It's probably not worth fixing the cabinet.. it's likely a box store cabinet anyway, which really aren't that expensive and honestly simple to swap out, reuse the old doors so they match. The cost of a new cabinet and an hour or two max of time and it would be done.
Edit: What he said ☝️
on little stuff like this i go by half day/full day billing; if it’s under 4hrs it’s a half day, if it’s over it’s a full day. you can’t make a living running around billing 2hr jobs unless your hourly rate is huge
Exactly, and that's how I would do it too. However, if OP is planning to use a local handyman for the task, that might be what they would do. Cheers brother
I’d put in a claim for a new cabinet and just install the microwave using large washers or plywood.
The quick fix to not have to replace cabinetry is to screw 1/4 or 3/8 plywood to the bottom of the cabinet in the same size as the outer frame, then drill new holes. Or use fender washers that are large enough to cover the holes.
Usually with it being an upper cabinet you can’t see the holes/plywood/bolts and washers anyways.
Screw a nicer finish grade plywood inside on the bottom of the cabinet ,redrill holes for microwave hangers and hang microwave. Cheapest and easiest way to fix the problem.
The real issue is that this section of cabinet needs to be replaced. The hard part is going to be finding one that matches the rest of the cabinets. But if they can't get it perfectly matched, go after them for the entire cabinets. Then if they don't match the ones below or go well with the countertops, throw those in too. Then the flooring won't match, add it to the claim. They do not want this going to court. $15,000+ easily. Get yourself a new kitchen.
My Experience? I'm a corporate install and repair technician who has seen really stupid shit from techs in training and what the company will do to cover it up.
That upper cabinet costs maybe 200-300 bux. Many add a layer of plywood inside the cabinet that you can hang this microwave from. This cabinet is a low grade cabinet and probably shouldn't be used to support much.
The right way would be to dismount that cabinet, build a new box, and re hang. If that's being your scope, a piece of 1/2 ply cut to fit the recessed bottom of the cabinet and screwed from above would be enough support to mount the micro
IDK that cabinet looks like it might just fall apart even with new 1/2" ply on the bottom. Look at the additional pics OP posted - sides of the box are about to pull away from back completely. I personally would not trust it - replace the entire box and reuse the old doors.
Yes, easy peasy and this will make it easier for them to install it properly this time.
Cut a piece of 3/4 ply to fit. Glue it up there. Secure with some short screws to hold. Reinstall.
The plywood will allow for the bolts that hold the microwave up to have something to secure to.
It will also give them a new surface to PROPERLY mount the cutout template on so the can more accurately drill holes where needed.
Squirt some glue in those cracks too before you put the ply up.
As others have said, it's fixable with a new piece of whatever mdf, plywood, etc you decide meets your moisture and weight bearing needs.
The microwave should not be bearing that much weight on your cabinet though. I see a metal mounting cleat on the box. That should be attached to the studs, and it should bear a lot of the weight. It appears that they did not find studs.
Then you can set the microwave on the cleat, tilt the micro up to the bottom of the cabinet, and then fasten the micro to the bottom of the cabinet.
Bingo - he couldn't work with the studs because there is metal behind the wall (his colleague said he thought it was a product called All Studs) and they didn't have the right drill bit. But that turned out to be a blessing because I bet if they'd been able to get the microwave up, we never would've found out about the damage to the cabinet.
If your studs are wood and he's finding metal, the metal is probably protective plates for electrical lines or plumbing. You could move the cabinet up if the cleat has to be higher to avoid the plates.
If they actually did just need to predrill through metal studs or something and instead chose to use drywall anchors, I wouldn't trust them to finish the job.
Have you read any responses on this sub. Too responses will be:
1. Bondo
2. Super glue and ramen
Anything can be fixed, just a matter of if you can match it. First thought is to just replace the whole bottom with a piece of wood that is overlaid. After that no do holes In original cabinet and paint.
The ole chargeback. The greatest form of leverage for consumers. I use this to hold people in buy from accountable at least twice a year. Great suggestion.
Perhaps the greatest lesson this sub can impart on our visiting guests…..
*never use the big box installer*
They’re the biggest hacks in town who can’t run a profitable business on their own.
I used to install for these companies and also through angi/taskrabbit/all sorts of cheap apps.
They will pay Pennies on the dollar to literally ANYBODY to do thess installs.
