If you’ve ever tried to install a wall oven in a cabinet cutout, you know it’s not an easy task. Odds are, your cabinets weren’t designed for an oven and the space wasn’t reinforced to hold one. In this guide, we’ll show you how to build a wall oven support from scratch so that the next time you install an oven, you won’t have to worry about whether it can handle it.
Step 1: Mark the wall.
First, you’ll need to find the studs in your wall. To do this, hold a level along the surface of each wall and make sure it displays “level”. If not, use a pencil or chalk line to mark where each stud is located.
Now you can mark your wall with tape measures or other measuring tools. Make sure that when you’re marking your walls for stud placement that there’s enough space between them for any ovens or other things you may want near them.
Step 2: Make a cardboard template.
- Make a cardboard template. Use the pencil to mark the wall where the oven will go, then cut out an outline of the oven from cardboard using your template (the original box is great for this). The size of your opening should be at least 10 inches wider than the width or length of your oven, so it has enough space to slide in and out freely.
- Mark off all studs on walls with masking tape (you may want to make two openings). Then use a stud finder to locate each one before you start drilling holes for screws or anchors.
Step 3: Transfer the measurements to plywood.
Transfer the measurements to the plywood. Making sure the plywood is the right size, shape, thickness and material is important but so are colour and texture. For instance, if you’re using cedar planks for your wall oven then it’s important that they’re matched to an existing wall in your kitchen (or other room). You can achieve this by looking at photos of your room and finding a similar piece of wood that matches up with it as closely as possible.
Step 4: Cut the plywood.
Use a circular saw to cut the plywood. You need three pieces of plywood for this project: one for the back wall, and two for sides. Make sure you’ve got them all cut to the right size when you’re done.
Make sure that your cuts are straight—you don’t want any wonky edges on your wall oven! If you’re having trouble keeping your cuts straight, use an extra set of hands as an extra pair of eyes while making them. Not only will they help hold things in place while you’re cutting, but they can also spot any issues before they become problems later on down the line.
Step 5: Attach the plywood frame to the wall.
- To start, use the pencil to mark where you want the plywood frame to be attached to your wall.
- Next, use a level and drill bit set to make pilot holes for each screw in your plywood frame.
- Finally, use a screwdriver or screw gun to install each wood screw into these pilot holes until all four corners of your plywood frame are attached securely against the wall.
Step 6: Cut and install the 2x4s for support.
With the 2x4s in place, it’s time to attach them to your wall. Measure and cut the 2x4s so that they fit snugly between the studs. (Measure twice, cut once.)
Once you’ve got all of your boards cut to length and attached to their respective studs, make sure they’re level with one another by strapping a level across them. If you have any gaps between your newly installed support beams, fill them with wood filler or caulk before painting.
This step is crucial: if you don’t install this part of your support system correctly, it will be more difficult for someone else (like an appliance repairman) later on down the road! If possible, contact a professional contractor who knows what he or she is doing when installing such systems; otherwise just do your best job following these steps above until everything feels sturdy enough for installation.”
Step 7: Install the other 2x4s vertically.
With the 2x4s in place, you can use a level to make sure they’re straight. Use a drill to create pilot holes for the screws so that when you install them, they go into place without twisting. Then screw the other 2x4s into place with a screwdriver.
After this step is done, cut two more lengths of 2x4s at 36 inches and use them as supports for your wall oven’s cabinet base (you’ll need to measure this yourself). Screw these in as well, making sure they’re secure enough not to tip over but not so tight that they will crack your walls or cabinets when moved around later on in the process of installing your wall oven.
Step 8: Build top framework with 2x4s.
- Use a level to make sure the framework is straight.
- Attach the 2x4s together with a drill.
- Attach the framework to the wall with screws or nails, if needed.
- Add extra 2x4s if your wall oven is heavy or has an unusually large footprint (such as an oven that sits on top of its own platform).
Step 9: Add crossbars for support.
- Cut two 2x4s to the same length as your baseboard pieces.
- Measure and cut each crossbar to fit between the two 2x4s. You’ll want them to be level with each other, so use a carpenter’s level on one end of the crossbar and then mark where it should be cut on the rest of the board using a pencil or pen.
- Glue each crossbar into place by applying wood glue between its ends and pressing it firmly against one or both of your 2x4s until they’re even with each other (you may need to clamp them down). Let dry overnight, then screw them tight into place using 1-inch screws driven through pilot holes drilled in from underneath (or just drill pilot holes and then drive screws).
Step 10: Cut and install plywood sheets on top of framework.
- Cut two pieces of plywood to the same size as the framework.
- Round all edges by using a router.
- Install two sheets on top of each side.
- Sand all edges smooth, then paint the wood with primer and paint or stain according to your taste.
There’s a lot of support you can build into a wall before you install an oven in it.
- Measure the space in your wall where you’ll install an oven. Use a tape measure and mark off the dimensions on the wall with painter’s tape or masking tape.
- Create a cardboard template for your oven by tracing around its front and rear panels onto two pieces of cardboard, then connect them with duct tape so they form an “L” shape that fits tightly against your walls when placed inside of them.
- Cut two pieces of ¾-inch plywood that are each about 3 inches shorter than your measurements from Step 1; these will be used for support structure at either end of your oven . They should be small enough to allow room for mounting hardware inside their voids but large enough not to restrict access to electrical wires or other items behind them later when it comes time to install those items after installing oven itself into its place.”
Conclusion
Building a strong support structure for your wall oven is the first step to a great installation. From there, you can count on your oven to provide excellent service while you’re cooking. You’ll be able to trust that it will stay properly in place unless you decide to take it out and put in a new one sometime down the line. Happy cooking
