Putting up shelves

[ruthandsam]

I want to put up some lightweight pine shelves on my kitchen wall. The wall sounds hollow apart from in a couple of places, therefore, what wall plugs do I need? I have a selection at home already but I don't know what type of walls they are for.

Should I use the plugs that have wings that pop out when pushed into the hole? Also, if using lightweight shelves do I only place lightweight items on them?

Also, I want to buy shelving that will accommodate books, therefore, do I need to buy heavyweight shelving or is it all down to the type of plugs that I use in the holes to make the shelves secure?

Many thanks!

[The Builder]

Are you using shelf supports (brackets), or is it a ready made unit with something along the back of it?

[johnk]

Sounds like a studded wall so cavity fixings are the ones, like those you described. I think lightweight refers to the shelves and not the load which should be specified somewhere. For books you need to have an idea of the weight the shelves will carry and buy some that specify that or more.

[bookbinder]

My house has walls that are like yours. I have used the plugs that you describe to fix curtain rail battens to the walls, and they are pretty good fixings. You can get those plugs in plastic and in metal. The plastic ones are best for fixing to a vertical surface, because the shank, or body, of the plug fits nice and snug in the hole that you make in the wall. There is a really strong fitting available for studded [hollow] walls, and that's called an Interset fitting. It is [or was] made by Rawlplug, and it will take quite heavy loads. I fitted a bathroom cabinet with 4 Interset fittings, in 1995, and it's still there!

[ruthandsam]

Oooo thanks guys. Yes, I'm using shelf supports because they came with the shelves. I have managed to fix towel rails, loo roll holders successfully with the plugs provided in the kit so hopefully I've got some of the correct plugs for the kitchen shelves.

Just realised that the shelving comes with some plugs but they look rather flimsy to me as they are the same type/size I used for fixing towel rails with the wings.

So how do you tell the difference between a studded wall/cavity wall and plasterboarded wall? Is it to do with where the wall is in the house and do you use the same wall plugs, as described earlier?

I really need to go on a DIY course but there aren't any near by!! lol

Thanks again.

[ruthandsam]

I mean't to say that the plugs that came with the towel rail kit are Not the ones with the wings and they seem to be holding up ok.

[The Builder]

Hi Ruth .............. is the wall an outside wall of the building, or is it between two of your rooms?

[ruthandsam]

Hi The Builder, we live in a terraced new build house and the wall to the kitchen joins to the next house.

Just going to add another question but I'm wanting to put up a wall mounted pan stand/rail on another wall in the kitchen. That wall is different as it joins to the living room. That sounds hollow as well so do I need to use the same plugs with the wings on?

Many thanks again.

[The Builder]

The Party wall with next door is usually masonry, but you may be timber-framed. In which case, treat it, and the wall against the sitting room as the same and use the cavity fixings (with the wings)

like these ........

http://www.screwfix.c...8ga-pack-of-100/58219