How to Build a Rolling Ladder for a Bookshelf
If you have a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf at home and you want to make it easier for yourself to reach the top of the bookshelf, one option is to install a rolling ladder. This option works well if you have hardwood, tile, or linoleum flooring in the library. Building your own rolling ladder may sound like a difficult task, but it doesn't require a lot of woodworking skills, heavy equipment or a lot of money.
Things You'll Need
- Ladder pole
- Drill
- 2 wooden planks, 7-foot by 3-inch by 1-inch
- 5 wooden planks, 2-foot by 3-inch by 1-inch
- 10 screws, 1.5-inch
- Sandpaper
- Wood stain
- Paint
- 2 hook brackets
- 2 wheel brackets
Instructions
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1
Install a ladder pole across the front of the bookshelf, about 6 inches from the shelves and 7 feet from the ground. Ladder poles come packaged with all of the necessary hardware to install; all you have to do is drill in the screws to hold it in place.
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2
Place two 7-foot wooden planks about 2 feet apart. The boards should be approximately 3 inches wide and 1 inch thick. Use pine or whatever wood you prefer.
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3
Attach a 2-foot 1-by-3 wooden plank to the two longer posts, perpendicular to the posts and 1 foot away from the edge of the post, to create the first step. Attach this piece by drilling one 1.5-inch screw from the outside of the post to the edge of the plank.
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4
Attach all the other steps to the posts in a similar fashion as the first; the steps should be one foot apart for a total of five steps.
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5
Sand down the entire ladder until the wood is smooth.
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6
Apply wood finish or paint to the ladder to match your bookshelves.
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7
Install a hook bracket to each post on one end of the ladder, about 3 inches from the edge. Hook brackets are sold with all of the necessary hardware for installation.
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8
Install a wheel bracket using the included hardware to each post on the opposite end of the ladder so that the wheels stick out about 3 inches from the bottom.
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9
Stand the ladder up and hook the hook the brackets onto the ladder pole.
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References
- Photo Credit archives image by araraadt from Fotolia.com
