In our example, this distance is about 2 inches. If you dont already have one, purchase a stud finder (a basic one can range from $10-30). This will allow the screw heads to fit into their respective keyhole slots in the hanger brackets. Combine methods A and B, if you're really fastidious. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Next, drill a 3/8" countersink hole on each side member, about 1/2" deep, in the shelf where you want to screw it to the crossmember you installed. Have my art work, now just look for shower curtain and rug. As usual, the Lowes and Home Depot guys don't seem to have a clue. Studs are narrow sheets of metal or wood that run from your floor to your ceilings to hold up your drywall. This can be a tight squeeze, so use your hammer to gently tap it into place, being careful not to bend the anchor or damage the wall. If you are mounting shelves on drywall, TOGGLER has quite a few options for hollow materials that dont skimp on strength. Turn the shelving unit back-side up and carefully measure the distance between the top of the shelf and the top of the keyhole opening on the hanger bracket. From there, all you need to do is attach the shelving unit to the bracket. Now plug the screw holes with pieces of 3/8" dowel or some decorative plugs. Houzz Pro: One simple solution for contractors and design pros. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Be sure to mark the middle of the stud so your item will be as secure as possible. Install by drilling a hole the same diameter of the anchor diameter, then push the anchor in and tap flush to wall. It exactly matches theposition of the keyhole hanger on the back of the shelf. When satisfied with the position, use a pencil to lightly outline the top and the sides of the shelf unit on the wall. Place item over anchor and insert screw. Drive one hanging screw through the bookshelf back or its hanging rail. A friend of mine, a contractor, did a customer a favor and quickly hopped up on a chair to hang a bookshelf. If the top of the case is used to hang it from the wall its joints bear ALL the weight of the entire unit plus items placed there. Be very precise and measure exactly to the center of the slot. Wooden shelving units can be quite heavy, especially if they are large and long, so it is important that the unit isfirmly supported. Even a short levelor using that level app on your phoneis better than no level at all. Many stud finders also have sensors to detect electrical currents, which youll definitely want to know about before you start drilling. I don't know what I was thinking. Don't stand on your couch or a chairuse a ladder or a step stool. If you dont have a drill, SnapSkru Self-Drilling Drywall Anchor does just what the name implies, installs without the need of a drill. Our project uses a #6-32 screw that's 2 3/8 inches long, which is a perfect fit for the keyhole brackets on our shelf. They allow you to hang items without the use of a stud in hollow materials like drywall, and give much more support when used in solid material. Of course, a stud is not necessary for all shelving systems. Finally, is this a place you rent or own? These can be found on each individual product package, as well as on the, SNAPTOGGLE Heavy-Duty Toggle Bolt Carbon Steel, SNAPTOGGLE Heavy-Duty Toggle Bolt Stainless Steel, Standard Wing Toggle (Standard Toggle Bolt), Self-Drilling Drywall Anchor Zamac Alloy, Dovetail Triangular Veneer Anchor (103-C), Helix Spiral - SS Remedial Tie (391) - HELIFIX, Pintle Wire Ties for ThermalClip (282-N), POWER-sert Adhesive Insert Anchor Zinc Plated Carbon Steel, POWER-sert Adhesive Insert Anchor Type 316 Stainless Steel, POWER-sert Adhesive Insert Anchor Type 304 Stainless Steel, Spline Drill Bit [Includes 6 & 2 Cutting Edge Drill Bits]. I used a cheap stud finder and my guy and I both thought it must be broken because it kept giving us inconsistent readings. Don't take shortcuts here unless you're willing to see a whole shelving unit full of glassware hit the floor. But really, it wasn't too bad. It can hold up to 171 pounds in thick walls. Ok I'm back at it. Place a carpenter's level on the shelf to ensure the shelf is exactly level. Things are going great with sis & time she walked yesterday she said how nice everything looked! Those newish WallClaw anchors that say they hold 90 lbs each in 1/2 inch drywall? Grrrrrr !! When I opened up the wall last night I found out why -- there's a conduit or pipe in there in one spot, and for some reason whoever built the wall offset the studs so they're