apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Project tools

TOOLS:

• Table Saw,
  
• jigsaw
  
• drill
  
• pilot hole/counter sink drill bit
  
• orbital sander
  
• level
  
• tape measure
  
• stud finder
  
• hole saw kit (optional)
  
• paint brush
  
• paint roller
  
• painters tape
  
• paint tray
  
• craft paint brush
  
• 3/4" plywood
  
• 3" wood screws
  
• 1 1/2" woods screws
  
• eggshell finish paint
  
• hi-gloss or melamine paint

STEPS:

1. Figure out if power & internet (if not wireless) can be run to the closet. We ended up running power from an outlet next to the closet by drilling a small hole in the closet wall, and phone line from an outlet in the bedroom above by drilling a small hole in the floor of the bedroom.
   
2. Clear out closet and remove original hanging rack.
   
3. On paper, plot out your shelving layout, taking into consideration the dimensions of items going on to the shelves.
   
4. Measure the closet space to get your shelf dimensions.
   
5. Run power & internet source into the closet
   
6. Cut shelves out of 3/4" plywood - using a table saw for straight cuts and a jigsaw for any curved or rounded cuts.
   
7. Using a hole saw or jigsaw, cut holes in the corner of any shelves that will have cables running down through them.
   
8. Use a table saw to cut 1 1/4" strips of plywood out of the scraps - these will be your supports. Cut the supports to the appropriate lengths to support the back and sides of each shelf.
   
9. Check to make sure shelves fit properly (not all spaces are built square!) & the supports are the appropriate length. Use a jigsaw to make any minor adjustments.
   
10. Tape off any trim & the door frame in the closet, and lay down a drop cloth. Paint the interior of the closet and the supports the same colour.
    
11. Sand shelves smooth, and paint with a hi gloss or melamine paint (melamine works better, but is oil based and has a strong odor, so with kids around we opted for the hi gloss).
    
12. When the paint has dried on the interior of the closet, it's time to mount the supports. Use a stud finder to locate the studs (if studs aren't accessible, use heavy duty or metal wall anchors, not the less expensive plastic kind). With pencil, mark where the supports are to go, use a level to ensure supports are even. Use a drill with a pilot/countersink bit to make pilot holes, then screw the supports to the studs using 3" wood screws.
    
13. Place the shelves on thier supports.
    
14. Drill pilot holes through the shelves and into the supports.
    
15. Screw shelves down onto supports with 1 1/2" wood screws 16. Use a craft brush to paint over screw holes

RESOURCES: We got the majority of our building materials from scraps at residential work sites that contractors were more than happy for us to take off their hands.

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