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Get Organized By Hanging ShelvesBy Jim Sulski Summary: All of us could use a little extra space to store things. Shelves can be the best and most versatile option. Jim gives you the steps to selecting and hanging shelves. When you have a lot of stuff, one of the best ways to organize it all is to
put up some shelves. Shelves have been a long-time favored storage option because they are not only functional but aesthetically pleasing as well. They are a great way of showing off collections and mementos. But hanging a shelf on a wall is a lot more complicated than hanging a painting or even a mirror. And there are at least a couple things to consider that will ensure your shelving remains steadfast and sturdy: Determine what you will be placing up on your shelves. Will it be heavy trophies or a collection of lightweight napkin rings? Next, determine the placement of the shelves on the walls. If they are going into the living room, you may want the shelves to match up with existing furnishings. If the shelves are going to be used to store jars of homemade jam in the basement, you may not be too concerned with aesthetics. A low-cost shelf with simple metal L-brackets will probably do. Shelving comes in a wide range of materials: finished and unfinished solid wood; plywood and veneer- and laminate-covered pressboard; metal; and even glass. The more artistic do-it-yourselfer can even fashion their own shelving from numerous materials (most ready-to-hang shelving and shelving material are available at larger home improvement stores). What's important here is how the shelving will be attached to the wall. For example, L-brackets are a common way to attach shelves to walls. They are simply metal or wooden brackets that looked like a sideways "L". Some offer extra support with a gusset that shores up the two ends of the brackets (such gussets, however, can also block books or other tall items placed on the shelves). Ornate wooden shelves are usually supported by decorative wood L-brackets or supports. The brackets attach to a wall by slipping them over protruding screw heads, which rest inside a sort-of inverted keyhole on the back ends of the bracket. Adjustable standards and brackets are another common choice. Standards are slotted brackets that attach vertically the wall. Shelf brackets are then hooked into the slots of the standard and can later be moved around. If the shelves are fitted into a recessed space, such as a former cabinet area, cleats may be used. Cleats are small wooden strips that support the shelf. For heavy items such as books, place a bracket every 16 inches, preferably over a stud. For small, lightweight items, brackets can be used every 32 inches along a shelf. Something else to consider is the type of wall the shelves are being attached to. There are usually four choices: brick walls, plasterboard or drywall walls, plaster walls or paneled walls. And the condition of the wall may also present a stumbling block. For example, if you have a plaster wall that's crumbling in spots, you may need to repair the wall before attaching any shelving. Here is how to attach the shelves to the wall: • The best bet is to anchor the shelves into the studs behind the plasterboard, which requires that you locate the hidden studs, which are usually located about 16 inches apart from each other. Once you've located the studs, simply use a deep enough wood screw to anchor the shelves into those studs. • If you cannot find the studs behind the wall, or if they are not positioned correctly to be used as an anchor, use a toggle bolt or a self-expanding anchor - also known as a molly bolt. These bolts work by expanding - much like opening an umbrella - once they're
slipped behind the wall. Toggles have small springs that open the folded bolt
after they're inserted into a drilled hole in the wall. Anchors open up by turning
a screw in the anchor. Once they've expanded, however, they're in place for
good. © by Jim Sulski. All rights reserved. January 26, 2005. NOTE: This column is distributed by Real Estate Matters Syndicate, PO Box 366, Glencoe, Illinois, 60022. This column may not be resold, reprinted, resyndicated or redistributed without written permission from the publisher. © 2005 by Ilyce R. Glink. Distributed by Real Estate Matters Syndicate. |
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