The Simple Screw Trick I Use to Hang Drywall Shelves, by Figure It Zone on YouTube. 29 min 29 s.
- Video length
- 29 min 29 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Check the wall is standard plasterboard on a frame. Tap it and use a stud finder to find the studs, then mark them lightly with a pencil.
Decide where the shelf goes and draw a level line. Hold the shelf or bracket in place and mark the screw holes through it.
Pick screw points that sit over a stud where possible. For points between studs, plan to use the laminating screws into the board.
Drill small pilot holes at each mark, slightly narrower than the screw shank, so the board does not crumble.
Drive a #10 x 1-1/2 in laminating screw into each hole with the drill until the head sits just below the surface. Do not overdrive it.
Hold the shelf or bracket against the wall and line it up with the screws. Check it is level before fixing.
Tighten the screws through the shelf or bracket. Add a screw at every fixing point so the load is spread.
Give the shelf a gentle push and load it with light items only. Check the screws stay tight after a day.
Tips and common mistakes
Laminating screws grip drywall to drywall, so keep loads light and spread them over several screws.
Always fix into studs for heavier shelves or anything holding books or tools.
Stop the drill as soon as the screw head is flush to avoid crushing the paper face of the board.
Use a spirit level on the shelf itself, not just the wall line, before final tightening.
Questions
Will laminating screws hold a heavy shelf?
No. They suit light shelves and small boxes. For heavy loads, fix brackets into the timber studs or use proper plasterboard anchors rated for the weight.
Do I need wall plugs with these screws?
No. The screw is designed to fasten drywall to drywall, so it bites into the board itself. Adding plugs defeats the method.
What size screw should I use?
The video uses #10 x 1-1/2 in (5.5 x 38 mm) laminating screws. Match the length to your board thickness so the screw does not poke through the other side.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