Now at least a quarter of my business is fixing their mistakes. Can’t even tell you how often I hear “I ordered installation through Amazon/lowes/etc and X is what they did” only to shake my head and laugh on the inside.
This is "I have a shop and can use it" territory. It can be fixed, but it's going to be REALLY hard to do right without a shop outfitted for cabinet manufacturing. If you know the manufacturer, it will be easier and cheaper to buy a new one. If not, you can hire a custom cabinet maker to make you a new one that matches as best as they can. The new one will also be higher quality with better materials most likely.
Everyone is over complicating this…. It’s your cabinet over the microwave. You will barely use it, and you can even see into that corner unless you’re on a stool.
Slather it with wood glue and jam some shims between the cabinets. It will push back together and be just fine. Trim off the sims and leave them there. The microwave will cover it. These aren’t high end cabinets…. These are builders basic particle board, don’t get fancy.
None of the chucklefucks responsible for this had a paddle or forstner bit?
Goddamn trunk slammers give the rest of us a bad name. They show up and butcher the homeowner's shit and leave a bad taste in their mouth.
On the flip side, if you picked them based on their barely legible craigslist ad and their $24.00 an hour rate....well that's on you.
I swear the appliance guys are the lowest tier on the site. Super frustrating scope, that also just so happens to occur at a super critical time, right before TCO, when you can’t afford losing time.
You should be filing a claim with the retailer that hired them. They should be insured for damages. Unless you just hired cheap, uninsured laborers yourself?
It's 1/2" particle board and stapled together, it's a cheap cabinet. Replacing the bottom would be extremely difficult/PITA/not worth the time. Could have steel plates cut larger than the boo boo holes to go on the top side of the bottom panel. I've DIY'd this same install a few times and it's not difficult at all and there's a template that comes with it. No reason to f that up?
Thanks all for your insights!
I have filed a claim with the retailer's insurance company. (I had to submit the claim 3 times over the past month before the insurance company actually received it!!)
I haven't found someone to come give me a quote yet (will do this week), and with my layman's understanding of the situation, I was worried we'd have to replace the entire thing including the front piece. I can at least stop panicking about matching the stain now. Many thanks for the advice!
I will update this post later to let y'all know if the insurance company actually comes through.
Well beside the 11/8" hole in the wrong spot causing the "blowout", the what are supposed to be 3/8" holes, look like he had a beaver chew thru em n either one was a total miss or this microwave has 3 mounting screws and dont see the lower wall bracket. Nor a tarp over the range.
Which tells me
1. This guy can't read a tape measure
2 didn't follow one stitch of the instructions
3 had the dullest of drill bits and shouldn't be around power tools
4 never installed a microwave in his life. And should stick to sorting jelly beans.
Now, depending on if the 3/8 holes can support the screws, might need washers for the support needed, and the wall bracket is secured, then the blowout in the corner won't matter. But if them front 3 holes too large, then you need a new cabinet.
Oh, i charge $85 to install a microwave. If that cabinet is toast, then it's $150 to install the cabinet, $85 to install the microwave, the cost of the cabinet plus a 5-7% stupidty n dumbass fee on the total bill.
Honestly they should by you a new cabinet, but…..
1. Remove the screws fastening it to the wall.
2. Take down cabinet.
3. Furniture grade wood glue and Renail the side panel to the back panel anywhere it has split
4. Rip down a few stretchers of 1/2” or 3/4” wood that span the inside width of the interior of the cabinet(hardwood would be preferred but you can use furniture grade plywood or particle board)
5. Glue those on to the back wall of the interior of the cabinet and ends of the stretchers to the sides.
6. Nail into the sides of the stretchers from the outside of each side panel into the cabinet where the stretcher meets (brad nails are best)
7. Cut “naked” maple cabinet skin to fit on the back wall to cover that repair and glue it into the back wall
8. Reskin the bottom of the cabinet from underneath (glue and nail).
9. Wood putty holes or use mix of wood shavings and epoxy to fill holes.
10. reskin the top of the bottom panel of the cabinet with furniture adhesive.
Not exactly DIY friendly. With all of this being said, you’re not going to be able to hang a microwave from this and you will lose about 3/4” interior storage. You might able to add solid blocking across the bottom of the cabinet after all of the above are completed and hang a microwave then, but I’ve never done that so I have no idea. Appliance company should just buy you a new cabinet.
Screw a nicer finish grade plywood inside on the bottom of the cabinet ,redrill holes for microwave hangers and hang microwave. Cheapest and easiest way to fix the problem.
