How to Build a Wood Shelf System
If you need some more storage in your home and have run out of closet space, consider adding a shelving unit. While you can buy shelves almost anywhere, save some money by building the unit yourself. The project is fairly easy.
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Things You'll Need
- 5 boards, 8 feet long, 2 feet by 2 inches
- 5 boards, 8 feet long, 2 by 3 inches
- 5 pieces of half-inch-thick plywood, 8 feet long by 15 7/8 inches wide
- 2 boards, 7 feet, 8 inches long, 2 feet by 4 inches
- Stud finder
- Measuring tape
- Level
- Drill with screwdriver bit
- 4-inch wood screws
Instructions
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1
Place the stud finder on the wall and move it horizontally until you find several studs next to each other. This gadget finds wall studs by measuring wall density. When the denisity becomes thicker, the stud finder will notify you via a light or sound that a stud has been found. Mark the location of these studs with a pencil.
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2
Make the first wall studs you use two feet from the ground if possible; find and mark them. Place one piece of 2-by-2 at this height and straighten it using the level. Screw the board into the wall studs with two four-inch wood screws for each stud using the drill with screwdriver bit.
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3
Measure 16 inches from the first piece of 2-by-2 and attach another piece of 2-by-2 at this height following the instructions in Step 2. Repeat this for the remaining 2-by-2s, leaving 16 inches of space between each piece.
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4
Create an L shape by placing the smaller side of the 2-by-3 to the edge of one of the half-inch, 8-by-15 7/8 pieces of plywood. Screw these pieces together using the drill with the screwdriver bit and four-inch wood screws. The screws should be at the corners and approximately one inch apart. This is your shelf. Repeat this process for all of the shelves using 2-by-3s.
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5
Place the other end of the plywood shelves on top of the 2-by-2 supports on the wall. Attach the shelves to the 2-by-2 by screwing through the top of the plywood and into the top of the 2-by-2 at the corners and then at every inch. Use the drill with screwdriver bit and the four-inch wood screws. The shelves will sag a bit at this point.
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6
Stand the pieces of 2-by-4 next to the outside corners of all the shelves. Straighten all the shelves with the level and screw the the pieces of 2-by-4 to them with the drill and four-inch wood screws. Make sure you use two screws per side, per shelf. This will finish the frame
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Tips & Warnings
Use the 2-by-4 to circumvent any irregularities in the floor. If you need to cut it shorter to make your shelves level, do so.
While you may be worried about the weight on the 2-by-2 supports, don't add the 2-by-3 after you hang the shelves. It will be very difficult and add greater pressure to the top of the shelf
