lumbermadeHow to anchor a bookcase to the wall
Any freestanding bookcase, dresser or cabinet taller than about 30 inches should be fixed to the wall. Tip-overs are a real danger, especially for children who climb shelves. It takes about 15 minutes.
What you need
- An anti-tip kit (a strap or bracket with screws), sold at any hardware store
- A stud finder
- A drill and a bit sized for your wall plugs or screws
- Wall anchors rated for your wall type if you can't hit a stud
Step by step
- Find a stud. Run the stud finder along the wall near the top of where the furniture will stand. Mark the center of a stud. Studs are usually 16 inches apart.
- Check for pipes and cables. Most stud finders have a live-wire mode. Never drill directly above or below an outlet or switch.
- Attach the bracket to the furniture. Fix it to a solid part near the top, ideally a top rail or the top panel, not the thin back panel.
- Attach the bracket to the wall. Screw into the stud with the screw from the kit, at least 1 1/2 inches into the wood. If there's no stud, use a heavy-duty drywall anchor rated for the load.
- Connect and tighten. Join the strap or bracket so the furniture can't lean forward, then pull on the top to check it holds.
Different walls
| Wall | Use |
|---|---|
| Drywall over wood studs | Wood screws into a stud |
| Drywall, no stud nearby | Toggle or heavy-duty hollow-wall anchors |
| Brick or concrete | Masonry bit and plastic or sleeve anchors |
| Plaster | Find a stud, or use anchors made for plaster |
Every tall freestanding design from lumbermade includes anchoring hardware on the shopping list and an anchoring step in the manual.
lumbermade designs furniture for your exact space and gives you the cut plan and instructions to build it.
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