What to do with those sagging shelves

Q: Recently, I put up a couple of shelves in the bathroom to store extra towels and supplies. However, one of them is now “drooping” slightly, and the screws seem to be pulling out of the walls. How do I fix this? — Charlene I., Gadsden, Ala.

A: What’s happened to your shelves is that the screws are not properly anchored for the amount of weight they’re carrying. Even though a few towels don’t seem like much, the drywall (or plaster, in older homes) really can’t support additional weight. After all, drywall’s main purpose is to cover up the actual home and wall supports (i.e., studs).

You’ve probably been told that when hanging fairly lightweight items such as pictures, to avoid putting screws into the studs. However, in the case of shelving or heavy objects, these supports can be used to bear additional weight.To further minimize stress on the wall, an object’s weight should be distributed if possible. How is this accomplished? In the case of shelves, a set that includes long vertical runners (called “standards”) is optimal, because the standards distribute the weight of the shelves and their contents along their length. This is better than gambling on one or two bolts holding everything in place.

Sketch out a design of the type of shelves you’d like to place in the bathroom, and measure the wall space available. Then determine the number of standards, brackets and shelves needed to fill the space. (A shelf must be supported with standards and brackets every 24 inches.)

Purchase the amount and style of shelves desired, and paint or stain them before installing, if needed.

Locate the studs within the wall and mark them in pencil (studs are typically 16 inches apart). Then, set the leftmost standard against the leftmost stud to be used. Make sure it is right-side up (set a bracket into it to check) and use a level to ensure it is placed absolutely straight. Then, mark screw locations and pre-drill holes into the stud before securing the standard. Repeat this for each standard used.

Placing the standards correctly is the most important part of this type of shelving. If they’re not straight or not secured properly, the shelves will lean or sag.

Once complete, place the brackets evenly and set the shelves atop them. Remember that these types of shelves aren’t as stable as built-in shelving, so always load items onto them from the middle and work outward. Place heavier object in the center of the shelves to avoid tipping.

Using the wall studs and distributing the weight of shelving will ensure that you have a secure platform for storing household items for years to come.Home TipThere are several methods for locating wall studs: 1) tap the wall with your knuckles, listening for areas that do not sound hollow; 2) use a magnetized stud finder, or an electronic sensor; or 3) look for nail heads along the top of a baseboard.