Wall that is like sand

[Y-May]

We tried to put up shelves on an interior wall in an apartment. The house was built in 1936. The wall was extremely porous and a lot of sand falls out. Plastic plugs didn't work; they come loose. The outer walls are brick, but this interior wall is something very porous. Does anyone have tips on how to proceed?

 

[MrJay]

It sounds like a porous lightweight concrete wall or plaster with poor adhesion, common in houses from the 1930s. When the wall crumbles, regular plastic plugs do not work. What usually becomes the strongest is chemical anchors with threaded rods or screws, where you drill, blow clean, and fill with compound that cures. As a simpler alternative, you can use special plugs for lightweight concrete. If you're installing heavy shelves, you can first mount a batten or plywood board to the wall with chemical anchors and then screw the shelf into that.

 

[Y-May]

It sounds like a porous lightweight concrete wall or plaster with poor binding, common in houses from the 30s. When the wall crumbles, regular plastic anchors don't work. What usually becomes the strongest is chemical anchors with a threaded rod or screw, where you drill, blow clean, and fill with mass that needs to cure. As a simpler alternative, you can use special anchors for lightweight concrete. If you're going to have heavy shelves, you can first mount a beam or plywood board on the wall with chemical anchors and then screw the shelf into it.

Thanks a lot for the tips. The plastic anchors we used were for lightweight concrete, so I guess the next step is to try chemical anchors. Is this something one can try on their own, or should a professional be hired?

 

[MrJay]

Big thanks for the tips. The wall plugs we used were for light concrete, so I guess the next step is to try chemical anchors. Is this something one can try themselves, or should a professional be hired?

You don't need a professional for that job.