Fixing shelves to a brick and plaster-board wall

Hello

I have two planks of wood that I hope to use as interior shelves.

They are of pine and measure 3' x 6" x 1". One shelf would be attached to a brick wall and the other to a plaster-board wall. Neither shelf would hold anything heavy: perhaps ornaments. I can't really use either of them as a bookshelf because that would require two sides to act as book-stops and, besides, I am not sure if the plaster-board would hold the weight of books?

All I have at the moment are the two planks of pine - no fittings or anything to attach them to either wall.

I cannot access the other side of the brick wall, but on the other side of the plaster-board wall is my hallway. That plaster-board wall looks to be about 2" thick (I am assuming there are two plaster-boards placed back-to-back: one facing my small dining-room where the shelf will, hopefully, be set up, and the other facing my hallway).

What would be the best way of putting up each shelf, please?
Thank you.


moderator note: member located in the UK.

 

plaster board = drywall ?

Drywall isn't intended to support anything, normally you'd secure the shelves to the studs in the wall [normally every 16" but could be 24"] The brick wall would be more challenging but you could dril and use tap con screws. What do you intend to use for brackets?

 

Hello marksr

Thanks for your reply.

Do you mean drywall as opposed to....?

This is what I have on one plaster-board wall at the moment (attached).



I was referring to putting a shelf on the plaster-board wall to the left of the one you see in the photo.

There are no studs in the wall anywhere.

I haven't thought about brackets for the brick wall. So, I would need a drill, brackets, and tap con screws? Do I need those plastic containers that go into the wall and hold the screws in place?

Thanks again

 

There has to be studs in the wall. The drywall has to be fastened somehow and isn't strong enough by itself to not be supported at least every 2' same thing for plaster. Shelves for both walls would need brackets [can be metal or wood]

 

If you only plan on putting light things on the shelf then you can use anchor molly bolts if in fact it's wall board and not a plaster wall. Screwing into a stud is better but if you can't use these.

 

I note the plug configuration in your photo and it seems you are not located in the US. Since this is primarily a North American forum, we need to know where you are located so we can zero in on our advice. Your building codes and practices may be vastly different from ours.

 

I added the members location of the UK to their original post.

You also need to select what mounting brackets you are planning to use.

 

Temporary hi-jack of thread.

Looks like we need a sub-forum and moderator for non-US (North America). Maybe somebody in Europe might want to head such a thing. Just suggesting.

OK, back to our usual programing.

 

I was told today that the shelves may be attached to the two walls - brick and plaster-board - using butterfly screws.

Apparently, brackets located under each edge of the shelf to hold it in place can be screwed to the underside of the shelf on each side, and then fastened to the brick wall and plaster-board wall by means of butterfly screws? Nothing comes out of the other side of the plaster-board because the 'wings' are released once inside the plaster-board.

I know my sister has kitchen cupboards, complete with plates, saucers, cups, etc, in them, attached to a plaster-board wall only, using such butterfly screws.

 

butterfly screws = toggle bolts .

 

Yes, that's how it was described to me - thanks, Norm201.

 

Pete beat me to it, but an unobtrusive bracket like this would hold minimal weight and would require no vertical support.

 

Not likely Norm. This is a US based site.

Yes... you can use butterfly screws or toggle bolts in the sheetrock. That is not the ideal mounting method but will work. Ideally you'd want to locate and fasten to wall studs.

In the brick you can use plastic or lead expansion anchors.

 

Thanks.

UK here, it shouldn't be that different.

So that screw (Philips screw, we call them with that crossed head) is screwed in to either of those plugs on either side of your photo which is knocked into the brick beforehand?

Thanks again

 

That looks just fine, thanks Chandler.

A lot neater than the traditional brackets.

Many thanks.