of the box

12