BROWSE HOW TOs

How to Reinforce a Sagging Shelf

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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Is the weight of all those soccer trophies making your daughter's prize shelf droop like a loser? Don't blow the whistle on it just yet. You can have that sagging shelf looking like a winner again.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Shelf-support Bracket And Screws
Pencil
Hammer
Hand Drill
Plastic Wall Anchors
Screwdriver
Tape Measure

Step1

Measure the existing brackets on the shelf, then go to the hardware store and buy a matching bracket.

Step2

Hold a shelf-support bracket at the center point, and use a pencil to mark on the wall where the screw holes will go (see A). Remove the bracket.

Step3

Check the box the anchors came in for the diameter of the holes.

Step4

Using a hand drill, drill holes at the pencil marks slightly smaller than your plastic wall anchors.

Step5

Place the anchors in the holes.

Step6

Tap the anchors lightly with a hammer until flush with the wall (see B).

Step7

While holding the bracket firmly against the wall, make sure the holes in the bracket line up exactly with the wall anchors.

Step8

Using a screwdriver or a drill, insert the screws into the anchors until they are flush with the bracket.

Step9

If the shelf still sags, add additional brackets midway between the new bracket and the existing ones.

Tips & Warnings

If you have wood walls, skip the wall anchors and screw the bracket directly into the wood.
If the shelf has a severe sag, screw a strip of hardwood to its front edge to reinforce it.
Wall anchors are designed to hold weights of only 20 lbs. (9 kg) or less.