Over the range microwave combo Installation

Submitted by NeatOwl7001 t3_10pat72 in DIY

Hello,

I bought a range hood/microwave combo, but I can only catch one stud on the bracket.

Since the other side of the wall leads into the garage my thought is to cut a hole back to each stud and put a 2x8 horizontally between the wall studs so I have something to screw into. Would this be ok? It came with wall anchors, but my conscious won’t let me go that route because it seems really risky.

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Comments

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brock_lee t1_j6jahrq wrote

Stud on one side and an anchors on the other is quite common, and safe. At least half of the weight is held by the cabinets above, and then at least half of the remainder is carried by the one stud.

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NeatOwl7001 OP t1_j6jclr0 wrote

Thanks for the input!

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NoMoOmentumMan t1_j6nacu9 wrote

Use something like a Simpson snap togglen as large as can be accommodated. 2 of those plus 2 screws into a stud and you should be okay.

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SeymoreBhutts t1_j6jnf85 wrote

Sink a lag bolt into a stud and let it stick out a few inches. Stand on it. bounce on it. Really give it hell. Then mount the microwave with one stud per the instructions. It's more common than not and will be absolutely fine.

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guido1165 t1_j6jx0sw wrote

And try to seal up all of the vent passages as much as possible before lifting the unit into place. Ours spit so much grease through the "sealed" passages onto the cabinets above that I had to make blank off plates and seal up all the passages on the positive side of the blower. I'm going back to 2 separate pieces as soon as possible.

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Atty_for_hire t1_j6kvyhp wrote

Same with ours. Grease all over the cabinets despite a vent to the outside.

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skydiver1958 t1_j6jp2so wrote

Ya brock is right. Just make sure the upper cabinet is screwed to the wall good as it really holds a lot of the weight. Use butterfly anchors where you can't hit studs on the back bracket. But if you feel better putting a piece of blocking from the back side for sure is easy and won't hurt. If it was me and I could add blocking easily I would but hung many of these on single stud and anchors without issue

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PrettyNothing8962 t1_j6kaxt7 wrote

All of the weight of the microwave is on the 2 lag bolts in the top holding it to the upper cabinet. Having the bottom bracket only hit 1 stud is fine so long as the upper cabinet is secured into studs and sturdy

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No_Bass_9328 t1_j6lsitt wrote

You are absolutely incorrect. I don't know the percentage but most of the weight and my guess is ar least 75%, is on the plate the back. In my renos I have installed about 10 of these and you bust your back getting it up and onto lip on the back plate and then one hand easily holds it while you thread the bolts down. BTW, I would go with the 2 x 8 across the back. Better safe.

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PrettyNothing8962 t1_j6msivy wrote

I have replaced mine 3 or 4 times over the last 20yrs. The plate holds the microwave while you hold it in place and screw in the top lag bolts. Your 75% is perhaps correct until the lag bolts are secured. Once the lag bolts are secured almost all the weight is on them. It’s almost as if the plate is there to help a single person install. How much you bust your back while getting it on the lip of the plate is irrelevant. A single screw for the plate into a stud is sufficient so long as it’s somewhere in the middle of the plate and not all the way to one end of it. Toggle bolts for the rest will suffice. Remember…measure twice drill once when drilling into the uppers for the lag bolts.

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No_Bass_9328 t1_j6or3fx wrote

I sure agree with your measure twice! Imagine the manufacturers liability (particularly in the US) if they recommended and relied on the upper cab which already may be loaded to fully support that appliance. And only God knows how securely it may be attached. If that whole thing came crashing down on you and your stove. Heavons to humpy dumpy!

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