Attaching bookshelves to walls (for child safety)

Diamond Member Joined: Apr 03 2006 Posts: 2620

I've heard that it's important to attach shelves to walls because they can sometimes tip over if a child tries to climb it. My question is, how does one go about doing this? Any help would be appreciated.

TIA

Diamond Member Joined: Dec 30 2004 Posts: 3194

you buy a bracket thats L shaped, it screws into the top of the book shelves and to the wall.

http://www.disastersafety.org/projects/?id=1578&category=1017

http://www.ehow.com/how_2157569_anchor-bookshelf-wall.html

its so so important especially if you have older kids who like to climb.

Diamond Member Joined: Apr 03 2006 Posts: 2620

Thanks a lot shoy!

Posted: Mon, Jul 06 2009, 9:26 am Post subject:

don't just screw the brackets anywhere ... make sure it goes into a stud (the wood framing that sits vertically behind the drywall or plaster) ... this way the bookshelf is truly secure ...

and please if somebody is painting your house - make sure to tell them you screwed the bookshelves onto the walls ... Idea

_________________
don't wonder why people go crazy ... rather wonder why we don't
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NUTso but cute ~ things balance out Nervous

If your walls aren't straight and the shelves aren't flush against the wall, you can use rubber "belts" (for lack of a better word) and screw one end to the book shelf and the other to the wall.

You could probably find some thing suitable from the dollar store to use for this.

or you could try this:
anti tipping device for furniture

Posted: Mon, Jul 06 2009, 2:21 pm Post subject:

Diamond Member Joined: Apr 03 2006 Posts: 2620

thanks mommastuff, that does look helpful for the handy-challenged

Greenfire, thanks for the tip, now let's see if we can figure out how to do it.

Posted: Mon, Jul 06 2009, 7:41 pm Post subject:

Gold Member Joined: Jul 09 2006 Posts: 1937

Funny, just last night my six year old was lying on the floor in front of the bookcase and he asked me if it can fall over. I told him that is a good thing to be concerned about, but luckily we had ours fastened to the wall.

I'm glad we have ours attached to the wall because my kids like to empty the shelves and lie in them!
They have also learned to climb the shelves and reach very high!

Diamond Member Joined: Apr 03 2006 Posts: 4473

here's how:
Call a handyman Smile