Storease - Can I drill my own holes?

[Denaz]

Hi team!

Am in the process of setting up some Storease in the storage room, however the stud in right in the middle of the bracket/rail that I'm trying to install. Can I just drill my own hole through the bracket/rail so that I can attach it to the stud? Just don't want to break the bracket but I also don't want it just hanging from the drywall given I'll be hanging heavy objects from it. So i was thinking I could use the two existing holes and attach to the drywall but then also drill a couple of holes in the middle so that it can also be attached to the stud for a bit of extra support.

This is the storease i'm using: Storease garage storage system starter kit 

I can't see it being an issue but figured I'd ask the experts given I've never had to hang a rail/bracket system from a wall before.

Thanks all!

[JacobZ]

Hi @Denaz,

Thank you for your question.

At 600mm long, the rails are long enough to span two studs, and you should try to hit two studs if possible. If you can shift the rails slightly to pick up a second stud, then you should definitely consider doing so.

If you can't pick up two studs, then you can drill holes in the rail to anchor the centre to a stud. I'd suggest using 2 x 50mm screws such as these Zenith 8g x 50mm Timber Screws into the one available stud.

You can then use two heavy-duty wall anchors such as these Ramset Super Wallmate Toggle Anchors through the mounting holes into the plasterboard.

This will give you the strongest connection possible where two studs are not available.

Let me know what you think.

Jacob

[Denaz]

Thanks Jacob, its a bit of a tricky spot as its in the corner and I don't really want the rail mounted right up again the wall as I'd lose a bit of room to hang things. So I figured one stud is better then none, especially if I’m going to be hanging shovels and the like from it

[JacobZ]

Hi @Denaz,

It would be worth hanging the heaviest stuff closer to the middle so its weight is better transferred into the stud.

If you were hanging very heavy things like a bike, for example, I wouldn't suggest relying on one stud, but something like a shovel should be fine.

Let me know how you go.

Jacob

[Nailbag]

Hi @Denaz 

If I can add another piece of advice. It's not just how secure you fastening the rail to the wall, it's how well that fixing will last once you start using it for hanging storage. 

Taking the weight is one thing, but it's when you regularly place/hang heavier items that test the fastening. The stress will be around the plaster board only fixings and not the stud ones. Depending on weight and frequency of use, will depend on how long the plaster board holes will hold up before they start to sag. Or the plaster board starts to pull away from itself behind the wall, which is much worse to deal with. I have seen this countless times when not enough fastenings in to studs with wall hanging systems.

So, back to @JacobZ initial advice on the importance to pick up as many studs as possible, especially if a very heavy item like a bike is to be hung from it. Positioning heavier items near the stud fixings like this or in this case allowing the rear wheel to be touching the ground will help greatly with weight distribution. 

Nailbag

[Denaz]

Thanks @Nailbag and @JacobZ, really do appreciate your help!

I went and had another look and it looks like the spacing of my studs means I only have the one to work with. The next stud along is behind a shelving unit, so am not able to get to that plus the pre-drilled holes on the rails don't actually line up with the spacing of the studs which are about 60cm I think. The longer rails would be better but they were just a bit too long to fit into the space.

So my thought was to drill two holes in the centre of the rail (one high and one low), which will attach to the stud then use the two pre-drilled holes on each side to attach to the plasterboard. So there would be six points fixed to the wall with the centre two into the stud.

I'll only be hanging tools from the rails (shovels/rakes/etc) and no bikes or anything like that, so I'm hoping that will be enough. Not ideal... but I guess as long as I'm not too rough when hanging up the tools, it should be ok? 🤞

[Nailbag]

Your welcome and that sounds like a good plan @Denaz and the best you can do in that wall.

Nailbag