How to Make a Brick Bookcase
Unless you have carpentry experience, the idea of building your own furniture is daunting, leading you to visit a home store for the right piece to fit your needs. Instead of spending hundreds of dollars for a new bookshelf to put in your living room or college dorm, make your own. Even without carpentry skills, building a bookshelf requires little effort and saves you money. Recycle bricks and boards to customize the size and color to meet your decor style. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- 40 bricks
- Garden hose
- Power washer (optional)
- Outdoor paint
- Spray paint (optional)
- 5 boards, 1- by 12-inch, 6 feet long
- Medium-grit sandpaper
- Paintbrush
- Outdoor wood sealant (optional)
Instructions
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1
Clean 40 standard bricks using a garden hose or power washer to remove any surface debris. Let the bricks air-dry overnight.
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2
Paint the bricks using an outdoor paint or spray paint. Let the paint dry overnight. Choose a color that matches the room where you intend the final bookshelf to be. Alternatively, skip the painting and stick with a natural brick look.
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3
Sand the rough surfaces of five 1- by 12-inch boards, each 6 feet long, using medium-grit sandpaper. Brush away the surface sawdust using a dry paintbrush.
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4
Paint or seal the surface of all five boards. Let the paint or sealant dry overnight. Choose a paint to complement the bricks or use an outdoor wood sealant for a natural look.
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5
Stack four bricks on top of one another. Set the stack against the wall where you want the finished bookshelf. Align the bricks so the short side is against the wall. Stack four more bricks 4 feet away from the first stack. Position them against the wall, aligned the same way as the first stack.
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Place one of the painted or sealed boards on top of the two stacks of bricks. Position it so that 1 foot of the board extends beyond the edge of each stack.
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Place two more stacks of four bricks each on top of the board, directly over the first two stacks of bricks. Once placed, shift the left stack of bricks to the left 3 inches, so that it is not over the first stack. Shift the right stack to the right 3 inches, so that it is not over the second stack.
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Place a second painted board on top of the third and fourth stacks of bricks.
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Place two more stacks of four bricks each on top of the second board. Align these two stacks directly above the first and second stacks.
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Continue stacking the painted boards and the bricks until you have used all five boards. Alternate the brick stacking so that every other row aligns with the first and second brick stacks.
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Tips & Warnings
Gather bricks from a leftover project or a friend, or purchase them from a home improvement store.
If desired, anchor the boards into the wall using wall brackets.
Adjust the number of bricks and boards used to create a larger or smaller bookcase, as desired.
References
- Photo Credit Photos.com/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
