Summary: Learn how to fit a shelving system.
Putting up shelves is a classic DIY project that looks deceptively simple but can cause problems. Firstly, decide on the type of shelving you want. There is a wide choice of shelving available using a variety of materials and construction methods. Shelving materials can include solid wood, blockboard, plywood, chipboard, MDF (medium density fibreboard) and glass. The material you choose will depend on where the shelves are to be situated, the objects they will support and your budget.
Shelves can be fixed to a wall using support battens or shelving brackets made from cast or wrought steel or extruded alloy. The method of fixing will depend on how deep the shelves are and the weight of the object/s that they have to support. For instance, a deep shelf designed for a television set will need wall bolts to fix the brackets in place, while brackets holding shelving for lightweight use can be fixed to the wall using 50mm (2in) screws. Shelving brackets should always be long enough to support the whole depth of the shelf.
A popular variation of the bracket fixing is the adjustable shelving system that allows the shelves to be moved to different levels to accommodate objects of different sizes. In this project we look at how to fit a simple adjustable shelving system comprising of two slotted upright supports, four shelf brackets and two shelves.
What the wall is made of can dictate the positioning of the shelves. Shelving can be fixed almost anywhere on masonry walls, but stud partition walls are a different matter. On a timber framed wall the fixings should be fixed to the vertical timber studs, which can be located using a stud detector. Here we look at fixing a shelving system to a masonry wall.
Place the spirit level against the face of the upright. If the wall is not true this can result in sloping shelves.
If the upright is not vertical, insert packing between the upright and the wall to rectify this.
Join an existing conversation or create a new thread related to Painting and decorating in our DIY forum.