Bathroom mirror cabinet on plasterboard wall

henke

Hi

I am looking at installing a small bathroom mirror cabinet in an en suite bathroom and was looking at this one?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/FMD-Elda-Bathroom-Cabinet-White/dp/B00WEOBLQM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1494842725&sr=8-1&keywords=bathroom+mirror+cabinet+fmd

It says it weighs 9kg. My question is can this be safely and securely be fixed to a plasterboard wall or is there too much weight in it?

If it is fine, can anyone recommend good fixings to use with it on plasterboard?

Thanks.

lawred2

henke wrote: »

Hi

I am looking at installing a small bathroom mirror cabinet in an en suite bathroom and was looking at this one?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/FMD-Elda-Bathroom-Cabinet-White/dp/B00WEOBLQM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1494842725&sr=8-1&keywords=bathroom+mirror+cabinet+fmd

It says it weighs 9kg. My question is can this be safely and securely be fixed to a plasterboard wall or is there too much weight in it?

If it is fine, can anyone recommend good fixings to use with it on plasterboard?

Thanks.

why don't you fix it to the studs?

henke

lawred2 wrote: »

henke wrote: »

Hi

I am looking at installing a small bathroom mirror cabinet in an en suite bathroom and was looking at this one?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/FMD-Elda-Bathroom-Cabinet-White/dp/B00WEOBLQM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1494842725&sr=8-1&keywords=bathroom+mirror+cabinet+fmd

It says it weighs 9kg. My question is can this be safely and securely be fixed to a plasterboard wall or is there too much weight in it?

If it is fine, can anyone recommend good fixings to use with it on plasterboard?

Thanks.

why don't you fix it to the studs?

I'm not sure exactly where the studs run and I want it positioned directly above the sink where the current mirror is.

Tokyo

9Kg empty - there'll be another few Kg in content by the time you're finished.

Personally I'd try to find at least one stud behind the plasterboard, and anchor into that to take the bulk of the weight (two studs would be ideal, but you'll be lucky to find that, and be able to position your cabinet squarely over your sink). With another two plasterboard fixings if necessary, to keep it flush against the wall.

lawred2

henke wrote: »

I'm not sure exactly where the studs run and I want it positioned directly above the sink where the current mirror is.

you can get a stud finder cheap enough and even if it runs right through the middle (which is unlikely because the average sink would usually be mounted straddling 2 studs) - you could fix to that stud and then use plasterboard fittings for the corners..

The stud would be taking the weight though.

Plasterboard will not hold that weight.

ThisRegard

I swear by these fixings and fixing tools, they've made hanging on plasterboard so much easier. I got mine in B&Q or Homebase years ago.



https://www.amazon.co.uk/Plasterboard-Setting-Expanding-Fixings-Anchors/dp/B00BC585HM

stiofan85

I did this a couple of weeks ago using plasterboard fixings and then put some adhesive blobs on the back for extra strength. It's going nowhere.

Used two of these at the top of the unit with a couple of washers since the holes were a bit big for the screws: http://www.ie.screwfix.com/easyfix-self-drill-plasterboard-fixings-metal-32mm-pack-of-100.html?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=CPC&utm_campaign=Shopping

I used some longer screws I had lying around as the ones supplied were a bit short.

The way it hangs means there is more of a vertical load rather than horizontal, or pulling out of the plasterboard. So unless you plan on pulling at it pretty hard I can't see it going anywhere. You could always put in 2 extra for peace of mind.

If you want really strong fixings, I used a few of these to put a radiator on a plasterboard wall and it's also fine:

http://www.screwfix.com/p/fischer-spring-toggle-5x50/38860

henke

lawred2 wrote: »

henke wrote: »

I'm not sure exactly where the studs run and I want it positioned directly above the sink where the current mirror is.

you can get a stud finder cheap enough and even if it runs right through the middle (which is unlikely because the average sink would usually be mounted straddling 2 studs) - you could fix to that stud and then use plasterboard fittings for the corners..

The stud would be taking the weight though.

Plasterboard will not hold that weight.

Have heard mixed reports on the effectiveness of Stud finders. The sink is on a pedestal so not sure that would mean it is needs to straddle any studs?
I will see if I can locate studs if I could screw into one I would probably be sorted.

donegal.

any reason that something cheap like this wouldn't work fine

ThisRegard

donegal. wrote: »

any reason that something cheap like this wouldn't work fine

I've found they'll often damage the plaster around the hole, making the hole bigger and coming out altogether.

hawkeye_bmr

Get a magnet and move across the wall until you find a screw, then drop a plumb line/ vertical level of that point, there will be other screws on the same line so you'll know you're in right spot.

antiskeptic

hawkeye_bmr wrote: »

Get a magnet and move across the wall until you find a screw, then drop a plumb line/ vertical level of that point, there will be other screws on the same line so you'll know you're in right spot.

Or take an 1.5 inch panel pin and tap it through the plaster in a line behind the intended cabinet placing. Go about 20mm at a time and you'll find a batten. Wear a pair of marigolds for the unlikely event you hit a badly run cable. Don't push the pin in further than the plasterboard thickness and you'll damage nothing.

I hung a plywood backing board up for an intended 30kg boiler fitment with Fix-All foam smeared all over the back - then a couple of ordinary screws run in to hold it in place until the foam dried.

The heating eng. fitted the boiler before I'd a chance to fix the plasterboard properly through to the brick behind the plasterboard. And it stayed put.

Fix-all (Chadwicks) and 4 mushroom type plasterboard fixings and that cabinet isn't going to go anywhere.

henke

Thanks everyone for the advice. Currently have a mirror just stuck to the wall with some sort of adhesive. I'll see if I can try and locate where the studs are. If I can find one hopefully a screw or two in there to take the weight would do the job of carrying the weight.