SHELVING & STORAGE

Put up a shelf above a radiator on a lath and plaster wall

Plan, mark and fix a level shelf above a radiator, working safely around hidden cables, pipes and old plaster.

SH-01Clear the area and gather your toolsMove any furniture from under the radiator and lay a dust sheet on the floor. Lath and plaster drilling makes fine white dust, so cover the radiator top too. Get everything together before you start: detector, drill, spirit level, tape measure, pencil, screws, fixings and the shelf itself.
1 each · Dust sheet
1 each · Cordless drill
1 each · Spirit level
1 each · Tape measure
1 each · Pencil
SH-02Decide the shelf height and mark a level lineLeave at least 100mm between the top of the radiator and the underside of the shelf. This stops heat damaging the shelf and lets warm air still circulate into the room. Measure up from the radiator, mark one point, then use a spirit level to draw a level pencil line the full width of the shelf.
SH-03Find the timber studs behind the lath and plasterLath and plaster is thin timber strips nailed across timber studs, then covered in lime plaster — it is always timber behind it, never metal studwork, so you're only dealing with one type of frame here. Run a detector along your marked line, and back it up by tapping for a duller, more solid sound where a stud sits. A small pilot hole helps too: fine timber dust means you've hit a stud, while a softer feel followed by empty space means you're between studs, over lath only.
1 each · Stud detector
SH-04Check for cables and pipes before you drillCables and pipes can run almost anywhere, and a detector can still miss them if they're deep, in metal conduit, or hidden behind old repairs — this wall also has radiator pipework running through it, so take extra care. Sweep the detector over the whole line again, but treat the result as a guide, not a guarantee. Find your stopcock now, usually under the kitchen sink, and check it turns so you can shut off water fast if you hit a pipe. If you have any doubt about what's behind the wall, turn off the relevant circuit at the consumer unit and the water off at the stopcock before you drill.
SH-05Mark the fixing points against your stud lineHold each bracket against the wall on your level line and mark the screw holes through it. Check each mark against your stud pencil marks from step 3. Aim to land as many fixing points as possible on a stud — this gives you the strongest hold in old lath and plaster.
1 pair · Shelf brackets (pair)
SH-06Drill and fit the right fixing for each pointWhere a hole lands on a stud, drill a 3mm pilot hole and drive a wood screw of at least 50mm into the timber centre — this is your strongest fixing and should take most of the shelf's weight. Where a hole lands between studs, over lath only, don't use an ordinary wall plug — the brittle old plaster and thin lath will crack. Use a spring toggle or a fixing rated for lath and plaster instead, drilling a hole sized to the fixing's instructions and going slowly to avoid shattering the plaster around it. Keep at least one fixing on a stud on each bracket wherever you can, and treat lath-only fixings as extra support, not the main hold.
1 box · Wood screws, 50mm (box)
1 pack · Spring toggle fixings for lath and plaster (pack of 4)
1 each · Masonry/wood drill bit set
SH-07Fix the brackets, then fit and level the shelfScrew each bracket fully home so it sits flat and doesn't rock. Rest the shelf on top, check it with the spirit level along its length, and adjust if one bracket sits slightly proud. Screw the shelf down into the brackets from underneath so it can't be lifted off.
1 each · Shelf board, approx. 900 x 200mm
SH-08Fill, tidy up and finishFill any cracks or chips in the old plaster around the fixings with a fine filler, leave it to dry, then sand smooth. Touch up with matching paint if needed. Vacuum up the plaster dust, fold away the dust sheet, and give the shelf a final wipe down.
1 each · Fine filler (small tub)
1 sheet · Fine sandpaper

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