Advise on attaching shelving unit to wall

nicki_2

I live in a rented house with a small kitchen. There's not much storage suitable for food so I've purchased these shelves for additional storage. Now originally they only had very light stuff on so I didn't bother to attach them to the wall as per instructions However now I'm storing heavier stuff on them and they've started twisting away from the wall at the top and I'm scared they're going to fall over onto someone. BUT I don't know the best way to attach them.

There is a 1cm-ish skirting board at the bottom of the wall so they're proud of the wall already, so I am unsure the best way of attaching them. The wall is brick I think, maybe breeze block as it sounds hollow but not as hollow as a plaster wall, and then plastered over. Obviously being a rented house I don't want to use the wrong fixings and cause damage to the wall that'll come out of my deposit.

Any help will be appreciated, I did trying searching but kept getting how to fit normal/floating shelves. Thank you

MonkeyMad

Can you get away with using those IKEA webbing fixing straps that come with their wardrobes. Then only a case of working out the best fixing. Easiest way for you to find out is by drilling a hole to see what comes out.

Plasterboard will be easy to identify, from the sound it makes when you tap it, and the colour of the dust, as well as the fact that about 1.5 inches in there will be fresh air!

Breezeblock and cinderblock will be dark, almost black. Aerated block will tend to be lighter grey but is similar, but harder to avoid drilling oversize holes in. Brick is obviously red and will make your kitchen look like the surface of Mars if you drill enough of it.

Your choices include:
Plasterboard: Toggle bolts, plasterboard anchors
Brick: Rawl plugs, chemical fixings
Breezeblock: Rawl plugs, chemical fixings

I'd imagine for your application rawl plugs, or plasterboard anchors would be fine

grizzly1911

It maybe easier to put a wooden batten, horizontally on the wall, near the top of the unit. then attach the unit to the batten.

The batten needs to be at least as thick as the skirting otherwise you will pull the unit backwards.

It would also help spread the load if you don't get/can't decide on the right wall fixings.

googler

Why not just use floorstanding shelves that you can take away with you if you move on?

keystone

googler wrote: »

Why not just use floorstanding shelves that you can take away with you if you move on?

OPs shelves are floorstanding. Its just that they have too much weight on them now.

Cheers

keystone

nicki wrote: »

I live in a rented house with a small kitchen.................Obviously being a rented house I don't want to use the wrong fixings and cause damage to the wall that'll come out of my deposit.

Does your landlord allow you to bore holes in his wall. If he doesn't, however you fix it, the cost of repair will come out of your deposit. Sounds like you need to consider stronger shelving than that flimsy thing TBH.

Cheers

27col

I have some experience with this type of shelving and I have one word to describe it, "rubbish". I suggest that you go to Machine Mart and buy some of this.http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/csr5150rp-150kg-boltless-shelving-red. It is very good quality for the price. However, I would still suggest that it be tied back to the wall for safety.

nicki_2

My landlord has given me permission to treat the house as my own (put up shelves, hang pictures, decorate etc) as long as I either leave them where they are or make good any 'damage' when I eventually move. The damage caused by attaching these shelves to the wall will be a lot less than that caused by the previous tenants and I will put right anything I need to before I leave.

The landlord is more than happy with what I've done with the house the past 8 years as I've pulled it out of an 80s/90s time-warp and all she's paid out for (except for repairs to exterior doors/extension roof/and a new garden gate) is new carpeting upstairs :rotfl: Meanwhile I've decorated every room, had central heating fitted (government grant, with her permission), put up curtain rails in the majority of rooms with my dads help, and put new flooring down in the kitchen! I'm pretty sure a couple of holes won't cause a problem

Norman_Castle

If they are twisting away from the wall its likely the floor is not level. Try using packing under the legs. To prevent them toppling a few screws through holes in the framework into the wall will work. pack the gap with offcuts of wood. Alternately use small chain, webbing or wire around the frame and into the wall.
Putting heavy items at the bottom will help.

googler

Norman_Castle wrote: »

If they are twisting away from the wall its likely the floor is not level. Try using packing under the legs.

Or that the back is resting on carpet grip rods, and the front is sinking into the carpet.

A few coins under the front edges will sort that.