ᐅ How can BILLY shelves be securely mounted to the wall in older buildings?

Created on: 20 Feb 2019 18:03
F
Fuson
Hello everyone, I have a question about securely mounting Billy shelves on walls in older buildings. Most walls here often consist of crumbling plaster and sometimes very old stone or brick structures. Which installation solutions are recommended for such substrates to ensure a strong and durable fixation? I want to avoid the shelves slipping over time due to the wrong anchors or screws. Which special anchors or mounting methods have worked well for you when dealing with uneven or porous walls in older buildings? Thanks for your tips and experiences!
J
JUHAU
21 Feb 2019 16:52
If there are loose plaster spots, they should always be removed. Directly installing anchors is only possible on solid material. An alternative is injection mortar, which ensures the anchors hold firmly. Otherwise, I would recommend using wide-area fixings rather than just point loads.
E
Ethan
22 Feb 2019 08:08
Hello Fuson, I did the following with my BILLY shelves in an older building: First, I removed the plaster at the points where the shelves would be fixed, down to the bare masonry. Then I drilled with a rotary hammer to ensure a secure hold in the wall. For the anchors, I used Fischer universal wall plugs, which I can recommend as an all-around option due to their smart design. Important: Do not tighten the screws too much to avoid damaging the old masonry. I also made sure that the shelf was fixed at least four points to distribute the load.
T
TANBLA
22 Feb 2019 09:30
Ethan schrieb:
Important: Do not overtighten the screws to avoid damaging the old masonry.\

This is a very important point. I once overtightened screws on a shelving unit in an older building – this can easily cause cracks. It’s better to screw in gently and, if necessary, use threadlocker to prevent the screws from loosening.
J
JEREMIAH38
22 Feb 2019 14:45
From my own experience, I know how uncertain you can feel when your home is older and you’re worried that a new shelf might eventually fall down. That’s why it’s great that so many tips are shared here. For me, it was helpful to first test the shelf with a lighter load and regularly check if anything was loosening. My advice: take your time with the preparation and, above all, ensure solid mounting surfaces; this greatly reduces the risk of accidents.
B
botibo
22 Feb 2019 15:52
JEREMIAH38 schrieb:
Take your time with the preparation and make sure you have solid substrates, then the chance of accidents is very low.
Absolutely! Preparation is half the shelving ;-) And don’t be afraid of a bit of work, it’s definitely worth it. Good luck with your project and remember: a shelf that’s securely mounted will bring you more satisfaction than a quick fix! 🙂