How to Install a Shelf on the Wall If There Is No 2x4?
- 1). Measure the distance between the mounting holes or brackets on your shelf. Hold the tape measure so you can determine the distance from the center of one hole to the center of the second one.
- 2). Transfer the measurement you took in Step 1 to the wall where the shelf will be mounted. Make pencil marks to indicate where you will need to place the anchors. Use a level to ensure that the marks --- and therefore the shelf --- will be level after installation.
- 3). Drill a small-diameter pilot hole in the centers of the marks you made and insert a thin section of stiff wire as a probe to make sure there are no pipes, cables or ductwork behind the wall. Most likely, the wall will be free of obstructions, but if any do exist, you may need to move the mounting marks a few inches in either direction before continuing.
- 1). Chock a screwdriver bit into a power drill and drive a screw-in anchor into each of the pilot holes. The anchors are actually self-tapping, but the pilot holes will help ensure the anchors are applied exactly where you want them without wandering. Go slowly. The anchors "bite" quickly and mount fast. You may prefer to use the power drill partway and finish the mounting with a manual screwdriver.
- 2). Stop screwing in the fastener when the face is just about flush to the wall. Any farther, and you could strip the drywall, compromising the integrity of the anchor. Screw-in anchor systems are rated to hold between 30 and 50 pounds.
- 3). Insert a mounting screw into the anchor. The packaging will indicate the correct screw to use, as different-sized anchors require different-sized screws. Some anchors come with the proper mounting screws already in the package. Turn the mounting screw slowly, as you did with the anchor. Stop when the shelf is snug to the wall. Be careful to avoid over-tightening, which could strip out the anchor's threads.
- 1). Enlarge the pilot holes with the correct drill bit size required by the brand of toggle bolt you purchased. The hole needs to be bigger to accept the bolt's metal flange. Toggle bolts are usually rated at higher weight capacities than screw-in anchors because of the way they grip the drywall. The bolts are sold in different sizes, so check the package to determine how much weight each bolt can support.
- 2). Insert the flange into the hole, behind the drywall, while holding the straps so the flange doesn't slip behind the wall. Pull the straps so the flange fits tightly against the back of the wall, and slide the plastic toggle ring into the hole and tight to the front of the wall. Snap off the straps.
- 3). Thread the machine screws that came with the kit into the toggle ring and tighten the shelf in place. As with screw-in anchors, be sure to stop when the shelf is snug to the wall, and don't over-tighten to avoid stripping the anchor.