Correctly selected fastening of kitchen cabinets to the wall is the key to high-quality kitchen installation and its safe operation. To prevent the story of a set from becoming skewed or its upper half falling from becoming a reality, it is important to choose a reliable method of mounting and fixing the furniture.
Before we begin reviewing possible mounting options, we note several important principles that must be observed when installing both upper and lower modules:
- Consider the material of the walls. It affects the possibility of installing the kitchen as a whole, as well as the choice of construction fasteners. Additional measures to strengthen the wall may be required.
- Cabinets should not block the natural ventilation of the room.
- The height of the upper modules is determined by the average height of family members or whoever will use the kitchen most often.
- If the wall has significant unevenness, it is better to first level it. Minor defects will not be a problem if an adjustable fastener on the bar has been chosen.
- Make sure that the installation will not interfere with sockets, switches and communications. The number and location of sockets in the work area should be thought out in advance.
- First of all, the bottom row of the headset is installed. Floor modules are also fixed to the wall using a profile, aligned with each other in height and fastened with furniture ties.
- If the kitchen is corner, then the installation of the kitchen unit begins with the installation of corner modules.
- Internal filling (drawers, shelves, pull-out baskets and other storage systems) and facades are installed last, when the furniture is securely fixed to the wall.
There are several types of fastening: on corners, furniture hinges and mounting rails. Each option has its own characteristics, pros and cons. Knowing them, you can easily determine which fastening option is needed in your case.
General design issues
Rack with shelves
First of all, you should forget about the first ideas that come to mind - creating the simplest hanging shelves, with a load or area that can accommodate all the property currently contained in the garage. Firstly, this is not rational from the point of view of their manufacture, and secondly, over time, the volume of things stored in the garage increases, so new and new designs will have to be made.
Therefore, it is immediately necessary to plan the design of the shelves in such a way that it is:
- universal
- expandable
- as easily movable as possible
That is, it is advisable not to make each shelf separately, but to make an entire rack consisting of several shelves as a single structure.
Rack with cabinet
The next important question is what the design of the rack will be - collapsible or not. Typically, non-removable structures are more durable and can withstand heavy loads, however, their disadvantages include difficulties in expansion, dismantling and transportation.
Collapsible structures are less stable , their rigidity is far from that of non-collapsible ones. Often, for additional stability, such structures have to be attached to walls. However, they have two special advantages - easy expandability and mobility. In addition, thanks to their modularity, shelving can be made in a variety of sizes.
In this case, the choice depends solely on the desires of each person.
Other options
A variety of materials are suitable for making shelves. The main requirement for them is strength, the ability to withstand the expected load . Craftsmen find original and practical solutions for organizing garage space.
Cable rack shelf
Cable racks make very durable shelves
Cable racks, trays, profiles are products necessary for electrical installation work. From these parts you can assemble a strong and reliable structure from several shelves and sections. Also, these products are suitable for constructing a frame on which wooden, glass or plastic shelves are installed.
The range of auxiliary materials for electrical installation work includes a full range of fastening elements for assembling structures from cable racks. All these products are affordable and sold in the hardware or electrical materials departments of any construction hypermarket and shopping center.
From canisters
Shelf made of canisters - option for originals
A plastic canister is a real find for those who love original solutions for organizing storage systems in the garage. Entire racks are built from these containers. Canisters act as drawers, one of the side walls of which is neatly cut off. This way you get a hollow box with a handle.
Installation of such racks is simple. In production, it is recommended to focus on the instructions for installing wooden shelves suggested above. First of all, a multi-sectional frame is constructed from boards, in each opening of which a canister laid on its side is installed. Get a comfortable, deep, drawer with a handle.
Attention! Used canisters for solvents, oils, and chemical solutions must be thoroughly rinsed. This will eliminate the odor and eliminate the risk of fire.
Choosing a rack design
Collapsible rack
Most often, metal or wood is chosen as the material for garage shelving. Combinations of these materials are common. Plastic is rarely used.
