Take wikiHow’s Wine Course and drink wine like an expert. Unfortunately, I can't use the standard "L" brackets and screws. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. So you want to mix things up and reorganize your bookshelf but you aren’t sure how? If you are forced to use drywall anchors, I would put in multiple brackets just to be sure. First thing I did was figure out how big and where a bookshelf would need to pivot in order to clear walls and neighboring shelves with minimum gaps. It is best to secure the bookcase without the books in it, and then fill it up once you are finished. How can a mount it to the wall? How can I secure the bookcases? For metal or plastic bookcases, use three-inch machine screws with washers to attach your brackets. Anchoring a bookcase to a wall is an essential safety precaution, especially in a home with children and pets. help. You will not need to drill into the case itself using this method. Record and edit remotely with intuitive tools designed for all podcasters. They should include long screws and wall anchors that will hold the straps firmly to your wall. Press firmly until the super glue dries. You should now have a good idea of the nature of your location. You can use either the hook or loop side of the fastener. Even with anchors, drywall is not as strong as wood and could potentially rip out. to the base and then anchor to the wall. Measure the width and height of the bookshelf. Every bookcase I have ever bought has only had one bracket. 1 0. 3. edit subscriptions. Furniture Anti-Tip Anchor - Steel Child Safety Straps | Secure Wall Anchors for Bookshelf, Dresser, Cabinet, Earthquake Protection for Babies and Pets, 2 Pack, Hardware Included. Where do I get Velcro that comes with screws? Set the matching piece of hook and loop fastener to each mark and press firmly so it stays attached to the tape. Display shelves with even the slightest lip on the front (say 1/2") fared far better than those that were sheer to the edge. Whether you place the bookshelf speaker on an actual bookshelf, on speaker stands or on top of a media console, you need to properly place the speakers. Need help with anchoring bookshelf to wall. • Simple, user-friendly navigation and a clean reading experience. Unlike smaller pieces of furniture, bookcases are usually filled with heavy objects and pose a safety risk if they fall. I have 3/4 inch baseboards, so the bookcase cannot be flush against the wall. "Thank you for your time and dedication. It's important to anchor heavy shelves and dressers to the wall. I positioned the hinge point 7" in from the right and 2" in from the front of the cabinet. Select the appropriate size drill bit for the wall anchor used. He has been published in the Norwich Free Academy "Red & White," UNLV's "Rebel Yell" and on various websites. Line up a strap to the stud mark on the wall. He is an expert on wrestling, movies and television. Approved. How to Anchor a Large Bookcase Without Damaging the Bookcase. You should drill at least one side into a stud. Would you like Anchor Book Press, Ltd to feature your book. I've seen a product that fits the bill, while living in Japan - a friend had a very tall china cabinet and needed to keep it stabilized for earthquakes. He currently attends Academy of Art University. Use a stud finder to locate the studs on the wall. 2 Use a stepladder and a pencil to draw a horizontal line where your bookcase meets the wall. Fiction. The basic concept can be modified to create any size shelf system needed. FREE Shipping. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Hold a screw in the center of the washer and use a power drill to drill it into the wall. Get heard everywhere. ", "Just the explanation of the wall anchors helped me!". First, find the studs in the wall where you want to anchor your bookshelf. You can anchor large pieces of furniture in several ways. ", "I am really impressed on how simple it is to attach furniture to the wall. Give the strap a slight tug to make sure it is secure. If you expect high winds or a strong tide, or if your anchor coming loose could cause a collision, you should use a heavy storm anchor with excellent holding power. Then, screw the wood screws directly into the wall anchors, where your lines meet. This is especially true for bookcases -- they're tall, unstable and particularly dangerous because of the weight of the books they hold. I have a couple of 6ft shelves to anchor to a wall. Once the bookcase is positioned, place an "L" bracket on top so it is flush with the wall and shelf and use a drill to attach the bracket to the top of the shelf. Horror / SciFi. Anonymous . Must reads. References Use Velcro strips to secure objects to the shelves themselves. You can get a 3/4" board and attach that to the wall, and then attach the brackets to the board. Also, the molding at the base of the wall prevents the shelves from being flush with the wall. Regional Fiction. For sanity I made a scale drawing of shelves and cut out the rotating shelf shape. One of the shelves is chrome and glass. Line the two straps up to the hook and loop fastener on the top of the bookshelf. I need to anchor a bookshelf to the wall, but it's my media book shelf and will need to get behind the... jump to content. If you’ve followed along for very long, you’ll know that somehow I always agree to building my parents new furniture. wikiHow's. These favorite workhorse anchors are strong (supporting as much as 75 pounds in 1/2" drywall, easy to install, and inexpensive. