What you'll need:
- Spirit level
- Pencil
- Screwdriver
- Drill
- Appropriate screws and fixings
- Hammer
- Goggles
- AC electrical detector
- Extension cord (if necessary)
Step 1: Safety
Before you start, check the area for electric cables using your AC Detector. Depending on the model you have it should flash or beep if there are any currents running through the wall. Drilling into an electric cable could be fatal, so spare a few minutes to avoid mishaps!
Step 2: Alignment
If you are placing the shelf fairly high up, use a sturdy ladder so you aren't overstretching. If possible get someone to hold the ladder whilst you're up it.
- Place the bracket in position on the wall and mark with the pencil just under the bottom right and left hand corners.
- Check your marks are level using your spirit level – the bubble should be in the middle.
- Mark where the screws should go.
Step 3: Drilling
- Select a masonry drill bit that is slightly smaller than the diameter of your wall anchors.
- Put your safety goggles on and get a good firm standing position. Be careful if you are drilling whilst on a ladder.
- Line the drill up with the screw marks and drill into the wall slowly and safely. Repeat until you have drilled a pilot hole for every screw marking.
- Plasterboard walls are very weak, so use 'hollow wall' anchors which are specifically designed to provide a strong fixing. If your wall is solid brick you'll need some rawlplugs.
- Hold an anchor in place over a pilot hole and gently knock into the wall with a hammer. Repeat until you have hammered an anchor into every pilot hole.
If you're planning to put heavy things on the shelf, consider using butterfly toggles for extra support. They need a bigger drill hole, and once through spring open to clamp the shelf in place.
Place the bracket back over the holes to make sure everything is lined up
Step 4: Get fixing
- If you're using butterfly toggles, fix them to the bracket first. They're so strong that once you have inserted them into the wall you won't be able to remove them.
- With the bracket in position, carefully fix in the screws. Leave them loose at first as this will make it easier to get all the screws into place.
- When you're happy with your work, tighten each screw as much as possible. That's the hard part over!
Step 5: The shelf
The shelf itself will slot over the bracket, covering all the fixings to give a streamlined, sleek look. Now it's ready to use, and you're ready for a celebratory mug of tea!