Fastening kitchen cabinets to plaster/brick?

I am doing two kitchen renovations in the same brownstone. In one of the kitchens the cabinets will be attached to an old plaster partition wall. In the second kitchen the cabinets will be attached to an old plaster wall on brick. In both cases, a kitchen and bath specialist told me we need to build an entirely new stud wall on top of both wall types to secure the cabinets to be done properly. Any thoughts? Can it be done without adding new walls?

Guest User | 7 years and 3 months ago

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Guest User | 7 years and 3 months ago

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We don’t have a problem with our brick kitchen in our rental now and film but it’s good to keep in mind. Thanks for the advice!

bklynbabe | 7 years and 3 months ago

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Yes, we used two rails to hang our tenants kitchen. One huge advantage to it is that you can move the cabinet relatively easily, without removing anchor bolts etc. should you have a fit issue,. You can adjust the depth of the cleat if your wall is lopsided at all. Almost all old walls are irregular.
Keep the plaster unless it is coming off the wall in chunks (i.e. if there is some moisture underlying the plaster that needs to be addressed, in which case you do need a new wall after correcting the issue). And exposed brick in a kitchen is maintenance nightmare.. All kitchens eventually accumulate grease film. Even if you have a great range hood.

daveinbedstuy | 7 years and 3 months ago

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You can do it yourself. $12k for installing is ridiculous.

Arkady | 7 years and 3 months ago

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I agree, cleats are the answer.

eman134 | 7 years and 3 months ago

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Second the use of cleats… attach the cleat to the wall by hammer drilling into the brick and using lead shields and countersinking the screws in the cleats…as an alternative if using something equivalent to ikea boxes, attach a top and bottom nailing strip to the wall using the same method and screw the cabinet into the nailer. The idea of building a new wall is ridiculous as is 12k to hang a set of cabinets

Guest User | 7 years and 3 months ago

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Thanks for your thoughts. I do believe the plaster is directly attached to the brick because it doesn’t sound hollow when you knock on it anywhere. After considering the options I might remove the plaster, expose the brick and use tapcons. Do you think this would be too difficult to do myself? A contractor estimated 12K just to install the cabinets alone and I’ve done cabinet installations in standard 2×4 construction so I am hesitant to pay someone to do it. I just need to know I’m not crazy for thinking this is achievable by an average person, thanks.

greenworks | 7 years and 3 months ago

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Tapcons for the plaster on brick that is . . .

greenworks | 7 years and 3 months ago

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Tapcons? Tho I think Tapcons are the answer to everything these days.

RobertGMarvin

in General Discussion 7 years and 3 months ago

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FWIW the plaster on my party walls IS attached directly to the brick. The plaster on the front and back walls is done as DIBS states. He’s right that the cabinets on ho;;ow walls are far better fastened to studs, rather than with toggle bolts, as I had suggested. Also, cleats would be easier on brick walls than anchors, although the cleats could indeed be fastened to the brick with anchors. I shouldn’t answer questions before drinking my morning coffee.

daveinbedstuy | 7 years and 3 months ago

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Plaster isn’t usually applied directly to the brick but to a studded framed wall. You just need to find the studs to either attach the cabinets to or attach a cleat horizontally that the cabinets can then hang from. If attaching directly to brick, use the cleat method. [Aa8fb7e8159fb77741bc8a256b66f6ce](//muut.com/u/brownstoner/s1/:brownstoner:jffw:aa8fb7e8159fb77741bc8a256b66f6ce.png.jpg)

yudashasom | 7 years and 3 months ago

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You can mount to the brick it’s just a lot harder.

RobertGMarvin

in General Discussion 7 years and 3 months ago

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I’ve never hung kitchen cabinets, but I’ve hung other heavy stuff. I think you could use toggle bolts on hollow plaster walls and LONG lead or plastic anchors for screws in the plaster over brick [long enough to go into the brick].