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

Sincolton schrieb:
Are there any experiences regarding how easy or complicated the installation of chemical anchors is?

Yes, I can answer that for you. For chemical anchors, you usually need a drill with a hammer function and an appropriate core drill bit. It is important to thoroughly remove the dust from the hole—sometimes using a small round brush and compressed air—to ensure the resin adheres properly.

Then, you apply the resin cartridge with a dispensing gun, which takes some practice. The cartridges are well labeled, and short instructions from manufacturers online often help.

The big advantage is that this type of fastening is extremely strong and durable—already very reliable right after the first installation. However, it is hardly removable without residue, since the resin hardens inside the hole and can cause some damage to the masonry when removing the anchor.

So, it’s definitely excellent for long-term installations, but if you move regularly, it’s better to use conventional anchors and screws.

Mariah schrieb:
just a quick tip: if you don’t have a really secure hold in cavities or thinner areas, so-called heavy-duty anchors or chemical anchors can help

@Mariah: I agree, but I would like to add that heavy-duty anchors or chemical anchors also carry some risks. Before using them, you should definitely check how deep the cavity is and whether the load is distributed so that there is no point load that could cause the masonry to crack.

Additionally, I think it is important to carefully assess the shelf’s structural stability: you shouldn’t rely solely on the anchors to support an overloaded Billy shelf; the wall must also be able to handle the tensile forces.

For older walls, I always recommend, when in doubt, distributing the load with additional fixings to the floor or ceiling.

Mounting only to the wall is not always sustainable, especially if there is no solid wall surface.

Sincolton schrieb:
Are there any special fasteners or methods that are particularly recommended for old building walls?

I think it’s great that you’re putting so much thought into this! Old buildings can be really tricky—I’ve lost shelves myself because I underestimated the situation. My advice: take it step by step and test your fastening with a light load before fully loading everything.

Also, the tip about using brackets is very helpful, just as Mariah mentioned—I secured my Billy bookshelf additionally at the bottom with metal brackets to prevent tipping. That provides an extra layer of safety.

And don’t worry: if you drill properly, use the right anchors, and distribute the load, everything will work out fine. 🙂 Good luck with your project!