I Adding Shelves

W
hen considering shelves for your custom closet,
choose materials appropriate for the loads
they must support. Also keep in mind that because
adjustable shelving does not provide support for
the shelving unit, you can choose material more for
design value than structural support. For example,
a few tempered glass shelves for lighter loads add a
decorative element unmatched by other materials.
The strength of a shelf depends on its material
and the span-the distance between verticals or
supports. In general, shelves should be no more than
36" long for clothing, shoes, and other lightweight
storage (24" long if the shelving is made of tempered
glass). For heavy items, such as books, shelf span
must be shorter. Shelves longer than this will likely
bow over time, and this places pressure on the
verticals. The end result is often a closet system that
caves in on itself. The days of caved-in closets are
numbered thanks to modular systems. Modular closets
incorporate verticals with brackets that fasten to wall
rails. These wall rails make it virtually impossible
for verticals to cave in, because each vertical is
individually supported to the rail.
In contemporary closets, fixed shelves are often
placed at the top, middle, and bottom of each section
to add strength and support to the unit. Fixed shelves
are placed wherever the added structural support is
needed-for example, shelves on top and below a
Top (fixed)
shelf
KD screw/dowel
44 BUILD YOUR OWN CUSTOM CLOSET
Vertical
sideview
Melamine-covered
particleboard
You can incorporate different shelving materials in your
custom design. The most common shelving materials are
shown here (above) and are shown in order of strength.
row of drawers will be fixed to add structural support
to this heavier area. Fixed shelves are fastened to
the verticals and at the same time joined together
through the verticals with modular hardware or basic
joinery methods (see next page), thus they are able
to share weight and add overall strength to the entire
closet unit. Fixed shelves also are screwed to the wall
(either with cleats or L-brackets). Other shelves are
adjustable, set on metal brackets or pins that are fit
into holes in verticals.
Knock-down fittings (KDS) hold the top shelf in place
but also support the adjoining shelves on opposite sides of
each adjacent vertical. This creates a solid, cohesive, and
sturdy unit.