Expert Tips for Installing a Heavy Shelf on Drywall

You might hesitate to hang heavy-duty shelves directly onto your drywall. However, anyone can hang heavy-duty shelves with the correct preparations and materials. Follow these expert tips for installing a heavy shelf on drywall to ensure your project succeeds.

Inspect Your Walls

First, before you set out to hang your brackets and shelf, we recommend you inspect your wall space. Heavy-duty shelving brackets work best on drywall when installed on a wall stud. If you don’t already have one, invest in a stud finder to detect where the sturdiest parts of the wall rest. Such spots will be where you want to install your shelves for the most support, especially if you plan to place heavy items atop them.

Choose the Right Bracket

Not all shelving brackets are equal. When planning your shelving project, you need to ensure that you’re choosing the right bracket for your needs. The longer your shelf, the more strain heavy objects will put on it. Therefore, lengthier shelves typically hold less weight. So make sure you choose a bracket that supports the items you want to put on it. Additionally, the thicker the shelf is, the more weight it can take. If you’re looking for heavy-duty hidden shelf brackets, you should check out our selection here at Right On Bracket.

Prepare Your Tools

Seasoned home builders or renovators will tell you to always prepare your tools ahead of time. Ensure that you have everything you need for your installation before you begin. Otherwise, you might have to stop your project mid-way through. Here’s everything you’ll need for hanging heavy shelves on drywall:

• Tools: The tools you need for heavy-duty shelves include a tape measure, power drill, handheld screwdriver, level, screws, stud finder, and proper safety gear, such as goggles.
• Materials: You should also ensure you have all the materials you need to complete the job. These include your shelf brackets or drywall anchors, a pencil to make light marks, a ruler, and your shelf itself.

Once you have everything you require, all you need to do is find your wall studs and follow the step-by-step installation guidelines that come with your shelving brackets.

With these expert tips for installing a heavy shelf on drywall, your shelving project is sure to go without issues. If you run into any snags, you should refer to your bracket’s installation instructions. Our high-quality brackets at Right On Bracket are easy to install and perfect for heavy-duty shelving projects.