How I Make Simple Floating Alcove Shelves (no nailgun)

Here's a video of some simple alcove shelves I made for a customer. They're 12" deep and around 1.3m wide. This is the simple method that doesn't involve using a nail gun. Normally for speed I'd use a nail gun for projects like this. These are fully enclosed 'floating' shelves with no visible brackets. The customer wanted them left unfinished so they could paint them themselves. These shelves have an 18mm MDF top, 6mm MDF bottom and are supported by 20mm timber bracing, making a total thickness of 44mm which was appropriate for the width to avoid sagging. Enjoy and don't forget to Subscribe!
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#Handyman #DIY #Shelves

[@thebeginnersworkshop3094]

Thank you. Just made some using this method. They went surprisingly well. Made 4 shelves and only spent £30 on a sheet of MDF and managed to salvage some thick bed slats from an old bed for batons.

[@TheSampalmer76]

managed to build set of 3 alcove shelves watching this video. I'm really pleased with how they look. thanks for the video

[@SW-cu6bw]

Hi again, I used your video to put some two shelves into an alcove installed above a small desk space this weekend. I took the basic instruction for the installation (I did not cover the underside of the shelf) and put a timber strip to the outside of the shelves to give the appearance of a thicker shelf. The result is fantastic and there was no husband around either! Thanks again. It was so easy to do.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Glad you got sorted - great work!

[@ExtremeShez]

Good stuff Sophie.

[@beanpizzle33]

Excellent video. I'm thinking about building shelves in an alcove and this video has reassured me that I don't need to pay someone to do it for me. Love the speeding up and the sound effects too. Both instructional AND entertaining.

[@SW-cu6bw]

Despite my earlier comment this is one of the best videos I have seen. Thank you for showing it.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Ha - cheers for the comment! 😃

[@TranTheClever]

This is a great idea over the other versions of floating shelves. Thanks for an in depth video. 5:28

[@Scoob908]

A no nonsense great video. Built some lovely shelves off the back of watching this.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers buddy! 👍

[@tomar3]

Hello! Massive thank you for this video and thanks for the one on how to template the shelves aswell. Will be doing this using 12mm and 6mm ply with 18mm ply strips cut to 20mm for the battens as it's what I've got. A faultless job and video. Very lean indeed. Exactly what I needed

[@itratkashif206]

I loved the finishing. So neat.

[@SuccessShared]

Tremendous job and made me rethink my initial idea. Very useful thanks

[@borleyboo5613]

Beautiful job. Thank you for showing us how it’s done…..properly. 👍😃

[@teenflon]

I made these shelves this weekend using your instructions and it worked perfectly! Thanks

[@thingsss]

Love your dust catcher its genius!

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers! Here's a vid of it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/noWUe31pedWYgJI 👍

[@happydommo]

Great video and great channel. Between this, your scribing video and painting MDF video I've just finished 4 fantastic alcove shelves.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Awesome stuff - well done! 👍🛠

[@helenfreeman7125]

Super video, easy to follow and very well done, thank you.

[@MrJimtimslim]

We always give it a prime before caulking in the decorating trade so you get good adhesion to the timber. In time the caulk will peel and come away from unprimed wood/mdf.

[@ts7844]

Prime what? If you prime before caulk, you are adding a layer between the wood and the caulk which will in time make it even more likely to peel and come away.

[@MrJimtimslim]

@@ts7844 wrong.

[@arsecheese51]

@@ts7844 that’s not how priming works

[@ts7844]

@@arsecheese51 and you’d be the expert wouldn’t you? On here watching how to put up a shelf.

[@Shoshana-xh6hc]

These are beautiful, excellent video👍🏼

[@nxmrjake]

I’ve just built a set of alcove shelves based on this video! Amazing advice, thank you. They look great. Trying to work out if I can post a photo here hmm. I added a cupboard to the bottom of it 👌

[@786Kay786]

Did you use any instructions on how to add the cupboard?

[@TranTheClever]

Ohh. My. Goodness! I need this. Shelves = storage. Storage not on the floor = space saver and happy momma 😄♥️🙏🏼 1:25

[@MrJinga27]

With that attention to detail l would let you work in my house anytime......excellent work mate!!

[@davegilb9779]

Beautiful work

[@ivorygilyard2243]

you did a great job. thanks for posting.

[@passionworksbodyshop9738]

I wished I could work that fast!