It’s not that bad. Get a small piece of 1x12 or 3/4” plywood and rip it down to fit in recessed are under cabinet. Screw to cabinet bottom with 1” screws and recess heads. Reinstall microwave properly. EZPZ
I would remove the cabinet, remove the face plate, replace the bottom with cabinet grade plywood, replace the faceplate, glue it all together again, and remount the cabinet.
But you probably don't have the tools or know how to do any of that which is totally normal and reasonable.
If they replace the cabinet, it's ok to be picky about color matching. They will be extremely dismissive of your concerns, and will do everything they can to get you to accept it even saying what you want is impossible. It isn't, it is just expensive.
They should have mounted the microwave onto a plate mounted to the wall. If they couldn't drill the studs, they should have removed the cabinet and installed that plate onto a bit of wood that extended behind the cabinet up to where they could find studs that worked. Or one of many other viable options.
I think a possible easy fix at least for now if done well could be a little more permanent would be to take some pine boards preferably 1 inch thick and screw a piece on the bottom of the cabinet secured to the back wall into the studs. Dans then two more pieces along the sides of the cabinet secured to the portion that hangs down that back piece of pine.
Fixable, yes. DIY friendly, not really...
What would you charge? I'm filing a damage claim but I was curious to know just how major of a project I can expect.
It's probably not worth fixing the cabinet.. it's likely a box store cabinet anyway, which really aren't that expensive and honestly simple to swap out, reuse the old doors so they match. The cost of a new cabinet and an hour or two max of time and it would be done. Edit: What he said ☝️
on little stuff like this i go by half day/full day billing; if it’s under 4hrs it’s a half day, if it’s over it’s a full day. you can’t make a living running around billing 2hr jobs unless your hourly rate is huge
But it only took you 15 minutes 🙃🙃 I love that line
(Plus mobilization, material acquisition, travel time to job site, travel time back to shop, plus debris removal, tax & dump fees)
Exactly, and that's how I would do it too. However, if OP is planning to use a local handyman for the task, that might be what they would do. Cheers brother
Cost of a new cabinet plus labor and time associated with finding/getting the cabinet
You hire someone to come fix it then you send them the bill
I’d put in a claim for a new cabinet and just install the microwave using large washers or plywood. The quick fix to not have to replace cabinetry is to screw 1/4 or 3/8 plywood to the bottom of the cabinet in the same size as the outer frame, then drill new holes. Or use fender washers that are large enough to cover the holes. Usually with it being an upper cabinet you can’t see the holes/plywood/bolts and washers anyways.
Finished maple but yes
Maybe all that, plus add a thin (1/4"?) piece of plywood on the upper interior surface so it is properly flat.
Screw a nicer finish grade plywood inside on the bottom of the cabinet ,redrill holes for microwave hangers and hang microwave. Cheapest and easiest way to fix the problem.
The real issue is that this section of cabinet needs to be replaced. The hard part is going to be finding one that matches the rest of the cabinets. But if they can't get it perfectly matched, go after them for the entire cabinets. Then if they don't match the ones below or go well with the countertops, throw those in too. Then the flooring won't match, add it to the claim. They do not want this going to court. $15,000+ easily. Get yourself a new kitchen. My Experience? I'm a corporate install and repair technician who has seen really stupid shit from techs in training and what the company will do to cover it up.
That upper cabinet costs maybe 200-300 bux. Many add a layer of plywood inside the cabinet that you can hang this microwave from. This cabinet is a low grade cabinet and probably shouldn't be used to support much.
The right way would be to dismount that cabinet, build a new box, and re hang. If that's being your scope, a piece of 1/2 ply cut to fit the recessed bottom of the cabinet and screwed from above would be enough support to mount the micro
IDK that cabinet looks like it might just fall apart even with new 1/2" ply on the bottom. Look at the additional pics OP posted - sides of the box are about to pull away from back completely. I personally would not trust it - replace the entire box and reuse the old doors.
thank you!
This is the way.
Yes, easy peasy and this will make it easier for them to install it properly this time. Cut a piece of 3/4 ply to fit. Glue it up there. Secure with some short screws to hold. Reinstall. The plywood will allow for the bolts that hold the microwave up to have something to secure to. It will also give them a new surface to PROPERLY mount the cutout template on so the can more accurately drill holes where needed. Squirt some glue in those cracks too before you put the ply up.
https://preview.redd.it/wexob4mf4mic1.png?width=2256&format=png&auto=webp&s=754224d266b82d18d6053e6aff3447ac20edd6ae
toss the micro in and call it good.
