DIY Network

Building Shelving Units DIY to the Rescue creates storage solutions for a vaulted family room! From "DIY to the Rescue" episode DTTR-708

The three tiered shelving fits nicely into the space.

The DIY to the Rescue Team get started on the new shelving units for the Suhocki's by measuring the width and height of the wall where the new shelving unit is going to be installed. Next, the team starts to build the shelves, increasing height between each three so that that last one is taller than the previous shelf. The shelves are made from birch plywood and put together using wood glue, a nail gun, and dry wall screws for extra strength.

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Material:

tape measure
birch plywood (1-inch and 1/4-inch)
table saw
framing square
wood glue
staple gun
nail gun
electric drill
2-inch dry wall screws

Steps:

1. To prep the wood to build the shelving units, cut the pieces that will frame out the top and sides of the shelving units (Figures A & B). Cutting these pieces ahead of time will help the assembly go faster.

Figure A

Figure B

2. First cut the birch plywood to 1x6’s, then use a table saw to cut them down to 1x2’s in order to use them as facings on the bookshelves (Figures C & D).

Figure C

Figure D

3. These shelving units were built to fit a cathedral ceiling; therefore the shelving units are going to be consecutively taller than the previous.

4. Starting with the shortest shelf which is 30 inches high and 2 feet wide, lay down the two side pieces and use a framing square to mark each piece of wood (Figures E & F).

Figure E

Figure F

Figure G

5. Since the first unit will be 30 inches high and we want to the shelves to be evenly spaced, mark every 10 inches for a shelf.

6. Then run a bead of wood glue along each of the lines (Figure G).

Figure H

7. Immediately after running the glue, stand up vertically the piece of wood with the glue and the piece that is going to be the shelf and bring the shelf piece in perpendicular to the glue line (Figure H)

8. Use a nail gun on the outside of the plywood where the shelf and the glue meet and secure the shelf to hold the shelf to the side panel (Figures I & J).

Figure I

Figure J

9. Repeat this step 2 more times for the 2 additional shelves.

10. Also add two inch dry wall screws for extra strength but it’s a good idea to pre-drill the holes so that the screws will be drilled in below the surface of the wood (Figures K & L).

Figure K

Figure L

11. For the back of the shelf, use a 1/4- inch birch plywood and staple around the edges every 6 inches to hold it to the shelves (Figure MFigure N).

Figure M

Figure N