Install ClosetMaid shelving wherever you need extra storage and hanging room.
Although the ClosetMaid shelving system was designed primarily for closet storage, their sturdy, lightweight, adjustable wire shelving can be used for a variety of applications, such as extra kitchen storage, pantry shelving and garage storage racks. In addition, a number of optional accessories, such as storage baskets, drawers, shoe racks and hanging rods for clothing, are readily available. Before shopping for supplies, measure the space carefully and use graph paper to plan your layout. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Measure and mark a point near the left hand corner, 4 to 6 inches from the ceiling with a steel measuring tape and pencil. Place a long spirit level horizontally on this mark, center the bubble, and scribe a horizontal line across the wall to mark the position of the horizontal hanging track.
2. Locate and mark the center line of all the studs across the wall, including the corner studs, using an electronic stud finder and a pencil. Place the spirit level vertically on these marks, center the bubble and scribe vertical lines down the wall to mark the position of the vertical standards.
3. Cut the horizontal track to the width of your wall with a hacksaw, minus 1 inch for clearance. Assuming your wall studs are spaced 16 inches apart, be sure the holes drilled through the track on 16 inch centers line up with the studs. If your studs are spaced 24 inches apart, use drywall toggle bolts through every hole not supported by a stud as described in Step 5.
4. Position the horizontal hanging track against the wall and line it up carefully with the horizontal line. Insert the tip of your pencil into the mounting holes across the track and mark their positions by tracing circles on the wall.
5. Align the horizontal hanging track carefully with the horizontal mark, and secure it to the wall with a cordless drill/driver and Phillips screwdriver bit. Use suitable wood screws if the holes line up with studs. If not, use drywall toggle bolts inserted through every hole if your wall studs are spaced 24 inches apart. If you need to use drywall toggle bolts, pre-drill the wall holes with a 3/16-inch drill bit and insert the toggle bolts in the mounting holes before mounting the track.
6. Cut the vertical standards to the desired length with the hacksaw. Hook the slots on the top end of the vertical standards onto the horizontal track, and line the standards up with the vertical stud marks on the wall. Place the spirit level on the side of the standards, center the bubble and secure them to the studs with wood screws and the cordless drill/driver.
7. Space the shelving brackets across the wall evenly at the desired height and clip them into the slots on the standards.
8. Cut the shelving to the desired width with the hacksaw or a bolt cutter. Place the shelves on the brackets and push the lower edges of the brackets firmly into the standards to snap them into place.
9. Snap closet rod supports onto the front underside of the shelving wherever you intend to hang clothes; position the supports a maximum of 36 inches apart. Then cut the closet rods to the desired length with the hacksaw and clip them into the closet rod supports. Place mushroom-shaped end caps into the ends of the closet rods to prevent hangers from sliding off the ends.
10. If you intend using accessories, install them now by following the instructions that came with the accessories. Finish the installation by protecting the cut ends of the wire shelves with plastic end caps.
Tags: inches apart, toggle bolts, with hacksaw, across wall, center bubble
