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![Chris and Yvonne Johnson contributorImage](https://contentgrid.homedepot-static.com/hdus/en_US/DTCCOMNEW/Articles/PPD_5175reformatted.jpg)
A Note From The Home Depot
As part of The Test Lab at Home Depot, Reclaimed Karma give home improvement tips to revamp your home or your client's home. Read through this episode to see tips on how anchors can be used in different projects for the perfect look.
![Man in front of cabinets, holding a small anchor. Man in front of cabinets, holding a small anchor.](https://contentgrid.homedepot-static.com/hdus/en_US/DTCCOMNEW/Articles/ProEpisodicContent-TheTestLab-ReclaimedKarma-Ep5-Anchors4.jpg)
In this episode of The Test Lab (The Test Lab is an episodic web series we partnered with The Home Depot on to help Pros in our industry tackle some of the not-so-common requests they may encounter while on the job) we decided to take on something we use daily in our clients homes: Anchors
We had a great time experimenting in the test lab with the different types of wall anchors on the market, when to use them, and how much weight they can actually hold.
We decided to put these anchors to the ultimate test by using them to install something we get a ton of requests for from our clients, floating shelves.
![Room with hardwood floors, sofa, chair, and desk with decorated shelf behind. Room with hardwood floors, sofa, chair, and desk with decorated shelf behind.](https://contentgrid.homedepot-static.com/hdus/en_US/DTCCOMNEW/Articles/ProEpisodicContent-TheTestLab-ReclaimedKarma-Ep5-Anchors14.jpg)
![Bathroom with glass shower door, bathtub, and wooden floating shelves. Bathroom with glass shower door, bathtub, and wooden floating shelves.](https://contentgrid.homedepot-static.com/hdus/en_US/DTCCOMNEW/Articles/ProEpisodicContent-TheTestLab-ReclaimedKarma-Ep5-Anchors13.jpg)
Or in a client’s upper cabinet-less kitchen, floating shelves are definitely here to stay!
![Kitchen with hardwood floors and island with three globe lights above. Kitchen with hardwood floors and island with three globe lights above.](https://contentgrid.homedepot-static.com/hdus/en_US/DTCCOMNEW/Articles/ProEpisodicContent-TheTestLab-ReclaimedKarma-Ep5-Anchors12.jpg)
![Kettlebell and weights sitting on top of a floating shelf. Kettlebell and weights sitting on top of a floating shelf.](https://contentgrid.homedepot-static.com/hdus/en_US/DTCCOMNEW/Articles/ProEpisodicContent-TheTestLab-ReclaimedKarma-Ep5-Anchors10.jpg)
![Man pressing weights down on a floating shelf. Man pressing weights down on a floating shelf.](https://contentgrid.homedepot-static.com/hdus/en_US/DTCCOMNEW/Articles/ProEpisodicContent-TheTestLab-ReclaimedKarma-Ep5-Anchors11.jpg)
The recurring question we are always asked when installing these shelves is, “How much stuff can my new shelves hold?"
![Man drilling into a wall. Man drilling into a wall.](https://contentgrid.homedepot-static.com/hdus/en_US/DTCCOMNEW/Articles/ProEpisodicContent-TheTestLab-ReclaimedKarma-Ep5-Anchors7.jpg)
Well to be honest, how the shelves were installed plays a major role in that answer. If you’re lucky, when you go to install the shelf brackets you always land directly on a stud. Boom!! Blog over!!! Yeah right, what about the other 9 out of 10 times realistically you drill your hole and there is no stud in sight. Try explaining to your client that their vision of displaying all of their great grandmothers priceless fine china on floating shelves in their kitchen is not going to happen. Good luck with that one!
![Man (facing camera) holding a small anchor bit. Man (facing camera) holding a small anchor bit.](https://contentgrid.homedepot-static.com/hdus/en_US/DTCCOMNEW/Articles/ProEpisodicContent-TheTestLab-ReclaimedKarma-Ep5-Anchors6.jpg)
The great news is there are anchors that exist for occasions just like these. Low capacity anchors for lighter demands, and high capacity anchors for heavy duty tasks.
![Hands showing anchor drilled into a wall. Hands showing anchor drilled into a wall.](https://contentgrid.homedepot-static.com/hdus/en_US/DTCCOMNEW/Articles/ProEpisodicContent-TheTestLab-ReclaimedKarma-Ep5-Anchors8.jpg)
But do they really work and how much do they really hold? Make sure to check out this episode of The Test Lab to see how we put these anchors and Chris to the test!
Check out all five episodes of "The Test Lab" on The Home Depot YouTube channel for more important do's and don'ts while on the job!