How to Attach Shelves to Cinder Blocks

A special masonry drill quickly bores through tough, block surfaces.

With the assistance of a masonry drill, builders easily add shelves to surfaces that seem as hard as rock. To attach shelf standards or brackets to cinder block walls, a builder drills holes into the wall with a masonry drill and fills the holes with concrete expansion anchors. Concrete expansion anchors are specially designed vinyl or plastic inserts that expand when they receive a screw. Once the anchors expand, they firmly hold the screw and any attached shelf hardware against the cinder block surface.

Things You'll Need

• Shelf bracket, standard or cleat
• Pencil
• Power drill
• Masonry drill bit
• Painter's tape
• Concrete expansion anchors
• Driver drill bit
• Screws
• Shelf standard brackets
• Shelf top material

Instructions

1. Set the shelf bracket or standard against the wall. Place the shelf hardware in its desired position. While holding the hardware in position with one hand, use a second hand to grab a pencil. Use the pencil to mark the position of the shelf hardware's screw holes on the wall. Push the pencil directly through the hardware's screw hole to draw a mark on the wall. Remove the shelf hardware from the wall.

2. Loosen the power drill's chuck, insert a masonry drill bit into the chuck and fully tighten the bit into the power drill. Wrap a piece of painter's tape around the shank of the bit to indicate the desired depth of the hole; consult your concrete anchor's specifications for depth recommendations. Place the tip of the bit against one of the screw hole marks on the cinder block wall. Activate the power drill and bore into the wall until the tape reaches the wall's surface. Drill a hole through each screw hole mark.

3. Insert a concrete expansion anchor into each hole. Remove the masonry drill bit from the power drill. Replace the masonry bit with a drill driver bit that corresponds to the type of screws that you are using, such as Phillips or slotted. Load a screw onto the tip of the drill bit. Use your free hand to position the shelf hardware over the pre-drilled holes and concrete anchors. While holding the hardware in place, use the power drill to drive a screw through the hardware and into the concrete anchor beneath. Fasten screws into each anchor to secure the shelf hardware to the cinder block wall.

4. Place shelf top material, such as plywood or melamine, atop the brackets. Drive screws through the bracket holes beneath the shelf top material to secure the shelf to the brackets. If using shelf standards, attach shelf standard brackets to the shelf standard and rest shelf top material directly on top of the shelf standard brackets.

Tips & Warnings

• If your block wall is painted, cover the drill mark with painter's tape prior to drilling; the tape reduces the chance of cracked paint.

References

• University of Idaho: Shelf Installation
• Pennsylvania State University: Storage Shelving
• University of Arkansas: Supports and Anchors