where to find good alcove shelving - ideally "floating shelves"

olias

googler wrote: »

Do you think the reviewers have placed them on a carpet where grip rods run adjacent to the skirting? Any bookshelf or cabinet placed like that will lean forward as the front sinks into the carpet below the level of the grip rods, which are under the rear of the shelf.

Answer - add small feet to the front, even if not supplied by the maker.

Why would you put a shelf on the floor? I think you are confusing it with shelving units or similar. The thread is about single wall mounted shelves.

olias

neilo1978

Had exactly the same problem when we were looking for floating shelves for our alcoves either side of a chimney breast.

In the end, I decided to try an experiment with an Ikea lack shelf. I bought one that was slightly too long (but the bracket fit nicely), cut a bit off each end of the shelf so if fit snugly in the alcove. I reinforced each end of the shelf as they are hollow (using the bits I had cut off, just hammering them back into the cavity) and put the bracket on the wall as normal.

6 months later, we have loads of these 'custom' shelves filling our alcoves holding books and DVDs without a problem.

I am no good at DIY normally, but these were surprisingly easy. As long as you measure accurately, its easy.

Think the shelves only cost about £13 so its worth buying one to have a go. We got quotes from a joiner, and it was nearer £90 per shelf if we had them made.

Hope it helps.

xyz123

neilo1978 wrote: »

Had exactly the same problem when we were looking for floating shelves for our alcoves either side of a chimney breast.

In the end, I decided to try an experiment with an Ikea lack shelf. I bought one that was slightly too long (but the bracket fit nicely), cut a bit off each end of the shelf so if fit snugly in the alcove. I reinforced each end of the shelf as they are hollow (using the bits I had cut off, just hammering them back into the cavity) and put the bracket on the wall as normal.

6 months later, we have loads of these 'custom' shelves filling our alcoves holding books and DVDs without a problem.

I am no good at DIY normally, but these were surprisingly easy. As long as you measure accurately, its easy.

Think the shelves only cost about £13 so its worth buying one to have a go. We got quotes from a joiner, and it was nearer £90 per shelf if we had them made.

Hope it helps.

Thanks a lot for that. that sounds like its worth trying. Did they cut off easily with a normal hacksaw? Did you then "finish" the sides or left them as it is. sides are probably not visible.

And finally any idea as to what is the distance between the support and end bit. i need 90cm long shelfs, so i will get 110cm and will need to cut 20cm total so 10 cm at each end. i hope the supports are more than 15/20 cm from the end!

neilo1978

Our alcoves are 94cm, and it was the 110cm shelf I used so the same will be fine for you. From (poor) memory, I think there was still a gap of about 10-15cm either side of the edge of the bracket to the side wall.

As the sides were against the side walls, I didn't see any point in finishing them. My walls aren't perfectly straight, so there was a very slight gap between the end of the shelf and the wall in places. I just used white sealant (shelves and walls are white) to fill the gap. I opted for silicone as I thought there will be some slight movement with weight added and assumed this would be more flexible. Not knowing if this is correct or not shows how un-DIY I am.

When it comes to cutting I just made sure I used a sharp saw but put masking tape on the part I was cutting for a cleaner finish. Without the tape, the plastic-y finish would split. I bought a wood saw for about £10 and it went through like the shelf was made of butter.

When I reinforced the shelf, I used the bit I'd cut off, ripped off the plastic and it fit perfectly back into the shelf. Inside is just honeycomb cardboard. I just gently tapped in the blocks with a hammer so they were flush with the new end.

The key to the job was in the measuring, taking equal amounts off each end so they fit onto the bracket which I assume will be mounted in the middle of your alcove. Getting this wrong will make things tricky as the holes for the bracket are already in the shelf, and they are reinforced for strength.

I'd wish you luck, but its so easy, you dont need it.

neilo1978

I wanted to give you an idea of how they turned out by adding a link to a picture, but cant because I am a new user.

But, the link would have been http:// imgur.com/GMbloIu

Remove the space and it will hopefully work.

loracan1

http://imgur.com/GMbloIu

drusilla

Do you want floating shelves or shelves with a deep front?

If you are fitting them snug in the alcove why not just use battens and then box the shelves. Same effect but much stronger.

xyz123

drusilla wrote: »

why not just use battens and then box the shelves. Same effect but much stronger.

sorry didnt understand that? what do you mean by "boxing the shelf".

I want some shelves (about 25/30 cm deep) to store DVDs / Files and other stuff which is just lying around the house while an alcolve is sitting there empty!

I cant really describe it at anything other than a personal preference not to see a lot of support battens! but its a preference only, not a requirement so i may have to revert to battens!

olias

If you look at the link I provided earlier (post#11), it shows you dow to hide the battens - put a section of shelving above them, one below, and a piece accross the front and it will hide the battens whilst giving the illusion of a thick chunky shelf and be sronger than the ikea ones as the support will be on three sides, not just one.

olias

Ionkontrol

I made my own