How to Attach Shelf Brackets to Concrete Blocks

Hold one of the shelf brackets against the concrete block wall and position the bracket in the desired location. Hold the bracket in position with one hand and press a spirit level against the bracket's side with the other hand. Use the spirit level to adjust the bracket into a vertically level position. While holding the bracket in position, put down the level and pick up a pencil. Push the pencil through each of the bracket's screw holes to mark the screw holes' positions on the block wall beneath.

Remove the bracket from the wall and replace it with the level. Turn the level to a perfectly vertical, or "plumb," position and move the level to the desired location of the second shelf bracket. Draw a pencil long the level's edge to mark the plumb line of the second bracket.

Turn the level to a horizontally level position and run the level's edge from the top screw hole mark to the plumb line of the second bracket. Use a pencil to transfer the position of the top screw hole to the second bracket's plumb line. Transfer the location of the remaining screw hole marks onto the plumb line.

Attach a masonry drill bit to a power drill. Wrap electrical tape around the shaft's bit to indicate the overall length of a single concrete sleeve anchor; the tape indicates desired drilling depth. Bore through each screw hole mark until the tape meets the wall's face. Blow concrete dust from the holes.

Insert a concrete sleeve anchor into each hole. Attach a driver bit to the power drill. Hold a shelf bracket over one set of screw holes and align the bracket's holes with the concrete anchors. Place a screw onto the bit's tip and drive the screw through the bracket and into the top sleeve anchor until the screw's head secures the bracket against the wall. Drive screws through the remaining holes. Align the second bracket with the remaining anchors and drive a screw into each anchor to secure the second bracket to the wall.