Put up a wall-mounted wine rack on a solid brick or block wall

Fix a wine rack to a solid brick or block wall safely, using the right masonry plugs and screws.

WR-01Unpack the rack and clear the areaCheck the wine rack's fixing holes and see how many screws it needs. Move furniture and lay a dust sheet under the wall you're working on. Keep your drill, spirit level, pencil and screwdriver within reach.

1 each · Dust sheet

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WR-02Choose the height and mark a level lineHold the rack against the wall at a comfortable height, allowing for the length of a bottle plus room to lift it out. Use a spirit level to draw a level pencil line where the top of the rack will sit. Keep at least 100mm clear of any socket or switch, and 50mm from an internal corner.

1 each · Spirit level

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1 each · Pencil

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WR-03Check for hidden pipes and cables before you drillSweep the wall with a cable and pipe detector, but don't trust it completely — detectors can miss cables that run deep, sit in metal conduit, or lie outside the usual safe zones. Find your stopcock (usually under the kitchen sink) and check it turns freely before you start, so you can shut the water off fast if you hit a pipe. If you have any doubt, isolate the circuit at the consumer unit before drilling, and turn off the water at the stopcock before drilling near any wall that could carry pipework.

1 each · Cable and pipe detector

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WR-04Mark the fixing holesHold the rack level against your pencil line and mark each fixing hole through the rack's own holes. Double-check the marks are level and evenly spaced before you drill anything.

WR-05Drill and plug the wallFit a masonry bit to your drill — 6mm for a standard wall plug and No.8 screw, 7mm for heavier fixings. Set the drill to hammer mode on brick or block and drill each hole to at least 40mm deep. Blow or vacuum out the dust, then push a wall plug into each hole until it's flush.

1 each · Masonry drill bit 6mm

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1 box · Wall plugs (red/brown, box of 20)

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WR-06Screw the rack to the wallLine the rack up with the plugged holes and drive a wood screw into each one. Tighten firmly but stop as soon as the rack sits flush — overtightening can crack the plaster or split a plug.

6 each · Wood screws 40mm No.8

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WR-07Check it's secure and levelGive the rack a firm tug by hand to check nothing moves. Run your spirit level along the top to confirm it's still straight, then load a few bottles to test it holds the weight without flexing.

WR-08Tidy upVacuum masonry dust from the floor and skirting, and wipe the wall clean. Dispose of packaging and any dust sheet debris, and put your tools away.

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