Shelves: How to Choose the Right Shelf and Bracket

Someone once said you can never have too much money, or too many shelves. Ron introduced his friend, Kat Jackson, who he was quite sure would agree with at least the shelf part. Kat was desperate for more shelf space, so Ron asked her to stop by his workshop and bring some things that she would like to put on shelves so he could get a feel for what she needed.

Ron went out to the home improvement center and purchased four different types of shelving systems. He put up some temporary walls so that he could show Kat how to install each one of the systems, and then Kat could decide which one would work best for her apartment.

1. Shelf and standard:

• The first shelving system Ron introduced to Kat required what is called a shelf standard. Metal brackets slide into slots on the standard to support shelves. What Ron particularly liked about this system was that it was totally adjustable. The system allowed flexibility on the vertical spacing of the shelves, and you could also choose shelves of varying widths.

• Ron asked Kat to step up on the ladder while he held the first standard up for her. Kat put an awl through the hole in the top of the standard and gave it a tap at the end.

• The mark Kat created on the wall indicated the position of the first screw hole. Ron then handed Kat the power drill and asked her to put a hole right where the mark was.

• They would be attaching the standard to the wall in a location where there was no stud or wooden support. To get the strength they needed, they used a hollow wall anchor.

• Ron showed Kat how to fold the anchor together and pinch it so it would fit through the hole in the wall.

• Once the anchor went through the wall, it would flare out on the backside, holding it firmly to the wall.

• Kat used a hammer to gently tap the anchor through the hole.

• Already, the anchor began to expand on the other side of the wall. When Kat drove the screw through the anchor, the anchor created a secure attachment.

• Ron began by only putting up one standard and only attaching the top screw. Ron placed a level on top of the first standard, and looked at the bubble to see that it was in the center position.
  

• Kat drew a level line across the wall so they would know where the top of the second standard should go.

• This was a critical step in this installation process because if the tops of the standards were not level, then all the shelves would not be level.

• Once the standards were in position, Ron showed Kat how to tap the brackets into place. An advantage to this system is that the standards come in a wide variety of lengths so you could install shelves all the way from the floor to the ceiling if you chose to.

• The shelves rested on top of the brackets.

2. Simple bracket system:

• The next system Ron demonstrated was a simple bracket system, which only required three screws in the wall and was quite strong. The first bracket Ron showed Kat was not particularly attractive, however.