Remodeling : Installation / Building : Over-the-Door Shelf : Home & Garden Television

Help Around the House host Henry Harrison shows a guest how to cut and install a display shelf above a doorway that matches existing window shelves. On his elbow grease scale of one to four, Harrison gives this job a two.

Tools:

salvaged lumber
finishing nails
wood glue
workbench
chisel
rubber mallet
pencil
hammer
nail set
tape measure
circular saw
jigsaw
combination square
clamps
safety glasses

Figure B

Steps:

1. Trace the shape of the existing end brackets onto the new (or recycled) pieces of wood (figure B).

Figure C

2. Mark any notches you might need to carve out to accommodate trim elements. Measure for the length of the shelf by measuring the doorway and then adding the width of the end brackets (figure C). For instance, in this project the end brackets were cut from 3/4-inch thick wood, so you would need to add 1-1/2 inches to the measurement to get the proper shelf length.

3. Clamp the lumber for the new end pieces to a workbench and use a jigsaw to cut out the contours of the end brackets. Be sure to wear safety glasses while sawing.

Figure D

4. Clamp down the piece of lumber that will be used for the shelf. Place the bracket on the shelf piece and use the bracket to measure the width of the shelf (figure D).

Figure E

5. Adjust the rip fence on your circular saw (figure E) to match the width of the upper shelf. Then rip cut the shelf to the proper width.

6. Cut the shelf to length (the length of the shelf should be the length of the upper molding above the doorway plus the thickness of the two end brackets).

Figure F

7. Now attach the brackets to the shelf. First line the top of one bracket with a generous coating of wood glue. Drive nails partially through the shelf, coming in from the top. Have a friend hold the bracket firmly against the end of the shelf while you hammer the nails in (figure F). Remember to wear safety glasses while hammering. Repeat for other end of shelf.

Figure G

8. Place the entire unit around the molding of the doorway and nail it to the top and sides of the door molding (figure G). Set the nail heads beneath the surface with a nail punch.

Also in this Episode

Help Around the House : Episode ARH-208
•	Magnetic Cabinet Clips
•	Over-the-Door Shelf
•	Repair Loose Shower Tiles
•	Toolbox: Sliding T-Bevel

Remodeling

Over-the-Door Shelf

Tools

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