Stabilising a kitchen island unit

[RogerS]

We've got an island unit as part of the new kitchen (bought in...long story). Usual configuration, carcasses supported by those black plastic legs. Thing is that with the granite worktop, it's pretty unstable and top heavy and will easily rock and I can see a too-enthusiastic rock causing them all to fail and the whole unit come crashing down.

So I was wondering about the best way to stabilise. I'd originally thought of making up some boxes out of ply that were a tight fit under each unit but initial measurements suggest that the underneaths of the carcasses aren't equidistant from the floor. So.....less tall boxes and then wedges - glued and tapped into place to be a snug fit between floor and carcass bottom?

Is there a better/simpler way ?

 

[Distinterior]

There are a number of ways of fixing the legs to the floor below but it depends on the type and size of the legs, what the sub floor is made of...etc.

Have you got a picture of the island?

Did you fit the units yourself or did a kitchen fitter install the island? If a fitter installed it, he should know better than to just leave the island unfixed if it's not stable.

I've fitted loads of islands over the years and adopted different ways of fixing them down, but as I said, it does vary depending on the cabinet feet etc.

 

[Beau]

How about some extra strong legs something like these and some solid wood packing if you need it higher.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cabinet-Kitche ... B01N7IG8T0

 

[skipdiver]

I've just done one and used angle brackets, screwed to the end panels and the floor, out of site under the units. Did this before the plinths and back panel were fitted. As stated, i can't believe the fitter didn't do this, especially with granite on top.

 

[RogerS]

How about some extra strong legs something like these and some solid wood packing if you need it higher.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cabinet-Kitche ... B01N7IG8T0

Mmm....now those look very promising, thanks.

I'm the fitter! Fitted quite a few in my time. It's not a question of fitting the units to the floor...they're not going anywhere with the weight of granite amd appliances ! No, it's the lateral stability I'm concerned about.

The island is exactly the same as in our last house, granite worktop, cabinet configuration etc. Only it escaped me that in the last house, the cabinets sat on a rather snazzy aluminium frame that gave all the sideways support and stability one could wish for. NO longer available and so the unit sits on those plastic feet. Quite a lot of them, if truth be told, and I just popped out to have another look and the stability is not quite as bad as I thought.

But still...better safe than sorry.

 

[skipdiver]

But if you fixed the units to the floor, there would not be any lateral stability problems. Maybe i misunderstand?

 

[ColeyS1]

How about big folding wedges? Give them a good smearing with stixall, once that cures it's not going anywhere.That way it'll be stuck to the underside of the carcase and to the floor. Obviously dry timber would be best.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

[Distinterior]

But if you fixed the units to the floor, there would not be any lateral stability problems. Maybe i misunderstand?

I agree.

Does the granite top overhang the cabinets? .......with a seating/breakfast bar area?

 

[RogerS]

Re lateral stability...these carcasses/units are on top of flimsy 5" plastic legs. There is a huge amount of weight right at the top ...think an inverted pyramid as far as weight distribution goes. So it wobbles. The bottom of the plastic feet stay still but the top of them sway...effectively.

 

[RogerS]

How about big folding wedges? Give them a good smearing with stixall, once that cures it's not going anywhere.That way it'll be stuck to the underside of the carcase and to the floor. Obviously dry timber would be best.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

#-o Brilliant idea. =D> =D> =D>

And I've been using folding wedges fixing in my new sash windows an' all.

 

[Distinterior]

Re lateral stability...these carcasses/units are on top of flimsy 5" plastic legs. There is a huge amount of weight right at the top ...think an inverted pyramid as far as weight distribution goes. So it wobbles. The bottom of the plastic feet stay still but the top of them sway...effectively.

I understand exactly what you are saying now.

What you could have done to prevent the wobble in the legs, was to glue the leg into the leg boss before you fitted all the island cabinets in place. ABS glue would have done the trick. The glue that is used for sticking plumbing waste pipe is the stuff.

Can you remove one leg at a time and glue them individually without disturbing the island? This should help.

Once the legs are glued, I would still try and find a way of fixing through the legs into the floor. Can you not drill through the bottom of the foot on the legs and put some fixings in?

 

[Mark A]

How about big folding wedges? Give them a good smearing with stixall, once that cures it's not going anywhere.That way it'll be stuck to the underside of the carcase and to the floor. Obviously dry timber would be best.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

That was my first thought, too.

 

[tomatwark]

Hi Roger

We use these legs https://www.hafele.co.uk/en/product/adj ... 0&PDP=true

https://www.hafele.co.uk/en/product/adj ... 1&PDP=true

Have never had a problem, just make sure the top piece over laps onto the ends of the carcase so the weight is carried through the ends to the legs and to the floor.

Do not just fasten them onto the bases as the joints will fail.

 

[Farmer Giles]

I may be going OTT, but the for the bases of our kitchen I'm about to build, the base will be made of welded 25mm box section. I will build the base complete with adjustable leveling feet and welded captive nuts to fix the plinth to and get it all nice and level and equidistant from the wall for the whole kitchen ahead of putting any cabinets on. There will be some wall brackets to make sure it stays put. The box section will be drilled vertically at regular intervals so cabinets can be screwed to the box section from underneath with an angle drill.

Yes OTT but I hate plastic legs with a vengeance and all the flimsy rackity bracketry that comes with them!

Cheers
Andy

 

[RogerS]

I may be going OTT, but the for the bases of our kitchen I'm about to build, the base will be made of welded 25mm box section. I will build the base complete with adjustable leveling feet and welded captive nuts to fix the plinth to and get it all nice and level and equidistant from the wall for the whole kitchen ahead of putting any cabinets on. There will be some wall brackets to make sure it stays put. The box section will be drilled vertically at regular intervals so cabinets can be screwed to the box section from underneath with an angle drill.

Yes OTT but I hate plastic legs with a vengeance and all the flimsy rackity bracketry that comes with them!

Cheers
Andy

Definitely not OTT in my book !

 

[skipdiver]

When i built my kitchen, i made up plywood boxes the length of the run and levelled them, before sitting the carcasses on top and then attached the plinths to them.