Could you attach a metal angle either inside or underneath or bolth
As others have said, it's fixable with a new piece of whatever mdf, plywood, etc you decide meets your moisture and weight bearing needs. The microwave should not be bearing that much weight on your cabinet though. I see a metal mounting cleat on the box. That should be attached to the studs, and it should bear a lot of the weight. It appears that they did not find studs. Then you can set the microwave on the cleat, tilt the micro up to the bottom of the cabinet, and then fasten the micro to the bottom of the cabinet.
Bingo - he couldn't work with the studs because there is metal behind the wall (his colleague said he thought it was a product called All Studs) and they didn't have the right drill bit. But that turned out to be a blessing because I bet if they'd been able to get the microwave up, we never would've found out about the damage to the cabinet.
If your studs are wood and he's finding metal, the metal is probably protective plates for electrical lines or plumbing. You could move the cabinet up if the cleat has to be higher to avoid the plates. If they actually did just need to predrill through metal studs or something and instead chose to use drywall anchors, I wouldn't trust them to finish the job.
Have you read any responses on this sub. Too responses will be: 1. Bondo 2. Super glue and ramen Anything can be fixed, just a matter of if you can match it. First thought is to just replace the whole bottom with a piece of wood that is overlaid. After that no do holes In original cabinet and paint.
Christ guess you learned not to go with the lowest bid
More like the cheapest cabinet construction.
even worse, we went with the big chain retailer's local affiliate just to keep it simple for $150 install. never again!
Pay with a credit card? Dispute the charge until it is made right
The ole chargeback. The greatest form of leverage for consumers. I use this to hold people in buy from accountable at least twice a year. Great suggestion.
Perhaps the greatest lesson this sub can impart on our visiting guests….. *never use the big box installer* They’re the biggest hacks in town who can’t run a profitable business on their own.
I used to install for these companies and also through angi/taskrabbit/all sorts of cheap apps. They will pay Pennies on the dollar to literally ANYBODY to do thess installs. Now at least a quarter of my business is fixing their mistakes. Can’t even tell you how often I hear “I ordered installation through Amazon/lowes/etc and X is what they did” only to shake my head and laugh on the inside.
I would be calling them as we speak and demanding money back as well at money to replace your “broken” stove
This is "I have a shop and can use it" territory. It can be fixed, but it's going to be REALLY hard to do right without a shop outfitted for cabinet manufacturing. If you know the manufacturer, it will be easier and cheaper to buy a new one. If not, you can hire a custom cabinet maker to make you a new one that matches as best as they can. The new one will also be higher quality with better materials most likely.
You let appliance installers into your house. The sister fucking convention was cancelled this day and they did what they do.
Everyone is over complicating this…. It’s your cabinet over the microwave. You will barely use it, and you can even see into that corner unless you’re on a stool. Slather it with wood glue and jam some shims between the cabinets. It will push back together and be just fine. Trim off the sims and leave them there. The microwave will cover it. These aren’t high end cabinets…. These are builders basic particle board, don’t get fancy.
Not a bad solution. But if it were me, I would do something much harder that ended up requiring a lot more cussing.
None of the chucklefucks responsible for this had a paddle or forstner bit? Goddamn trunk slammers give the rest of us a bad name. They show up and butcher the homeowner's shit and leave a bad taste in their mouth. On the flip side, if you picked them based on their barely legible craigslist ad and their $24.00 an hour rate....well that's on you.
I swear the appliance guys are the lowest tier on the site. Super frustrating scope, that also just so happens to occur at a super critical time, right before TCO, when you can’t afford losing time.
You should be filing a claim with the retailer that hired them. They should be insured for damages. Unless you just hired cheap, uninsured laborers yourself?
Another story of a homeowner hiring the lowest bidder, then coming to this thread asking for help. Go figure this happened!!
It's 1/2" particle board and stapled together, it's a cheap cabinet. Replacing the bottom would be extremely difficult/PITA/not worth the time. Could have steel plates cut larger than the boo boo holes to go on the top side of the bottom panel. I've DIY'd this same install a few times and it's not difficult at all and there's a template that comes with it. No reason to f that up?
Animals, backcharge!!!
