Achieving Shelf-Aggrandizement

Back when you rented your first apartment or house, adding shelves was simple--you just bought a few concrete blocks and a No. 2 pine board. But these days, finding the right shelving material and hardware to safely hold your clutter--as well as your cherished possessions--is tougher.

Hardware stores and home centers are packed with a remarkable array of systems. We’ll help you sort through these and give you some guidelines on how much weight they’ll carry and how far apart to mount the brackets.

Brackets

Some decorative shelves come packaged with brackets in kits. The shelves are typically 12 or 24 inches in length; check the packaging for weight restrictions. Though kits are convenient, consider individual components for greater variety.

* Utility brackets. Basic brackets, shaped like an L, are made of steel. They aren’t much to look at, but they’re fine for utility areas such as the attic or garage. If you need to shelve heavier items, go with a steel bracket that includes a diagonal brace. The number of brackets you’ll need depends on the strength of the shelving material, the weight you’re going to put on it and the length of the shelf. Attaching the brackets to the shelf before attaching them to the wall can make it easier to get shelves level.

* Decorative brackets. For a more finished appearance, there is a variety of metal decorative brackets. Another option is a metal channel that mounts horizontally on the wall and holds a single pre-cut shelf covered with plastic laminate or wood veneer. This sleek-looking system is very easy to install. You are, however, limited to the standard lengths for channel and pre-cut shelves (typically 36 and 48 inches).

* Brackets and standards. If you need more than one or two shelves, use shelving standards. The slotted units enable you to change shelf locations by repositioning the brackets, which are available in different sizes to accommodate different shelf widths. You can use almost any shelf material.

Standard-and-bracket systems fall into light-, medium- and heavy-duty categories. The metal hardware typically comes in black, white, off-white, chrome or galvanized finishes. Even lightweight standards and brackets can support about 40 pounds per shelf. But if you’re going to be moving items around on your shelves, a medium-weight system is a better choice. Most medium-weight brackets can be screwed to the shelves they support; this prevents shelves from shifting around, which can be a problem with lightweight brackets.

Heavyweight standards and brackets can support hundreds of pounds per shelf. These components are great in a garage or workshop. You can even create a workbench using the longest support brackets.

If you use medium or heavyweight standards, look for a steel ledger-strip system, which enables you to attach a horizontal bracket to the wall and simply hang the standards from this strip at any point along the ledger. This way you’re not limited to attaching the standards directly to studs.

Wire-Shelving Systems

A popular choice for closets and pantries, wire shelves are widely available at home centers and building-supply outlets. The welded-steel construction of this type of shelving makes the components light yet strong. A wide range of brackets, couplings and other installation hardware means this system is user-friendly, though it can be a little overwhelming trying to design a system standing at the home center bins. Most manufacturers have features on their Web sites that recommend a list of components based on the dimensions and preferences you enter.

Wire shelves are best used in the factory-set modular lengths and widths. Some home centers will custom-cut shelves, but widths cannot be altered. Most wire shelves are fixed-height systems: Once you’ve fastened the hardware to the wall, you’re committed. ClosetMaid, a major manufacturer of wire-shelving systems ([800] 874-0008), has addressed this problem by introducing a line of shelving standards and supports that interlock with wire components for much greater flexibility.

Shelving Materials

Like brackets, shelves are sold as part of a kit or individually. Match the material to what you plan on stowing.

* Pre-cut veneered shelves. The particleboard core on this type of shelf is covered with a veneer of wood or plastic laminate. The shelves come in three standard widths (8, 10 and 12 inches) and in 3- and 4-foot standard lengths. An 8-inch by 4-foot shelf costs about $8. For light loads (up to 20 pounds), shelves can span up to 36 inches. For heavier loads, space shelf supports no more than 24 inches apart.

* Medium-density fiberboard. Made from compressed wood fiber, medium-density fiberboard (MDF) shelving is typically 12 inches wide and three-fourths of an inch thick; 4- and 8-foot lengths are available. The shelves come with a rounded edge that looks better and lasts longer than a square edge. MDF is inexpensive ($3 for a 4-foot shelf) and it looks good when painted. Like particleboard, it’s not good in moist conditions, and it’s no match for plywood in load-bearing ability. For loads up to 40 pounds or so, space shelf supports every 24 inches or less.

* Glass. Great for bathroom storage or living-room display, glass is easy to clean, dimensionally stable and unaffected by moisture. Some home centers stock glass shelving in pre-cut sizes, but you can also order it from your local glazier. Make sure to specify polished edges for appearance and safety. You’ll pay about $10 for a 6-inches-wide-by-36-inches-long shelf. Glass must be one-quarter of an inch thick and can only support light loads. Space shelf supports 16 to 24 inches apart.

* Solid wood. Pine, poplar, oak and maple are the most common solid-wood species at home centers and lumberyards. Some are sold in pre-cut lengths for shelving; but you may have to pick out boards and cut them to size. Choose only straight, smooth, square-edged stock. Plane, sand or rout the edges to round over sharp corners, then apply a finish to all sides of the shelf. Solid wood is beautiful, but it’s also prone to warping, twisting, cracking and cupping. To hold paperback books, stationery supplies and other light loads, a three-quarter-inch-thick shelf can span 36 inches. For hardback books and other heavier loads, reduce the span to 24 inches.

* Plywood. Another option is to make shelves out of three-quarter-inch-thick hardwood plywood. (Home centers and lumberyards will cut the 4-by-8 sheets for a fee.) Cover the edge of a plywood shelf with iron-on wood edge banding and you get the look and strength of solid wood with greater stability. To increase load-bearing capacity, consider adding a built-up edge of either solid wood or molding. You’ll pay $30 to $40 for a full (three-quarter-inch-thick) sheet. You can also use softwood plywood. It’s about half the price and just as strong as hardwood plywood, but it does not have the attractive face veneers found on the hardwood version.

* Particleboard. A 4-by-8 sheet of three-quarter-inch-thick particleboard costs less than $10. Particleboard makes good, low-cost utility shelving, but it should be painted for appearance and moisture resistance. Locate shelf supports every 24 inches to avoid bowing. To increase load-carrying capacity, edge particleboard shelves with a length of 1-by-2 solid wood.

Sturdy Shelves

You can do top-shelf shelving work with a minimum of tools. Start with a stud finder to locate wall framing behind drywall or plaster, and use a corder drill or cordless drill/driver to bore pilot holes for the installation screws. You’ll also need a level to keep everything straight.

Stock up on No. 8 and No. 10 wood (not drywall) screws if your brackets or standards come without screws. When fastening shelving hardware, your first choice is to screw into a stud or other framing member. At least half of the length of the screw should extend into the framing. When this isn’t possible, use wall anchors, but try to hit a stud with half your fasteners.

Reprinted from the pages of Today’s Homeowner magazine. To receive more expert advice on improving your home, call (800) 456-6369 or visit the Web site at https://www.todayshomeowner.com.