Step 11: Mount it to the Wall
The Plan:
To securely fasten the desk to the wall, you need to find your studs. In the States, studs are 16" apart. We will be centering the desk over one of these, and screwing the Verticals to the two adjacent studs. It is convenient that our desk's Horizontals just so happen to be 35.5" wide, because that puts the center of each of them over the center of a stud.
Finding a Stud:
A stud is a vertical 2x4 (actually 1.5" x 3.5") in your wall to which is mounted either drywall or lath and plaster. Lath and plaster is a pain in the butttt. Drywall is nice. Either way, the studs are placed 16" apart. There are several ways to find a stud:
Drill holes until you find one (have filler ready)
Use a magnet
Tap on the wall (not so accurate)
Use an outlet (they're attached to studs)
Use a stud finder (somewhat useful)
Mark off three adjacent studs where you want the desk.
Attach the first corner:
Drill a pilot hole in one of the outter studs. The height of this hole is determined by how high you want the desk. You may want some people to help you hold up the desk temporarily while you find a good height. Mine ended up being 25.5" from the ground, which is iffy given the carpet.
Drill a pilot hole in the center of the corresponding corner of your desk and then drive a screw through until it just pokes out the back. This makes it easier to guide the screw into the wall hole.
Rotate the corner of the desk up until the screw matches the hole and then drive it the rest of the way into the wall. Somewhat snug -- you still need to be able to rotate the desk up.
Attach the other corners:
These are somewhat trickier, especially without a helper. Using a person or crutch, hold/prop the desk up so that everything is level. Use a level if you have one, or a plum bob if you have one of those. The desk is still collapsed at this point. Drill the other three holes and drive the screws in. Tighten all four screws so the desk is nice and secure to the wall.
To securely fasten the desk to the wall, you need to find your studs. In the States, studs are 16" apart. We will be centering the desk over one of these, and screwing the Verticals to the two adjacent studs. It is convenient that our desk's Horizontals just so happen to be 35.5" wide, because that puts the center of each of them over the center of a stud.
Finding a Stud:
A stud is a vertical 2x4 (actually 1.5" x 3.5") in your wall to which is mounted either drywall or lath and plaster. Lath and plaster is a pain in the butttt. Drywall is nice. Either way, the studs are placed 16" apart. There are several ways to find a stud:
Drill holes until you find one (have filler ready)
Use a magnet
Tap on the wall (not so accurate)
Use an outlet (they're attached to studs)
Use a stud finder (somewhat useful)
Mark off three adjacent studs where you want the desk.
Attach the first corner:
Drill a pilot hole in one of the outter studs. The height of this hole is determined by how high you want the desk. You may want some people to help you hold up the desk temporarily while you find a good height. Mine ended up being 25.5" from the ground, which is iffy given the carpet.
Drill a pilot hole in the center of the corresponding corner of your desk and then drive a screw through until it just pokes out the back. This makes it easier to guide the screw into the wall hole.
Rotate the corner of the desk up until the screw matches the hole and then drive it the rest of the way into the wall. Somewhat snug -- you still need to be able to rotate the desk up.
Attach the other corners:
These are somewhat trickier, especially without a helper. Using a person or crutch, hold/prop the desk up so that everything is level. Use a level if you have one, or a plum bob if you have one of those. The desk is still collapsed at this point. Drill the other three holes and drive the screws in. Tighten all four screws so the desk is nice and secure to the wall.
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