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Mike P. · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 10

We have the task of fixing a bathroom cabinet weighing 16lbs to a tiled, plasterboard bathroom wall. The cabinet is supported at the four corners using metal slotted holes inset into the back of the cabinet. The screw heads pass into the holes and then the cabinet is lowered a short way so
that the slot locates behind the screw head.

The plasterboard would be standard 12mm and the thickness of the tiles with adhesive would be about 9mm. So, any plug would need to accommodate a wall thickness of about 21mm and the screw head would need to be quite small to fit the slotted hole. The threaded part of the screw would also
need to be held firmly by the anchorage to take the weight of the cabinet.

The only two suggestions I’ve had to date are using butterfly toggle fixings directly or use these fixings to fix board to the wall and then screw cabinet to board.

Can’t fix battening to joists as joists are not in correct position for cabinet.

Any advice you have would be appreciated

vince knight · Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 5:35 pm Post subject:

Butterfly fixings are prob your best bet.

Vince

Mike P. · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 10

Hello Vince

Yes, it probably will have to be butterfly toggles, but it's difficult getting the right screw head size for the slots and of course the screw head has to stand proud of the tiles, so there is no clamping action for the butterfly toggle.

It's been suggested to dismantle the toggle, run a nut and washer up the screw, reassemble and then use the nut and washer combination for the clamping so that the screw head can stand proud. However, finding the right nut for the screw thread will not be easy.

Another suggestion is ignoring the slots altogether and screwing through the cabinet back board. This may be a better solution, provided the back board is sound.

Any views anyone?

Paul R · Joined: 02 Apr 2006 Posts: 38 Location: Sunny England, UK

This may sound extreme (or may sound like I've had nearly a whole bottle of red wine... which I have!) but if the wall is to be hidden by the cabinet, then why not remove the hidden tiles and fix battens to the plasterboard wall, thereby enabling you to fix the cabinet to them, rather than the plasterboard? The battens can be attached to the plasterboard with buttefly toggles (or screws long enough to fix into the wall behind) allowing you to have a solid foundation for you cabinet.

Mike P. · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 10

Hello Paul

Thanks for the suggestion (blotto or not!). Not sure there's a need to remove any tiles. Battens attached to the wall surface would then enable the normal use of screws for the slots, but of course the battens would cause the cabinet to sit proud of the wall, which is not ideal.