Installation

WHAT CAN THEY HOLD??

floating wood shelf

Our Standard Range floating shelves weight limit will depend on how many studs the bracket is attached to. These floating shelves use a slotted bracket system to attach to the wall as per the photo above. To hang your shelf you must first attach your bracket to the wall studs using the supplied screws, and then slide your American Ash shelf onto the bracket and secure using adhesive silicon on the bracket backplate and bracket pins. We recommend the Standard Range brackets be attached to at least two studs and a rough rule is that for each stud a bracket is attached to the shelf can hold 15kg comfortable. We have tested to 35kg per stud attachment and the bracket did not fail, it only started to flex. 

floating shelf bracket

If your location only allows the Standard Range bracket to be secured to one stud, it is recommended to utilise two 'Gib-only screws' at each end to prevent rotation of the bracket and please consider weight restrictions (these can be found under Accessories on the site. Remember our shelves are solid hardwood timber and a 600mm long shelf weighs 3kg alone. 

Our Slimline Range comes with two pre-drilled mounting holes in the rear of the shelf and uses concealed pins, either 'Stud Pins' and/or 'Gib-only Pins'. Stud pins (3) have two concentric bushings which you can rotate to 'fine-turn' the level of the shelf. To enable stud attachment, every Slimline shelf 700mm and longer will have mounting holes 600mm apart, this ensures that your shelf will be able to reach across two studs. When attached to a stud, each Slimline Range pin can hold 6kg comfortably. Slimline shelves shorter than 700mm will have two holes, each 50mm in from the end. Each Slimline shelf will come with two Stud Pins. You will need to purchase 'Gib-only Pins (1 & 2) if required, available on our site. We can also drill these mounting holes anywhere along the rear of the shelf to accomodate your stud location, just let us know measurements at time of purchase.

floating shelf

HOW TO INSTALL THE GIB ONLY PIN

1. Drill 13mm hole in Gib and insert the Gib Toggler.

2. Ensure the cable tie ends are flush so that the toggle is flat against the inside of the wall.

3. Push the cable tie retainer all the way firmly against the wall. This then retains the attachment without requiring a screw inserted.

4. Flex both cable tie ends is the snap off flush with the wall (they are designed to easily break off).

5. Insert the screw into the 'Gib only pin'.

5. Install the washer and tighten firmly against the wall

floating shelf mount 

HOW TO FIND STUDS

Typically, studs are placed either 450mm or 600mm apart. Older homes can vary from this and could be a guessing game to find them without the right tools. If you don’t know where to start looking for a stud, start at your switches and power outlets, as these are usually attached to the side of a stud, then measure out from here. You can also start at a corner or end of a wall and measure out from here.

OUR DESIGN

As we have designed our shelves to express a minimalistic design we have decided not to drill holes in the underside of the shelf like many floating shelves to enable a fasteners or grub screw to screw in to retain the timber on the bracket pins. To secure the shelf and avoid it detaching from the wall bracket if someone should pull on it, we recommend applying a strip of adhesive silicon along the bracket back plate and bracket pins so the timber remains retained against the bracket. As long as not too much is used, you can easily remove if/when the time comes by applying a bit of force.

The “knock test” is a common way to find a stud. Use your knuckle to knock on the wall with your ear against it, when you knock and the sound has no echo and is more solid, you are most likely over a stud. Gib only has an echo sound.

You can also purchase a stud finder at a hardware store, but be warned, buying the cheapest one will just cause you frustration. Below is what we like to use and is about $110 from Bunnings. It also detects wiring which is a good thing.

 

floating shelf

 

INSTALLING THE ALCOVE DESK

If you have a few tools you should be able to install the desk. 
1. You would need to position the desk at the preferred height/location. Sitting it on something temporarily is ideal for this. Run a pencil along the bottom edge of the desk supports when in the correct position. Make sure the desk is level when doing this.
3. Remove the desk and then remove the desk supports from the desk by removing the tape.
4. Position the rear desk support against the line you marked and mark the location of the first stud at one end of the support.
5. Pre-drill the hole in the support for the screw you have chosen to use. This pre drilled hole is important as you don't want the screw to split the desk support as the timber section is not very wide.
6. Insert the screw through the pre-drilled hole and into the stud almost all the way but not too tight that you can not adjust the angle of the desk support.
7. Place a level on the desk support and pre-drill/screw the stud at the other end. Then repeat for any other studs in between.
8. Repeat for the other two side desk supports, making sure you use a level as you go. Drill the corner of each side support first when inline with the back support then level for the front stud.

 

Thanks,

Rob & Jason