A small hole will help in making sure that the anchor is fastened securely onto the drywall. Ross was featured on the cover of "Instore Buyer" magazine and his articles have appeared on various websites. Drilling into brick and the like will require masonry bits and anchors. However, there are a couple important factors you’ll want to consider when choosing a mounting site, such as proximity to the nearest wall studs and the size of your shelves in relation to nearby objects. In some situations, the placement of the shelf makes this practice impractical. It will help you when determining where to drill the pilot holes to anchor the shelf to the wall..[1] X Research source Save the size measurement for later. If it isn’t, set the shelf on a flat surface and measure it yourself. View our Privacy Policy here. The shelf should not be slanted. How Do I Anchor Shelves Into a Plaster Wall? Place the screw in the anchor. I'm planning on adding more wire shelves to a pantry and noticed on existin... How Do I Mount a TV and/or Shelving to Drywall Over Concrete? If this is the case for you, using drywall anchors is the answer. All rights reserved. All information is provided "AS IS." Pick out an open spot along the wall to situate your shelves. Drill a pilot hole through each of the pencil marks on the wall that are large enough for the metal toggle bolt to snugly fit through. Use a measuring tape and a pencil to measure the breadth of the shelf and mark it on the wall. The hole should not be equal to or bigger than the size of the anchor. Measure the length of the shelf you are installing. Use a tape measure to determine the length of the shelf. You can install heavy shelves with confidence that they will remain stable and secure, by using brackets. The exact position of your shelves is mostly a matter of preference. Get hold of a level. Locate the spot on the wall where the shelf is being installed. Some shelves will require you to place it onto the screws. submitted to our "DoItYourself.com Community Forums". You now have to drill holes on the marked spots on the drywall. Do not use a power screwdriver to tighten the screws in the toggle bolt. Tap on the head of the anchors to make sure it penetrates the hole properly. What You Need. Make a pencil mark on the shelf in each of the holes in the bracket. Lay a bracket on the board 4 to 6 inches from each end of the shelf. Freelance writing since 2009, Tom Ross has over 30 years of corporate management and hands-on experience in the supermarket industry. Turn the shelf face down on a flat surface. Known as “molly bolts” or simply “mollies,” these metal sleeve-type hollow wall … The screws help the tail of the drywall anchor to spread out behind the wall to counterbalance the weight. You may also come across a few shelves that require you to first place the shelf onto the anchors and then follow it up with the screws. I... Hi. Step 11 - Observe © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Hi forum! home improvement and repair website. Use work gloves to protect against pinching or scraping your skin. Turn the shelf face down on a flat surface. You can screw one or more lengths of wall cleats across the entire wall, then easily relocate shelves, or add more shelves at a later date. Make use of each available hole in order to provide adequate support for a heavy shelf. You may freely link Also check its strength and stability by placing books and other objects on the shelf. Read on to find out more. Select the drill bit accordingly. Line up the back of the bracket with the rear of the shelf. to this site, and use it for non-commercial use subject to our terms of use. suggestions. MOLLY BOLTS. Locate the spot on the wall where the shelf is being installed. The position of the screw into the anchor has a huge role in ascertaining the stability of the shelf. Use a screwdriver to tighten the screws. How to Make the White Wire Closet Shelving More Sturdy, How to Attach Shelves to Metal Wall Studs. Before we get started, though, there are a few tools you’ll need, most of which you … It is very easy to strip out the thin metal. Heavy shelves always have been installed with wall studs as the most reliable anchor points. In this step, you need to measure the shelf. The Best Way to Anchor a Metal Shelf to Drywall, How to Install a Ventilated Shelf Closet Rod. However, sometimes it’s challenging to find a stud in the wall to screw or hammer into. Before you set out on installing the shelf you must make sure you buy the right kind of drywall anchors. Adding storage space to your room by installing a shelf is an easy task. The wings on the toggle bolt pop open in the open space behind the wall. Back out the screws from the toggle bolt assemblies and line up the holes in the shelf brackets with the toggle bolt assemblies installed in the wall. To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience. If the shelf has two notches for nails or screws, measure and mark the distance between them and make sure they are level. How to Install Heavy Duty Shelf Brackets... How to Install Heavy Duty Shelf Brackets into Drywall. Screw one strip to the wall and the other to the back of the shelf or cabinet. Make cleats by ripping strips of 3/4-in. Before drilling, you need to take note of the size of the hole required. This provides the required support. Shelves that are not installed with adequate support may fail. Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be If you have allergies, consider a face mask. problems contact webmaster@doityourself.com. Measure the brackets and mark the points on the drywall. Now take the shelf and place it on the drywall anchor. A level will help you ascertain that the shelf sits on a straight line. Was trying to hang 65" TV on the wal... Hello: I found what I think are corner shelves laying around in the house -... 5 Tips for Putting up Wood Shelf Bracket... 5 Tips for Putting up Wood Shelf Brackets. Drive screws through the holes in the bracket into the pilot holes in the shelf. plywood with a 45-degree bevel on one edge. To install a Snaptoggle, first drill a hole in the wall, then pass the toggle through the hole. Drill pilot holes into each of the pencil marks. A common mistake while installing a shelf on a wall is to drill the holes in a slant position. The drywall anchors will go into these holes. Check the packaging to see if the length is listed there. Depending on that get a strong enough drywall anchor. You may also come across a few shelves that require you to first place the shelf onto the anchors and then follow it up with the screws. Some shelves will require you to place it onto the screws. DoItYourself.com®, founded in 1995, is the leading independent Eye protection is also a good idea to avoid dust particles causing irritation. Not only that -- today, many homes are built with metal studs that do not provide the same support for heavy shelves as do wood studs. Use additional brackets positioned nearer the middle of the shelf when the shelf is longer and will support a great deal of weight. If your shelf comes with brackets then you need to take the measurements accordingly. Recommended weight capacities are marked on the packaging. 1995-2018 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Now take the shelf and place it on the drywall anchor. Tighten the screw until the wings are firmly tightened against the back of the wall. Copyright© I am going to be building "floating" shelves in my room to hold my DVD's. At this point, the drywall is ready for the anchors. Use each of the holes in the bracket to provide maximum support for a heavy shelf. After handing the shelf on the wall, step back and observe. I recently put up some drywall around my work bench in the cellar and I... Just moved into a house built in 1925. Lay a bracket on the board 4 to 6 inches from each end of the shelf. We welcome your comments and Drive the screws through the bracket into the toggle bolt assemblies. Start installing the shelves using the drywall anchors by considering the following safety measures. Be sure to place the anchors through the brackets if the shelf came with brackets. There are several different varieties available but make sure you gauge the weight of the shelf and the items that you will be placing on them. Ask an assistant to make marks through each of the holes in the support brackets as you use the carpenter's level to ensure that the shelf remains level. Website operating Position the shelf on the wall and place a carpenter's level on top of it. The screw helps in strengthening the grip between the anchor and the wall. With the right tools and a little know-how, you’ll be able to check this chore off the list. Use a hammer to introduce the anchors into the holes. Drywall — especially the commonly used 1/2-inch-thick size — supports heavy weights when the shelving is properly installed.