ᐅ How do I mount Billy shelves on walls in older buildings?

Hello everyone,

I have a somewhat specific question: How do I mount Billy shelves on old building walls, which are usually made of old bricks or sometimes clay plaster? I am aware that standard wall plugs and screws often do not hold well in these materials. Since I am looking for a secure solution not only for safety reasons but also for the stability of the shelves, I would like to know what options are available to properly and permanently fix these shelves without causing excessive damage to the walls. Are there special wall plugs or techniques particularly suitable for old building walls? I would also appreciate tips on how to deal with thick layers of plaster or whether it is better to attach the shelves entirely to the ceiling or to a wooden batten structure.

Thank you very much in advance!

The critical issue with old building walls is often the porous or crumbly masonry. Standard plastic anchors usually fail. I recommend using special expanding anchors designed for old bricks or hollow wall anchors, but only if the wall is truly hollow behind.

A proven alternative is mechanical anchoring with drive anchors or metal anchors that secure into solid material. If the bricks are very fragile, it is advisable to use a suitable injection resin (epoxy resin) before screwing.

Mounting on a substructure made of wooden battens, which are anchored to the wall, is also a good option. In this case, the anchors can achieve greater stability.

Be sure to pay attention to the drill hole profile: remove enough dust, drill correctly, and do not underestimate the depth!

Use special brick cavity anchors or cordless screws with an expansion function.

Blow out dust from the drill hole beforehand to ensure better adhesion.

If the material is very porous, it is better to additionally reinforce with wooden battens.

Minjo48 schrieb:
How do I attach Billy shelves to older walls, which are mostly made of old bricks or sometimes clay plaster?

This is a very good question because older walls often require considerable preparation. I have structured the answer into three sections:

1. Material assessment: First, you should carefully evaluate the wall – is it solid brick, hollow brick, clay plaster, or a combination? This determines the suitable fixing method. A simple test with a chisel can help check the consistency.

2. Fixing materials: For solid brick, hammer anchors or metal expansion anchors are recommended. For hollow bricks, special cavity metal anchors or chemical injection anchors are safest, as they securely anchor inside the wall. For clay plaster, the load-bearing capacity should be tested separately – often, additional timber framing helps because the plaster alone provides little support.

3. Installation and handling: It is important to drill cleanly using the appropriate drill bit (masonry bit) and remove drilling dust by vacuuming or blowing it out. Injection resins increase holding strength but require skillful application.

Finally: If you plan very heavy loads (e.g., many books), attaching a wooden battens framework is advisable – you can then fix this repeatedly to solid points and anchor the shelf to it.

I hope this structured approach helps you!

Wow, I think this topic is great! I secured my Billy bookcases in an older building last year and want to share my experience!

blapau schrieb:
A proven alternative is mechanical anchoring with expansion anchors or metal wall plugs

That’s exactly what I did: In my apartment, the walls are made of porous solid brick, so I used expansion anchors that hold very securely. Tip: Make sure to blow out the drill holes thoroughly.

Guyju schrieb:
If you are planning very heavy loads ... connect with a wooden batten

I did that as an addition because I didn’t want to risk the shelves tipping over eventually. I fixed wooden battens to the wall and then attached the shelves to them. It also looks good and allows for some adjustment afterwards.

So: Go for it—with the right preparation, it works perfectly! 🙂