[@VtotheKallday]

very clean and precise

[@stewartmcardle8149]

The Heath Robinson dust collector is a great little addition to your tool armoury...😉

[@24inchgamer]

Cheers for this, exactly what I wanted to do but wasn’t entirely sure how. I’ve just made a start and attached the frame, it’s an outside wall (lates 80’s build semi) and I figured it would be brick but my masonry bit went through like butter. Do you know what it’s likely to be? I’ve used those those Duopower plugs and 5x60 screws.. do you think that will suffice?

[@tracesmith1814]

Especially liked the end supports cut on the 45. I am using 15” W material for the shelf so added support is good!@

[@marilynneal3803]

Just come across this video. Very informative, thankyou!

[@davebyrne0]

Thorough to the core !!!

[@elroy8138]

Amazing video and replies. Thank you!

[@lasonyapotter8387]

life changing.....lol super easy thanks!

[@robinmcfadden8287]

Great video, really interesting to see how you frame it. What thickness size timber and mdf did you use. It was a great idea to use the lath at the front. Painting mdf end grain can be a real issue.

[@FuriousBOIAngel]

this guy works so quick!😀

[@20DDan]

Excellent! Thank you.

[@felixmooneeram5919]

Really great video.. thanks so much for making it ;)

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers for the comments!

[@yvettechichester4835]

Nice and simple thank you thank you.

[@maxw-h5982]

Hey, this is a great video, thank you! I'm going to attempt to make some this week, but wondered what wall plugs you used for this? They don't look like the red fischers... Thanks!

[@Eatbeans6739]

11 months on, and still waiting for a reply.

[@Timmygobang]

Solid vid, cheers for taking the time to post this. That's my weekend sorted!

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers bud!

[@lysduchamp]

Brilliant Video

[@Sophia_England]

great video - thanks

[@Amir86S]

Thanks this is awesome!

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers for watching! 👍

[@winstonsmith3690]

Top job!

[@paulm2322]

Excellent.

[@sadequeali949]

Great job

[@alexhall6943]

It would be nice if at the start of yr vids you just showed a spread of the tools you're about to use laid out so we can literally just quickly buy any we're missing, line them up in the workspace and follow along picking up each one. It feels stupid to request more out of you tho cos the vid is the best DIY vid I've ever actually seen, loved it cheers.

[@paulm2322]

This dude gets paid by the nanosecond! 🤣 seriously though, thanks for the video. I’ve just put two shelves up using this as a tutorial. All the best.

[@tombirch1071]

Looks great! Don’t suppose you have a sort of guide/instructions to completing this?

[@jaketurner1990]

Brilliant video. I'm attempting to tackle 8 of these, 4 either side of my chimney. Can I ask, I'm finding it hard to source 20x20 timber for the skeleton, do you think 34x34 will be fine? And also do you think an MDF facia will be fine as opposed to the timber one you use? Thanks

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers! I rip my own 18x20 strips from 18x94 planks (or whatever). MDF fascia will work but you'll have MDF edge grain to deal with on the top and bottom. Plus timber is a bit stronger so adds to the support of the shelf.

[@thegoodraj]

Thanks! Great video. I want to build shelves just like this in my closet 50cm deep and 138cm wide. Could I use the same materials and would it hold, say 50kg per shelf? Would it help to add another piece in the middle front to back?

[@Gerryl789]

Exellent Video. What size screws and rawplugs did you use for attaching the wooden baton to the wall please ?

[@tommytomtom560]

Thank you!

[@ms_jblessed5031]

thank you for sharing

[@ElSkinsio]

What kind of load would you expect these to be able to handle?

[@debstar2005]

Really enjoyed your video thinking of having a go myself just need to learn how to use a measuring tape. Everything else I can do great vid

[@GosforthHandyman]

Ha ha - here you go, how to use a tape measure properly! kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJPQo2iLm56ZfJo 👍

[@khoinguyen6116]

Great video Andy, massive fan of your channel. One question though - why did you use timber for your front trim fascia strip, rather than say MDF to give a smoother finish? Wouldn't the timber frame provide sufficient support to prevent sagging?

[@tomar3]

I think the timber provides additional strength to the shelving in n order to prevent sagging

[@gingleb3792]

What fixing would you use to attach the timber bracing to plasterboard?

[@cainhegarty1055]

Hi, good tips in there, thanks. What are the little metal brackets you attached to the front batten, and where can I find them?

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers Cain - I just use these, they're not structural and just hold the wood in place while the glue dries: www.screwfix.com/p/angle-braces-self-colour-19-x-19-x-1-2mm-50-pack/67412

[@matthewhoward-jones1439]

hi did you buy the front 44mm strip pre cut or cut to size? thanks

[@victorblandburg7383]

This looks great and easy. My question will this work for a space that is 54 inches long or will there be sagging?

