When it comes to hanging something heavy, a simple nail is unlikely to suffice. You want to know that whatever you're hanging on your wall, whether it's an heirloom family mirror or a large picture, it'll stay put for years to come.

The best way to hang your object is determined by the type of wall you have and the location where you wish to place it. Depending on whether your wall is plaster, drywall, or brick, there are numerous approaches to this operation.

Your home most likely has plaster walls if it was built before WWII. Most recent homes are built using drywall, while homeowners who want a textured or glossy finish may choose plaster. If you're not sure, try fastening a tack into an inconspicuous part of your wall. It's probably drywall if you can easily insert a tack into the wall to hang a picture or poster. Plaster is brittle and normally cannot be punctured in this manner. Check the guidelines on the hardware you buy before trying any of the following ways to be sure it can handle the weight of the object you're trying to hang. If you're not sure, employ a skilled handyman to hang your painting or mirror.

Installing the Shelf Standards

1. Determine the location where you will install the shelves.
2. Locate the wall studs in the desired placement area by sliding the stud-finder across the wall toward the desired location of the shelving to find the edge of the 2-by-4 foot stud and mark the location with a pencil. Slide the stud finder in from the other direction to locate the stud's other edge and mark the spot. It may be necessary to move the desired location for the shelving a short distance right or left of where you initially placed it.
3. Use a tape measure to measure between the two marks, find the middle of the stud and mark it.
4. Measure across the wall 16 inches and locate the next stud by following the same procedure with the stud finder, tape measure and pencil. Continue by measuring another 16 inches across the wall and marking the stud. You now have marked three studs for a total distance of 32 inches.
5. Hold the first standard on the wall over the mark designating the middle of the stud. Position the standard at the height you wish it to be to support the shelves and mark where the first hole in the standard touches the wall.
6. Drill a 1/8-inch diameter hole approximately 3 inches deep through the wall and into the stud.
7. Drive a 2 ½-inch long flathead screw 1/8 inch in diameter through the top hole in the shelving standard and into the stud.
8. Place a 4-foot-long carpenter’s spirit level against the standard. Ensure that the standard is in plumb vertically, and drill another pilot hole through the bottom hole in the standard into the wall.
9. Thread in another screw into this new hole and then drill pilot holes for the remaining holes in the standard. Drive screws through the holes in the standard and into the stud.

Install the Remaining Standards and Mounting Brackets

1. Place a shelf bracket into the slot on the standard you just installed that is at the height you want to place the top shelf. Slide another shelf bracket into the slot in the same location on the second bracket.
2. Hold the bracket on the wall against the second stud and lay the carpenter’s level on top of the two brackets. Move the second bracket up or down until it is level with the first one according to the carpenter’s level.
3. Place the level against the side of the standard and ensure that it is in plumb. Attach this bracket to the wall by drilling pilot holes and threading in screws. Follow the same process to attach the third shelf standard and brackets.

Installing the Shelves

1. Position the shelves on the brackets and make a pencil mark through the mounting holes onto the bottom of the shelves.
2. Drill 1/8-inch holes into the marks on the bottom of the shelves. Drive the holes halfway through the shelves.
3. Thread 1 ¼-inch flathead screws through the mounting bracket holes into the pilot holes in the bottom of the shelves.
4. Things You Will Need

• Electronic sensor stud-finder
• Tape measure
• Shelf standard
• Electric drill
• Drill bit, 1/8-inch diameter
• Flathead screw, 2 ½-inches long and 1/8-inch in diameter
• Carpenter’s spirit level, 4-foot-long
• Shelf brackets
• Drill bit, 1/8-inch
• Flathead screws, 1 ¼-inch
• Shelves

Tips

1. Use hollow-wall anchors to attach shelves when studs are not placed in the correct location to accommodate the length of the shelves. It is helpful to have an assistant to hold the shelves in place while you drill the holes.
2. For a more in depth view of a how to process; please visit https://homeguides.sfgate.com/