I've got two really tall bookcases (220 cm each) that I want to secure to a brick wall in my home, which was built in the 70s. The brick quality isn't great since it's starting to crumble, and I'm a bit concerned about safety. I only have a cheap drill screwdriver with a torque of 36 Nm and a hammer drill that I haven't used before. I'm wondering if a self-tapping screw is enough to hold these bookcases safely or if I should be using a dowel instead. I'm not looking for advice on materials, just whether my tools will work for this job.
3 Answers
If you're using a hammer drill, that should work just fine. For a bookcase, a couple of plastic anchors should be sufficient at the top. It's really important for securing it well, especially if you have kids or pets around!
Self-tapping screws won't hold your bookcase. You really need to drill a hole for a brick anchor. One near the top should work, but two would definitely give you more stability. Remember to put the anchor in the brick, not the joints!
You're definitely going to want to use more than just self-tapping screws here. A masonry anchor is what you need, especially since your bricks are soft and starting to crumble. Make sure to get a masonry bit too, and you'd be best off drilling a hole for the anchor.
...so that's what it's properly called in English. Is my screwdriver enough, or do I need a specialized drill?