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Young Adult. Regional Non-Fiction. Children . I need to anchor my bookshelves to the wall to prevent my son from tipping them over if he climbs on them. Read your books online or offline, search across your full library, and create notes and highlights to help you study. I used to get really anxious over how to make my bookshelf decor look pretty since I own a ton of books. Romance. Just take this short quiz and discover the organizational system that you should adopt! If you’re going to be attaching your floating shelf and bracket to a wall stud, you do not need any anchors. For most situations, your ordinary main anchor or light "lunch anchor" will do. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. $14.99 $ 14. 7 Answers. K & E Recommend. Put a thin piece of foam insulation between bookcase and pipe. The tweeters should be at ear-level for optimal performance. I had luck and was able to get them in but I stripped two screws in the process of doing so. Sarah J. Maas . This style of unit really needs good solid support under the vertical side panels. For the #6-32 wall anchor we're using, the matching bit size is 9/32 inch. There are baseboards on my wall preventing my book shelves from being snug against the wall. Genres. Museum wax under our collectibles would have been even better. How do I secure a metal bookcase to the wall? The only difference with an outside wall is the presence of insulation between the studs, which should have no impact on the anchoring process. Bookshelf Features: • Download books to your device for easy online or offline reading. The figure shows how to anchor a bookcase to a wall, but the same methods can be used for other pieces of furniture. You would have to get the Velcro and screws separately. There will still be regularly placed studs within the wall. These studs should be within a foot from the top of the bookshelf. Someone willing to use a drill. Apply a piece of double-sided mounting tape to the top of the bookshelf where you made the pencil marks. When you find a stud, mark the center of it with a vertical line using a yardstick and pencil. A Court of Wings and Ruin. No hosting limits, no trial periods, and you own your content forever. I'm trying to anchor some standing cabinets and book cases to the wall into the stud to prevent the cabinets / bookshelves from falling. Use a pencil to mark two stud points within the length of the bookshelf. The back of these units is basically a paper board material that slides into some side grooves and gets a couple of nails at the bottom. Click here for more information on the services we provide. So I need an alternative. If you recently opened Bookshelf and all your books are now missing and replaced with a title named Where are my Books?, you need to upgrade to the latest version of Bookshelf. In this case, 86% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. If you are working with plaster or drywall, however, additional support is necessary. Then, align the brackets and drill with three-inch screws. Asian/African Literature. How To Upgrade to the latest version of Bookshelf for Windows . And when you eventually want to remove the hanger, all you do is loosen the screw and the plastic anchor straightens and can be pulled out—which can't be done with standard spring-loaded toggles. Lay the loose end of each strap down across the top and make pencil marks to indicate the location. Anchoring a bookcase to a wall is an essential safety precaution, especially in a home with children and pets. Center your bookshelf against the wall in front of the attached brackets. My granddaughter is just starting to walk and I'm worried. The general rule is to put bookshelf speakers at 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock positions, angling them towards your preferred listening position. Attaching them to a wall is the best way to avoid accidents. Create, distribute, host, and monetize your podcast, 100% free. Stan G. 1 decade ago. Secure the bookcase into wall studs whenever possible, instead of using wall anchors. On the other hand, not one auger-style anchor came down. If you can’t find a stud, you should install wall anchors before you drive screws into drywall or masonry. The most common types of anchoring involve brackets and screws, but they can cause holes and damage to both the bookcase and the wall. Once you add heavy books, taller shelves can get really top heavy. Since the shelf is ~ 6 feet long, see if you can position it horizontally so that at least one of the pairs of holes in the bracket is in front of a stud.Then use appropriate screws (which type will depend on whether you have metal or wood studs) to mount that pair of holes. How do I secure a bookcase to a wall if there are pipes on the wall so I can't get the bookcase flush against it? wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. 1 decade ago. VitalSource Bookshelf is the world’s leading platform for distributing, accessing, consuming, and engaging with digital textbooks and course materials. Thanks for the help. Using straps and adhesive will keep the shelves intact without causing any permanent damage. How do I fasten it? You will need: One crappy WalMart bookcase. The shorter "legs" of the L-brackets will rest flush on top of your shelf. Thriller. For a similar bed see: https://www.instru… Glue an 8-inch piece of industrial hook and loop fastener to the loose ends of each strap. Adhere the bottom side to the top of a shelf and attach the other side to knickknacks or vases. If the wall you are … I was thinking wiring the shelves to eye hooks in the wall. Hook and loop fastener is commonly known as Velcro. