How to build shelving

Installing shelving is an easy way to increase your available space throughout your home.

Timber

There are various options available for timber and brackets depending on your design and the size and weight capacity needed for shelving. White melamine, chip board, pine are available at Bunnings or your local hardware store. Using a dressed wood such as pine gives your the flexability to pain or stain your shelves to blend in with the rooms design.

Measure your dimensions and then cut your timber to length with a handsaw or circular saw. Most hardware stores will also be able to cut your timber to size.

Brackets

There are 3 brackets that are commonly used for making shelving.
1. Wooden Brackets - basic 3 piece triangle construction which is nailed or screwed into wall

2. Metal Brackets - L Shaped metal brackets come in varying sizes and styles and achieves maximum strength if screwed directly through the wallboard and into the wall stud.
3. Metal Strips - This system achieves a high weight capacity with vertical metal strips that are screwed directly through the wallboard into the wall studs.

Attaching the brackets

Determine where you want the shelving to be positioned and mark the shelf line using a spirit level. If the wall is made of brick , simply drill bracket pilot holes. Be careful of any possible electrical wiring. Use nylon plugs.

If you have a paster wall located the wall studs as they are more able of holding weight that the plaster walls themselves. Use screws on plaster walls and timber stud walls.

Attaching the Shelving

If you use timber brackets, the shelves can be fixed with screws down through the top of the shelf (drill a hole first) into the bracket. Angles brackets generally have pre-drilled holes to allow for screws to hold the shelves in place. Most clip - in brackets have a little upturned lip at the front, thus keeping shelf in place.

Tools & Materials checklist

Screws
Spirit Level
Timber
Drill and bits (masonry)
Nylon anchor plugs
Handsaw
Circular Saw
Stud finder(optional)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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