in one place at the top of the wall, another place at the bottom of the wall and there's also a short horizontal stud (not where I need it, alas). If there are no studs, cut out a section of drywall and install some blocking to screw into. Roy Berendsohn has worked for more than 25 years at Popular Mechanics, where he has written on carpentry, masonry, painting, plumbing, electrical, woodworking, blacksmithing, welding, lawn care, chainsaw use, and outdoor power equipment. On the wall, measure down from the shelf outline and mark a point matching this distance. Note: If you are using drywall anchors that need to be screwed in, you likely do not need to drill a pilot hole for them and can skip to step 5. Then transfer the tape to your level line and you'll be all set for the next step. Some types of hollow-wall anchors have pointed tips that can simply be pounded through drywall, but we will be drilling pilots holes to avoid the possibility of wall damage. Have a fun day and be safe! For many of these anchors, you have to insert the screw to ensure the anchor is properly placed. They recommended those little plastic screw anchors. Once each screw is fully tightened, back them out so the heads extend out1/8 inchto 1/4 inch. Once these are marked up, put your goggles on (safety first!) On the wall anchor reference line you just drew on the wall, measure in from the side outline a distance exactly equal to this measurement, and make a mark. Instead, get a good quality wood screw, such as those by GRK and Spax. If the sides are attached the weight is spread over multiple joints. Most walls in your home are probably made of drywall, which unfortunately are not designed to support heavy items like shelves, coat racks, mirrors and most other wall essentials. This step is perhaps the most critical one: making sure the anchor for the second hanger bracket is spaced perfectly in relation to the first anchor. So we are off today to the pottery store and outlets - i bet we find some great stuff. What is the relationship between casings and base moulding? First, you'll need to positionthe shelf on the wall. Tighten the anchor screw fully, allowing the expanded metal frame behind the wall surfaceto expand and draw up tight against the back of the wall. Some items are easy to put up with a simple nail like a small picture frame, but if youre putting up solid oak floating shelves to display your inherited porcelain, you better make sure youre hanging things properly. Let me repeat -- DO NOT USE FOAM-BACKED VINYL. With that in mind, don't even think of using lags or deck construction screws. If you have not attached your object with a screw yet, do that following the installation instructions of the bracket youre using. Unless the wall screws are installed precisely, the shelving unit won't fit correctly. And I can just use 2x4 and nail them in at an angle, like toe-nailing? The article below might be of interest. A dozen mugs size maybe. Installing this heavy duty drywall anchor is a simple and quick one-person job, and the only tool youll need is a drill to create the initial hole. We've also used 4x8 sheets of vinyl at Home Depot, cut to lay on top of the shelves. Possibly more talking needed, you think? Bob Formisano is a licensed architect and builder with nearly 40 years of experience building new homes and restoring older homes. These are overkill and increase the chances of doing real damage. The uprights are fastened to the wall, and each shelf depends on the uprights without being otherwise connected to the other shelves. OK, that makes complete sense. Ignore it at your peril. If you dont need as heavy duty of a solution. Here is a link that might be useful: Varde wall shelf. ". Not sure I would load those shelves heavily no matter how the unit was hung. Outdoor vs. Indoor Pool What is Best Homeowners Guide on Electrical Wiring and Panel Upgrade. (They're pretty small shelves. We finished up with the police snd headed to the consignment store :) . On the wall anchor reference line, measure from the first wall anchor location and make a second mark on the reference line, so that the distance between the marks exactly matches the measurement you just made between the keyhole brackets on the shelf unit. Which Varde product do you have? While all of these high performance anchors are made to last and provide a strong hold, they all have their weight limitations. He fell backward and injured his back. This is my first time mudding, so we'll see how it turns out. I couldn't fit a stack of dinner plates on them if