Putting the brackets above the shelves

[ciphergoth]

We want to put some bookshelves above our living room window. We'd like to create as much space as possible and the brackets aren't very attractive, so we're thinking of mounting the brackets above the shelves instead of below.

I'm not sure, but I think this will reduce the amount of weight the shelf can carry before pulling the rawlplugs out of the masonary. I'm guessing that it won't reduce it so much that we have to worry, but does anyone know better?

Thanks!

Comments

[frandowdsofa.livejournal.com]

Brackets underneath = weight pushes plugs further into wall = good
Brackets above = weight pulls plugs out of wall = not good

[http://users.livejournal.com/_nicolai_/]

Not exactly; the upper fixings of the bracket to the wall will have some tension, while the lower ones will be mostly in compression. It is entirely possible for the weight of the books to pull the uppermost fixing out of the wall even when the bracket is below the shelf.

[zotz]

I don't see why it would make a difference. In both cases the upper bracket will tend to be pulled out of the wall and the lower pushed into it . . . as far as I can tell, anyway.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_nicolai_/]

If you are thinking of right-angle brackets and shelves, they should work with the brackets above the shelf, but won't take as large a load as they might have taken in their normal position. Make sure that you use strong fixings between the shelf and the bracket, as any supplied for the usual arrangement will not be intended to hold the entire weight of the books.
There are other possible arrangements. Here is an example from IKEA of one with hidden fixings in the wall.
I also have some shelves which hang from built-in brackets that are fixed above the shelf and intended to be that way, but I don't know of a source for them now, they are quite old. This arrangement conveniently has the effect of acting like a book-end as well.

[zotz]

Lara and Seth have one of those Ikea shelves with books on. It's been there a while, and seems stable. Sensible books, mind, not coffee-table books.

[conflux.livejournal.com]

It will be fine, as long as you use good fixings. You will also need to be a lot more careful about how the brackets are attached to the shelf though, short screws may well pull out. Finally there is usually a hard concrete lintel over the window which can be a pain to drill into.

[oilrig.livejournal.com]

Assuming it it concrete, not steel. Hit the edge of a steel one at my sisters, and made a mess of the wall.....

[weegoddess.livejournal.com]

I have absolutely nothing of value to add here, but I did want to say that it warmed me all through to hear of you guys doing such home-y things. Makes me want to nest...;-D

::looks forward to settling into our new home, where ever that ends up being::

[kimble.livejournal.com]

On a related note, The Sagulator (http://www.woodbin.com/calcs/sagulator.htm) may be useful.

[aster13.livejournal.com]

What a useful little website!

[juliet]

Books are (IME) always heavier than you expect - I'd make sure if you do this that you stick to small paperbacks on that shelf.

[d-floorlandmine.livejournal.com]

Aye. About the only thing heavier than books when shelving is vinyl. Which also appreciates falls even less than books.

Aquariums aren't good, either, though ...

[hairyears.livejournal.com]

The pulling-out forces on the upper screws are identical for a top- or bottom-supported shelf bracket.

Take care that an upside-down bracket isn't secured to the shelf in such a way that screws are subject to a force that pulls them axially out of the wood! Drill through and use a nut, bolt and washer if this is the case.

A hint: angle the drill downwards 10 to 15 degrees when making the upper holes in the wall. The screw heads might not fit flush into the bracket, but this arrangement us far, far stronger.