Kitchen Cabinets just came down...

Jakedog · February 22nd, 2008, 04:03 PM

All on their own. Sometimes I hate old houses.

I was just putting some plates away, and the whole main cabinet unit started to come apart and come down. I wedged my arm and shoulder up under it, and had my son pull everything out of it and stack it on a table, got out from under it, and it all came crashing down. Took some of the wall with it. At least we saved the dishes.

Off to get some fast food for dinner now. I don't want to dirty any dishes, as I really don't have anywhere to put them once they're clean.

The worst part, looks like buying some new gear with the tax return is OUT.

Jake

Pete Galati · February 22nd, 2008, 04:18 PM

That sucks. Whoever put those cabinets in must have really messed up the installation. I never heard of anything like that happening.

GlennLewis · February 22nd, 2008, 04:34 PM

some people use drywall screws for mounting cabinets because they don't know any better. Drywall screws are handy, and will work for a while, but they are narrow and the steel is fairly brittle. You want to use regular screws, wider diameter, mild steel, something that will not suddenly snap under load, and make sure you get at least 2" screwed into the studs after penetrating the drywall or plaster/lathe.

tlsmack · February 22nd, 2008, 04:47 PM

I thought this thread was going to be about the great pinecaster body you built out of 50 year old cabinets

mechanicdave · February 22nd, 2008, 04:53 PM

This project will surely snowball into a kitchen remodel if left unchecked. Quickly disconect the cable from your television and disarm any remote control able to tune to DIY or HGTV broadcast. Do not mention Bob Vila or that Ty dude to anyone.

Jakedog · February 22nd, 2008, 04:55 PM

Got a burger, calmed down, and assessed the damage.

This house was built in 1948, one of the many thousands of little tiny two bedroom bungalows that dot Cleveland's West Side. They were built for, and marketed to, young folks getting married fresh outta WWII as starter homes.

I'd say the kitchen was re-modeled in the 70's, with cabinets and counters out of a trailer house. Taking a closer look at how these things were hung (which I can only see now that they aren't hung), I am more than a little surprised they didn't come down LONG before now.

Jake

tcadam · February 22nd, 2008, 05:56 PM

Best of luck to you, Jake. Few things are more enjoyable than having your priorities rearranged by forces (gravity) beyond your control.

tiktok · February 22nd, 2008, 06:28 PM

Were they at least hung on the studs?

Bangbang · February 22nd, 2008, 06:47 PM

I hate it when that happens.

trag-o-caster · February 22nd, 2008, 10:09 PM

Sorry to hear that...

I had a cabinet come down here in my laundry room, which is also my recording studio (wanna change the acoustics? move the clothes piles around!). I had one cabinet stuffed full of old albums - LP's - HUNDREDS of 'em. One day I was sitting back here when my girlfriend looked up and heard a "CRRRREEEAK..." and she said "AAARRRRGGGHHH - YOUR CABINET'S COMIN' DOWN!"

She helped me hold it up, leaving me with one free hand to pull all of the albums out and set them on the floor. I got it emptied, with no damage to anything other than the cabinet itself, and now that group of albums are residing on my living room floor, safe in a corner.

YIKES!

Stubee · February 23rd, 2008, 08:13 AM

Ya can likely put 'em back up with long cabinet screws. Might have to overbore & countersink the cabinets. I re-did my own "pro-installed" cabinets a year ago as they were letting go.

Now an admission: I once built a house myself, a little 2BR fishing camp. Learned alot, turned out pretty nice. When I was hanging the (used) cabinets, I didn't have cabinet screws, used long deck screws in spite of my wife's urging otherwise. About a year later I was preparing a Memorial Day cook-out for my extended family--who were to show up any minute--when they came crashing down. The main cab with dishes, etc. missed my hand by maybe 1/2", crashing into the plate of hamburgers & stuff & breaking about everything in it + crunching the countertop. I was lucky, woulda broke every bone in my hand or worse...but that didn't calm me much. Had to race 15 mies to town to get screws & food, put things back together. My own idiot thing: in studs, wrong screws.

I do believe my wife said "I told you so".

February 22nd, 2008, 04:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
Jakedog Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Cleveland,OH But my heart's still in TE Posts: 2,906	Kitchen Cabinets just came down... All on their own. Sometimes I hate old houses. I was just putting some plates away, and the whole main cabinet unit started to come apart and come down. I wedged my arm and shoulder up under it, and had my son pull everything out of it and stack it on a table, got out from under it, and it all came crashing down. Took some of the wall with it. At least we saved the dishes. Off to get some fast food for dinner now. I don't want to dirty any dishes, as I really don't have anywhere to put them once they're clean. The worst part, looks like buying some new gear with the tax return is OUT. Jake __________________ "Them that don't know him won't like him, and them that do sometimes won't know how to take him..."

