Anchor tall furniture to a solid brick or block wall

Fit an anti-tip anchor strap to stop tall furniture toppling, with the right fixings for a solid brick or block wall.

AF-01Check your wall and plan the jobThis guide is for solid brick or block walls only. If a tap on the wall sounds hollow, or a magnet sticks to screw heads in a line, you've got plasterboard on studs instead, and you need different fixings — a stud screw or hollow-wall anchor, not a masonry plug. Confirm solid brick or block first, then measure where the furniture sits against the wall and mark where the anchor strap will go, roughly a third of the way down from the top.

1 each · Pencil

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1 each · Tape measure

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AF-02Check for cables and pipes before you drillCables and pipes can run almost anywhere behind a wall, not just in the usual zones. Run a detector over the marked spot, but still assume something could be there — cheap detectors miss deep cables and anything in metal conduit. Find your stopcock now (usually under the kitchen sink) and check it turns freely, so you can shut the water off fast if you hit a pipe. If you have any doubt, isolate the relevant circuit at the consumer unit before you drill.

1 each · Cable and pipe detector

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AF-03Buy the right anchor kitGet a furniture anti-tip strap or bracket kit rated for the weight of the piece — most flat-pack wardrobes and bookcases use light-duty straps, heavier units need a stronger kit. Check the kit includes masonry-rated wall plugs, or buy separate red or brown plugs to suit a 6mm masonry bit if it doesn't.

1 pack · Furniture anti-tip anchor strap kit (pair)

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AF-04Move the furniture and mark drilling pointsPull the furniture away from the wall so you can see the marked spot clearly, or slide the strap's wall bracket up behind it if it's too heavy to move. Hold the bracket level using a spirit level and mark the screw hole positions with a pencil.

1 each · Spirit level

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AF-05Drill into the masonryLay a dust sheet below to catch debris. Fit a 6mm masonry bit and drill straight, level holes at least 40mm deep into solid brick or block — deep enough for the plug to grip fully. Use a hammer drill on the masonry setting; ordinary drills struggle with brick and block.

1 each · Masonry drill bit, 6mm

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1 each · Hammer drill

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1 each · Dust sheet

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AF-06Fit the wall plugs and screw the bracket inPush a wall plug into each hole until it's flush with the wall. Screw the bracket in place through the plugs, tightening until it's snug and doesn't wobble. Don't overtighten — you can crack the plug and lose grip.

1 pack · Wall plugs, 6mm (pack of 10)

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4 each · Screws, 4mm x 40mm

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AF-07Fix the other end of the strap to the furnitureAttach the second bracket or strap end to the back of the furniture using the screws supplied with the kit — usually short woodscrews into the rear panel or frame. Push the furniture back against the wall and connect the strap so there's little to no slack.

4 each · Screws (supplied with kit)

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AF-08Test the fixing and tidy upTry to rock the furniture forward from the top — it should barely move. Check the bracket screws are still tight. Vacuum up any brick dust and fold away your dust sheet.

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