ᐅ Which anchors are best for mounting Ikea Besta units on challenging wall types?

Hello everyone,

I am planning to install an Ikea Besta shelf in my apartment, but I have challenging wall conditions: the walls are old, with partly crumbly plaster over brick masonry, and I am unsure which anchors would be best to securely and permanently fix the shelf.

My main concern is reliable load bearing, as the Besta is supposed to hold quite a few kilos, and I want to avoid any risk of it coming loose.

Which anchors do you recommend for this type of wall – crumbly plaster with a brick background? Any tips on installation or special precautions are also welcome.

Important: I want to avoid large holes or complicated specialist solutions and am looking for a practical and safe solution suitable for DIY use.

Thanks in advance for your advice!

In general, for crumbly walls, you should choose anchors that distribute the load over a larger area and are not solely dependent on the wall surface.

For brick walls with unreliable plaster, the following is recommended:
- Avoid expansion anchors with a larger diameter, as the crumbly plaster cannot hold them securely.
- Instead, chemical anchors or injection mortar are advisable. These fill the drill hole completely and cure to form a strong bond, providing good support even in porous materials.
- As an alternative, heavy-duty anchors with an expansion mechanism in the base material (brick) can be used, but only if the plaster is carefully removed before drilling.

For DIY applications, 8 mm (5/16 inch) chemical anchors are often practical. It is important to apply sufficient tightening torque during installation, although this method is more time-consuming than using simple anchors.

If you want to avoid anchors altogether, consider using a substructure secured to more solid parts of the wall.

In summary, for difficult substrates, I generally recommend chemical anchors or specialized heavy-duty anchors.

Hello laleo,

I fully agree with Donar’s explanations and would like to add a few practical tips.

With crumbly plaster, it is especially important to completely remove the plaster around the drilling point. Only then can you access solid brick or masonry directly. The following types of anchors work well:

- Nylon expansion anchors for stable substrates, but only if the plaster is really firm
- Metal anchors with a screw mechanism, especially for hollow or porous walls
- Chemical anchors based on polyester, which you apply using a special gun

Be careful with chemical anchors: read the instructions carefully regarding curing times! For an Ikea Besta shelf, which will bear a considerable load, they are a very good choice. The load-bearing bond forms only once the adhesive has fully cured.

For the installation itself, I recommend:
- Drill hole at least 1 cm (0.4 inches) deeper than the anchor length
- Clean the drill hole (blow out and brush)
- Position the anchor correctly; do not use holes that are too small

If you prefer not to use chemical anchors, heavy-duty anchors with a large metal core are an alternative.

I hope this helps you — feel free to ask if you have any more questions!

Donar34 schrieb:
As a general rule for crumbly walls, anchors should be chosen that distribute the load over a larger area and not rely solely on the wall surface

I can only agree with that but would like to add that in old brick walls, the bricks themselves are often porous, which further reduces the load-bearing capacity.

This raises the question for me whether attaching batten strips or a substructure that sits on the wall over a large surface and is additionally screwed in might be the safest solution.

Ixvin schrieb:
Especially with crumbly plaster, it is important to completely remove the plaster around the drill hole

This is a very important step because only in this way can you properly assess the actual condition of the wall. If you rely solely on the plaster, damage is almost inevitable.

I also see risks with chemical anchors, especially for non-professionals: if they are not installed correctly, the adhesion can fail quickly, for example due to insufficient cleaning or moisture in the wall.

My recommendation is therefore: if the wall condition is poor, it is better to use a furniture wall with supports or a freestanding solution. Otherwise, only use ductile, high-quality heavy-duty anchors, possibly in combination with metal strips.

It is worth calculating the wall loads as accurately as possible in advance and not relying solely on standard anchors.

One more point I would like to add: Choosing the right wall plug (anchor) for an Ikea Besta shelving unit on challenging walls must also take into account the later dynamic loads—such as handling the cabinets, opening and closing the doors, etc.

In my experience, purely plastic anchors are often too brittle and can break out of crumbly plaster under such stresses.

Always prefer the following options:
- Metal expansion anchors with screw clamps
- Chemical bonding anchors (polyester resin or epoxy resin)
- Combination of metal strips plus plug anchors (to better distribute the load)

If crumbly plaster is present, be sure to expose the area before drilling and, if necessary, replaster or treat it with a primer to create a better bonding substrate.

When drilling the hole, always drill 15–20 mm (0.6–0.8 inches) deeper than the length of the anchor to avoid dust and any fine dust being drawn in during installation.

Finally: Before mounting, always check that the anchor matches the corresponding screw size specified in the Ikea Besta assembly instructions to avoid stress caused by incorrect screw thickness.

This approach ensures a secure and durable fixing, even on difficult walls.