Expert advice needed on putting up shelves!

[HeinzSight]

I've bought some shelves from Ikea which are very easy to put up.

My question really is about which fittings to use.

I've done a google search and from what I've read it suggests that it's a good idea to just screw directly into the battons behind the plasterboard and not to use wall plugs.

Any opinions?

[whomovedmychocolatecookie]

If you know where the batons are and they are in the right place for the shelves it's ideal but I am betting you don't. Rawlplugs are not harmful to walls you know

[dexter73]

Are they the Lack shelves? When I put them up in my dd's room I used rawlplugs as I have no idea where the batons are. They have loads of crap stuff on them and are fine.

[dexter73]

P.S. I would hardly say I am an expert though!

[HeinzSight]

They're shelves from Ikea. I've bought one of those things that tells you where the battons are or wires etc. I'm hoping I can at least line up one side with the batton.

[DaisymooSteiner]

Some walls don't have batons though. Mine don't.

[IvanaDK]

Why do you want them on the battons?

If you use the appropriate size (length and thickness) screw and raw plug, plaster boards can carry plenty. And then you can put them on anywhere you like ;)

Also, some houses have metal frames in the wall, and then you need a REALLY good power drill ;)

I have recently put up 7 (counted them!) shelves for books, I used a power drill, raw plugs and screws. Although it wasn't dead easy, it went well, I can recommend it ;)

[ABetaDad]

If you are fixing in to the plasterboard rather than the battens I suggest you get proper heavy duty Plaster board plugs which are like a rawl plug but specialy designed for plasterboard and much less likely to pull out if the shelf has heavy objects on it.

Depends how well your plasterboard is fixed to the battens and how well the battens are fixed to the wall of course.

[HeinzSight]

It's quite confusing. We recently had our tv fitted tp the wall and paid £180 to ensure it was done properly. The chap said that sometimes battons are just glued to the breezeblock!!

So although my googling has suggested fixing a shelf is more secure if attaching to at least one batton, I'm not so sure.

I just want to ensure these shelves don't come down on my kids heads.

I (all by myself) did the second fix in our loft conversion, so I knew that the battons and plasterboard are secure because I fitted them myself! Therefore it's somewhat disconcerting not knowing what's behind the walls downstairs!

Whomoved, I have no problem with putting in rawl plugs