Bracket or stand? Choosing the best fasteners for a microwave oven

A microwave oven is a necessary item in the kitchen, with which you can quickly heat up food at any time. Over many years of use, the microwave has become a common appliance in the home, but there is not always free space in the kitchen to install it.

To save space, the device is installed using special fasteners, one of which is a microwave shelf on the wall. More information about making such a shelf with your own hands will be discussed in this article.

Microwave shelf on the wall

Basic ways to install a microwave oven in the kitchen

Methods for installing a microwave oven depend on its location in the kitchen space; these can be the following options:

• free-standing placement - the device is installed on a countertop, window sill or bar counter;
• installation in cabinet furniture, building structures or a specially made cabinet for household appliances;
• hanging installation - when fastening elements are mounted on the wall surface on which the microwave oven is installed.

Option to use a special shelf for installing a microwave oven

How does the fastener work when installing a microwave on a wall?

The main task of such supports is to securely fix equipment at a height, most often above the kitchen work area. The main requirement is the ability to withstand long-term static loads created by the weight of the installed equipment. The fastening elements of a microwave oven in the suspended installation method are fixed to the surface of a wall or other building structure using expansion dowels or anchor bolts, which depends on the material of these structures.

Reliability of fixation is ensured by the dimensions of the fastening elements (diameter and length), as well as their compliance with the material from which the surface on which they are installed is made.

The standard mounting kit for a microwave oven includes fastening elements, but they may not be suitable for specific installation conditions

Types of wall mounts for microwave ovens

Devices designed for wall-mounted installation of a microwave oven are of two types - brackets and a stand, which differ in their design, but are similar in the method of mounting on the wall.

Brackets for microwave oven

Brackets are two L-shaped holders, in which one shelf is attached to the wall surface, and the second serves as a base on which the equipment is installed. A shelf intended for installing a microwave oven may have a telescopic design, making it possible to adjust the length of this element to the size of the model of the household appliance. The shelf, designed for mounting to the wall, has holes for attaching the bracket.

Microwave bracket model “Holder MWS-2002” The brackets are made of metal and can be made without painting, in the case of using stainless or other non-corrosion steel, and also painted with powder paint.

Microwave oven stand

A stand or, in other words, a shelf hung on the wall and intended for installing a microwave oven, can be of various shapes and designs, made in a factory or independently from scrap materials. The main element of such a product is a shelf, fixed to the wall surface using corners, brackets or other structural elements using fasteners, as in the case of using brackets.

The shelf can be made of metal or durable plastic, wood or glass, and the structural elements that provide fastening to the wall are made of metal.

Option for installing a multifunctional wall-mounted stand made of metal

Types of shelves for microwave ovens

The easiest way to mount the microwave on the wall is to place it on a shelf. If, when designing kitchen furniture, an open special shelf was not provided, you will need to find a place to install an additional one. There are the most common shelves - two or three brackets on which the shelf itself is fixed. These are so easy to make yourself. There are more complex multi-tiered models.

To prevent the device from overheating, you need to leave 5-7 cm gaps on the sides

Microwave shelves are made from different materials:

• Metal - stainless steel, nickel-plated steel, galvanized, painted.
• Made of wood. Under varnish or paint.
• Made from laminated furniture chipboard.

A wall-mounted microwave shelf can be single-tiered, double-tiered or multi-tiered. You can choose depending on your need. Single-tier ones are good if you are going to install the device in the space between the countertop and wall cabinets. The space under the shelf can also be used.

The microwave shelf can be corner

Often the microwave oven is placed in the corner. In this case, you can make or buy a corner shelf. This option fits especially well under a cabinet with a corner door.

An interesting option: a shelf for a microwave and an electric kettle with outlets

There are also shelves for a microwave oven with a base. This is when there are not just brackets and a shelf, but also a back wall. These options are good, but you need to make sure that the shelf is deep. Not all microwave models can be built-in. In conventional ones there should be an air gap to the wall. By the way, you need to pay attention to this in ordinary shelves. But there the sides are usually not closed, which improves ventilation.

Metal

If your kitchen has metal trim, a metal microwave shelf on the wall will look good. They are also single-tiered or multi-level. You can find different designs - with rounded or rectangular sides, with handrails of greater or lesser height, with shelves on the lower level for small utensils.

Metal Wall Shelf Options

The most common color is metallic. If desired, you can find them painted in a variety of colors. The color is usually matched to the microwave, but it can also be painted to match the furniture or the wall.

How to Choose the Suitable Microwave Oven Holder

When choosing a microwave mounting element for installing it on the wall, the main criteria will be the following indicators:

1. Load capacity - determines the strength of the holder used, the ability to withstand the weight of the installed device without deforming the structural elements.
2. The ability to adjust the length of the shelf on which the microwave oven is installed.
3. Reliability – guaranteed by the manufacturer’s brand and the presence of a warranty period.
4. Price.

IMPORTANT ! In the absence of information about the weight of the microwave oven, it is best to purchase brackets with a permissible load of 70 kg of the weight of the equipment installed on them.

Placing the microwave on the mounting brackets

Where should you not place a microwave?

There are places in the kitchen where it is undesirable to install microwave ovens, as this can lead to their rapid failure. We list the restrictions on the placement of these devices:

• These devices should not be placed close to radiators or heating elements;
• you need to install them away from gas burners and sinks;
• It is undesirable for the microwave oven to be exposed to direct sunlight - equipment installed on window sills is especially susceptible to this danger;
• Steam and hot splashes of fat do not have the best effect on this equipment, so the idea of ​​hanging a microwave over a stove or multicooker is no good;
• It is not advisable to place such equipment near the TV, as this may cause problems with the TV.

