DIY Builds
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Is it cheaper to buy or build shelving?

Increased Cost – Buying shelves is more costly than buying the materials to make them. Durability – Don't forget that you get what you pay for – if the shelves are cheaply made, they may not provide the strength and durability needed for long term use.

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At Middlesex Door Systems, we know everything about garage doors and lots about garages. Here is some good advice about making your garage a place you’ll be proud of. Shelves make garage organization quick and easy, and ensure that you can find things when you need them. You have the option of making your own shelves or buying ready‑made options that you just have to install. To help you decide which option is best for your needs, check out the pros and cons of each choice.

DIY Pros and Cons

Building your own shelves can be beneficial for some, but may not be the right choice in every situation. The pros of DIY shelving include: Lower Cost – Generally, buying the materials for your garage shelves should be cheaper than purchasing prefab – just make sure you do everything right the first time. Tailored – Making your own allows you to build shelving that meets your exact needs. You can tailor the design to your space and the items you need to store. Durability – As long as you choose quality materials and a solid design, your DIY shelves will be more durable. Direction – You can find many different how‑to guides for a variety of options by looking on the Internet, which makes the process easy – even for novices. Pride – You get to take pride in knowing you built everything yourself While there are several benefits to building your own shelves, there are also a few cons to consider: Increased Difficulty – Making your own is more difficult than just buying ready‑made options. Time Consuming – DIY does take more time since you have to buy materials, take measurements, and build them. Buying shelving may or may not be your best option, depending on your needs, abilities, and available space. The pros of ready-made or prefab garage shelving are: Quicker and Easier – It is much faster just to buy your shelving so you can hang them immediately, which doesn’t require serious construction knowledge. Flexible – Pre‑made shelves are typically modular, which allows you to add additional storage space as you need it. Increased Cost – Buying shelves is more costly than buying the materials to make them. Durability – Don’t forget that you get what you pay for – if the shelves are cheaply made, they may not provide the strength and durability needed for long term use. Make It Fit – You will lose some customization ability so make sure you take plenty of measurements and consider what you need to store.

Other Considerations for DIY Garage Shelves

There are a few things you need to consider before choosing to make your own shelves: Time – Make sure you have enough time to get your shelves built in a day or two to avoid adding to the clutter in your garage. Bins – While some ready‑made options come with bins, remember that you can buy them on your own cheaply, and find a DIY guide for that style. The decision of DIY vs. ready‑made is up to you. Regardless of the option you choose, make sure to measure everything twice to avoid additional costs and hassles. To top off a well‑organized garage, why not a new garage door? At Middlesex Door Systems we can show you the possibilities. Call us at 1-800-696-1926!

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What are shelves without brackets called?

Shelves without brackets are commonly called bracketless or floating wall shelves; they have a seamless and clean appearance, seeming to float on the wall without any means of support. Hanging floating or bracketless shelves can seem tricky, but the process is straightforward.

Plan the plan the location of each shelf before you begin installing wall anchors and plugs. Make note of the measurements of your shelves and how they will be placed on the wall. Use a stud finder and mark the location of the wall studs with a pencil, then set a level on the wall use it to mark straight guidelines for each shelf. Ron Hazelton says you can also use painter's tape to visualize how the shelf will look once placed on the wall. This allows you to move the position before drilling any holes, should you not like where the shelf sits.

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