Advanced Shelf - Support Frame and Installation
At 15:09 in
3 Ways to Build Floating Shelves
What happens here
While the stain is drying on the shelf, construct the support framing. Cut several pieces of 2x2 lumber (actual size 1.5x1.5 inches). You'll need two long pieces for the front and back of the frame, measuring 17 3/4 inches each, allowing for 1/4 inch of wiggle room for the shelf to slide over. You'll also need five supporting brackets for the middle, each 4 1/2 inches long. Use a combination of wood glue and 2 1/2-inch screws to assemble these pieces into a ladder-like frame, ensuring all joints are square with a carpenter's square. Predrill holes to prevent splitting. Mark the locations of wall studs on the frame (typically 16 inches on center) and pre-drill holes for lag bolts. Secure the frame to the wall studs using 3-inch lag bolts and a drill, ensuring it is perfectly level. Finally, slide the finished advanced shelf over the installed support frame and secure it by screwing through the top of the shelf into the wooden frame, ensuring screws do not protrude through the bottom.
Goal: Install the advanced floating shelf with a robust internal support frame.
Tools and materials
- 2 1/2-inch Screws — Assembling the wooden support frame
- 2x2 Lumber — Constructing the internal support frame
- 3-inch Lag Bolts — Securing the support frame to the wall studs
- Carpenter's Square — Ensuring all frame joints are square
- Cordless Drill Ryobi — Predrilling holes and driving screws/lag bolts
- Finished Advanced Shelf N/A — The completed plywood shell of the shelf
- Level — Ensuring the support frame is horizontal
- Miter Saw Ryobi — Cutting the 2x2 lumber to length
- Pencil — Marking stud locations and drill points
- Stud Finder — Locating wall studs