Our shelf supports come with plastic wall plugs and the correct length screws for these. Also a handy pencil lead for marking the holes. To install the shelving we recommend following these steps.
You will need a drill suitable for masonry, such as an SDS or drill with a masonry hammer setting. Use the correct size drill bit for the plugs.
- Work out where you want your first support to be positioned on the wall, and while holding it up, use the pencil lead to lightly mark the position of one of the screw holes.
- Put the support to one side and use a drill to drill the correct sized hole, neatly at the point you have marked. Drill to a depth that is at least the length of the plastic plug.
- Blow into the hole to clean out as much debris as you can, then push the plastic plug into the hole until it is flush to the wall.
- You can now attach the wooden support using a screw to this single point. Use a spirit level to make sure it is vertical, and mark the remaining holes.
- Remove the support and follow the same process to drill the remaining holes and fit the plugs. Re-attach the support using all the screws.
- You can now fit a couple of shelves to the first support and use them to help position the second support, with a level to check the shelves are horizontal.
- Mark the hole positions for the second support, then drill them and fit the plugs. Once attached you are finished and can try out the shelves.
Other tips
Fitting the plugs correctly is important and requires skill and patience. Problems can be encountered depending on the state or composition of the wall.
- If the wall is slightly unstable and you find the drill holes end up too big, try using a smaller diameter drill bit.
- You can call also try cutting up a wall plug to “pack” another plug, in order to make it a tighter fit.
- Drill slowly and carefully, and try to keep everything as neat as possible.
- Longer wall plugs and screws may work as they can reach the solid material behind the plaster.
- Bigger diameter wall plugs may also work though they usually come with bigger screws – ensure they will fit through the bracket holes.
- Plasterboard plugs are bigger and are designed to grip into the cavity behind plasterboard – try these if there is an obvious cavity.
- Resin products allow you to bond plugs into the wall and are more specialised – consult a builder if in any doubt. When there’s a will there’s a way!