How to choose a mounting location for the bracket

To make it convenient to use a microwave oven, you need to choose the right place to install it. If such equipment is placed on the wall, experts recommend the following solutions:

• access to the device door must be free both to the control elements of the device and to the internal space of the working chamber;
• It is not recommended to place the microwave above the sink or next to the hob;
• the installation height above the floor should be such that it is convenient for all family members to use the device;
• When choosing an installation location, it is necessary to take into account the presence of a nearby plug socket through which the device will be connected to the electrical network.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION! For each microwave oven, there are original mounting brackets designed for a specific model.

Placing the microwave on a shelf made of chipboard and metal mounting angles

Where to make a socket for a microwave

It is recommended to plan the location of all kitchen outlets, including those for the microwave oven, only after the kitchen design has been approved and it becomes clear where the kitchen equipment will be located. After this, it is very easy to determine the installation locations of the sockets - they are placed next to the equipment. If it is not possible to adhere to this principle, then it may turn out that the kitchen will be literally entangled in extension cords. This will not have the best effect on both its appearance and the reliability of the power supply to household appliances.

How to hang a microwave on the wall

When all the elements are in place, you can begin installation and assembly of the structure. At this stage you need to prepare the fasteners and tools necessary for installation. When installing on lightweight partitions made of wood or plasterboard, anchor bolts are used; for brick or concrete walls, expansion dowels are used. In both cases, to carry out the work you will need an electric drill or screwdriver, a construction level, a tape measure and a pencil, as well as a set of screwdrivers, a hammer and wrenches.

The bracket for the “Bravo FS01” microwave oven has a somewhat unusual design that allows you to adjust the size not only according to the length of the shelves, but also according to the distance between them. The work is performed in the following sequence:

• at the selected location, markings are made according to the holes on the bracket body;

Important! When marking the mounting points of the brackets, the locations of the fasteners on both brackets should be located in the same horizontal plane.

• holes are drilled at the marked points, the diameter of which must correspond to the fastening elements;
• when installed on light partitions, the holes are drilled through, when placed in solid walls - to the depth of the expansion dowel or anchor used;
• the fastening elements used are installed - the expansion dowels are hammered in, and the anchor bolts are secured using wrenches and a fixing nut;
• Brackets are installed and fixed in a given position.

Option for installing a shelf for a microwave oven from slab lumber. When the installation of the brackets is completed, it is necessary to check the observance of the horizontal plane between the shelves of the holders, they must be located in the same horizontal plane, as well as the strength of their fastening to the wall. After this, you can begin installing the microwave oven on the mounted structure; to do this, perform the following activities:

• the shelves of the brackets extend to the desired length, and if there is movement in width, this size is also adjustable;
• the microwave is installed on the prepared structure;
• its stability and the length of the power cable are checked to connect to the plug connection.

Placing brackets above a washing machine or refrigerator is completely justified and convenient to use

Advantages of wall mounting

There are different ways to place a microwave. It can be placed on a countertop, table, window sill, refrigerator or other surface, built into a kitchen set, or built as a special stand on the wall.

The microwave oven should be placed on the table if the work surface is large enough and the device will not interfere with the cooking process. The same applies to the window sill and other planes. Installing the oven on the refrigerator is only suitable if it is not high, otherwise it will be inconvenient to use the microwave. Therefore, the most acceptable way is to create a special shelf; this is not difficult to do with your own hands if you follow the detailed instructions.

A wall-mounted microwave stand has many positive features. For example:

• Rational use of space. Since the wall shelf or brackets are attached to the wall, the work surface of the countertop will not be occupied by the microwave. This is especially true for compact kitchens with small furniture.
• Ease of use. The shelf-stand is usually located at eye level, which means it will be convenient to use the stove. The dish inside will always be visible, which will allow you to control the stage of its readiness, as well as easily place and remove dishes from there and adjust settings on the control panel.
• Safe accommodation. Brackets or a shelf mounted on the wall protect the microwave standing on it from various objects getting inside, as well as splashes of water, grease and other contaminants.

The choice of fastening should be determined not only by the weight of the device itself, but also the products that will be cooked in it, as well as the material of the walls. Since a microwave oven weighs on average about 14 kg, and with dishes and food it can reach 20 kg, which means it cannot be mounted on various decorative partitions and false walls; the material may simply not withstand the weight of the household appliance.

Concrete and brick walls, as well as wooden partitions, are considered highly durable materials that will undoubtedly support the weight of the shelf and microwave. You just need to choose the right fasteners and other accessories for each type of wall.

The nuances of making your own wall-mounted bracket with a shelf for a microwave oven

When making it yourself, the most affordable option is to use chipboard or natural wood (boards) as a shelf for the microwave and metal mounting brackets. In this case, the main points that need to be taken into account when performing work will be the following nuances:

• the strength of the material used (chipboard, board) must be such as to ensure reliability during long-term operation of the microwave oven;
• metal mounting brackets must also have a certain strength margin in order to withstand the weight of the device without deforming its structure;
• the geometric dimensions and shape of the shelf can be arbitrary, but sufficient to accommodate a microwave oven.

The design and shape of the shelf for a microwave oven can be different, they depend on the imagination of the manufacturer and the availability of raw materials

How much does a good wall bracket for a microwave cost?

Brackets for installing microwave ovens, as a rule, are included with a specific model, but if they are not available (in a budget package), these products can be purchased separately. Such holders are sold in hardware stores and trade organizations dealing in household goods. The most popular bracket models are shown in the following table.

The price for microwave brackets indicated in the table is given as of the second quarter of 2022, when sold through a retail chain. If you still doubt whether or not you can install a bracket or stand for a microwave oven yourself, we recommend watching this video.