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How to hang shelves safely
Drilling into a live cable or a water pipe is the biggest risk when putting up a shelf. A few minutes of checking first stops almost every accident.
Know what is in the wall
Cables and pipes are often hidden in plaster or behind plasterboard. Cables are often run in straight lines up, down or across from sockets, switches and light fittings, but this is only a rule of thumb. Older homes, rewires and extensions may have cables and pipes running anywhere, so never assume a spot is clear.
Use a detector
A combined stud, metal and live-wire detector is cheap and well worth buying. Move it slowly across the area. It will alert you to live cables, metal pipes and some timber studs. Detectors can miss deep or plastic pipes, so use them alongside common sense. Check the area at several heights and widths around where you want to drill.
Before you drill
- Look at the room: where are sockets, switches, radiators, and boiler pipes upstairs and downstairs? The line between these hints at hidden runs.
- Switch off the power at the consumer unit if you can, and use a torch. This is the safest option because even a nicked cable cannot shock you.
- Avoid drilling above and below sockets and switches, and near the corners and ceiling edges.
- Check there is no pipe behind kitchen and bathroom walls, particularly around radiators and under windows.
Choose the right fixing for the wall
| Wall type | Fixing |
|---|---|
| Solid brick or concrete | Masonry bit, plastic wall plugs and screws |
| Plasterboard on studs | Screw into timber studs where possible; otherwise use proper cavity fixings rated for the load |
| Lath and plaster (older houses) | Find the timber joists or studs; ordinary plugs do not hold |
| Aerated blocks | Special plugs designed for them |
The fixing packaging gives its weight rating. Add up the shelf, the items on it and a margin. Books are heavier than you think.
Step by step
- Mark where the shelf goes and use a spirit level to draw a level line.
- Scan the wall with the detector and mark any warnings.
- Hold the bracket against the wall and mark the screw holes. Check the marks are in a clear area.
- Wrap tape on the drill bit at the depth of the plug to stop you going too deep.
- Drill slowly. If you hit something hard that is not brick, or if the drill suddenly goes in easily, stop.
- Push in the plugs, screw the brackets on and check they are level and firm.
If you hit a cable or pipe
If you strike a cable, switch off the power at the consumer unit before touching anything, and ask an electrician to check it. If you hit a pipe and water leaks, turn off the water at the stopcock straight away. Never pull the drill out and carry on regardless. Our guide to the RCD and tripped circuits explains what a trip means, and the electrical rules page covers repairs.
Heavy items and tips
For heavy loads such as books or a television, screw into studs or masonry rather than relying on cavity anchors. Use at least two brackets, spaced about a third in from each end. Use a level, and test the shelf by pressing down firmly before you load it. Floating shelves rely on hidden fixings that are only as strong as the wall behind them, so read the manufacturer's weight limit. For anything over your head, such as a wall cabinet, consider asking a professional to fit it.
Frequently asked questions
Are the safe zones for cables reliable?
They are a rule of thumb only. Older or altered wiring may not follow them, so use a detector and switch the power off when you can.
How do I find a stud?
Use a stud detector, or knock on the wall and listen for a more solid sound. Studs are usually spaced at regular intervals, so once you find one you can often find the next.
What if I drill into a pipe?
Turn off the water at the stopcock immediately and call a plumber if you cannot stop the leak.