How do I fix shelf pulling off plaster wall?

charlie3

Hi all,

I have the pictured glass shelf above a toilet and the brackets are starting to pull away from the wall. I'm not sure if there are any studs behind it or the plugs are just in the plaster, they seem to still be fairly well attached. Can anyone suggest the best way to determine if it's likely to pull out? If it is, I'm wondering whether there's an easy way to make it secure or if I'm better to remove it altogether. I'm not very handy so simple is best, I'm not really concerned about aesthetics, mainly just making sure it's not going to pull out, as it's quite heavy.

Thanks in advance for any advice. 

Charlie

EricL

Hello @charlie3 

Thank you for sharing your question about your glass shelf. I suspect that the shelf was installed using wall plaster plugs and that they have started to pull out. I propose carefully removing the glass shelf and placing it on a flat surface with a towel underneath. Please note that working with glass is dangerous an accidental hit with a tool or when too much force is applied could make the glass shatter and cause injury. Please remember to wear personal protection such as rubber gloves and goggles when handling glass.

Once the glass shelf has been secured you can now concentrate on the shelf holder and unscrew it from the wall. If the wall plugs appear to be distorted and the plasterboard stressed, it will be necessary to relocate the shelf. It does not have to be very far, but it does need to be a reasonable distance that the old mounting points will not interfere with the new mounting points.

I suggest having a look at this guide - How to fix a loose toilet roll holder, it will give you a general idea of how to install new wall plugs. My best advice is to use a spirit level to make sure that the mounting points will be level. Once the shelf holders are secure you can then re-install the glass shelf back on your wall.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric