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Fixing fallen shelf in closet

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

The shelf in our closet built by the builder fell off sometime over the July 4 weekend when we were out. I need to replace it with something more sturdy. I am looking to fix this quickly as I do not have the time to deal with woodwork. I am thinking closets from IKEA with mirrors to give the closet a better look.

I have 2 questions.

Any suggestions of alternatives to IKEA?
How to remove those wood pieces vertical on the wall that you see in the photo?

For some reason, I am unable to attach a photo here, so I posted it in the first comment below.

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Comments (5)

Scorpio Uno
Original Author
7 years ago
Tim Walker
7 years ago
I propose those nails were not long enough. I always use screws.

is that moulding they used for the support board?

the verticals should come out easy like the horizontal. Wedge from behind and on the stud in the wall. Or the drywall will break.
Scorpio Uno thanked Tim Walker
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ok, so sounds like some sort of vertical peice is desirable in the middle. Actually, in my upstairs closet, I notices that is exaclt what they did. I could always run a 2x3 in the front from left to right too I guess as well....maybe even anothe set 14" back...maybe thats over kill and I would loose a bit of height in the aea the 2x3. So are 30" shelves too deep? What material would I use...I guess I could get two from a 4x8 sheet...but sheet of what....particle board is so heavy...is there something else?
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Reading Rhome's comment about adjustable shelves moving/shifting/jiggling made me laugh because I found that out just recently. Not thinking, I moved something heavy from one end of a shelf and had a bunch of soda cans on the other end - well, of course, the unweighted end popped up and scared me to death. Oddly enough, none of the cans fell and we just popped the shelf back in place, but I can see it possibly being an issue if someone has a lot more on the shelves. Everyone would probably laugh at my pantry since compared to most people, we have almost nothing in there! It's just the two of us, so even though we have plenty, it's nothing like stocking up for a family of 4 or more :) I've even used it for extra storage for things that I just can't figure out another location for! But anyway, we have solid wood shelves with adjustable tracks so that they can be moved if we want. I think it's sturdier than the wire shelving and I haven't regretted it. I didn't really think too much about it and initially planned fixed wood shelves, but we simply got tired of waiting for the contractor to get around to building them. Long story, but we'd probably still be waiting 5 years from now if we hadn't gone ahead and installed the adjustable tracks and then just had him cut the wood shelves to fit!
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Comments (7)
marti- yeah, I feel that way most days. It takes me a few hrs for my meds to get in me for me to get moving around here anyway. I did get the 'fallen' shelf back up late yesterday - and half the shelf above it this morning. Instead of the long shelf (wall to wall) I used 2 smaller pieces I had here (the ends from when they cut my shelves to size) for the higher shelf - nothing else to use those for anyway. There'll be a few inches open between them but I won't have to fight another 5' long board either. I did one side, will probably put up the other side (half) shortly. After pup gets her walk. I'll save that long shelf board for the shelf I want put above the normal shelf (over the clothes rod) in that closet. Someone else will have to do that - it's way too high up for me to try. It's going to be a storage/linen closet. I did spend a good amount of time looking for the level. I looked in the back room twice for it. the 2nd trip there I 'saw' it. right out in open space waiting for me! eatrealfood - that'd sure be a good idea - a girl's shop class. I would have loved it. Learning to patch drywall, put up a shelf, fix a squeaky floor board, wire a lamp, etc would have been good things to learn back then.
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Walk holes? Pieces of wood that had been painted multiple times and have knocked holes in the wall? Huh?
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Scorpio Uno
Original Author
7 years ago
What is moulding?
klem1
7 years ago
" I am looking to fix this quickly as I do not have the time to deal with woodwork."

That is why it came loose,builder didn't have time to deal with woodwork either. They didn't nail into studs. In case you change your mind,try this. Remove the two horizonal boards from rear of shelf and reattach them to wall nailing into studs ( screws will increase holding power). Nail through rear of shelf into previously attached boards. Use screws to reattach metal brackets to wall.
Scorpio Uno thanked klem1
sdello
7 years ago
how much stuff do you plan on piling onto that shelf? that would control how solidly it needs to be attached. As others have said 1) make sure your connecting to a stud and 2) screws will win you a lot more pull out strength than those finish nails.

Looking closer at your picture, was the clothes hangar rod hung off the end shelf bracket at the foreground of the picture and not connected to a wall like the fitting at the rear of the picture?

If so, there's your problem. That's a lot of clothes to be supported off of a cantilevered connection to the wall. You might consider putting a post support under that end of the clothes rod.
Scorpio Uno thanked sdello

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