We are installing closet rods and shelves in our new closets. My
husband wants to use upside down baseboard for the support braces for
the rod and shelf. I think this would look very nice but am very
concerned if the baseboard would hold the weight of a fully loaded 4'
clothing rod and whatever one may put on the shelf above. If he is
considering using left over baseboard we have from our renovation, the
board is MDF, 3/4" at the bottom and narrows to 1/4" at the top and is
about 3" in height (so reverse that for use as a brace - meaning it
would be 1/4" at the bottom). I'm assuming he would run the two end
braces as well as a strip along the back wall to add extra support to
the shelf - possibly even run the back support the full length just so
it looks a little nicer.

I suggested we use a more dense wood in at least a 1" thickness and 3"
height. Is this overkill, or would the baseboard be fine?

Here is an idea of what I have in mind for braces:
http://www.doingitourselves.com/imag...set_braces.jpg

Any comments on if the baseboard would be enough to hold, and hold
well? Or should we be going with something more sturdy?

wrote in message
ups.com...
We are installing closet rods and shelves in our new closets. My
husband wants to use upside down baseboard for the support braces for
the rod and shelf. I think this would look very nice but am very
concerned if the baseboard would hold the weight of a fully loaded 4'
clothing rod and whatever one may put on the shelf above. If he is
considering using left over baseboard we have from our renovation, the
board is MDF, 3/4" at the bottom and narrows to 1/4" at the top and is
about 3" in height (so reverse that for use as a brace - meaning it
would be 1/4" at the bottom). I'm assuming he would run the two end
braces as well as a strip along the back wall to add extra support to
the shelf - possibly even run the back support the full length just so
it looks a little nicer.

I suggested we use a more dense wood in at least a 1" thickness and 3"
height. Is this overkill, or would the baseboard be fine?

Here is an idea of what I have in mind for braces:
http://www.doingitourselves.com/imag...set_braces.jpg

Any comments on if the baseboard would be enough to hold, and hold
well? Or should we be going with something more sturdy?

MDF is no good for anything structural. You are right, a good grade of 1x4
is best, suitably eased on the ends and exposed edges to present a finished
appearance. If you want to use 3/4, use hardwood. Make sure to nail or screw
into the studs. On a 4' shelf, you want to use 3/4 plywood and a full-length
back support, and preferably glued/nailed square stock for the front finish
edge, to prevent sagging. For the rod, thickwall water pipe, not the flimsy
tubing. And buy the thickest rod holders you can find, not the flimsy
stamped or plastic things.

Anyway, that is how we did it back in the old days. I have seen some of
those closets 30+ years later, and they still look fine. When I get around
to redoing the crappily done closets in this 1960 cookie cutter, that is how
I will do it.

aem sends....

On Mar 31, 8:34 pm, wrote:
We are installing closet rods and shelves in our new closets. My
husband wants to use upside down baseboard for the support braces for
the rod and shelf. I think this would look very nice but am very
concerned if the baseboard would hold the weight of a fully loaded 4'
clothing rod and whatever one may put on the shelf above. If he is
considering using left over baseboard we have from our renovation, the
board is MDF, 3/4" at the bottom and narrows to 1/4" at the top and is
about 3" in height (so reverse that for use as a brace - meaning it
would be 1/4" at the bottom). I'm assuming he would run the two end
braces as well as a strip along the back wall to add extra support to
the shelf - possibly even run the back support the full length just so
it looks a little nicer.

I suggested we use a more dense wood in at least a 1" thickness and 3"
height. Is this overkill, or would the baseboard be fine?

Here is an idea of what I have in mind for braces:http://www.doingitourselves.com/imag...set_braces.jpg

Any comments on if the baseboard would be enough to hold, and hold
well? Or should we be going with something more sturdy?

It sounds like your husband is trying to save money. This can often
be a good idea all by itself epecially if you have debt and many do.
The baseboard may not an ideal solution but it's good enough. A space
as small as a closet would be easy to remodel in the future if for
some reason it doesn't work out for you or if your money situation
improves.

When the budget is there, I like to use a metal bracket in my closets
which supports both clothes rod and shelve. Fastened directly to the
studs, they are sturdy. Any type of material can be used over this
type of bracket. I use 3/4 plywood and wooden rods and that works
for me.

On 31 Mar 2007 18:34:08 -0700, wrote:

. I'm assuming he would run the two end
braces as well as a strip along the back wall to add extra support to
the shelf - possibly even run the back support the full length just so
it looks a little nicer.

I think more likely than falling down at the end is breaking in the
middle. Or bending and pulling out at the end.

Don't you plan to put a hook in the middle of the shelf to hold up the
middle of the rod? If the rod sags, or will sag, you should do that.
Four feet is long. ...Wait, No it's not. Unless you have ceramic
bulletpoof vests, I don't think there is much to worry about 4 feet.

I think my house came with hooks way in 3 closets, but they may be six
feet wide. (I Don't think the previous owner owned enough clothes for
him to have put the hooks in.)

I have another closet, a linen closet, with a shelf (with no rod
underneath) where the shelf eventually sagged a lot, after about 20
years. I just flipped the shelf over so it sagged upwards. Now it's
working its way down to flat.

I haven't painted the edge of that shelf yet, but if you finish your
shelf, you should finish the back too, and both sides so when you flip
it over, it will still be finished.

The hook that holds up the rod can be moved to the other side. They
make special hooks for this location.

On Mar 31, 6:34 pm, wrote:
We are installing closet rods and shelves in our new closets. My
husband wants to use upside down baseboard for the support braces for
the rod and shelf. I think this would look very nice but am very
concerned if the baseboard would hold the weight of a fully loaded 4'
clothing rod and whatever one may put on the shelf above. If he is
considering using left over baseboard we have from our renovation, the
board is MDF, 3/4" at the bottom and narrows to 1/4" at the top and is
about 3" in height (so reverse that for use as a brace - meaning it
would be 1/4" at the bottom). I'm assuming he would run the two end
braces as well as a strip along the back wall to add extra support to
the shelf - possibly even run the back support the full length just so
it looks a little nicer.

I suggested we use a more dense wood in at least a 1" thickness and 3"
height. Is this overkill, or would the baseboard be fine?

Here is an idea of what I have in mind for braces:http://www.doingitourselves.com/imag...set_braces.jpg

Any comments on if the baseboard would be enough to hold, and hold
well? Or should we be going with something more sturdy?

The MDF in that use _should_ hold the shelf. I assume you are
planning to put "U" cutouts in to hold up the rod. That would be
dubious in MDF.

I agree that the use of molding like that will result in a very nice
application. I may use it myself in the future but I will be using
real wood molding. For the amount needed (about 6') the cost is
minimal.

Someone else mentioned it but it bears repeating. Use iron water pipe
for the rod, forget wood poles.

Also reinforce the front edge of your shelf with a vertical strip of
wood glued and nailed. Someone else also mentioned that.

Harry K