DIY Builds
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Can Command Strips hold floating shelves?

In fact, Command actually makes small picture ledges that are just shelves you hang on your wall using their adhesive strips. You could also buy their large picture hanging-strips and use them on the back of floating shelves. The downside is strength and stability.

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Y ou might want to put up shelves but feel hesitant to do anything that could damage your walls . And e ven if you’re pretty handy with a putty knife, fixing screw and nail holes can often leave traces behind, which could potentially be a problem if you’re a renter. The good news is that there are ways to get some shelving up on your walls without risking much damage . Here’s how to hang shelves without tools or screws.

The Command strip approach

One solution is to use Command adhesive strips. These strips and hooks adhere temporarily to walls and can be removed easily without leaving residue behind, which has endeared them to renters for years. In fact, Command actually makes small picture ledges that are just shelves you hang on your wall using their adhesive strips. You could also buy their large picture hanging-strips and use them on the back of floating shelves. The downside is strength and stability. The picture ledges only hold up to five pounds, which isn’t a whole lot . The larger strips can hold up to 16 pounds, but you’ll need to install them in a corner to get enough support. I f you only put the strips on the back of the shelf, they will droop over time, b ut if you use a corner to get strips on both sides of your shelves, you can use just about any floating shelf to store up to 16 pounds worth of stuff. Another way to use Command products for shelving is to buy their heavy-duty utility hooks (which hold up to 15 pounds) and then buy shelving designed to be used with hooks. (J ust make sure the support brackets will fit your hooks. ) This might require a bit of research, but the result is nice-looking and doesn’t rely on corners for stability. G/O Media may get a commission 17% off Peloton Guide Peloton for strength training

If you’re okay with minor damage to your walls

If you’re not ready to put your faith into adhesive strips, or you’re more concerned about avoiding tools than wall damage, another way to get shelves on your walls is High & Mighty shelves. These shelves use a combination of an adhesive strip and press-in brackets to hold up to 25 pounds of weight. All you do is place the strip on the wall where you want your shelf (using a level, ideally ), press the brackets into the drywall with your thumbs, and then slide the shelf onto the brackets and press into the adhesive. This will cause some minor damage to your walls that you’ll have to reckon with when you move out, but it’s an extremely small footprint that won’t be too hard to fix up with some putty or joint compound (or, you know , toothpaste). Both of these techniques will give you some storage without taking up floor space—and without the need for tools, nails, screws, or expertise. While I wouldn’t test the weight limits on these shelves (for example, trying to get 50 books on one of these shelves will likely end in tears), they’ll definitely get some stuff onto your walls without causing you to lose sleep over your security deposit.

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How far can a shelf span without support?

Single layer shelving made of particleboard should have a thickness of ⅝ inch. The recommended span for this would be 24 inches. If you have a thicker particleboard of ¾ inch then you can span wall supports by 28 inches.

Wall shelves require a bit of planning before loading up your favorite dishes or plants. A shelf span is the distance between supports for the shelf. This span distance will vary based on the strength of the material of the shelf. In theory, the stronger the shelf the greater the distance you can put between wall supports. Shelf spacing will depend on preference and what you will store on the shelves. It’s important to fasten the shelf supports to wall studs whenever possible for maximum support.

Span Limits

The span limit will change depending on the material of the shelf as well as the load it will carry. For the following recommendations it’s assumed the shelf will support a full load of standard-sized hardback books. Plywood. Shelves should be ¾ inch thick or thicker. The longest recommended span is 36 inches between wall supports. Lumber. The longest recommended span between walls supports for 1×10 lumber is 24 inches. If the lumber is 1×12 then it is 28 inches. Particleboard. Single layer shelving made of particleboard should have a thickness of ⅝ inch. The recommended span for this would be 24 inches. If you have a thicker particleboard of ¾ inch then you can span wall supports by 28 inches.

Spacing Recommendations

The vertical spacing between shelves will ultimately be determined by the objects it will hold. Here’s a general clear shelf height depending on specific items.

Paperback books: 8 inches

Hardback books: 11 inches

Large hardback catalogs: 14 inches

Magazines: 14 inches

DVDs: 8 inches

Source: the Spruce

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