drilldrywall-anchorshelving
I'm planning on drilling into my wall and putting screws into hang a floating shelf I got from Ikea. It's fairly small (about 30cm x 30cm) but I would like to leave about 10 text books on it.
http://www.ikea.com/aa/en/assembly_instructions/lack-wall-shelf__AA-200208-9_pub.pdf
The problem is that I'm in an apartment and the wall is plasterboard/ gyprock. How can I safely drill into it–or, alternatively what would be a strong stick-on hook that I can use?
Typically you would remove them, however the anchor you are using is marketed as a "stud solver" meaning that it can be driven into a stud. I think it is fine to leave them.
If you were using small plastic drywall anchors then I'd definitely remove them and drive a screw directly into the stud.
It's probably double 5/8ths drywall, I'd use toggle bolts. And then washers and 3" deck screws to the stud for safety (not drywall screws), even if you're going to do all four corners with toggle bolts. There should be some one-by inside the cabinet at the top (and possibly the bottom) this is where you want your fasteners penetrating, not just through the flimsy back panel. Your local hardware store should have these:
1/4" x 4" Toggle Bolt: (tannerbolt.com)
You can skimp on diameter if you want, but the shorter they are, the harder it's going to be to install all four at the same time. The size shown is my go-to.
Hand tighten only, or you risk stripping the tiny nut in the spreader or compromising the drywall integrity. You need to be able to feel what's going on in there; they should just be snug. Be extra careful with smaller diameter toggles as they have even wimpier nuts.
Other types of drywall fasteners are discussed here: What benefit do plasterboard drywall screws have?
Best Answer
For that much weight, I would try to drill into the studs. You can find them using a studfinder, or sometimes knocking and listening for the change in pitch will be enough. If in doubt, find several, and assume they are evenly spaced. Make sure the drilled holes and screws are long enough to penetrate well into the stud, say at least 2 inches.
Of course, to do this, you need to be able to adjust the distance between the screws to match the distance between the studs. If, for whatever reason, this isn't possible, you can use a small board as an interface. Cut a narrow board long enough to span the studs, or the length of the shelf, whichever is longer. Screw it into the studs. Then use short screws to attach the shelf to the board.