Fixing a bookshelf, bathtub or basin to a hollow wall can be a nightmare, unless you strengthen it first. Many buildings have internal ‘stud walls’, which are constructed from sheets of plasterboard fixed between timber studding. Happily, strengthening them is relatively easy; all that is needed to complete the job will be a touch of painting and decorating. You won’t need to be an architect, basic building skills will do.
To strengthen the wall, you’ll need to locate the timber studs beneath the plaster, taking care to check that there are no cables or pipes running through the area you want to work on, using a cable sensor. Work out which studs you’re going to use as upright supports for the horizontal timber bridge you’ll be using to strengthen the wall. The bridge will need to be at the correct height and of sufficient length for your fixing. Place it on the wall using a spirit level and draw an outline around it.
Drill holes into the plaster at each corner and then use a pad saw to remove the plaster between studs. Clear out the strip of plaster and recess the studs, where your bridge crosses them, using a chisel. First tap in some rows of horizontal chisel grooves to the thickness of the bridge then pare the wood out. You might need to recess your bridge, too, if it’s very thick or you’ll weaken the studs. Fix the bridge into place on the studs and screw it into position, using screws of sufficient size to carry the load. Finish off with a little plastering followed by a lick of paint and hang your fixing.
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