Put up a floating shelf on a solid brick or block wall

Fit a floating shelf securely to a solid brick or block wall, checking for cables and pipes before you drill.

FS-01Gather your tools and check the shelf kitLay out your shelf, bracket bar or brackets, screws and wall plugs, and check they match — some floating shelf kits come with their own fixings which are already the right size for masonry. Get a spirit level, tape measure, pencil, cable and pipe detector, masonry drill bit, and a dust sheet to catch debris. Check the shelf's maximum load in the instructions before you start, so you know it will do the job you want.

1 each · Spirit level

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1 each · Tape measure

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1 each · Pencil

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1 each · Dust sheet

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FS-02Mark the shelf position and draw a level lineHold the shelf or bracket where you want it and mark the top edge lightly in pencil. Use a spirit level to draw a level horizontal line across the wall — do not eyeball it, even a few mm out is obvious once the shelf is up. Check there's enough height above and below for whatever you're storing.

FS-03Mark the fixing hole positionsHold the bracket or bracket bar against your level line and mark through its fixing holes with a pencil. Double-check the marks are level with each other and at the correct spacing before you drill anything. For a bracket bar system, this is usually 2 to 4 holes along a horizontal plate.

FS-04Check for cables and pipes before you drillCables and pipes can run almost anywhere in a wall, not just in neat vertical or horizontal lines. Run a cable and pipe detector over your marked spots, but still treat the wall as if something is there — detectors miss cables that are deep, in metal conduit, or outside the usual safe zones. Find your stopcock now, usually under the kitchen sink, and check it turns freely. If you have any doubt at all, isolate the relevant circuit at the consumer unit before drilling, and know you can shut the water off fast if you hit a pipe.

1 each · Cable and pipe detector

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FS-05Drill and plug the wallUse a masonry drill bit sized to match your wall plugs — typically 8mm for a standard red plug — and drill straight and level to the depth stated on the plug packet, usually 45 to 50mm. Drill in short bursts and pull the bit out now and then to clear dust; if you're going through render or a painted skim, expect a change in resistance once you hit solid brick or block. Push the wall plugs fully into the holes so they sit flush with the wall.

1 each · Masonry drill bit 8mm

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4 each · Red wall plugs (masonry)

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FS-06Fix the bracket to the wallDrive your screws through the bracket or bracket bar into the wall plugs, tightening firmly but not so hard that you strip the plug. Check the bracket is still level once fixed — small errors show up once weight goes on the shelf. Use screws long enough to bite well into solid masonry, typically 50 to 60mm.

4 each · Screws 60mm

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1 each · Floating shelf bracket or bracket bar

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FS-07Fit the shelf onto the bracketSlide the shelf onto the bracket rods or bracket bar until it's fully seated against the wall. If your kit calls for adhesive to lock the shelf in place, apply it now following the manufacturer's instructions before pushing the shelf home. Check the shelf is level and sits flush against the wall with no visible gap.

1 tube · Strong adhesive (if specified by kit)

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FS-08Check the load and tidy upGive the shelf a firm push down and side to side to check it's solid before loading it up. Let any adhesive cure fully — check the tube for time, often 24 hours — before putting weight on the shelf. Vacuum up masonry dust, wipe the wall down, and dispose of packaging and dust sheet.

1 each · Vacuum cleaner (household)

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