February 22nd, 2008, 04:34 PM	#3 (permalink)
GlennLewis Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Chicago Posts: 539 4 Photos	it's all in the screws some people use drywall screws for mounting cabinets because they don't know any better. Drywall screws are handy, and will work for a while, but they are narrow and the steel is fairly brittle. You want to use regular screws, wider diameter, mild steel, something that will not suddenly snap under load, and make sure you get at least 2" screwed into the studs after penetrating the drywall or plaster/lathe. __________________ I got them happy kind of blues

February 22nd, 2008, 04:53 PM	#5 (permalink)
mechanicdave Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2003 Location: Houston Posts: 330	I speak with experience, This project will surely snowball into a kitchen remodel if left unchecked. Quickly disconect the cable from your television and disarm any remote control able to tune to DIY or HGTV broadcast. Do not mention Bob Vila or that Ty dude to anyone.

February 22nd, 2008, 04:55 PM	#6 (permalink)
Jakedog Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Cleveland,OH But my heart's still in TE Posts: 2,906	Got a burger, calmed down, and assessed the damage. This house was built in 1948, one of the many thousands of little tiny two bedroom bungalows that dot Cleveland's West Side. They were built for, and marketed to, young folks getting married fresh outta WWII as starter homes. I'd say the kitchen was re-modeled in the 70's, with cabinets and counters out of a trailer house. Taking a closer look at how these things were hung (which I can only see now that they aren't hung), I am more than a little surprised they didn't come down LONG before now. Jake __________________ "Them that don't know him won't like him, and them that do sometimes won't know how to take him..."

February 22nd, 2008, 06:28 PM	#8 (permalink)
tiktok Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 3,425	Were they at least hung on the studs? __________________ It takes two people to paint a perfect painting: one to paint it, and the other to shoot him when it's done. http://www.myspace.com/travishartnett http://www.myspace.com/sugarcanemutiny http://www.myspace.com/davidbavas

February 22nd, 2008, 04:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
Pete Galati R.I.P. Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 8,104 2 Photos	That sucks. Whoever put those cabinets in must have really messed up the installation. I never heard of anything like that happening.

February 22nd, 2008, 04:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
tlsmack Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Lonk I-lant, New York Posts: 359 42 Photos	I thought this thread was going to be about the great pinecaster body you built out of 50 year old cabinets

February 22nd, 2008, 05:56 PM	#7 (permalink)
tcadam Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Delaware Age: 41 Posts: 303 1 Photos	Best of luck to you, Jake. Few things are more enjoyable than having your priorities rearranged by forces (gravity) beyond your control.

February 22nd, 2008, 06:47 PM	#9 (permalink)
Bangbang Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Walled Lake Michigan Age: 56 Posts: 295	I hate it when that happens.

February 22nd, 2008, 10:09 PM	#10 (permalink)
trag-o-caster Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Flushing, Michigan Posts: 4,439	Sorry to hear that... I had a cabinet come down here in my laundry room, which is also my recording studio (wanna change the acoustics? move the clothes piles around!). I had one cabinet stuffed full of old albums - LP's - HUNDREDS of 'em. One day I was sitting back here when my girlfriend looked up and heard a "CRRRREEEAK..." and she said "AAARRRRGGGHHH - YOUR CABINET'S COMIN' DOWN!" She helped me hold it up, leaving me with one free hand to pull all of the albums out and set them on the floor. I got it emptied, with no damage to anything other than the cabinet itself, and now that group of albums are residing on my living room floor, safe in a corner. YIKES! __________________ Timothy Jon Lamb

February 23rd, 2008, 08:13 AM	#11 (permalink)
Stubee Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mid-Michigan Age: 57 Posts: 421	Ya can likely put 'em back up with long cabinet screws. Might have to overbore & countersink the cabinets. I re-did my own "pro-installed" cabinets a year ago as they were letting go. Now an admission: I once built a house myself, a little 2BR fishing camp. Learned alot, turned out pretty nice. When I was hanging the (used) cabinets, I didn't have cabinet screws, used long deck screws in spite of my wife's urging otherwise. About a year later I was preparing a Memorial Day cook-out for my extended family--who were to show up any minute--when they came crashing down. The main cab with dishes, etc. missed my hand by maybe 1/2", crashing into the plate of hamburgers & stuff & breaking about everything in it + crunching the countertop. I was lucky, woulda broke every bone in my hand or worse...but that didn't calm me much. Had to race 15 mies to town to get screws & food, put things back together. My own idiot thing: in studs, wrong screws. I do believe my wife said "I told you so".