DIY help sought

[Bozza]

I'm shit at DIY like really, really shit.

Fortunately I make up for that inadequacy with blinding forum administration skills, eh?

Anway, I have a problem I need some advice on.

In our lounge we have some shelves. They are, essentially, big long heavy wood things, each held up by two black iron (or iron-ish) brackets that look a bit like this:

We used these shelves to store a selection of large heavy hardback books and all was well with the world until we came home one day to find the books on the floor with the top shelf (of 3) having pulled the screw and rawl plug partially out of the wall until the books tipped off, hitting the shelves below and making them do the same.

I want to re-affix the shelves in the same place as this will negate the need to drill new holes, and fill and paint over the existing holes. I had hoped that I could use some thicker and longer screws and rawl plugs but I don't think this is an option since the screws are about the right size to go through the screw holes in the brackets.

What can I do? Is there some sort of ultra hard filler I could put in the holes, then re-drill in the same place, perhaps use some more robust rawl plugs and maybe longer (not thicker) screws. Maybe combined with putting less of a load on the shelf - would this work?

Or do I have to move each bracket an inch or two along so I'm drilling into 'fresh' wall again? (I really don't want to do this!)

It's your turn now - some good advice please...

 

[Meade's Ball]

Anyway, what's this talk about the positivity of the Ulloa signing?

 

[Titanic]

What is the wall made of?

 

[Bozza]

What about these - would these help?

Wet Fix PK20 - Fixings & Fixers - Bolts & Fixings -Tools, Electrical & Plumbing - Wickes

 

[Nibble]

Not sure you wil find a filler strong enough to hold the whole set up back up again. If you do fill it in and put the scres back in the same place I would put another bracket in between the two existing ones for strength. Might not look how you want it too though. Is it brickwork or plaster board you're attaching them to?

 

[Bozza]

What is the wall made of?

It's a really old house so masonry I imagine. Certainly not plasterboard.

 

[Woodchip]

What is the wall made of?

That was going to be my question. Brick, hardboard, plasterboard, concrete, etc... This will have a huge knock on effect on what options you have available. If it's a hollow wall what kind of rawlplug come out?

 

[Titanic]

It's a really old house so masonry I imagine. Certainly not plasterboard.

Then you should have no problem with longer screws / rawlplugs and a bit of cosmetic filler.

 

[chucky1973]

If possible I would not reuse the holes there will be weak points even if you do a good job filling them. Assuming the walls are plasterboard, you can purchase proper plasterboard fixings (Anchors) that should do the job, if its brickwork, then maybe same as what you have done, but 4" x 10 screws which brown plugs, again this should do. Might be best to move the shleves slightly higher or lower to avoid the existing holes.

Edit, just read above, ignore plasterboard option!

 

[basque seagull]

Could you try drilling bigger holes in the metal brackets??

 

[Nathan]

Good luck. Feel your pain, as i am also really shit at DIY. I normally have a go but f*** it up, and then one of the Mrs friends comes round and sorts it out for me!

 

[LE19]

Sell the heaviest books?

 

[upthealbion1970]

Could you try drilling bigger holes in the metal brackets??

And/or an extra hole or 2 in the brackets?

 

[Woodchip]

Would it not be beneficial to move them down 2-3 inches to give yourself a better chance of getting a good bite? Then, in theory, the brackets will cover the old holes. Make sure you use at least a 2"x8 screw with red plugs (preferable a 2"x10 with brown plugs).

 

[Bozza]

Could you try drilling bigger holes in the metal brackets??

And/or an extra hole or 2 in the brackets?

Is drilling into metal actually possible?

Sounds very difficult and probably dangerous too.

 

[Pevenseagull]

my initial thoughts are take the shelves off, take off the brackets that have pulled loose, remove the plugs that have pulled, puff out any loose material, fill the holes with anchor resin, put in new rawlplugs, wipe off excess resin, run a bead of gripfill (non solvent) down the back of the brackets, replace the brackets and screw in, wipe off any excess resin/ gripfill that's been squeezed out, lean something against the brackets (the sheves perhaps) to keep them in place whist the resin & gripfill cures (this will be dependent on the specification of the anchor resin)

put the shelves back on

Should work.

cost: circa £10.

 

[upthealbion1970]

Is drilling into metal actually possible?

Sounds very difficult and probably dangerous too.

It's possible and not to difficult as long as you use the right bit

 

[Twinkle Toes]

Drill deeper holes & use longer screws. You need the rawl plug to be in the brickwork to hold any real weight innit. Buy a longer masonary drill bit if you're current one doesn't reach the brick (you'll know by red dust coming out of the hole when drilling if it does).

ATTACK. ATTACK. ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK!

 

[Titanic]

Is drilling into metal actually possible?

Sounds very difficult and probably dangerous too.

It is surprisingly easy... with a decent HSS drill bit.

 

[ropey9]

Try

Vinylester Injection Resin 150ml - Fixings & Fixers - Bolts & Fixings -Tools, Electrical & Plumbing - Wickes

Same stuff a little cheaper -

No Nonsense Polyester Styrene-Free Resin 175ml Screwfix.com

You need to squirt this in then push the wall plug into the resin and wait for it to harden. I used this for a door liner into thermalite blocks at the block kept crumbling with just the wall plug. I can hang off of the bolts once it set (13 stone). Your screws won't come out again.