Building cupboards and shelves in an alcove - any tips please?

Question

I want to try to build a small cupboard and shelves in the alcove next to a chimney brest. I'm new to DIY, but want to attempt it myself. It would need to support a flat screen TV, books, ornaments...nothing too heavy. Any tips would be great. What sort of wood is best? thanks

Answer 1

Mike 1942 is right ,but there is a very accurate way to get your shelves to fit perfectly in the alcove.....make a card board template for each shelf and cut your wood shelves to the template.....you can play with the templates, either cutting away or adding to them until you get the perfect fit. draw level vertical lies to indicate the front of the cabinet and add on a face frame to the front of the shelves....then if you're really ambitious.....make and hang some doors on to the face frame......Whatever you do....keep working with a good level....keep everthing level (horizontal) and plumb( vertical)

Answer 2

Strongly recommend the panel stack method - whatever wood you choose, cut the shelves to fit within 1/4" (mark them if the width varies as shelves go up) then take the same width wood and cut two pieces for each shelf that are exactly the height you want the space between the shelves. Place the short panels against the sides of the alcove and lay the shelf on top - gravity and the walls keep it together.
If the shelves are under 3' long, any 3/4" wood will work - birch is nice for a clear finish in a blond room setting while pine is okay for painting and much cheaper. Over 4' you must add a batten brace underneath or use thicker wood.

Answer 3

Building Shelves In Alcove

Answer 4

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Answer 5

Depends on what the situation is at the end of the tenancy and they have left. Obviously if you have to do repairs, you deduct from the deposit accordingly - hopefully with receipts for the work needed to be done to prove what you have had to spend. Is it possible that the shelving got past it's sell-by? You have to factor in normal wear and tear, I suggest. If they can't be traced, or you have already refunded the deposit, I suppose you can take them to Small Claims, but is it worth it really for some shelving? Holes in the plaster are another matter.