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. It makes no difference if you secure the furniture to an outside wall. Press a washer against the strap and hold it tightly against the wall. Health & Well-Being. Use Bookshelf to download and access books on your Android phone or tablet. unless I had no other choice. You would have to use the anchor straps to hold the bookcase against the pipes. From My Bookshelf to your Doorstep Borrow books, online - easy. Not too shabby. To secure a bookcase to a wall with brackets, start by using a stud finder to locate the studs in your wall. You will need to drill a pilot hole in the wall for each of the two mounting holes you marked in previous steps. We’re here to help you! For stacked pieces of furniture, anchor the top piece (e.g., hutch, additional bookcase, etc.) But here’s the thing: in terms of DISPLAY, I realized that having a lot of books is like having any other collection. Favorite Answer. The strap installation is also ideal for protection during earthquakes. Drill a clean and precisely placed hole into each of the two wall anchor locations marked on the wall. Keep the tops of your bookcases free of items to reduce the risk of danger during an earthquake. The stud mark should line up around halfway through the strap so it has extra room to attach to the bookshelf. One ~3" wide board, cut to the height of your bookshelf (floor to top) 4 L-brackets, the color of your bookshelf (these will be visible) Screws to secure the brackets* (See Very Important Footnote) Six 1 1/2-inch screws to secure the board A Drill The extras all cost us about $20 at Home Depot. There are pipes on my wall, so the closest my bookcase can get to the wall is 10 inches away. Lists . Install into solid wood. As shown in the figure, a bookcase can be anchored with metal “L” brackets and screws along its top or sides (either inside or outside) or with screws through its back. Create without constraints. We have experienced staff that will give you and your manuscript individual attention. Urdu Fiction. Classics. For the average bookshelf, I believe one will be plenty. Especially, if you have young kids. Bolting things to sheetrock is not safe. Repeat this process for the second strap on the other end of the bookshelf. If the bookshelf will be located there permanently, it would be worth cutting out the section of baseboard that is touching the back of the bookshelf. You do not want to secure the BILLY bookcase by screwing through backer material into the wall. Alan Donahue started writing professionally in 2003. How to Build a Freestanding Bookshelf–Plans and Tutorial!. Children's Picture Books. 99. Can I secure the bookcase with brackets without finding the stud? The best and safest way is to use some 2 and1/2 inch screws through the back of the bookshelf into the wallstuds. Create without constraints . Then, position your empty bookcase at a point between the wall studs. In the process of doing so, the screw will stop and not want to go in. my subreddits. Answer Save. Relevance. Whether you only have a few treasured tomes or hold on to every romance novel, your most cherished reads should live on a dreamy DIY bookshelf. Out of date Bookshelf for Windows App Where are my books? All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published, This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Maybe it’s the whole “they brought me into this world” thing, so I figure it’s the least I can do haha.. Welcome to Anchor. Does this same process apply for plaster walls in an older city apartment building? © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Drill a pilot hole into the wall and push the wall anchor in. I haven't yet started installing my bookshelf, but thanks to this site, I, "I did not know about the Velcro usage for securing a bookcase to the wall. Non-Fiction. Cheap, Easy, Low-waste Bookshelf Plans: Build an easy, portable 3' x 8' wooden bookshelf in about 20 minutes, with a minimum of tools and less than 1% waste, for about $60. Why do I need to find the studs? How to Convert the Space Under the Stairs Into an Office, How to Compute the Angle of a Chair Rail Up a Staircase, The Manly Housekeeper: Quick Project: Earthquake-proofing My Topple-prone Bookcases, How to Attach an Earthquake Strap to a Bookcase and Wall, How to Use Plastic Wall Plugs to Secure a Bookcase to the Wall. 100% free. Instead of purchasing the supplies separately, strap fastener sets like Quakehold! Last Updated: April 22, 2020 I wouldn't use anchors for a shelf holding 45 lbs. 4.5 out of 5 stars 26. By using our site, you agree to our. Follow the instructions below based on your computer or mobile device. He placed second in the NFO Screenwriting Contest and received filmmaking awards from Manchester Community College and Norwich Free Academy. Install the Wall Anchors . % of people told us that this article helped them. Place the bookshelf up against the wall. Finally, use a drill to attach another "L" bracket between the wall and the side of the shelf. Will try on a bookcase that is used for, "Reminding me to use a bracket rather than screw directly into the back of the bookcase helped. If you couldn’t find a stud, you will need to make pilot holes and insert the wall anchors. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXbFRtaTi0I, https://www.earthquakecountry.org/step1/bookcases/, http://www.familyhandyman.com/woodworking/bookcase/bookcase-and-shelf-tips/view-all#step3, https://www.todayshomeowner.com/video/how-to-secure-tall-furniture/, http://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/20130726-1627-20490-1636/how2008_anchor_bookcases.pdf, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Also, avoid stacking the books so that the shelf is top-heavy, or it may push away from the wall. Press down firmly and they will connect together. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. 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