ᐅ What is the safest way to secure BILLY shelves to walls in older buildings?

Hello everyone,

I am planning to install several IKEA Billy bookcases in my older apartment, but I am unsure about the safest way to fix them to the walls. The walls are made of old masonry, partly covered with plaster, and in some areas somewhat crumbly.

My specific question is: Which wall plugs and screws are best suited for mounting Billy bookcases on these types of older masonry walls, and what should I particularly keep in mind when pre-drilling and installing the shelves to ensure the highest possible load-bearing capacity and safety?

I want the shelves to hold securely without damaging the wall due to excessive load or causing the plugs to loosen.

I would also appreciate tips on tools, installation procedures, or the correct positioning of the shelves. Thanks in advance for your expertise!

For old masonry walls, impact anchors or heavy-duty anchors are usually recommended. It is best to pre-drill with a masonry drill bit, insert the anchor, and then tighten with appropriate screws. Keep the distance between anchors reasonably small to distribute the load effectively.

For older walls, which often consist of brick or calcium silicate blocks, it is recommended to use expansion anchors or specialized hollow wall anchors if part of the masonry is unstable.

Before drilling, use an appropriate drill bit (usually a masonry bit with a diameter of 6-8mm (0.24-0.31 inches)). It is important to match the size of the anchor to the screws and the weight of the shelves.

Alternatively, chemical anchors (injection mortar) provide a very secure option, especially for porous or crumbly substrates. This ensures a strong connection but the installation process is more complex.

BARSAN schrieb:
Keep the distance between the anchors small to distribute the load properly.

Exactly, that’s really important! I attached my BILLY shelves to an old wall using heavy-duty anchors, and I’m really happy with them. 🙂 They hold very well, and I feel secure—no wobbling or anything!

I would advise you not to be stingy with the number of anchors. It’s better to spread out multiple smaller load points than have just a few large ones.

Good luck, you’ll manage it!

Hello erayko,

I can fully support the suggestions regarding the use of heavy-duty or chemical anchors. Additionally, I recommend checking the wall consistency beforehand by gently tapping or making a test hole to assess the stability.

When drilling, make sure to clean the drill holes thoroughly from dust – this significantly improves the adhesion of the anchors. For chemical anchors, you should follow the manufacturer’s instructions precisely, especially regarding curing times.

Another tip: position the shelves so that the loads are as close to the wall as possible, minimizing leverage effects.

If you plan to store heavy books or objects, it is advisable to install additional supports or brackets underneath the shelves.

pikin schrieb:
Alternatively, chemical anchors (injection mortar) are a very reliable option, especially for porous or crumbly substrates.

Thanks for the tip about chemical anchors; that sounds interesting. Do these have any drawbacks regarding later removal or adjustability of the shelves?

I imagine the installation might be a bit more complicated, and I might need special tools.

Also, how do expansion anchors compare to standard nylon expansion plugs? Is the investment worth it?

Looking forward to additional advice before I buy the materials.