I wanted to.). Possibly because I could not find any long shower liners at the time. Now put the shelf against the wall again and drive in the screws so they are countersunk about 1/8" or more. It feels really nice in person. You should have asked this question in Home Repair or Remodeling, but the correct way to attach a crossmember( I believe>to studs is by nailing. Next, decide how long a screw you will need to hang the shelf (thickness of the shelf plus the drywall plus depth into the crossmember you installed. Place it between the two holes on the back of the shelf you are hanging and mark the location of the two openings. I know perfectly well that wall is exactly 30" long, nowhere near 5'. When utilizing your new, sturdy shelves, be wary of the TOGGLER product that you used. Then level the bookshelf and drive a second screw. Select the appropriate size drill bit for the wall anchor used. The most difficult part of hanging such a shelving unit is getting the position of the hanger screws exactly correct. So what do I do? Enlist the aid of a helper to hold the shelf in position against the wall as you eyeball its location. This plastic wall anchor provides a stronger hold than most metal anchors, and the ALLIGATOR anchor is weather-resistant and rust proof. By the way you might like to take a picture of what's in the wall while it's open, with a ruler in the picture, to help assess where everything is for future reference. SNAPTOGGLE Heavy-Duty Toggle Bolts hold up to 356 pounds in drywall and 238 pounds in 12 drywall. If your shelves are heavy or you plan on using them to hold a heavy object, installing the shelving into studs will provide optimal holding power. Now screw the screws in the shelf so about 1/8" protrudes. hollow-wall anchors with #6-32 screws, 2 3/8 inches long. Called a hanging rail, this horizontal piece greatly improves the load-bearing ability of the shelf. Hanging shelves doesnt have to be a daunting task. Maybe paint thinner, turpentine or kerosene will work without ruining the paint ?? Remember, try to use as many studs as possible for your screws, and if possible have the middle of the item secured by a stud. Measure and Mark the First Wall Anchor Location, Measure the Distance Between Hanger Brackets, The Different Types of Hollow Wall and Drywall Anchors and Their Uses, Here's How to Make Your Own DIY Industrial Shelves, How to Build a Simple Bookshelf Using Melamine-Coated Boards, Easy Steps for Installing a Built-In Microwave. I've been wanting to repaint the kitchen so having to paint over the new drywall will be a good excuse to start that. As far as assessing the strength of your shelves, they may still have limitations, especially if they are built of softwood. P.S. I have a hard time visualizing how that could be true for this particular shelf -- have you looked at the pic? This is the method demonstrated in our example. TOGGLER has quite a few options for hollow materials that dont skimp on strength. You probably have been putting off hanging those shelves for awhile now. Since discovering them several years ago, we've become big fans of Toggler Alligator All-Purpose Wall Anchors, the company's Plastic Toggle and its famous SnapToggle. 1 shelf, 2 shelf, wood shelf, blue shelf? Since you have used screws already, I think you would be OK. Next, you decide how high the bottom of your shelf will be and using a level make a horizontal line across your new drywall even with the bottom of the shelf. Physicists May Have Created a New State of Matter, Earth Just Experienced Its Shortest Day Ever, Amaze Your Friends With This DIY Potato Cannon, The War in Ukraine Is Elevating New Military Tech. The screw should be deep enough to go through the back or hanging rail (see below), the drywall or plaster, and about 1 inch into the wood stud. Michael is a contributor to the HomeStars blog. Using drywall screws, for instance, is a bad idea. The same tenant used it for 22 years and it still looked ok when she moved. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, How To Build a Low Sawhorse for Your Workshop, Create a Backyard Oasis With a DIY Stock Tank Pool, 15 Woodworking Projects for Every Skill Level. Learn about off-the-shelf, prefab and custom sheds, Can't find just the right table, shelf, desk or what have you? How we test gear. Thank you. *Costs based on 2093 verified Canadian homeowner reviews as of March 2022. I'm still not clear on whether I should use nails or long wood screws, but in the absence of definite information I'll use screws to be on the safe side.