Fit garage wall shelving to a lath and plaster wall

Fit garage shelving safely by checking what your wall is made of and using the right fixing before you drill.

GS-01Plan the job and clear the wallDecide what you want to store and pick a shelf width and depth that suits it. Clear the wall and floor in front of it so you have room to work safely. Mark the height of the top shelf with a pencil and check the line is level with a spirit level.

1 each · Tape measure

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1 each · Pencil

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GS-02Work out exactly what your wall isTap the wall in several places. Lath and plaster feels slightly springy and sounds hollow with a soft, higher knock, unlike the dead thud of solid brick or block. Run a magnet or stud detector across the wall: a row of nail heads means timber laths on a timber frame, while a regular metallic ping every 300-600mm means a metal stud wall. Drill a small 2mm pilot hole in an unimportant spot — fine white dust means plaster over lath or plasterboard, timber dust means a wood batten or stud behind it, and grey swarf means a metal stud.

1 each · Stud/cable detector or magnet

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1 each · 2mm drill bit

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GS-03Locate the timber studs or battens behind the lathsLath and plaster is nailed to timber laths, which are fixed to timber studs or joists spaced roughly 400-600mm apart. Use your detector to find the centre of each stud at shelf height and mark it with a pencil cross. Fixing into the stud itself, not just the laths, is what actually holds the weight, since laths alone will crack and pull out. If your garage wall turns out to be timber stud plasterboard, metal stud plasterboard, dot-and-dab, or solid brick or block instead, use the same detector check to find stud centres or confirm solid masonry, then use the matching fixing in the drilling step below.

GS-04Check for cables and pipes before you drillCables and pipes can run almost anywhere in a wall, not just in the usual safe zones, and a metal stud frame can confuse a cheap detector further. Sweep the area again, but still treat every fixing point as if something could be there, since detectors miss cables that are deep, in metal conduit, or behind metal-backed plasterboard. Before drilling, find your stopcock (usually under the kitchen sink) and check it turns freely, so you can shut off the water fast if you hit a pipe. If you have any doubt at all, isolate the circuit at the consumer unit before drilling, and turn off the water at the stopcock before cutting into anything that could carry it.

GS-05Drill and fit the correct fixing for your wallFor lath and plaster over a timber stud, drill a 3mm pilot hole through the plaster and lath into the marked stud centre, then drive a 65mm wood screw so it bites at least 30mm into the timber. For a plain timber stud wall, use a 50-65mm wood screw straight into the stud centre. For a metal stud wall, never use a wood screw or plastic plug — a self-drilling metal-stud screw or toggle-type hollow-wall anchor is needed, and a metal stud alone won't hold real weight; fit a timber noggin between the studs first for anything heavy. For solid brick or block, drill an 8mm hole 45-50mm deep with a masonry bit, fit a red or brown wall plug, and drive in a matching screw. For dot-and-dab plasterboard, use a long fixing of 75-90mm so it passes through the board, the air gap, and the adhesive dabs to reach the masonry behind.

1 box · 65mm wood screws (box of 100)

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1 pack · Self-drilling metal stud fixings (pack of 10)

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1 pack · Hollow-wall toggle fixings (pack of 4)

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1 pack · Red wall plugs (pack of 20)

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1 each · 8mm masonry drill bit

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1 pack · Long dot-and-dab fixings 75-90mm (pack of 10)

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GS-06Fit the brackets and check they're levelScrew each bracket into its marked fixing point, checking with a spirit level as you go so the row sits dead level. Space brackets no more than 400mm apart for a garage shelf carrying tools or paint tins. Tighten each screw fully but don't overtighten into plasterboard, as this can crush the board around the fixing.

2 each · Heavy-duty shelf brackets

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GS-07Fit the shelf boardRest the shelf board on the brackets and check it sits flat and level. Screw up through the underside of the bracket into the board, or down through the board into the bracket, depending on your bracket type. Wipe away any plaster dust before you load the shelf.

1 each · 18mm MDF shelf board 1200 x 300mm

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1 pack · 40mm screws (pack of 50)

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GS-08Load test before you use the shelfAdd weight gradually rather than loading it all at once. Watch and listen for movement, cracking plaster, or a fixing pulling away from the wall. If anything moves, stop, remove the load, and refit that bracket into solid timber or masonry instead.

GS-09Clear upVacuum plaster and masonry dust from the floor and skirting, and wipe down the wall and shelf. Put spare fixings and offcuts away, and store leftover screws and plugs in a labelled tub for next time.

1 each · Dust sheet

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