Can I put a floating shelf over this mess of wires?

kateaw

Hi,

We are setting up some floating shelves in out kitchen. Originally there was a cupboard which we took down and found this wonderful surprise of wires behind it!!

Because of the wires, we can't use the floating shelf kits as they then need drilling where the wires are.

We were thinking of making our own floating shelf using this bracket and then some wood.

We've made a template of the bracket to see where we would need to drill and it avoids the wires but is a bit close and uneven. Our plan was to use some concrete to even out the wall before drilling and using plugs, but wanted to check whether that was a good idea, and if we have enough space from the wire.

Any thoughts or tips?

JacobZ

Hi @kateaw,

Thank you for your question.

You can put a floating shelf over the wires, but you're going to want to be very careful when you do it. At a minimum, you should turn off the electricity at the switchboard and if you aren't confident, it would be worth contacting an electrician for their assistance.

My advice would be to predrill the holes for your masonry plugs and tap them in while everything is still exposed. This way you will maintain a clear line of sight to the wires.

When the masonry plugs are in place, you can then use a repair mortar that is suitable for vertical application such as this Dingo 10KG Structural Repair Mortar. 

Apply the mortar over the wires and smooth it with a trowel, ensuring you leave the masonry plugs visible.

You can then apply hardwall plaster over the mortar to give a nice smooth surface to paint.

Once the wall has been tidied up, sanded and painted, you can screw your shelf into place.

If you are careful, there is no reason you will come into contact with the wires in a hazardous way, but if you are not confident, it is definitely worth having an electrician assist you with this repair. They will often chase wires into walls in this way, so a good sparky should have done this kind of job before.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob