How to Anchor a Cabinet to a Cinder Block

Decide where you want to mount the cabinet. Have an assistant hold the cabinet in the desired position, and mark the mounting holes with a marker. Make sure that the marks are clearly visible on the cinder block to help ensure that you drill the holes in the right places.

Chuck a masonry bit into a hammer drill. The bit should be the same diameter as the anchors you are using. Hold an anchor next to the bit, and place a piece of tape around the bit one-half inch farther up the bit than the anchor reaches. This extra depth will help make sure that the anchor seats properly.

Put on your ear and eye protection before using the hammer drill. Hammer drills are very loud and throw a lot of debris; ringing ears and watering eyes won’t help you finish the project.

Place the tip of the masonry bit on one of the marks on the cinder block. Start the drill and ease the bit into the block. Maintain even pressure on the drill, allowing it to do the work. Pressing too hard on the drill will overheat the bit, making it dull quickly. Drill into the block until the tape around the bit is even with the surface. Pull the bit out of the hole. Continue drilling until all of the mounting holes are the proper depth.

Blow the debris out of the holes with compressed air. Dirt in the holes will prevent the anchor from gripping securely, so get them as clean as possible.

Slide an anchor into each hole and tap them lightly with a hammer until they are flush with the face of the cinder block.

Hold the cabinet in position and slide the bolts included with the anchors through the holes in the cabinet, into the concrete anchors. Turn the mounting bolts clockwise with an adjustable wrench until the cabinet is secure. Don’t tighten the bolts too much; this can damage the cabinet or weaken the anchors’ grip in the mounting holes.