A very frequent question which we get asked here at BrickSlips, do you have any advice fixing to a brick slip wall?
Rather than putting this on one of our Ask Andy blogs. We have decided to dedicate a full blog to this subject in the hope that we can inform and explain.
Whether you are fixing a cabinet up in a kitchen, installing shelving, upgrading to a heated towel rail installing a mirror or even a toilet roll holder. In all cases if that wall has brick slips installed you are going need to drill into the wall. When doing this you will need to use the correct fixing method if you want to guarantee a decent and sturdy fix.
Without a strong fixing, ultimately, whatever item you are trying to fix will come loose and fall off, damaging the object itself and most likely the brick slips too.
Things to consider when fixing to a Brick slip wall
When mounting fixtures to the surface of brick slips which are adhered to plasterboard, the main issue comes from the thickness of the brick slips and and plasterboard combined. Most standard brick slips are 25mm in thickness including adhesive bed, and a standard plasterboard is 12.5mm in thickness. This means the total thickness of the substrate would be 37.5mm.
Check that the wall is of sound structure
Before you hang or fix anything to a wall you must be sure that the wall is structurally sound. A typical inner leaf of a home, either brick work of block work can be fixed through the brick slips and into the substrate. If you do have any doubts then it is always advised to check with a local professional before works commence.
If you are attaching a fixture to a studded internal wall, which again has been brick slipped. You will need to establish whether this wall is structurally sound. If built correctly with the right bracing and partitions then you should be fine, again we would always advise consulting with a professional prior to installation.
Fixing Cross Section Example
Click for bigger cross section diagram.
Fixing into a Masonry wall
If the wall is solid masonry, this is one of the easiest to deal with. Simply use the correct size masonry drill bit (should be around 6mm) and drill your fixing hole through the mortar joint in the brick slip facade and in to the masonry underneath to the correct depth. Wall plugs or nylon anchor fixings are usually the best products to achieve this.
You will just need to use a slightly longer screw to ensure it bites nicely into the substrate.
Fixing into a Plasterboard wall
If you are fixing into a plasterboard wall. We would advise using either wall anchors, spring toggle fixings or drywall plugs. In our opinion wall anchors are the best and should provide more than enough support.
You will just need to use a slightly longer screw to ensure it bites nicely into the substrate.
Fixing into a Timber sheet material wall.
Fixing through brick slips and into timber is by far the easiest method of all. In most cases, if you are dealing with sheet timber then this will be in some kind of loft conversion and due to this, the timber itself should be at least 18mm thick. This thickness should be more than enough to ensure a firm fix.
If however the timber is less than 9mm thick you should consider using a spring or anchor fixing. You should always check that the wall is structurally sound when fixing in to a brick slip wall, prior to installation.
Summary
The main thing to keep in mind is if the walls have been constructed correctly and the brick slips have been installed right. Proving these are OK there is no reason why shelving, cabinates and other fixtures cannot be attached to the wall.
If you require any further information please ask. There are lots of questions and answers in our Help Section at the bottom of our website.