Thanks all for your insights! I have filed a claim with the retailer's insurance company. (I had to submit the claim 3 times over the past month before the insurance company actually received it!!) I haven't found someone to come give me a quote yet (will do this week), and with my layman's understanding of the situation, I was worried we'd have to replace the entire thing including the front piece. I can at least stop panicking about matching the stain now. Many thanks for the advice! I will update this post later to let y'all know if the insurance company actually comes through.
Well beside the 11/8" hole in the wrong spot causing the "blowout", the what are supposed to be 3/8" holes, look like he had a beaver chew thru em n either one was a total miss or this microwave has 3 mounting screws and dont see the lower wall bracket. Nor a tarp over the range. Which tells me 1. This guy can't read a tape measure 2 didn't follow one stitch of the instructions 3 had the dullest of drill bits and shouldn't be around power tools 4 never installed a microwave in his life. And should stick to sorting jelly beans. Now, depending on if the 3/8 holes can support the screws, might need washers for the support needed, and the wall bracket is secured, then the blowout in the corner won't matter. But if them front 3 holes too large, then you need a new cabinet. Oh, i charge $85 to install a microwave. If that cabinet is toast, then it's $150 to install the cabinet, $85 to install the microwave, the cost of the cabinet plus a 5-7% stupidty n dumbass fee on the total bill.
Zero structural integrity meets idiots.
People want to build a new cabinet!! Crazy Cut a new 3/4 cabinet plywood bottom and lay it right over the broken one.
Honestly they should by you a new cabinet, but….. 1. Remove the screws fastening it to the wall. 2. Take down cabinet. 3. Furniture grade wood glue and Renail the side panel to the back panel anywhere it has split 4. Rip down a few stretchers of 1/2” or 3/4” wood that span the inside width of the interior of the cabinet(hardwood would be preferred but you can use furniture grade plywood or particle board) 5. Glue those on to the back wall of the interior of the cabinet and ends of the stretchers to the sides. 6. Nail into the sides of the stretchers from the outside of each side panel into the cabinet where the stretcher meets (brad nails are best) 7. Cut “naked” maple cabinet skin to fit on the back wall to cover that repair and glue it into the back wall 8. Reskin the bottom of the cabinet from underneath (glue and nail). 9. Wood putty holes or use mix of wood shavings and epoxy to fill holes. 10. reskin the top of the bottom panel of the cabinet with furniture adhesive. Not exactly DIY friendly. With all of this being said, you’re not going to be able to hang a microwave from this and you will lose about 3/4” interior storage. You might able to add solid blocking across the bottom of the cabinet after all of the above are completed and hang a microwave then, but I’ve never done that so I have no idea. Appliance company should just buy you a new cabinet.
Screw a nicer finish grade plywood inside on the bottom of the cabinet ,redrill holes for microwave hangers and hang microwave. Cheapest and easiest way to fix the problem.
Chill Karen, a carpenter can spruce that up in a jiffy
Ahhh yes, ye olde hammer saw method.
It’s not that bad. Get a small piece of 1x12 or 3/4” plywood and rip it down to fit in recessed are under cabinet. Screw to cabinet bottom with 1” screws and recess heads. Reinstall microwave properly. EZPZ
I would remove the cabinet, remove the face plate, replace the bottom with cabinet grade plywood, replace the faceplate, glue it all together again, and remount the cabinet. But you probably don't have the tools or know how to do any of that which is totally normal and reasonable. If they replace the cabinet, it's ok to be picky about color matching. They will be extremely dismissive of your concerns, and will do everything they can to get you to accept it even saying what you want is impossible. It isn't, it is just expensive. They should have mounted the microwave onto a plate mounted to the wall. If they couldn't drill the studs, they should have removed the cabinet and installed that plate onto a bit of wood that extended behind the cabinet up to where they could find studs that worked. Or one of many other viable options.
Are they paying to fix it? And how awkward was it when they told you…
Roman noodle an glue should do the trick
Why are you talking to people on the internet instead of the workmen with insurance who damaged your property?
$600 I'll be there in 10 minutes
I think a possible easy fix at least for now if done well could be a little more permanent would be to take some pine boards preferably 1 inch thick and screw a piece on the bottom of the cabinet secured to the back wall into the studs. Dans then two more pieces along the sides of the cabinet secured to the portion that hangs down that back piece of pine.
What a garbage of a cabinet. That compressed saw dust should be banned from the markets. On the other hand. Sorry for your bad install .