The designs of shelving made of wood and metal can be as follows:
- Stationary , that is, designed and assembled for a specific room. Typically, a structure of this kind is assembled once, and to give it additional strength it is attached to the wall or floor (in some cases also to the ceiling)
- Mobile . It is possible to install the structure in different places, or the ability to constantly move it using rollers (wheels)
- Collapsible . The number of shelves, their height, and sometimes their length can be changed within arbitrary limits
- Hanging . Such structures are fastened to the ceiling or walls.
- A combination of different types or with exotic elements (for example, rotating, sliding). Usually, this is more of an aesthetic rather than a practical decision.
A separate group is represented by shelves for storing tools or shelf-containers for storing small parts - usually fasteners, as well as other “loose” items.
Tool storage panel
How such products are constructed is clear from their images. They are used quite often because they are very convenient to use and easy to manufacture. In addition, any available materials can be used as material for them.
Shelves made of many containers
Naturally, the layout of any rack, which includes calculating its dimensions and determining the number of shelves, should be based on the size of the garage, the parking space for the car, and the location of the doors and gates. In some cases, it will be optimal to use corner shelving.
Corner shelves
Original alternative shelf mounting
For hanging, you need to buy eccentric ties; they are often used for assembling furniture.
Eccentric installation diagram
Step 1. Mark the location of the eccentric couplers. The circles have standard sizes, the diameter of the elements is 15 mm, the length of the rod is 34 mm.
The locations of fasteners are marked on the shelf
Step 2. Using a Fortsner drill, drill out the seat. This tool makes a perfectly even technological hole, which allows you to fit the eccentric without side gaps and increase the strength of the connection.
Drill holes according to the markings
Important. Carefully control the depth, do not damage the front surface of the shelf.
A minimum of two elements are required per product. But in practice, this quantity is not enough; experienced furniture makers recommend increasing it to three or four.
Finished holes
Step 3. Make markings for drilling holes for the rod; they should be located in the center of the seats.
Mark the location of the rod with a pencil
Step 4. Drill holes, the axes of symmetry should be parallel to the side surfaces of the shelf. Insert the eccentrics into place; they will fit into the correct holes with a slight tension and will not fall out.
Insert eccentrics into the holes on the shelf
Step 5: Make marks on the wall. If the shelf has several horizontal parts placed at different levels, then this makes the process much more complicated. Taking all measurements using only a tape measure and a level is very time-consuming and difficult. In hardware stores there are special devices - pins, metal elements: one part is inserted and centered in the hole of the shelf, and the sharp end makes marks on the wall. Install them on the shelf, decide on the location of fixation and lightly hit the outer edges with a hammer to make marks on the wall. It is strongly recommended to use these devices in all cases where it becomes necessary to drill several perfectly coaxial holes in two adjacent planes. Their use virtually eliminates the possibility of error and saves a lot of time.
With the help of furniture tattoos it is convenient to make marks for holes on any surfaces
Step 6. Prepare holes in the wall and insert metal rods into them.
The rods are inserted into the holes in the wall
Step 7. Remove the marking cones (pins) from the shelf holes, insert the shelf and firmly tighten the eccentrics. If the shelf is large and there will be a lot of heavy objects on it, then the number of fixation points must be increased.
The shelf is firmly held, and the fasteners are completely invisible
Preliminary preparation
You should start by preparing a drawing. You can do it yourself, using, for example, frames offered for sale as a basis. It is necessary to calculate the overall dimensions of the shelves and the parameters of the base for them.
Moreover, their dimensions should be based on preliminary measurements of the space in the garage. If you take these measurements correctly, you can consider that half the job is already done.
Shelf drawing
- At the same stage, it is necessary to think about how the shelves will be connected to the frame, and the frame itself will be further strengthened by attaching it to the walls or floor.
- An important parameter here will be the height, since, in the case of low ceilings, it is advisable to make the frame height up to the ceiling, leaving no free space.
- Determining the distance between shelves is one of the important design points, since it is this that determines the rationality of distributing things across levels.
- Traditionally, the lower ones are made the most spacious: large and heavy equipment is placed on them; in addition, they are often used to store wheels and rims.
- Usually the following rule is used - the higher the shelf, the less weight should be placed on it and, accordingly, its height is lower. This can be explained quite simply – by increasing the stability of the rack as a whole.
- We should also talk about the depth of the shelving. Shelves that are too narrow make the entire rack impractical, and shelves that are too deep make it much more difficult to access. The optimal depth is 50-60 cm.
- The width is usually determined by the tensile strength of the material from which the shelves are made. There is no need to make the rack too heavy by making shelves more than 1.5 m wide (this will require too thick iron or wood so that they do not sag under the weight). Usually the width is about 90-150 cm.
Let's look at the most popular shelving devices that you can make yourself.
How to arrange shelves in the garage
Try to use shelves as much as possible
The installation of simple devices will help to significantly increase the ease of use of storage systems. Thus, horizontal crossbars installed along the shelves will prevent accidental falling and damage to objects, or injury to legs or arms from heavy tools. Often, shelving in garages is overloaded, and when you take out one part, you have to move many others. Horizontal bars will keep objects within a given space.
The owner’s task is to make the most of the small garage area, using all available surfaces. For this purpose, corner multi-tiered shelves are installed, ideal for storing a variety of small items: containers with screws and self-tapping screws, fasteners.
It is important to place the shelves so that they do not interfere with free passage, and there is no risk of accidentally hitting your head or hands on them. An excellent solution is to install shelves along the perimeter of the walls at a height exceeding the owner’s height by 20-30 cm. On these surfaces you can store everything that is rarely used, but should always be at hand.
Magnetic holder is a real godsend for the garage owner
Another option for arranging shelves is to mount a wooden block with a magnetic holder on the wall. It is convenient to fix any metal products that are small in weight and size: bits, drills, wrenches, screwdrivers. This is a very convenient storage method, appreciated by all garage owners who have used this method of organizing space.
A high multi-tier shelf can act as a partition for zoning a room. To prevent things from falling from the rack located in the walk-through area, install sliding doors like a wardrobe, or install horizontal retaining bars.
Simple wooden shelves
Wooden shelving in the garage
Most often, in garages, a simple stationary structure is made independently, located along one or two walls. In the latter case, it can be considered a corner.
This type of shelves has the following advantages:
- low cost compared to metal;
- simple and quick assembly without the need for metal processing (in particular, without welding);
- ease of maintenance;
- naturalness and good aesthetic qualities;
- with proper wood processing and care, a relatively long service life and high structural strength
An approximate view of such structures is given below.
Garage rack
The procedure for making such a structure is as follows:
- The materials from which the racks and the shelves themselves will be made are selected. Hardwoods (larch, oak) are suitable for racks, but, in extreme cases, ordinary pine can be used. The shelves themselves can be made from almost any wood material. Even plywood, chipboard or OSB can be used
- The racks should be made of timber with a cross-section of 10x10 or 5x10 cm. The cross members between the shelves are made from the same timber to give structural strength
- Shelves are cut from the selected material according to measurements
- All structural elements should be treated with an antiseptic before installation to avoid rotting or fungus
- The structure is assembled from racks and crossbars. If necessary, it is additionally reinforced with metal corners and attached to the wall, floor or ceiling
- The racks are marked vertically in the places where the shelves will be attached to them. Their fastening is carried out in various ways: self-tapping screws, tenons, and wood glue are used. In rare cases, dowels are used. Don’t forget about traditional nails, unlike self-tapping screws, they are less likely to come loose. To give extra strength to the shelves, they can also be mounted on metal corners
- After assembly, the ends of the rack are processed, and then the entire structure is varnished or painted
VIDEO: How to make a shelf out of wood
Shelves in the garage: order comes first. General design issues, simple options, step-by-step instructions for making your own (75+ Photos & Videos) + Reviews
Non-standard solutions
It is not always possible to find the right mounting option for shelves, or the homeowner/designer has a special design idea. Then human imagination comes to the rescue, giving rise to unusual methods of solution.
Shelf with straps
Instead of loops, sometimes they use rings with hooks, water pipes, and fittings. Sometimes belts, chains, and rope are used.
Shelves on pipes with fittings
Unusual things with a different purpose create a unique style for the room and complement interesting design ideas.
Honeycomb shaped shelf
You can take non-standard fasteners and hang shelves in an unusual way. Not strictly horizontally, at an angle, forming corners, honeycombs, diamonds, making storage space of an unusual shape.
Non-standard arrangement of shelves at an angle
Wooden shelves with metal frame
Rack with metal frame
An alternative design option, which is a more expensive, but at the same time more durable and durable solution. The racks in these shelves are made of metal, and the surface of the shelves itself is made of wood or any materials of wood origin.
Such a rack has a higher resistance to moisture and mold. It is more resistant to heat and fire. Moreover, by using metal parts, they can be made dismountable, which will allow you to change the appearance of the structure according to any desire of the garage owner.
Materials and tools needed for work
Corners for shelving in the garage
The racks of such a rack are made from rectangular pipes or from a profile with a width of one of the sides of 5 cm. A 30 mm corner is best suited as crossbars.
The frame is made from a corner, and the thickness of the shelf should be from 1.5 to 3 cm (along the height of the corner). Crossbars made from angles can be attached to the guides in different ways - by welding or using bolts. It all depends on the wishes of the owner.
If you need a durable structure, then welding is preferable; if you require the versatility of the product with the possibility of its further modernization, you should use bolts. The use of bolts allows, for example, to change the height of each level.
Shelves can traditionally be made from any material on hand - from pine to OSB. For reasons of strength, their thickness should not be less than 12-15 mm.
For work you will need the following set of tools:
- drill (screwdriver)
- Bulgarian
- wood hacksaw
- corner
- level
- welding machine (optional)
Manufacturing procedure
Corner shelving frame
Assembling the rack is best done in a free room , and it is advisable to empty the garage of unnecessary things and remove the car from it.
After assembling the frame, it should be screwed to the wall. The assembly sequence is as follows:
- Based on the finished measurements, the material of the racks and corners for the shelves is cut using a grinder
- The racks are marked in those places where shelves will be attached to them
- The corners are bolted to the posts (or welded in the case of a stationary structure). In this case, it is extremely important to maintain a connection angle of 90°, otherwise the structure will turn out skewed
- Similarly, the racks are connected to each other using crossbars, but in this case, right angles must be maintained not only between the racks and crossbars, but between the crossbars and the previously attached corners
- The assembled structure is installed in its place and screwed to the walls and floor. This can be done, for example, using anchor bolts
- The metal frame is sanded using a grinder with an appropriate brush attachment and coated with a primer or paint containing a primer. At this stage, in order to facilitate the labor-intensive process of mechanically cleaning the frame from rust, you can use a chemical rust converter. Typically, converters require a day to dissolve the rust; after which surfaces can be painted without any mechanical or chemical treatment
- After the paint has dried, shelves are cut out of wood or wooden materials and adjusted in size to the finished frame structure
- The shelves are sanded, painted or varnished, and then attached to the frame using bolts or self-tapping screws
VIDEO: DIY universal shelves
Shelves in the garage: order comes first. General design issues, simple options, step-by-step instructions for making your own (75+ Photos & Videos) + Reviews
What about drywall?
For various reasons, fastening can be done on a plasterboard structure. The material is very fragile and therefore requires special installation technology. Here are a few basic points that are important to know when working with this material.
- Drywall has its own fasteners - butterfly dowels (pictured below).
- The cabinets are hung on a special strip, which is attached to as large an area as possible to ensure even distribution of the load.
- It is better to strengthen the fastening with anchor bolts.
Shelves for storing heavy items
Metal shelving
Typically, metal shelves are used to store very heavy items or items with large dimensions. To securely store things on them, it will be better if they are made as stationary structures.
This approach immediately eliminates bolts as a connecting element. You can buy stationary metal products, the connections of which are provided using various grooves and guides, but this will no longer be an independent production, in addition, such structures are very expensive.
Therefore, it is recommended to use welding to create entirely metal shelves. The use of bolts is allowed in non-critical joints, or where they are assigned the role of fastening light elements.
Metal rack
- As usual, manufacturing begins with the creation of a drawing or sketch . In this case, their location plays an important role. It is advisable to place such products near strong, solid walls. It is possible that a significant part of the load when attaching the rack to the wall will fall on the wall, and if it is of a decorative nature, unpleasant incidents are possible.
- For such shelves, it is best to choose not square profiles as frame elements, but ordinary corners , but with dimensions of at least 50 mm. Often the creation of such products is made not from a frame, but from a wall mount.
- The frame elements are first marked and cut out using a grinder , and then welded into a single structure using a welding machine. At all stages, you should check the right angles of the rack elements: between the racks, crossbars and fasteners.
Frame for metal shelves
- The shelves themselves are made of perforated or rolled steel with a thickness of 1 to 5 mm. Its thickness is determined solely by the desire of the owner.
- At the same time, one should not forget about the weight of the structure . A sheet of rolled steel with dimensions of 50x100 cm and a thickness of 3 mm weighs almost 12 kg, and a sheet with the same dimensions and a thickness of 5 mm weighs almost 20 kg. In addition, do not forget about the cost: a sheet measuring 1000x500x3 mm will cost about 2-3 dollars.
- An alternative would be to use wooden shelves . In this case, you should choose wood with a thickness of 2.5 to 3 cm, which will first need to be treated with a fire retardant to increase its fire resistance.
- These boards can be connected to the frame using bolts. Metal sheets are also attached to the boards with bolts or self-tapping screws. In this case, it is better not to use welding so as not to destroy the wooden elements.
Upon completion of the work, the entire structure must be cleaned of rust and painted.
On mounting rail
With this fastening method, furniture is hung on special hooks or canopies, which in turn are inserted into the grooves of the mounting rail. Hinges are fixed inside the modules in the corners.
- The installation process is simpler and faster.
- Allows you to hang kitchen cabinets more evenly.
- You can handle the installation alone
- The design is stronger and more reliable, and can withstand high loads, provided that a strong, thick strip is selected.
- A more expensive option compared to mounting on corners or hinges.
- The canopy can be adjusted in different directions. Using screws, you can adjust minor flaws made during marking, as well as adjust the distance between the cabinets and the wall. This property will be especially useful if you are afraid to miscalculate the height of the apron and install the top module overlapping with it. In the case of protruding tiles or peelings, you can increase the gap between the wall and the top drawers.
- Suitable for mounting the headset on flimsy walls.
Of all the proposed mounting methods, the most modern and reliable is installation on a mounting rail.
Making hanging shelves
Hanging wall shelves
There are two types of hanging shelves - wall and ceiling. Wall shelves can be made in open or closed design, sometimes they have a back wall. They are attached to the garage wall using corners or anchors. These shelves can also be either stationary or collapsible.
Ceiling shelves are placed at the highest level and are attached directly to the ceiling. They can be hung on hooks welded to metal ceiling beams. In addition, eye bolts or special long studs are used as fastenings.
Suspended ceiling shelves
The advantages of such shelves include the relative simplicity and speed of assembly. However, they are quite flimsy and cannot support too much weight. On the other hand, no one will place items that are too heavy to be stored at this level for safety reasons.
The manufacture of the frame for such structures, as well as the shelves themselves, repeats the procedures described earlier in the production of wooden shelves with a metal frame. In this case, fastenings are made in the upper part of the frame for connection with hooks or studs installed in the ceiling.
VIDEO: Wooden hanging shelves
Shelves in the garage: order comes first. General design issues, simple options, step-by-step instructions for making your own (75+ Photos & Videos) + Reviews
The main purposes of shelves in the garage
Shelves in the garage are needed to systematize internal “wealth.”
For Russians, the garage has long become a multifunctional room. This is no longer just a place for storing and servicing a car, but also a workshop, as well as a warehouse for a variety of things, including:
- car spare parts;
- wheels;
- electric and pneumatic tools;
- oils and gasoline;
- fishing rods and other fishing, hunting and tourist equipment;
- wearables and other things;
- food preparations;
- detergents to maintain cleanliness.
All this must be organized, kept dry and in good condition. For this purpose, there are only two designs: racks and shelves. The first differ from the second in that I can be mobile. Shelves are always stationary and mounted on a wall or partition.
