Yes
you can install a cabinet (or over-john) on a wall and attach it
to only one stud... as long as the cabinet has a solid wood
"rail" along the top and bottom. (If not then... maybe
return it?)
The top mounting rail is the most
important, because the weight of the cabinet will try to pull the
top screws straight out of the wall. I would try to get two screws
into the top rail and into the stud, spacing them an inch or so
apart. I always pre-drill holes like that, to prevent the wood
from splitting. I use special "cabinet mounting" screws
(about $5 or $6 a pound at Home Depot, but possibly sold
individually) that have a wide head with a flat underside.
Make sure that the screws get
about 1 inch of bite into the studs, but not much more than 1 inch
(to prevent hitting a wire). You will probably need 2" long
screws, unless the cabinet is really thick or something.
When I install wall cabinets, I
install a few serious screws and then apply a serious load... ME!
I hang from the cabinets (slowly and carefully) and if the unit
moves or sounds insecure, then I add more fasteners. In that case
I would add two toggle bolts (the only anchors that really work)
at the top, at the corners, which would require removing the
cabinet to drill the large 1/2" holes in the drywall.
Also, if the cabinet rocks
side-to-side, I would add more fasteners.
Now I'm not recommending that you
try this hanging-from-the-cabinet monkey business. I do it because
I only weigh 150 pounds. (I know, I need to work out more...) But
you should be able to apply a lot of load to any properly
installed cabinet without it budging.
I'm willing to bet that the
cabinet will be fine with three screws into one stud (as long as
the stud is within about 3 or 4 inches of the center of the
cabinet). Give it a try and test it, and let me know how it goes.
Bruce W. Maki, Editor.
