ᐅ KALLAX Wall Cabinet – Which Anchor to Use in an Older Building?

Hello everyone, I am planning to install a KALLAX wall cabinet for storage in my living room in an older apartment. Since the walls are made of old masonry, I am unsure which anchors are best suited for mounting. The wall is unfortunately not very even, and the material behind it is probably brick with partially crumbly plaster. Could anyone recommend which anchors – for example, expansion anchors, hollow wall anchors, or special anchors for older buildings – hold best here and ensure a secure installation? I want to avoid the cabinet falling down at some point because the anchor didn’t hold. Thanks for your tips and experiences!

sonmar schrieb:
Which anchors – for example expansion anchors, cavity anchors, or special old building anchors – hold best here and ensure a secure installation?

Hey, I completely understand why this makes you feel uncertain. I had a similar problem last year with my old building walls, which were just as crumbly. In my case, so-called chemical anchors or injection anchors proved to be the solution. They work great in crumbly or porous materials because they don’t just hold mechanically but distribute the load through a cured resin compound.

However, they are a bit more expensive and the installation requires a steady hand and good preparation – especially a clean drill hole. If you don’t want to do much drilling and the cabinet isn’t too heavy, a large expansion anchor combined with pre-drilling might work. But for safety and a long-term solution, chemical anchors are my recommendation. Hope this helps!

I often find the whole discussion about anchors in old buildings a bit exaggerated. Most people just grab the first all-purpose anchor they find because nobody wants to take the time to really consider the structure.

sonmar schrieb:
I want to avoid the cabinet falling down someday because the anchor doesn’t hold.

That’s understandable, of course, but I would argue that a KALLAX, when normally loaded, is not exactly the ultimate stress test for a wall mounting.

My advice: thoroughly check the wall substrate, drill carefully, and use solid metal expansion anchors or, even better, if the material is really crumbly, use nylon cavity anchors. They often hold better than you might expect—without any chemical additives.

In general: don’t overthink it and just give it a try. 😉 P.S. Who really needs bomb-proof fixings if the furniture is relatively light anyway?

semuneo schrieb:
chemical anchors or injection anchors as a solution for crumbling or porous materials

Good morning, I would like to add and clarify: For older brick walls with crumbly plaster, it is generally advisable to drill out to the stable substrate, meaning the solid brick. There, you should install either high-quality nylon expansion anchors or—depending on the load—chemical anchors with resin.

Cavity anchors are not suitable here, as they are designed for hollow spaces, which usually do not occur in typical older brick walls.

With proper preparation, chemical anchors provide excellent load distribution and high holding strength—especially for heavy KALLAX cabinet constructions.

It is important to thoroughly clean the drill holes (dust-free with compressed air or a brush) to ensure optimal adhesive bonding.

If the plaster is crumbling, it should be removed before installation to guarantee a stable anchorage.

I also recommend choosing the anchor length so that the anchor is embedded at least 50–60 cm (20–24 inches) into the masonry to ensure maximum holding power.

sonmar schrieb:
Unfortunately, the wall is not very even and the material behind it is probably brick with partially crumbly plaster.

Hello,
I would recommend thoroughly checking whether the plaster directly behind the mounting point is still load-bearing before installation. If it is not, carefully remove the plaster so you are directly on the brick.

For the installation, use nylon expansion anchors of sufficient length (at least 60 mm (2.4 inches)) that will hold securely in the brick. Alternatively, you can use toggle bolts if you encounter any cavities.

In addition, I suggest using a spirit level or a leveling tool to align the KALLAX, and to fix the cabinet only lightly before final mounting. Load it gradually only after you have confirmed its stability.

Good luck, and feel free to reach out again when you have specific dimensions and weight!