How to Get Material to Build Storage Shelves

Building a shelving unit in the garage or any room in your home is a great use of available wall space. Sturdy shelves should stand on the floor and be secured to the wall. Wood for the frame and shelves, screws and basic power tools are the materials needed prior to assembling your storage shelves.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tape measure
• OSB or particleboard
• 2-by-4-inch boards
• 3-inch deck screws
• Wood screws

1. Measure the available wall space to determine the length, width and height of the shelving unit. Start at the floor and measure up to the desired height. You must have a width of at least 2 feet for a storage shelf to be useful.

2. Design the shelving unit. Determine how many rows of shelves you can fit in your available space. Check that there is enough clearance between shelves to fit the items you plan to store.

3. Buy 2-by-4-inch boards to build a frame for your storage shelves. Make the frame like the skeleton of a box, with boards running crosswise to hold the shelves.

4. Purchase particle board or sheets of OSB to create your shelves. Particle board works well for storage shelves. OSB is a product similar to plywood but with glued together flakes of wood. This product makes a very strong shelf suitable for heavy storage in garages or basements.

5. Gather plenty of 3-inch deck screws and shorter wood screws before starting your storage shelf project. You must use the deck screws to attach the 2-by-4-inch boards to the wall. Use wood screws for attaching your shelving to your frame.

Tips & Warnings

• Plywood, OSB and particleboard make stronger shelves than whole wood and work well in the garage or storage area.