How to Build Metal Shelf Brackets
Metal shelf brackets make it simple to add shelving to any room of a house. They are ideal for utility rooms where appearance is less important than function. Commonly they are used in basements, utility rooms, garages, mudrooms, and laundry rooms. Home Improvement stores sell them in various colors, sizes, and styles. They also are sold as parts of a kit that contain the brackets, shelves, screws, anchors and hangers all in one package for ease of construction. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Stud sensor
- Shelf brackets
- Screws
- Drywall anchors
- Level
- Drill and bits
- Screwdriver
Instructions
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1
Determine the span necessary for the brackets to fill for the length of shelf they will hold. For any shelving over 3 feet, add an additional bracket for each additional 3 feet. This will allow the shelf to have proper support at the sides and middle.
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2
Locate a stud to mount to. Ideally, all brackets should mount into studs for the best hold and weight capacity. This is not always possible, so for two-bracket shelves, try to mount at least one into a stud while using drywall anchors for the other. For three-bracket shelves, try to anchor the center bracket into a stud.
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3
Make a pencil mark at the top of where the first bracket should be placed. Hold it over the wall at this point, with a 2-foot level lying against it vertically. When it is straight, make marks for the location of the mounting holes. Pre-drill the holes into the studs, or place wall anchors in the holes. Mount the first bracket securely to the wall.
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4
Place the next bracket over its mounting location and make a mark on the wall. Measure the distance from the top of the first bracket to the ceiling, and then measure the same distance down from the ceiling near the mark for the next bracket. Mark the location for the top of the bracket, and then mount it to the wall the same as the first. Repeat this for all remaining brackets.
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5
Attach hangers to the metal brackets and place a shelf over them with equal space on either side of the end hangers for the best balance.
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Tips & Warnings
Be sure that the brackets are oriented with the same end at the top on all of them. Some brackets have more space at the top than the bottom for mounting the hangers and the shelf will not hang right if the brackets are unequal.
Level each bracket perfectly or the shelves will be out of balance.
