Week 1 Of Constructing My Stroll-In Closet (Plus, Your Questions Answered)
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At the moment wraps up week considered one of my closet construct. Technically, I began over per week in the past once I constructed the cupboard for my washer, however I did that whereas I used to be ready for my plywood and provides for the remainder of the closet to be delivered. So I think about the official starting of this mission to be the day that the provides had been delivered, and I may really get began with none roadblocks. So how a lot did I get accomplished?
I bought six of the eight large containers constructed. I made a decision to go forward and construct out the left aspect of the closet earlier than attending to the enjoyable stuff. Most of y’all recommended that I do it this fashion as a result of I have already got my system down. I can construct the containers fairly rapidly, and I have already got the required instruments out and useful. And I used to be constructive that I may get the remainder of this constructed by the top of the day at the moment, in order that simply delay the enjoyable stuff for a few days after which I might be utterly completed with this step and transfer full steam forward with the beautiful stuff.
I really thought I would have the ability to get all eight containers constructed yesterday, however I sort of sabotaged myself. The primary one took me some time as a result of I videoed that entire course of. However as soon as that was accomplished, I believed I may simply plough by way of the opposite three and get them accomplished earlier than I went to mattress. Sadly, that didn’t occur, and I’ll present you why.
I did get one of many large containers completed…
After which I bought the second 30-inch field completed. However I ran out of room to place these (I had instruments and 1/4-inch plywood standing in the way in which on the left aspect of the room), so I needed to stack it sort of inside one of many large containers on the precise aspect of the room for now.
After which I went to construct the second large field for the left aspect of the room, and I seen this on one of many quick items for that field…
Ugh. I didn’t need to scrap that piece, although. So I crammed that crack with wooden glue and clamped it collectively in an effort to salvage it. I feel it’ll be advantageous, however there was no approach all of that glue would dry in time for me to make use of that piece yesterday.
No downside. I had two extra quick items, proper? Not less than, I ought to have had two extra quick items! However I regarded all over the place, they usually had been nowhere to be discovered. So I had miscounted when reducing the quick items and wound up two items quick. Sadly, by the point I seen, it was about 7:45pm, and I don’t like utilizing my instruments outdoors after 8:00. If that they had simply wanted to be lower, I may have simply accomplished that by 8:00. However additionally they would have required wooden filling and sanding, and I didn’t need to be outdoors doing all of that after 8:00.
So I used to be pressured to cease constructing cupboard containers two hours sooner than I had deliberate final night time, all due to my very own oversight. Oh nicely. It occurs. However I can positively get these final two containers constructed at the moment, together with the dryer cupboard, after which be on to the enjoyable stuff tomorrow! And since I had additional time on my palms with nothing to construct, I bought the left aspect of the room cleaned up in order that I can go forward and get all the containers in place as quickly as they’re constructed.
I’m fairly happy with my week one progress! Once I began this closet, I had no thought how lengthy this entire mission would take. I nonetheless don’t have any thought, particularly as a result of that is really the quick half. As soon as I get to all the ending steps (the wooden filling, sanding, caulking, priming, and portray), that’s the half that appears to tug on endlessly. So it’ll be fascinating to see how lengthy it takes me to utterly end this room.
Let’s transfer on to a few Q&A’s:
Why didn’t I construct 2×4 bases for the cupboards as a substitute of utilizing toes?
The straightforward reply is as a result of constructing large 2×4 bases isn’t any simpler than attaching small toes, and it requires extra lumber to construct the bases. I already had sufficient 2x4s readily available to chop toes (it took about 1.5 8-foot 2x4s for all of the toes), and I didn’t need to have to purchase extra to construct large bases, which might have required way more than 1.5 2×4’s.
However another excuse is that I just like the management I’ve with small toes over 2×4 bases. 2×4 lumber could be very tough lumber, and discovering completely straight 2x4s could be a actual problem. Most of them aren’t completely straight, and so whenever you go to construct an extended base with them (just like the 138-inch size I’d want for every lengthy wall), if it’s even barely bowed, or if it stands out too far as a result of the wall isn’t completely straight alongside that entire 138-inch size, then that impacts the location of the trim and molding alongside the underside.
In contrast, since I solely have three little toes alongside the entrance of every cupboard, I can faucet these into place very simply and ensure they’re completely flush alongside the entrance of every cupboard, guaranteeing that my trim and molding alongside the underside will probably be completely flush with the face of the cupboard when it’s completed.
I’ve accomplished it each methods — toes and a couple of×4 bases. My expertise is that the toes are simpler, cheaper, and require much less work. It takes me about 5 minutes to attach and nail the toes in place on every cupboard. After which shimming and screwing the cupboards collectively takes just some minutes extra. The explanation I had such a tough time on that first one is as a result of the aspect plywood items of the primary cupboard had been warped, so I knew it will take a bit extra effort to get these cupboards to line up. I might have had that very same problem getting these two lined up even when I had used 2×4 bases as a result of the problem didn’t have something to do with the bottom/toes. It was all about that warped plywood.
Why did I take advantage of a full cupboard in the course of the precise wall when the complete prime was going to be wallpaper, mirror, and sconces?
One phrase. Symmetry. 😀 I may have left that part open, which might have required much less plywood. That’s positively an possibility, however it was only a design determination I made as a result of I would like the left and proper sides of the closet to be completely symmetrical. Had I left that part open on the prime, the crown molding would have needed to wrap across the sides of the primary and third cupboards, and again to the wall in that open part, and that might have thrown off the symmetry on that wall. And y’all understand how obsessive I’m about symmetry. 😀
Why did I take advantage of backerboards on all the cupboards when most ready-to-install closet methods don’t have backerboards in all sections? Couldn’t I’ve saved cash with out them?
I spent fairly a little bit of time pondering by way of the small print of how I might construct this closet, and I checked out most likely 200 photos of walk-in closets (if no more) earlier than making my determination. One factor I seen is that there are most likely 20 other ways to construct closet cupboards.
It’s true that almost all prefabricated closet methods (aside from PAX) don’t have something however wall on the backs of most sections, and particularly the backs of the hanging sections. It’s additionally true that almost all prefabricated closet methods solely have one layer of plywood (or reasonably, MDF or pressed board with melamine or veneer) between every part.
These closet methods are nice, however in every little thing I do, I’ve to assume by way of how I’m going to construct issues by myself. Since I work on my own, I’ve to give you processes that make constructing issues on my own the simplest, easiest, and most simple approach. So for a system just like the one photos above, I attempted to think about myself holding one piece of plywood in opposition to the wall and attempting to safe it into place whereas it’s sq. and plumb. Considering by way of that course of didn’t appear simple, easy, or simple to me, particularly once I’m working on my own.
So I lastly realized that absolutely the best course of could be to construct separate cupboard containers individually on the ground, be sure that every field was sq. once I constructed it, after which transfer each into place one by one after it was totally constructed. However cupboard containers want one thing on the again to maintain them sq.. The 2 choices are (1) utilizing stretchers on the again (normally 1×3’s or 1×4’s), or (2) overlaying the again totally with plywood.
I did think about using the stretcher possibility, since it will have been cheaper, however after so many photos of closets that used stretchers, I merely didn’t desire the way in which it regarded.
There’s completely nothing flawed with that methodology. That’s a superbly stunning closet. And utilizing stretchers to construct cupboards and hold them sq. might be the most typical methodology of constructing cupboards. However since I had a alternative, and will do both approach, I made a decision that I just like the clear look of a strong backer on my cupboards a lot better.
So the entire function of utilizing the backers is to maintain my cupboards sq.. That approach I can construct the cupboards on the ground, guarantee that all the corners are completely sq., after which nail the backers in place to maintain them sq.. After which I do know that after I stand the cupboards upright and transfer them round and into place, these corners will nonetheless be sq. as soon as they’re in place. And I selected full backerboards as a substitute of stretchers for this function as a result of I desire the clear look of the complete backerboards over the stretchers. The stretchers would have price much less, however I believed it was price it to pay a bit extra ($26 per sheet for eight items) to have the look I wished.
If y’all have extra questions, I’m joyful to reply them! Simply let me know!
The A2D Day by day:
Addicted 2 Adorning is the place I share my DIY and adorning journey as I transform and adorn the 1948 fixer higher that my husband, Matt, and I purchased in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do bodily work, so I do nearly all of the work on the home on my own. You possibly can be taught extra about me right here.
