Table of Contents
Is it cheaper to build a shelf?
The pros of DIY shelving include: Lower Cost – Generally, buying the materials for your garage shelves should be cheaper than purchasing prefab – just make sure you do everything right the first time. Durability – As long as you choose quality materials and a solid design, your DIY shelves will be more durable.
How much does building a bookshelf cost?
The cost to have built-in bookshelves installed averages $2,676 or between $1,275 and $4,091 for a carpenter to do the job. If you buy the materials yourself, you can usually get a handyman to install them for $30 to $130 per hour. For high end custom work, expect to spend $150 to $1,200 per linear foot.
Is it cheaper to buy or build bookcase?
If you build with real wood, your furniture is going to be more sturdy and will last longer. So when you go to replace that cheap bookcase you bought in a year, just remember that it’s now costing more to replace than it would’ve cost to DIY in the first place.
What tools do I need to build a bookshelf?
As for basic tools, you’ll need a portable circular saw, hammer, block plane, combination square, tape measure, metal rule, two clamps, nail set and putty knife. Other supplies include glue, nails, sandpaper, wood filler and varnish or paint and shellac.
What can I use instead of bookshelf?
Wall shelves are a great alternative to a bookcase. They don’t take up any floor space, but limited wall space can also be a challenge in a small room. This set of bookshelves can be arranged to fit your needs. If you have a narrow strip of wall, stack them vertically.
What can I use for bookshelves?
18 Cheap and Attractive Ideas for Bookshelves An Old Ladder. This looks daunting, but doesn’t require too many DIY skills. Ladders and Boards. A Book. Skateboards. Stacked Tables. Boards and Bricks. Bottles and Boards. Ropes and Boards.
How thick should plywood be for shelves?
The most common size used in shelving is a 3/4 inch thickness. Cabinetry, furniture, and smaller decorative projects might generally use a combination of 1/2 and 3/4 and occasionally 1/4 inch.
What wood is used for shelves?
If you are making shelves where the color and grain of the wood is an important part of the design, look for oak, maple, or cherry plywood—these options will still offer durability, but will help keep costs down compared to with non-manufactured hardwoods of the same species.
How deep should bookcases be?
Shelf depth for a general purpose bookshelf is usually 10 to 12 inches. Shelf spacing will generally range from 7 to 15 inches with 8 to 12 inches being common for bookshelves.
How much does it cost to build your own shelves?
Built-in Shelving Costs Item Unit Cost Line Cost Materials: stronger woods that do not sag are the most affordable while premium or decorator materials are much higher in price. $70-$180 per linear foot $700-$1,800 Labor (carpenter/installation) $70 per hour $840-$1,190 Total Cost $154-$299 per linear foot $1,540-$2,990.
How thick should Wood be for shelves?
Use 3/4-inch thick materials for shelves and bookcase structure. If you’re using hardwood solids, it’s OK to boost the thickness to 1 1/4 inch for almost unlimited support. This type of shelf looks more like a mantel and is expensive, but adds the opulent look of craftsmanship.
How do you keep books without bookshelves?
Re-appropriate Your Bar Cart With Books. Incorporate Books Into a Picture Ledge. Display Your Books on (or Below) a Windowsill. Use a Hutch or Buffet to Display Your Books. Take Advantage of Hard to Reach Storage. Display Your Books On the Mantel. Or, Put Your Books in the Fireplace. Simply Stack Them.
Why do designers put books backwards?
It’s a really simple answer: copyright! That’s right, this isn’t some breakthrough of a design trick. Although it’s actually kind of a hot button issue with book lovers who aren’t fans of hiding the titles. It’s because the network would have to get copyright clearance from every single title in order to display them.
What do you do when you run out of bookshelf space?
Use Bookends To Make Shelves Anywhere If you’ve run out of space on your bookshelf, why not grab some cute bookends and make any surface another shelf?Aug 5, 2015.
Is plywood good for shelves?
Plywood is the industry standard for shelving, so it’s a good choice for bookshelves. However, there are a number of sturdy woods with which you can construct bookshelves.
What’s the thinnest plywood you can buy?
The thinnest plywood on the market ranges all the way down to 2mm thick (just over 1/16 inch). These are obviously specialty plywood products, manufactured for special applications which can’t be accomplished by any other product on the market, whether plywood or some other material.
Is 12mm plywood OK for shelves?
It is generally unsuitable for shelving as the finish is poor. Use 12mm chipboard as a minimum and support the shelf at no greater than 300mm centres for all but the lightest of loads. Or 18mm chipboard with supports no greater than 700mm apart.
Is 1/2 inch plywood strong enough for shelves?
For everything else, like casework, shelves, slab doors, drawer fronts, and raised panels (done with edging with solid wood). In using 1/2″ for cabinet construction, it has the propensity to warp, and doesn’t lend itself to hold screws very well (because of the thickness).
How far can a shelf span without support?
Span Limits The span limit is defined as the maximum distance apart that you can place the shelving supports. Glass, particleboard, solid lumber, plywood, and other common shelving materials can have span limits that can range from 18 inches to almost 5 feet.
What timber is best for shelving?
Pine. For short length bookshelves, pine is a good material to work with. If you’re planning on building bookshelves in an alcove or with intermediate support, its strength comes into its own in plank form. Varnishing is recommended.
What is the strongest wood for shelves?
Koa. If you want wood shelves that last for a long time, you should consider using Koa wood. This is considered to be the hardest among commercially available wood types. Even so, Koa is lightweight and has beautiful shellac qualities.
