No matter how much space you may have in your home, you never seem to have enough closet space. Clothing gets crammed into small spaces, shoes end up all over the place, and coats can take up one entire closet on their own. The answer is to find a space in your home where you can add a closet. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Plan, Purchase and Prep
1. Make sure your design for your closet is at least 26 inches deep if you'll be hanging clothes in your closet. Find a space in your home that won't conflict with heating ducts, windows, plumbing or electric boxes. The lumber and drywall materials you need to frame a twelve foot by 26 inch deep closet shouldn't cost much more than about $100. A six-panel pine bi-old door should cost around $400. Door hardware and millwork will cost about $80. The paint, and other general supplies should bring the total cost to about $1,500.
2. Roll back the carpet if your room is carpeted, and pry the carpet back from the tacking strips. Wear work gloves so you don't stick yourself on the tacks. If you have hardwood or tile floors, tape down some heavy kraft paper, and place some plywood overtop to protect it.
Pry back the baseboard around the floor; do so carefully so you take it off in one piece.Use a stud finder to mark where the new wall butts will be attached to existing studs with three inch screws, both into the walls and ceiling.
3. Locate an electrical box that can provide a power source for a closet light if you plan to install one. (If you can't do this, you may need to call an electrician to help you wire and install a light. Before you close up the ceiling and walls, you will need to have your work inspected if you install a light.)
Draw chalk lines to note where you will for attach the top and bottom plates. Precisely as possible, take a level or straight two by four inches of plywood to plumb (make straight lines) from the bottom plate to mark the ceiling.
Construction
4. Measure and cut the wall studs and door trim. Be sure to add 1/16 inch to your measurements for the studs so you can trim them precisely. With construction adhesive attach the stud to the walls to hold them in place. Then while holding the stud in place, drill holes for toggle bolt locations about two feet apart. Use a ¼ inch bit to fit through the two by four.
5. Remove wall stud and drill the drywall with a 5/8-in. spade bit. Mount the toggle bolts to the two by four that have adhesive on them, push the toggle wings through their holes that you drilled in the two by four.
6. Hang the drywall and secure it in the wall studs with drywall screws. Then tape the seams, apply drywall compound and sand it to make the wall smooth for painting. Prime the walls and the paint them.
Doors and Shelves
7. Set the door jamps directly on the floor if you have hardwood flooring or ceramic tile. For carpet, you will need to rain the frame about ½ inches using shimming. Shimming the door frame at the top and bottom will make the door sturdier. When you install a shim, you place is a thin wedge of wood between two surfaces.
8. Hang the doors and check the fit, adjusting them by shimming areas around the jamb, and where the hinges are attached at the top of the doors as needed. You need to make an even space around the doors.
Drill a 3-in. screw through each of the top hinges into the stud. Cut off the ends of the shims that stick out using a utility knife.
9. Install the trim around the door and reinstall the baseboard. If you need to put carpet back you can rent a carpet stretcher or call a carpet company to do this for you.
Install your closet shelving system according to the directions that came with it.
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