I've got these wrap-around storage shelves in my garage that have been holding some really heavy bins. Recently, I noticed that one of the ceiling brackets is starting to pull away, and even though I've unloaded the heavy stuff for now, there's visible damage where the screws and anchors went in. My father-in-law suggested screwing them back in for now and maybe trying different anchors later. I think I might be seeing drywall anchors—what do you think? What's the best way to ensure these shelves are safe long-term? Should I replace fasteners, use different brackets, or consider adding vertical supports? I'd appreciate any advice you can offer!
3 Answers
If there’s an attic space above, you might want to think about going up there and placing a brace between the joists. Those anchors and screws you have won't handle heavy loads well. For something like this, using lag bolts into the beams is really the way to go for extra security!
Yeah, those are definitely drywall anchors! You really should be using heavy-duty screws directly into the ceiling joists instead of just relying on drywall. It looks like the initial setup wasn’t designed to hold that much weight—probably fine for lighter stuff but not for heavy bins. If you plan to stack a lot, consider vertical supports from the floor to help carry the load. My neighbor built similar shelves with vertical posts, and now he can stack stuff without worries. It's pretty ingenious!
Quick question—are your shelves anchored into actual joists, or just relying on the ceiling? I’d assume they need to be screwed into the joists to be secure. If they're just into drywall, it’s not going to hold much weight. You might want to check when and how this was put up. Adding some reinforcement like lag bolts into the beams could definitely help!
Thanks for the tip! I’ll definitely check for attic access and see if I can add some braces.