For things with different geometric parameters, you need storage space of the appropriate size . In this regard, there are several types of shelves:
- for tools, with crossbars to prevent this expensive equipment from falling;
- for storing long items: building materials such as boards and metal corners, as well as fishing rods, shovels, spare parts;
- for large-sized products: machine tools, heat guns, auto parts;
- for small hand tools, keys, insulating and other materials.
Therefore, the design of the shelves must be selected based on several parameters:
- the dimensions of the items that will be stored on them;
- frequency of their use;
- weight.
Using the same criteria, the location of the shelf is determined and the material for its manufacture is selected.
Shelves made of metal and plastic
Plastic shelves for tools
Due to its low strength, plastic is rarely used in the manufacture of shelves, however, for storing various small items and light items, this option has a right to exist. Plastic is the cheapest material from which shelves can be made; in addition, with its use you can not only save money, but also decorate your garage design with bright elements.
Such shelves can be made using a wooden or metal frame, in a variety of designs. The design and dimensions depend on the desire and taste of the garage owner.
It must be remembered that such racks have a number of significant disadvantages:
- low fire and heat resistance
- vulnerability to chemically active substances (solvent, gasoline, acetone, etc.)
- low holding weight
Dependence of the mounting method on the wall material
The physical characteristics of building materials have a significant impact on the optimal technology for fastening shelves. Modern industry produces many options for fasteners for various types of partitions, the correct choice of which is an indispensable condition for ensuring stable fixation.
Table. Types of fasteners depending on the wall material.
| Wall material | Brief description of the features of shelf fixing technology |
| These are the most durable materials that can withstand maximum loads. The shelves are fixed to concrete and brick with plastic dowels or metal anchors. |
| In terms of strength, it ranks right after brick and concrete; such walls are suitable for hanging heavily loaded shelves. For fastening, ordinary nails or wood screws are used. The amount of work is minimal, reliability is guaranteed for many years of operation. |
| A modern building material with low thermal conductivity, used both for facade walls and internal partitions. Foam concrete has a porous structure and low mechanical strength. To hang shelves, you must use special plastic or chemical dowels. But even special fasteners cannot ensure reliable fixation; it is not recommended to heavily load the shelves. |
| Interior partitions are made from it or interior walls are lined. This material is respected by designers, but civil engineers have an extremely negative attitude towards it. The first ones really like the opportunity to create unique elements, the ease of work and the versatility of using the material. Engineers do not respect them due to their extremely low physical strength. Only decorative shelves with minimal weight can be hung on such slabs. Special dowels are used to attach hanging shelves. |
Where are shelves most often used?
The main place where you simply cannot do without a shelf is the bathroom. This is where shelves are a must-have attribute, as they allow you to conveniently store bathroom accessories. In most cases, even several shelves are used, but fixing a shelf in the bathroom is the most difficult, since the wall covering here is ceramic tiles, which must be handled very carefully.
You can’t do without a shelf in the kitchen, since it greatly increases practicality and you can place on it all the accessories that the housewife constantly needs at hand.
In the bedroom or living room, shelves mainly serve not a practical, but a decorative role and serve as a stand for souvenirs, jewelry or books.
General recommendations
When using visible and invisible fastenings, it is important to consider the thickness of the wall. Hidden fittings are used when the wall thickness is from 25 cm. If it is made of brick and at least 10.5 cm if it is made of concrete. When the wall is made of plasterboard or cinder blocks, with a total thickness of up to 10 cm, the use of hanging shelves is possible for decorative purposes.
The shelf itself needs to be chosen correctly. Do not take heavy, massive products; it is better to prefer thinner, lighter materials. The main requirements are cleanliness, dryness, high-quality coating. To store light items, shelves up to 3 cm thick; for books, heavy objects take a thickness of 4.5 to 6 cm.
Based on the factors described, fasteners are selected. Then there will be a clear idea of what load is imposed, what the main surface is made of, and what options are acceptable in a particular case.
Non-standard options include furniture fittings, an overview of which can be seen in the following video:
