KITCHENS

Put up a spice rack on a metal stud wall

Fit a lightweight spice rack securely to any kitchen wall, choosing the right fixing for your wall type.

SR-01Mark where the rack will goHold the rack against the wall at a comfortable height — usually 400-450mm above the worktop for a spice rack. Use a spirit level to draw a level pencil line, then mark the screw hole positions through the rack itself or with a paper template. Keep the marks small and clear so you can find them again after drilling.
1 each · Pencil
1 each · Spirit level
1 each · Tape measure
SR-02Work out what your wall is made ofTap the wall. A solid, dull thud usually means brick or block behind a skim of plaster. A hollow, drum-like sound means plasterboard on a stud frame, or dot-and-dab plasterboard fixed straight to masonry with adhesive blobs. Dot-and-dab still sounds hollow in most places, but you'll feel a solid patch roughly every 300mm where a dab of adhesive sits behind the board — press a bradawl gently to find one. Lath and plaster (pre-1950s houses) sounds hollow with a slight springy give; it's rare in kitchens because most have been replastered, but check if yours hasn't been touched.
1 each · Stud/wall detector
1 each · Bradawl
SR-03If it's a stud wall, check timber or metalMetal stud walls are common in flats, new-builds, and any kitchen refitted since the 1990s. Run a magnet or your detector up and down the wall — a line of screw heads at roughly 300mm spacing shows where the plasterboard is fixed to the frame, and metal studs will grab a magnet where timber won't. Drill a small 2-3mm pilot hole at your mark: pale wood dust means a timber stud, fine grey swarf and a harder, more resistant drill action means metal. Tap either side of the mark too — a duller knock means you're on a stud, a hollower sound means you're between them.
1 each · Small magnet
1 each · 2-3mm drill bit
SR-04Check for cables and pipes before you drillCables and pipes can run almost anywhere in a kitchen wall, not just in the usual safe zones, so scan the whole marked area with your detector first. Detectors miss cables that are deep, in metal conduit, behind metal-backed plasterboard, or hidden by a metal stud frame — so treat every mark as if something could be there, even after a clear scan. 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 at all, isolate the relevant circuit at the consumer unit before drilling, and turn the water off at the stopcock before cutting into anything that could carry water.
SR-05Drill and fit the right fixing for your wallFor solid brick or block, drill a 6mm hole 40mm deep, tap in a 6mm wall plug, and use a 6mm x 40-50mm screw. For a timber stud, skip the plug — drill a 2mm pilot hole and drive a 4mm x 40mm wood screw straight into the centre of the stud. For a metal stud, never use a plastic wall plug or an ordinary wood screw — they strip straight through 0.5mm steel; use a self-drilling metal-stud fixing on the stud itself, or a hollow-wall toggle rated for at least 5kg if you're fixing into the plasterboard between studs. For dot-and-dab, measure the gap behind the board with a bradawl or long thin drill bit, then use a long fixing (60-75mm) that passes through the board and the adhesive void into the masonry, with a plug rated for that depth. For lath and plaster, use a fixing made for the job or find the timber lath or joist behind; the plaster is brittle, so drill slowly without hammer action to avoid cracking it.
1 pack · 6mm wall plugs (pack)
1 pack · 6mm x 50mm screws (pack)
1 pack · 4mm x 40mm wood screws (pack)
4 each · Self-drilling metal-stud fixings
4 each · Hollow-wall toggle fixing, 5kg rated
4 each · Long fixing for dot-and-dab, 75mm
4 each · Lath and plaster fixing
1 each · Drill/driver
SR-06Hang the rack and check it's secureLift the rack onto the fixings and check it sits flat against the wall. Use your spirit level again to confirm it's straight, then give it a firm downward tug to check it isn't moving. Load it with a few spice jars first and check nothing sags or pulls away before adding the rest.
SR-07Tidy upVacuum up brick, plaster or wood dust, or metal swarf, from the floor and skirting. Wipe down the wall and worktop below with a damp cloth. Put dust sheets, tools and any leftover fixings away.
1 each · Dust sheet
1 each · Cloth

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