How to put up a shelf on plasterboard, by B&Q on YouTube. 2 min 28 s.
- Video length
- 2 min 28 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Run a cable and pipe detector over the wall before you drill. Mark any pipes or cables you find so your shelf fixings stay well clear of them.
Decide the shelf height and draw a level line with a pencil and spirit level. Hold the shelf or bracket against the wall and mark the fixing holes.
Use the detector's stud mode, or tap the wall, to find the timber studs. Screwing into a stud gives the strongest hold if one lines up with your marks.
Pick plasterboard fixings rated for the weight you plan to put on the shelf. Metal toggle or expanding fixings are made for hollow plasterboard.
Fit a flat wood bit the size stated on the fixing packet and drill at low speed. Stop when the bit just breaks through the plasterboard.
Push each fixing into its hole and tighten it as the maker instructs, until the wings grip the back of the board.
Screw the brackets to the wall through the fixings, using the screws supplied. Check each bracket is level and upright before you tighten it fully.
Set the shelf on the brackets and fix it from underneath with the small screws. Check it with the spirit level, then add your items.
Tips and common mistakes
Ordinary wall plugs will pull straight out of hollow plasterboard, so always use fixings made for the job.
Drill slowly and steadily, because too much pressure crushes the plasterboard and weakens the fixing.
Do not overtighten plasterboard fixings, as this can crack the board around the hole.
Questions
Can I use normal wall plugs in plasterboard?
No. Standard wall plugs need solid masonry to grip. In hollow plasterboard they will work loose and the shelf can fall, so use plasterboard fixings instead.
How much weight can a shelf on plasterboard hold?
It depends on the fixing and how many you use. Check the weight rating on the fixing packet and spread the load across several fixings for heavier items.
Do I need to find the studs?
Not always, but it helps. Fixing into a timber stud is the strongest option, and plasterboard fixings cover the gaps where no stud is available.
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.
