Adding pull out shelves to kitchen cabinet, no predrilled holes

[PureBlackVoid]

I have an oven housing unit with cabinet space above and below the oven. The unit didn’t come with any shelves, except what the oven sits on.

The bottom section doesn’t have predrilled holes where you can usually add those little shelf brackets but I’d like to add some pull out wire baskets for baking tray storage etc.

Is there a general rule about drilling these units for the runners etc. If it was a normal cabinet I would just do it, but with the unit holding an eye level oven, I’m not sure if modifying it could impact the weight capacity or structure of the side panels or something (ie it came without holes/shelves for a reason)

I had my kitchen done a while ago, I’m not in touch with the fitter anymore. It’s a howdens unit if that helps.

Thanks

I had a tall unit with a freezer in and turned it into cupboard with pull-out wire baskets on runners. You need to make sure your drill bit doesn't go as deep as the depth of the wood; I measured the depth of the unit side and put tape on the drill bit at slightly less depth so I knew when to stop.

As for strength of the unit, I think it's fine as long as you don't put anything ridiculously heavy in there. Measuring the distance between the runners for each wire basket was tricky as I wanted them to be exactly even.

It's fine. You are worrying about making the oven above unsafe, yes?

Screw holes won't do that. I reckon the various heavily laden drawers I've put in mine are far heavier than any oven.

Thanks both.

Yes, it’s whether the holes/weight could weaken the side panels.

I don't think so. The holes are really small and filled with screw.