Reinforce side panel for tall door (kitchen larder unit)?

Joined
11 May 2004
Messages
237
Reaction score
9
Location
Hampshire
Country
United Kingdom
I am modifying a standard larder unit to go around a boiler (see pic: work in progress). The top door is about 1.3metres tall and weighs 9kg (three hinges). The left side panel will be fixed to the rear wall along its back edge, while the right side panel will be fixed with through screws into the side wall.

While the lower part of the cabinet provides cross-bracing with 4 batten-mounted shelves, the upper section will have only the top brace (represented in the pic with the blue tape) down as far as the top shelf (shown with the spirit level).

The top of the cabinet will be otherwise open to meet boiler clearances, and there is nothing else on the hinge side, e.g. no abutting cabinet.

So....will I need to reinforce the left panel? Is the current arrangement sufficient to resist flex with door use and resist sag over the longer term?

I have plenty of left over melamine :oops::), and can easily double-up over most of the top section near the hinges.

Any other thoughts welcome.

TIA!

upload_2021-8-20_10-45-28.jpeg
 
Sponsored Links
You could possibly screw it into the wall at a couple of places with packers?
The gap could be filled with a closing panel if the Packers are unsightly?
There might be some questions about cabinet ventilation to address.
When I have had my boiler serviced, some have questioned the lack of ventilation on my cabinet, when others haven't mentioned it!
 
Links in this post may contain affiliate links for which DIYnot may be compensated.
I have done similar, but with a base unit trimmed to size for a wall cupboard, rather than a full height. I left the top open, to ensure there was adequate ventilation. I also made it quick to remove, should it be needed for boiler servicing or replacement - Just two fixing to remove and it pulls away, to give full access.

In your case, I would look at adding more bracing between the two sides, at least one above the boiler (where the blue is) and one just below the boiler, made from a bit of 2x1 bracketed, or even better a pair of side to side metal brackets.
 
Sponsored Links
Some good ideas there. Thank you!

@foxhole

Those keku clips look very interesting. Excellent suggestion! Are they any good in tension, i.e. perpendicular (rather than parallel) to the broad faces of each of the tabs), or is the that particular ABS plastic quite soft & yieldy?

On the topic of clearance - all the hinges I have so far seen of this kind don't seem to require this - i.e. door movement is towards the opening side and still within the outline of the cabinet. Having said that there's a few inches gap on the hinge side to the wall with the window reveal.

@Harry Bloomfield

Yes, good idea! I can install an additional cross brace(s) >200mm below the boiler and still be compliant.

Maybe I can combine that with something easily dismountable or knockdown-able (e.g. using modesty blocks or with those keku clips mentioned by @foxhole).

@RandomGrinch

The MI's make no mention of additional ventilation over and above the required clearances (per the comment from @foxhole), but I am aware that servicing people can sometimes step outside their realm of knowledge (for their own reasons maybe, not unrelated to drumming up future work..... ).

I was hoping to keep everything inside the cabinet, but I may need to use the side wall or ceiling.
 
@RandomGrinch - those button clips would be great with a re-purposed cutdown shelf mounted vertically in front of the mag filter.
Yes, that would work nicely. Though be careful how you attach the brackets to the shelf, the buttons can be quite tight - you don't want to pull the screws out of the shelf the first time you remove the panel!
 

DIYnot Local

Staff member

If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.

Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.


Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local

 
Sponsored Links
Back
Top