How to Build Shelves Between the Wall Studs
- 1). Position a shelf bracket in the desired position on the wall. Hold a level to the side of the bracket and adjust the bracket's position until the level reads "plumb" or straight up and down. Press a pencil through each of the bracket's screw holes and create a mark on the wall at the center of each hole.
- 2). Pull a tape measure's tape from the top pencil mark on the wall to the desired location of the second shelf bracket's top screw hole. Mark the location of the second shelf bracket's top screw hole with a pencil. Hold a level against the second bracket's screw hole mark, position the level plumb and use a pencil to draw a line on the wall, straight up and down across the edge of the level.
- 3). Hold the level in a horizontal or "level" position against the wall. Align the level so that it touches both the top screw hole mark from the first bracket and the line created for the second bracket. Make a mark on the second bracket's line that corresponds to the level of the first bracket's top hole. Move the level downward, repeating for subsequent screw hole marks.
- 4). Attach a twist bit to the power drill; refer to the wallboard anchor manufacturer's recommendations for bit diameter and length. Drill a hole at each of the screw hole marks on the wall. Insert a wallboard anchor into each hole.
- 5). Attach a driver bit to the drill. Hold the first shelf bracket against the wall. Align the bracket's screw holes with the wall anchors. Use the drill to fasten screws through the bracket's screw holes and into the wallboard anchors. Hold the second bracket against the wall and align its screw holes with the wallboard anchors. Use the drill to fasten the screws through the bracket's screw holes and into the wallboard anchors.
- 6). Position the shelving material on top of the secured wall brackets' horizontal surface. Fasten screws through the underside of the horizontal shelf brackets and into the shelving material.