What I secure
- Tall dressers, armoires and bookcases
- Display cabinets with glass doors and heavy contents
- TVs on stands, tethered against pulls
- Cabinet doors fitted with latches that hold during a shake
- Anti-tip kits from the manufacturer, or heavier hardware
- Pieces on carpet shimmed so they sit tight to the wall
Plaster walls and older homes
The city’s Housing Element counts 52.3 percent of San Gabriel homes as more than 60 years old. Many have plaster on wood lath, which cracks if drilled carelessly and won’t hold a screw on its own. I locate the studs behind the lath and drill through slowly so the plaster stays intact.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Anchor It campaign recommends anchoring furniture and TVs to prevent tip-overs. That’s the same approach I use, with hardware matched to the weight of each piece.
How I anchor a piece
Locate framing
Studs are found behind plaster or drywall.
Mount hardware
Straps or L-brackets go high on the furniture.
Fasten
Screws go into wood; brick and block get masonry anchors.
Test
Each piece is pulled forward to confirm it holds.
Beyond furniture
Seismic retrofits to the house itself and anchoring large built-ins to the foundation are contractor work.
On the same San Gabriel visit, people also tend to ask about childproofing, senior home safety updates, furniture assembly, TV wall mounting or shelf installation.
Send me
Photos of the furniture and wall, the wall type if you know it, and whether you have an anti-tip kit.
Furniture anchoring questions
How do you anchor furniture to a plaster wall?
By finding the studs behind the lath and screwing into them, drilling slowly to avoid cracks.
Should I anchor furniture for earthquakes?
Yes. Tall, heavy pieces are the ones most likely to fall in a shake.
Do anti-tip straps really work?
When fastened into framing, yes. Into drywall alone, they can pull out.
How much does it cost to anchor furniture?
It depends on the number of pieces. Text photos for a free estimate.
Can you secure cabinet doors too?
Yes. Latches keep doors closed during a shake.
Will the anchors show?
They sit behind or on top of the furniture and are hard to see.
Related guide: Furniture anchoring tips from our guide to cabinet latches and earthquake safety.
Safety guides
- Keeping dishes and furniture in place during an earthquakeHow to keep dishes, glassware and tall furniture in place during an earthquake in an older San Gabriel home, from cabinet latches to wall straps.
- Small updates that make an older home easier for aging parentsSmall changes that make an older San Gabriel home easier for aging parents: lever handles, easier switches, better lighting, a handheld shower and more.
We’re a handyman in San Gabriel for small repairs like this one, with an upfront price by text.
This job sits in our mounting, hanging and assembly group. For other repairs, see the services overview, or start with the repair guide for San Gabriel’s older homes.
