Hello everyone,
I am planning to mount some sizable and heavy Malm furniture from IKEA on a drywall (plasterboard) wall. Since the furniture is quite large and heavy, I want to be sure how to securely and permanently attach it to drywall panels without damaging either the wall or the furniture. Specifically, I am interested in which anchors or fastening methods are recommended, whether any special precautions are necessary, and if additional reinforcements might be required. I would greatly appreciate practical advice based on experience as well as recommendations for suitable products!
I am planning to mount some sizable and heavy Malm furniture from IKEA on a drywall (plasterboard) wall. Since the furniture is quite large and heavy, I want to be sure how to securely and permanently attach it to drywall panels without damaging either the wall or the furniture. Specifically, I am interested in which anchors or fastening methods are recommended, whether any special precautions are necessary, and if additional reinforcements might be required. I would greatly appreciate practical advice based on experience as well as recommendations for suitable products!
Hello GAROSO,
There are some important points to consider for securely mounting your Malm furniture on drywall (gypsum board).
First of all, the load-bearing capacity of drywall walls is limited due to the material. Standard hollow wall anchors that grip only the gypsum board often are not sufficient for heavy furniture. It is crucial to either use special heavy-duty hollow wall anchors (e.g., metal toggle bolts or so-called "Molly bolts") or attach the furniture to a supporting substructure (e.g., wooden studs behind the drywall).
Step 1: Check if there is a wooden or metal stud wall (e.g., metal framing) behind the drywall. If so, you should screw directly into these studs because they can bear the weight much better.
Step 2: If no load-bearing studs are present at suitable positions, use heavy-duty hollow wall anchors. The common nylon anchors usually are not strong enough for Malm furniture, especially when the furniture is loaded.
Step 3: Choose screws and anchors appropriate for the wall thickness and the weight of the furniture. Use as long screws as possible so the anchor can grip optimally.
Step 4: Distribute the fixing points sensibly and secure the furniture so that the weight is spread evenly across multiple anchors.
You might want to provide the exact furniture weight and wall thickness, so the recommendations can be adjusted more precisely. What exactly is your situation, how heavy is the furniture, and what is the exact thickness of your drywall?
There are some important points to consider for securely mounting your Malm furniture on drywall (gypsum board).
First of all, the load-bearing capacity of drywall walls is limited due to the material. Standard hollow wall anchors that grip only the gypsum board often are not sufficient for heavy furniture. It is crucial to either use special heavy-duty hollow wall anchors (e.g., metal toggle bolts or so-called "Molly bolts") or attach the furniture to a supporting substructure (e.g., wooden studs behind the drywall).
Step 1: Check if there is a wooden or metal stud wall (e.g., metal framing) behind the drywall. If so, you should screw directly into these studs because they can bear the weight much better.
Step 2: If no load-bearing studs are present at suitable positions, use heavy-duty hollow wall anchors. The common nylon anchors usually are not strong enough for Malm furniture, especially when the furniture is loaded.
Step 3: Choose screws and anchors appropriate for the wall thickness and the weight of the furniture. Use as long screws as possible so the anchor can grip optimally.
Step 4: Distribute the fixing points sensibly and secure the furniture so that the weight is spread evenly across multiple anchors.
You might want to provide the exact furniture weight and wall thickness, so the recommendations can be adjusted more precisely. What exactly is your situation, how heavy is the furniture, and what is the exact thickness of your drywall?
Hey GAROSO, great question! 🙂
A few months ago, I mounted Malm dressers on drywall, and it worked perfectly – as long as you use the right anchors! 🙂 I definitely recommend metal molly bolts; they are really effective and can hold very heavy loads!
The most important thing: first, use a small metal detector to check if there’s a stud behind the wall, as it holds everything much better!
You can do it – and if you want to be on the safe side, use more anchors rather than fewer.
Good luck!
A few months ago, I mounted Malm dressers on drywall, and it worked perfectly – as long as you use the right anchors! 🙂 I definitely recommend metal molly bolts; they are really effective and can hold very heavy loads!
The most important thing: first, use a small metal detector to check if there’s a stud behind the wall, as it holds everything much better!
You can do it – and if you want to be on the safe side, use more anchors rather than fewer.
Good luck!
TUELBA schrieb:
If necessary, also ask about the furniture weight and wall thickness, so the recommendations can be more accurately adjusted.Thanks for the detailed feedback! The Malm dressers weigh about 60 kg (132 lbs) in total. The wall is covered with 12.5 mm (0.5 inch) drywall panels, and behind that are metal studs, but I’m not sure if the studs line up exactly at the fastening points.
What is the best way to check if there is a metal stud directly behind the spot where I want to place the screws? Is there a simple method or special tool for this? Or can I still rely on toggle bolts (Molly bolts), even if the studs might not be precisely in the right place?
Hello GAROSO,
to accurately locate metal or wooden studs behind drywall panels, the best option is an electronic stud finder that can also detect metal. These devices are available at hardware stores or online and precisely indicate the position of metal profiles.
If you don’t have such a device on hand, you can carefully test with a thin drill bit in an inconspicuous spot. If you hit metal, you have found the stud.
If the mounting points are not aligned along a stud, you can still use several high-quality metal hollow wall anchors. These expand inside the cavity of the drywall and provide secure support.
When installing, make sure that the anchors can bear the specified load (check the maximum weight per anchor listed at purchase) and avoid point loads.
It is best to use at least four mounting points to better distribute the load.
to accurately locate metal or wooden studs behind drywall panels, the best option is an electronic stud finder that can also detect metal. These devices are available at hardware stores or online and precisely indicate the position of metal profiles.
If you don’t have such a device on hand, you can carefully test with a thin drill bit in an inconspicuous spot. If you hit metal, you have found the stud.
If the mounting points are not aligned along a stud, you can still use several high-quality metal hollow wall anchors. These expand inside the cavity of the drywall and provide secure support.
When installing, make sure that the anchors can bear the specified load (check the maximum weight per anchor listed at purchase) and avoid point loads.
It is best to use at least four mounting points to better distribute the load.
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