What is a shelf?
A shelf (Dutch: schap) is a flat board fixed to a wall or inside a cabinet on which you can place items. In Dutch the word also refers to the whole unit, such as open shelving or a shop display rack.
A shelf has two parts: the board and its support. Support can come from visible shelf brackets, concealed floating-shelf brackets that slot into the end grain of the board, battens fixed along the wall, or the sides of a cabinet fitted with shelf pins.
Application
Shelves are found in kitchens, storerooms, garages, workshops and living rooms. What matters most is the load, the board and how it is fixed to the wall.
Practical tips:
- Know your wall: in concrete and solid masonry a standard wall plug works; in hollow plasterboard walls use cavity fixings; in aerated concrete blocks use plugs designed for that material. Use a detector to check for cables and pipes before drilling.
- Sag: the longer the span between brackets, the more the board deflects. For heavy items such as books or tins, keep the brackets closer together or choose a thicker board. Solid timber and plywood sag less than chipboard.
- Floating shelves: concealed brackets look clean but are more sensitive to heavy loads. Stick to the manufacturer’s maximum load and fix only into a sound wall.
- Level: mark the line with a spirit level or laser and fix one bracket first, then the second.
- Damp rooms: in bathrooms or cellars, choose moisture-resistant material or seal the board on all faces, including the ends.
Related Terms
- Built-in cupboard
- Bracket
- Cavity wall plug
- Spirit level
- Plywood
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