If you have an older linen closet or possibly even a modern one with fixed shelving, you apparently know it can be more difficult. Trim carpenters frequently follow routine measurements & build the closet with too many shelves or shelves with little consent. As the linen collection grows or changes over the upcoming years things don't fit the way they once did. You may have too much space at the top or bottom or too little in betwixt but this type of shelf also relies on a screw cleat for support. It's not very difficult to remove & replace them with adjustable shelves.
Steps And Items Needed To Make Adjustable Shelves
If you want to build adjustable shelves by yourself then you just need to gather all the required items and follow the given steps carefully. Here is the list of required items and steps for this process:
Things You'll Need
- Pry Bar & Drill/Driver
- Spackle Or Drywall Compound
- Paint & Miter Saw
- Pine, 3/4-By-3-By-96 Inches
- 3/8-Inch Drill Bit
- Stud Finder & 3-Inch Screws
- Medium-Density-Laminate, 3/4-By-48-By-96 Inches
- Table Saw & Shelf Pegs
Steps For This Process
- First of all, you need to tap the end of your pry bar under your shelf where it will make contact with the screw cleat by using a hammer. The screw cleat is occasionally a 3/4-by-1-1/2 inch piece of wood screwed or nailed to your wall. The shelf will sit on top of your cleat. If your shelf is screwed on then don't try using your pry bar, instead, remove all the screws with the help of a drill/driver.
- Now you need to pry up on your shelf to free it from your cleat on one side. Simply move your pry bar to the other side and then repeat it. If there is a cleat in back then you need to remove it the same manner.
- Next you have to remove cleats that are attached to your wall with the screws by using a drill/driver. If it's nailed on then you need to tap the tip of your pry bar betwixt the cleat & your drywall, directly under nails in the cleat & pry them loose from your wall.
- The next thing is to fill all the holes in your drywall with a spackle or drywall compound. You also need to paint the inside of your closet as needed.
- Now measure the height of your linen closet from your floor to ceiling on the inside and then simply subtract 1/2 inch. You can use a miter saw to cut 4, 3/4-by-3 inch pieces of pine to the taken measurement.
- Next, drill holes, centered along with the length of each one of the pieces of pine & 1 inch apart with a 3/8-inch bit & drill/driver.
- Simply run your stud finder along with the walls on the left & right. Locate 2 studs on each side. The studs will be spaced as far apart as possible and then you need to screw your pine pieces to your studs on both sides by using 3-inch screws.
- Now it's time to measure the distance betwixt your pine pieces on the left & right and then you need to subtract 3/16 inch for your shelf measurement. The adjustable shelves are cut shorter in order to allow them to fit without binding. Also, measure the depth of your shelf and then subtract 1 inch.
- Next you just need to cut 3/4-inch-thick medium-density laminate to your measurements with the help of a table saw. Cut as many shelves as needed.
- Finally, you need to insert 3/8-inch shelf pegs into corresponding holes in your pine on both sides. Place your shelves on top of the pegs.
Tips & Warnings
- Wear eye protection.
- If your shelves won't fit horizontally without binding then you just need to tilt them on one side before inserting them into the opening & then lay them down flat once they're inside properly.
- The laminate is for an example & you can also use plywood, chipboard or anything else from which you want to make your shelves.