How to fix the pegs to hang a wall shelf?

For wall shelves, curtain rods or lamps to stay at their destination safely, they need sufficient support. This is what the pegs give them. But if the shelf is going to hang on the wall for more than a few hours, there are a few important points that must be observed. Here's how it works: if you want to hang a wall ruler, you first need to make sure that you use the right pegs and screws. Drill a hole, insert the dowel, screw and you're done. But as soon as the shelf is hung on the wall, the pegs come loose and everything threatens to fall off. After a stressful moving day, this is probably the last thing you need. Often, the holes in the pegs are much larger than expected or the peg simply can't find a grip. If you want to avoid these inconveniences when fixing shelves, mirrors and lamps, you need to follow some tips for fixing the pegs.

Hang the wall shelf: the condition of the wall is important

When choosing the right anchor, the condition of the wall or ceiling plays an important role. Often, however, the building material is only revealed when drilling. In most cases, a percussion drill is required, especially for concrete, solid bricks or sand-lime bricks. For softer materials such as plaster or clay, a normal drill is usually sufficient. Before starting to drill, do-it-yourselfers should look for power lines and water pipes in the wall with a line locator. Otherwise, there is a risk of electrical shock or water damage while drilling.

Use the right dowel

In DIY stores, the packaging of anchors contains information about the building material and the intended use of the corresponding anchor. In most cases, hobbyists are on the right side with a universal or multipurpose anchor, as they can fit in almost any building material. Lighter objects such as pictures, hanging baskets, curtain rods, lamps and lighted wall cabinets can be fixed well with them. However, if it's a bookcase or wall shelf that needs to hold a lot of stuff, heavier weapons should be used.

Hanging up the shelf

If a shelf is not properly secured, it is very likely to fall down - in the worst case, it could injure someone. To prevent the shelf from becoming a hazard, there are a few things to keep in mind. The more securely the shelf is anchored to the wall, the more securely it will stay in place. In order to distribute the load evenly on the pegs, the holes should be drilled at regular intervals. In addition, longer screws and dowels should be used, the longer they are, the more load-bearing the shelf. Additional reinforcement is provided by brackets or safety drill holes. If a bookcase weighing more than five kilograms is to be hung on a plasterboard wall, universal dowels should be used. For even heavier items, DIYers should use cavity wall plugs. The rule of thumb for size is: the softer and more porous the building material and the heavier the load, the thicker and longer the plug should be.

Fixing heavy-duty shelves

If you want to install a heavy-duty shelf in the basement or attach a heavy piece of furniture to the wall, you should definitely call a heavy-duty specialist. Because the risk of accidents is particularly high here. A piece of furniture of this size requires very strong dowels, which can have a load capacity of several tons. Precise knowledge of the substrate is absolutely necessary, because the softer the material, the less clamping effect the anchor has. A strong anchor can also be used. Its mode of action is very similar to that of an anchor. This particular form of metal anchor consists of a slotted tube-shaped rod, a threaded rod with a nut, washers and a conical-shaped clamping piece. If you note the distances of the drill holes when removing the furniture in the old apartment, you will save a lot of time when installing them in the new apartment.

Plug, screw and drill hole must match

Hanging a wall shelf is easier if the drill hole, the anchor and the screw match.  However, the perfect anchor is not enough to guarantee a secure hold. The drill hole and screw size must also be correct. But first, make sure the hole is drilled horizontally and free of dust before using the plug. In general, the diameter of the drill bit should match the diameter of the plug. For particularly soft building materials such as aerated concrete, the hole can also be one millimeter smaller to achieve a better load bearing capacity. In general, the hole should always be drilled to such a depth that the anchor can be driven in. The screw can then be screwed in. The screw should not be longer than the plug and should have at least the same diameter as the plug, but it should not be thinner than the plug. The maximum length of the screw is again indicated on the back of the plug packaging. If the hole is slightly larger, it can be filled with hot mastic or glue. Before the compound dries or cools, drive the dowel in. Wait for it to harden and continue as planned.

How to properly install a shelf in the house?

In the house, you have installed shelves in many rooms, but have you fixed them properly? Indeed, it happens that when you place a shelf on the wall, the fixings are not well done. This can be due to the thickness of the wall, the size of the dowels, the fixing chosen. Therefore, if your shelf is poorly installed, it can potentially fall. To fix a shelf properly, several options are possible:

• The brackets: they are the most used, but they do not always seduce. From now on, there are models of brackets with an original design, so they are more easily integrated into the decor.
• Invisible fasteners: as their name suggests, invisible fasteners allow you to install the wall shelf without distorting it. This is a very practical solution, but you must be careful to choose the right anchors and not to put too much weight on the shelf.
• End brackets: more discreet than the brackets, the end models allow to fix the furniture discreetly.

Which material to use to install a wall shelf?

To properly install a wall shelf, it is essential to have the right equipment. You will need

• A pencil
• A ruler
• A tape measure
• Screws
• Anchors that fit the screws
• A pair of dowel pliers
• Screwdriver
• A spirit level
• Screwdriver
• A hammer