Wall Shelving

Wall Shelving

Garages and workstations, among many other settings, make frequent use of wall shelves, often with a desk or work space located directly beneath the shelving. Baskets, drawers and hooks are easily attached to these and other wall shelves to increase storage capacity and provide easy access to tools and materials. Because they are supported by the wall, these shelves may be placed at any interval needed to create the best use of vertical space. Several shelves can be installed above one another or one level shelf can wrap around an entire room. Wood, plastics and composite materials can be used, but metal shelving provides the most durable option without a great deal of bulk. Wire shelving in particular is strong but lightweight, so it will cause less stress on the surface of the wall. The capacity and aesthetics of a material should both be considered for display units. While this is not considered heavy duty shelving, the proper brackets and mounting apparatus can result in shelving units that can hold considerable weight. Because the back of these units are flush to the wall, items are only accessible from the front, but as a benefit they are prevented from falling off of the back as sometimes happens with open shelving.

Wall mounted shelving systems should be carefully planned out as the installation often involves drilling directly into the wall of a room or building. Although this does not make it permanent, it can be costly to repair unsightly holes made in error. Wall shelves should never be mounted in or near electrical wiring or pipes that are hidden behind the wall. Ideally, screws and bolts can be anchored directly into the support studs of the wall. This will provide the sturdiest unit possible. Hollow wall and masonry anchors are available when no stud is present behind the chosen location. Often the mounting apparatus is sold separately as need varies based on the shelf design as well as the integrity and composition of the wall. Before and after securing the storage or display unit with brackets, screws and the like, it is important to check that the surfaces are level and parallel to one another in instances where they are stacked. Both vertical and horizontal components and the surface to which they are attached should be level as imbalanced shelving may result in the tipping or shifting of objects. Properly installed wall shelving can result in increased accessibility and improved process flow while also creating an aesthetically pleasing element in any room.