[@ianthompson9058]

Bloody hell ! Your quick!

[@keithcarter5547]

Very good video. In my case, we would like to install glass shelves within our alcove which is similar dimensions to the alcove you used. Do you have any recommendations regarding the approach we should take? Thank you.

[@nusratfarooqui4516]

Awsome!!!

[@SuperCanerat]

this is a good video

[@eml1507]

I am wanting to add a door to exactly what you have just created so it looks a little less cluttered. Would this work?

[@GosforthHandyman]

You would need to add some sides to support the door hinges, other than that you're good to go! 👍

[@davidhurley3593]

Great video great video

[@2maxcrook]

Are you able to share how you measured the walls for fit the shelves flush? I didn’t see you scribe. Apologies I’m new to this!

[@Sherminator2010]

This video is soooo good. Quick question - How did you get the width of the front piece of wood to match the width of the frame?

[@angelmoon1105]

Thank you I think I can make one (I hope), I have a very small space at my rent house, I don’t know where to put my things especially those rarely I used, but there are exactly space like you’re working in the video, I think I can make one but wider so that I can put large boxes there.

[@davebyrne0]

Great vid

[@ShaneJoshua1980]

What's the best thing to do comestically with shallow alcoves. My alcoves are probably no deep than a Blu Ray cover.

[@debracarter7290]

Worth watching just for the hilarious speeded up sound effects! Perfect shelves tho!

[@benmartin8073]

Great video, really helping with the project. The alcoves i am building them for have a concrete wall along the back and only plaster board left and right, so no wood studs to screw into. obviously i am plugging the walls, will that be a problem for a heavy load?? I'm using 34mm x 44mm timber with 5mm x 60mm screws.

[@GosforthHandyman]

It'll *probably* be fine with decent fixings but I'd suggest also gluing the side bracings if you want to play safe. 👍

[@benmartin8073]

Thanks. Using RAWL UNO plugs, brown ones. All sides have been glued with NMN. My first project in the new house, just need the reassurance. Thanks again.

[@GosforthHandyman]

If it's glued it should be absolutely fine - for future reference, for anything heavy in plasterboard use expanding metal fittings with a setting tool - if you search for my projector install vid you'll see they type I mean. 👍

[@FA-mc3qc]

Good job

[@benmartin8073]

Really great video. Taking on almost the exact same project. Can I just ask, the height of the bracing is obviously 20mm to make up the 44mm total but what is the width? Can only find in a 15mm width and wondering if this is too thin, will be putting heavy books and vinyl records on shelves. This video has helped so much. Thanks again.

[@benmartin8073]

Sorry, seen previous comments and question answered. Thanks again.

[@helenefagan4896]

I have never seen such beautiful work, how can anyone vote against this.......I would give my right arm to have these built in my house.....well, that doesn't make much sense. thank you

[@GosforthHandyman]

Thank you Helene!

[@TranTheClever]

you are an hard working lady; claps for you that's wonderfull, thanks a lot im going to try 1:47

[@emilydavies6985]

How much weight would these shelves hold?

[@learningcarpentryandjoiner6902]

Great video and neat work. I take it you used MDF for top and bottom panels? Just a suggestion, could the plant on front be 18mm MDF with a double Bull nose to give a softer edge?

[@GosforthHandyman]

Yeah totally - the pine is just a bit stiffer than MDF though so just helps overall to stop sagging, but you could certainly bullnose it prior to fitting. 👍👊

[@rockm8n]

Thank you for your video! Really appreciate it. Quick question my alcoves are 1.6m wide... do you think this is a too wide opening due to MDF and battons sagging in the middle? Anyway I can prevent this?

[@GosforthHandyman]

Depends how much weight you plan to put on it but I would suggest 3/4" ply on the top instead of MDF clamped and glued to the framework and bottom cover. I've made 1.6m floating shelves that have been fine though - check my Insta.

[@rockm8n]

+Gosforth Handyman Thanks! I will have a look

[@raybyrne5599]

whats the distance between the shelves and up from the cabinet below?

[@1andonlychellexxx]

Top class.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers! I actually have a better method I use on bigger jobs but this is a bit more DIY. 👍

[@aletheakelly1010]

Aha! What is the other method for bigger jobs?

[@rommellajom]

Thanks for the video Andy. Very useful. What are the brackets you used to screw the front batten on?

[@kbrasey]

Did you ever find out??

