Installing Bookshelves on the Cheap

This is a guide to installing bookshelves with standards and brackets. This type of shelving provides an inexpensive (cheap!) way to gain useful storage space for books, magazines, CDs, DVDs, and anything else you might need ready access to. Whether in a study, living room, bedroom, or any other room in your house or apartment, these shelves are a handsome addition to any décor.

Anyone with a basic knowledge of common household tools can perform these simple steps. This guide will lead you through the procedures necessary to install your new shelving: (1) Tools & Materials, (2) Installing the Standards, (3) Installing the Brackets, and (4) Preparing and Installing the Shelves.

Step 1 Tools & Materials

In order to install your shelves, you will need the following tools:
Level
Tape measure
Pencil
Cordless screwdriver or screw gun
Hammer or mallet
Electric drill (for pre-drilling screw holes, if desired)
Stud finder (optional)

If you are using raw lumber or plywood shelving material, you will need the following tools:
T-Square
Saw
Paintbrush

You will need to purchase the following materials:
Standards...................................................................................6.55 * 2 = 13.10
Brackets......................................................................................3.58 * 4 = 14.32
Shelving......................................................................................7.64 * 2 = 15.28
Bookend brackets (optional)
Screws (2 ½ inch coarse-thread drywall screws)..............4.91 lb. =    4.91
Total...............................................................................................................47.61 = Cheap!!!!

Comments

[apinkpony]

nearly 50 isn't what I personally would call cheap... that said I have shelves like this in my closet (I don't think standards are attractive enough to be elsewhere) and I think I managed to do it for around 50... that was with 4 rather large shelves mind you. The single bracket ones, but none the less, I don't have anything heavy enough to warrant needing the double brackets...

Food for thought.

[DorthyBlueBird]

You could save money by scrounging your shelving.

[Flea]

$50 is expensive for 2 small shelves.