Securing Island Cabinets with Leg Levelers

Installers share thoughts on the best way to lock island cabinets into place when set on leg levelers. September 4, 2005

Question
I am wondering how to secure an island that is set up using leg levelers? Does anyone have any suggestions?

Forum Responses
(Cabinet and Millwork Installation Forum)
From contributor R:
I don't use legs on islands. I use the traditional framed toe kick screwed to the floor and the cabinet screwed on top. Legs work great for something screwed to the wall, but not islands.

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From contributor W:
I’m not sure I agree with Roger. I really like levelers for islands, because I can assemble the island, position it where I want it, and then crank the levelers to fine tune the level, both for the island, and for the adjacent wall cabs. I can also nudge the entire island assembly around while measuring to the installed wall/base cabs.

What I typically do is fasten 2X4's (laying flat) to the floor just inside the perimeter of the toe kick, and then (using 3-4 inch screws) fasten through the island floor. I like this system because it lets me quickly fasten the 2X4's down, and if I leave a couple of inches of slop between the perimeter and the 2X4's, I can shuck the island around a bit for final adjustment, and when I've got things where I want them, I shoot the screws.

One note - I try to place the screws so they don’t show when a cabinet door is opened. Personally, I'm only concerned with the preventing the island from being bumped out of position. I figure the island will pretty much stay in place by itself. I suppose the 2X4's could be doubled up for a more secure setup.

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From contributor J:
I use the levelers on islands, fine tune the level, and then run tapcon screws through the leveler feet to anchor it to the floor.

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From contributor D:
None of the aforementioned techniques will yield a rock solid island with leg levelers. You have to fill the space between the bottom of the cabinet floor and the floor itself. I usually make a couple of I-beam type pieces out of plywood and install them at 90 degrees to each other. This method has worked very well for me.