[@gardenrose264]

Hi. Thank you for the video. Excellent for greenhorn like me. Can you tell me what materials you used? Did you get the shelves ready cut off the shelf or did you cut it down?. I want to replicate what you did. My problem is no matter how accurate I think I measure, it is always a few mm off. What am I doing wrong?. By off I mean a tiny bit too small. Any advice would be really helpful. Thank you...👍

[@queenekaya]

Hi is this a load bearing wall or hollow wall? How much weight can the shelves hold?

[@buso007nitrox]

Fantastic video! I’m curious about how much weight these shelves will hold. I want to build something like this to hold my books and I’m not sure if it will be strong enough.

[@alexhall6943]

Hi, did you ever find out how much weight they will hold?

[@buso007nitrox]

@@alexhall6943 No, I ended up using a different method for a built-in. I don't think this particular shelf in the video would have held all the weight from books. Something similar to this: cdn.homedit.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/DIY-built-in-shelves.jpg

[@user-dm9vz2px9l]

Looks like you used drywall anchors, is that correct? I’m looking to build something similar in an alcove that’s about double that width. Should the supports be anchored directly to the studs?

[@sj_uk]

Could this method be used for an alcove with a width of 1.7m?

[@maestro19965uy]

Hi Gosforth, can you share which cable detector you used checking the wall with? I don’t know which one to get

[@RockaShocka]

how much you charge for them 2 and is that strong enough for heavy books

[@benson1396]

Really helpful video mate, thanks for the upload. When you're at the point of fixing the mdf tops to the bracing (about 3:50 into the vid), are you piloting into the timber beneath or are you just making a clearance hole through the mdf? Cheers!

[@GosforthHandyman]

Just a clearance hole through the MDF - the screws I use are self-drilling. 👍🛠

[@Norwichjase]

I’d be interested to know how much kid these can take as the initial bits of wood to support them seem quite thin.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Easily 50kg per shelf. 👍

[@hombredeletras8112]

Strong Edward Norton vibes in this one

[@scottmclean4237]

Thorough clean job. These are the jobs which can be a bit tricky to price What did you price for that

[@davidbyrnes905]

Could you use mdf for the face of the shelves

[@James-no3xc]

+Gosforth Handyman What size screws were you using? Also what is the bit called that drills the screw hole but also leaves a counter sink hole too? Cheers

[@GosforthHandyman]

Into the wall? Probably 10ga 3" screws (length tends to vary depending on what the wall is made of). Drill bit - I just know it as a countersink pilot bit... technically it's a clearance hole, not a pilot hole though (you can get bits that do countersink, clearance and pilot in one go).

[@James-no3xc]

Ok Thanks a lot.. Also I've been putting a materials list together for mine and cant find 20mm timber bracing anywhere - Tried B&Q, Wickes etc..? Thanks for vid.

[@GosforthHandyman]

I rip my own! You can go for smaller or bigger but then you'll not be able to use a standard 44mm trim on the front so swings & roundabouts m'fraid! :-)

[@James-no3xc]

I thought that may be the case.. I'm limited with tools though so may have to use my friends work shop for a few hours! Cheers.

[@ilikepickles9568]

Brilliant video, just wanted to know what wood you used on the front of the shelves and how thick it was. I'm Gonna give it a go

[@kings9634]

Looks like pine, you can get it in all shapes. The thickness is up to you depending on how you want your shelves to look. The top and bottom is MDF by the looks of it.

[@MAli99923]

Nice video, how much did you charge them?

[@ydeottzap38]

Awesome video! Please I need your advice. I'm planning to have this kind of work on my alcove 24" x 55" I will use 1/2" MDF on the top, 1/4" MDF on the bottom, 3/4 wooden braces = 1.5" thick total. Do you think I'm good with these? Thank you very much in advance.

[@GosforthHandyman]

It's a little thin for the span IMO - you could try ply on top instead of MDF, it's less inclined to sag (but can be problematic to paint). Make sure you clamp and glue everything - especially the front edge.

[@ydeottzap38]

Thank you very much!!!

[@oimi]

I have a space in the bathroom which I want to put shelves in. It is 55cm wide by 79cm deep. We will be using them to store boxes/towels and the load is going to be fairly large. I don't want to end up with super thick shelves but at the same time I don't want them to give way/sag. What wood for the floating element and top/bottom would you recommend and in what thickness?

[@GosforthHandyman]

I can't really comment on individual jobs but the floating shelves I make are 44mm thick. 👍

[@oimi]

Thank you for your reply. Could you please confirm where you source your '20mm timber bracing' and what it is actually called?

[@GosforthHandyman]

I rip my own!

[@oimi]

Now I understand why I cannot find anything with those dimensions. What is the original lumber you obtain to do this?

[@LightsVancouver]

How to make a door or cover for this shelf?