Earthquake Preparedness: How To Secure Collectibles To a Shelf

Your home may have valuable collectibles on display that could be vulnerable during an earthquake. Whether they are worth a lot of money or just hold an enormous personal value, it's important to make sure that collectibles are properly secured to shelves to prevent them from being damaged during a natural disaster. Very basic skills of do it yourself knowledge will be needed to make sure that collectibles remain safely in place. 

Step 1: Apply Putty

The most obvious way to secure collectibles to a shelf is to fasten them in place using earthquake putty or wax. These come in a variety of different brands and strengths. Simply apply a small amount of putty or wax to the object so that it will hold an item onto the shelf. The putty is specifically designed to hold objects in place but does not leave unsightly marks when it's taken off at a later date. 

Step 2: Apply Shelf Guards

Shelf guards can be bought from most domestic and hardware stores. Simply take the shelf guard and plan where it will be placed. Make small marks with a pencil or pen where the screws will go. Hold the shelf guard over the shelf until screws have been applied to take the weight. Finish putting in the remaining screws. The shelf guard will stop collectibles from falling off and possibly shattering. 

Step 3: Shelf Cover

A shelf case cover will clip over the front of many different types of shelf design. They can be bought from most hardware stores and will give the collectibles an extra barrier of protection. To install a shelf cover, simply use strong screws on each corner of the shelf. Most covers will come with plastic or metallic tabs with holes in them. Others will simply clip on, but using screws is advised for extra stability. 

Step 4: Tape or Strap

The collectibles should now be well fastened to the shelves. However, for larger objects it can always be worth simply putting some duct tape across the face of the object just to give it that little bit of extra rigidity and strength. The other option is to take a small strap and tie it around the shelf, fixing it on the wall at each end. These materials can be used decoratively to prevent the shelf and collectibles from looking ugly. 

Step 5: Check

It is important to check that the objects are well fixed to the shelf because they may fall off and cause a dangerous hazard. Walk around the house and check all shelves. Make sure any objects do not slide around or topple easily. If they do, go back and repeat the process, adding small amounts of putty or tape where needed.