Fit slatted airing cupboard shelves to a solid brick or block wall — HomeGraft

Fit level slatted shelves in a brick or block airing cupboard using battens, wall plugs and screws, checking for pipes first.

AC-01Clear the cupboard and check what's insideTake everything out of the cupboard so you can see the walls clearly. Note where the hot water cylinder, tank or pipework sit, as these limit where you can drill. Wipe the walls down so you can see the brick or block clearly and check for any old fixings or damp patches.

1 each · Cloth or sponge

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AC-02Plan shelf heights and mark level linesDecide how many shelves you want and space them roughly 300-400mm apart, leaving room to fit sheets and towels. Using a spirit level, mark a level line on both side walls for each shelf height. Double-check your measurements from the floor on both sides before drilling anything.

1 each · Spirit level

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1 each · Pencil

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1 each · Tape measure

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AC-03Check for pipes and cables before you drillAiring cupboards often have hot water pipes running close to the walls, so run a detector over your marked lines before drilling anything. A detector helps but does not guarantee safety, so still treat the wall as if something could be there. Find your stopcock now, usually under the kitchen sink, and check it turns freely so you can shut the water off fast if you do hit a pipe. If you have any doubt at all, isolate the relevant circuit at the consumer unit before drilling.

1 each · Cable and pipe detector

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AC-04Drill and plug the fixing holes in the brick or blockFor solid brick or block, drill with a masonry bit sized to match your wall plug, typically 6mm for a No.8 screw. Drill to a depth of about 50mm, then push in a Rawlplug or similar masonry plug so it sits flush with the wall. Blow or vacuum out the dust before fitting the screw so the plug grips properly.

1 each · Masonry drill bit, 6mm

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8 each · Wall plugs (Rawlplug), red

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1 each · Drill

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AC-05Cut and fit the support battensCut lengths of 44x18mm timber batten to the depth of your cupboard, one for each side of every shelf. Screw each batten to the wall along your marked line using 50mm wood screws through the plugs, checking level as you go. These battens carry the weight of the shelf and its contents, so make sure they're firmly fixed before moving on.

4 metre · Timber batten 44x18mm

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8 each · Wood screws 50mm No.8

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1 each · Screwdriver or drill driver

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AC-06Cut the slatted shelf panels to sizeMeasure the width and depth of the cupboard at each shelf height, as older walls are rarely perfectly square. Mark and cut your slatted shelf panel to fit, using a fine-tooth saw for a clean edge. Sand any cut edges lightly so there are no rough splinters.

1 each · Slatted shelf panel

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1 each · Fine-tooth panel saw

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1 sheet · Sandpaper, medium grit

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AC-07Fit the shelf onto the battensLower the cut shelf panel onto its battens and check it sits level and doesn't rock. If you want it fully secure, drive a short screw down through the shelf into each batten, being careful not to split the timber. Leave a small gap at the back if there's a pipe or cylinder to allow airflow.

4 each · Wood screws 25mm

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AC-08Repeat for the remaining shelvesWork up the cupboard one shelf at a time, repeating the drilling, batten and shelf steps at each marked line. Check each new shelf is level with a spirit level before moving to the next, as small errors add up over several shelves.

AC-09Clean up and check the finished jobVacuum out all masonry dust and offcuts from the cupboard floor and shelves. Give each shelf a firm push to check it's solid, then load it evenly rather than piling weight at the front edge. Put your towels and linen back once you're happy everything is secure.

1 each · Vacuum cleaner

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1 each · Rubble sack

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