Mounting on ventilated inner panel

[Pgam]

The carpenters who built our laundry room installed tongue-and-groove wood paneling with an air gap on top of drywall. There may possibly be plywood under the drywall (there is in the bathroom next door, but I'm unsure about the laundry room). Now I want to put up shelves and wonder how best to secure them. Is it enough to use wood screws in the paneling? Or should I use screws that go into the drywall/(plywood) as well?

 

[sinuslinus]

The panel is probably just nailed with brads and can't hold much.

 

[Pgam]

The panel is probably just nailed with brads and won't hold much.

Yes, that's exactly how it is. That's why I'm a bit skeptical about attaching just to the panel. But the drywall, it's hard to get a plug in when it's behind the panel... or does it still support..?

 

[sinuslinus]

What kind of shelf is it? If it becomes heavy, the panel might flex without support behind.
It's best to attach it where the panel has support behind and where there are likely wall studs to screw into.

 

[Pgam]

What kind of shelf is it? If it becomes heavy, the panel might flex without support behind it. It's best to make the installation where the panel has support behind it, and that's likely where wall studs are to be screwed into.

18mm laminated wood board with brackets, we're planning to store laundry detergent, cleaning supplies, and such things there. Yes, it's not secretly nailed, so the studs can be found; I think it's nailed on some thinner lathe. However, unfortunately, I don't want the shelf right where the stud is.