ᐅ How can I securely mount BILLY shelves on walls in older buildings?
Created on: 29 Aug 2019 08:17
H
Holger40Hello everyone,
I am planning to securely mount several IKEA Billy bookshelves on the walls of my older building. The walls are made of thick, older masonry, partly covered with plaster, and I am concerned that standard wall plugs might not provide sufficient support.
Does anyone have experience with which fixing methods and types of anchors work best for older masonry walls? Are there any specific tips or tricks to ensure the shelves hold securely and permanently, even if heavier books will be stored on them?
Thanks in advance for any advice and recommendations!
I am planning to securely mount several IKEA Billy bookshelves on the walls of my older building. The walls are made of thick, older masonry, partly covered with plaster, and I am concerned that standard wall plugs might not provide sufficient support.
Does anyone have experience with which fixing methods and types of anchors work best for older masonry walls? Are there any specific tips or tricks to ensure the shelves hold securely and permanently, even if heavier books will be stored on them?
Thanks in advance for any advice and recommendations!
Hello Holger40,
For older walls, it is often recommended to use heavy-duty metal anchors, such as bolt anchors or special masonry anchors designed for porous materials.
Since BILLY shelves can hold a considerable amount of weight, it is important to anchor the fasteners into the load-bearing part of your wall, meaning the masonry core, and not just the plaster. With a good hammer drill, you can drill the hole deep enough.
This is especially true for gypsum plaster, which is not load-bearing. Also, make sure to use screws that match the length and thickness of the anchors.
Additionally, it can be helpful to secure the shelf at multiple points to better distribute the load.
For older walls, it is often recommended to use heavy-duty metal anchors, such as bolt anchors or special masonry anchors designed for porous materials.
Since BILLY shelves can hold a considerable amount of weight, it is important to anchor the fasteners into the load-bearing part of your wall, meaning the masonry core, and not just the plaster. With a good hammer drill, you can drill the hole deep enough.
Holger40 schrieb:
normal anchors do not provide sufficient support
This is especially true for gypsum plaster, which is not load-bearing. Also, make sure to use screws that match the length and thickness of the anchors.
Additionally, it can be helpful to secure the shelf at multiple points to better distribute the load.
In older walls, it is best to use special cavity or masonry anchors. Pre-drill holes and choose plugs suitable for the material. Metal anchors are more durable than plastic ones. Use screws that match the size of the plugs. Anchor multiple points to ensure stability and avoid any wobbling.
Hello Holger40,
I understand that securing fixtures in older walls often causes uncertainty, especially with shelves meant to carry a significant load. I had similar concerns when I mounted my BILLY shelves on an old brick wall.
That advice helped me a lot. Using 3–4 fixing points per shelf worked well for me, so I no longer worried about the shelf falling down.
If you are drilling into this type of wall for the first time, it can be a bit tricky to position the hole correctly. Don’t be too afraid of making the hole too small; instead, measure carefully. Personally, I found it especially helpful to use metal anchors for heavy loads.
I wish you the best of luck and hope the shelf holds securely. 🙂
I understand that securing fixtures in older walls often causes uncertainty, especially with shelves meant to carry a significant load. I had similar concerns when I mounted my BILLY shelves on an old brick wall.
LUSAR schrieb:
Fix the shelf at multiple points to better distribute the load
That advice helped me a lot. Using 3–4 fixing points per shelf worked well for me, so I no longer worried about the shelf falling down.
If you are drilling into this type of wall for the first time, it can be a bit tricky to position the hole correctly. Don’t be too afraid of making the hole too small; instead, measure carefully. Personally, I found it especially helpful to use metal anchors for heavy loads.
I wish you the best of luck and hope the shelf holds securely. 🙂
In addition to the previous recommendations: For old building walls made of sand-lime bricks or clay bricks, I recommend metal expansion anchors (such as Fischer DuoPower Metal) or even chemical injection anchors, if the setup allows.
The main advantage of chemical anchors is that they provide high pull-out strength even in porous stone or irregular wall structures. However, they are somewhat more complex to install and require a special injection cartridge.
That is correct. Metal anchors are often more reliable in older buildings because the material itself may not adhere well, especially with older plaster or uneven wall surfaces.
It is also advisable to use a deep drill bit and a rotary hammer to avoid damaging the masonry and to place the hole precisely in the right spot.
If you can provide more detailed information about the wall material (e.g., brick, natural stone, rubble stone), the recommendation can be further refined.
The main advantage of chemical anchors is that they provide high pull-out strength even in porous stone or irregular wall structures. However, they are somewhat more complex to install and require a special injection cartridge.
kla65 schrieb:
Metal is more stable than plastic
That is correct. Metal anchors are often more reliable in older buildings because the material itself may not adhere well, especially with older plaster or uneven wall surfaces.
It is also advisable to use a deep drill bit and a rotary hammer to avoid damaging the masonry and to place the hole precisely in the right spot.
If you can provide more detailed information about the wall material (e.g., brick, natural stone, rubble stone), the recommendation can be further refined.
vinli schrieb:
If you can provide more precise information about the wall material (e.g., brick, natural stone, rubble stone), the recommendation can be fine-tuned further.Thank you for the note, vinli. My walls are mostly made of solid bricks with a gypsum plaster about 1.5 cm (0.6 inches) thick.
LUSAR schrieb:
insert the anchors into the load-bearing part of your wall, that is, the masonry core, and not just in the plasterThat makes sense — so I need to drill through the plaster and anchor the plugs in the brick.
Can anyone provide tips on drill hole size and the maximum load capacity of the fasteners, especially for BILLY shelves? I plan to stock the shelves well with books, so I need to consider a certain weight.
Thanks very much for the input so far!
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