Hanging Shelves On An Uneven Wall

You can have someone hold the shelf for you while you use a level to double check the evenness if desired.

Hanging shelves on an uneven wall. Step 4 cut along the pencil line using a table saw. Fit a floating shelf by pushing it onto the bracket instead. Drag the pencil along the wall keeping the shaft flat to the wall and allowing the tip to leave a line on the shelf. Buy a different type of shelf that s less dependent on wall being flat.

For example using an ordinary standard and bracket shelving system would push the shelf itself off the wall by about 1 2. Attach the plywood top to the frame. Or just using a bracket that would allow you to move the shelf away from the wall slightly. Adjust the level until the bubble is centered and mark the keyhole locations on the wall.

Hold the level against the wall at the height you want the shelf. Use liquid nails to attach the front and optional sides. With some setups the shelf rests on top of the brackets. Position the shelf on the wall.

Then install anchors or drive the screws into the studs and hang the shelf. Pick up the shelf with the fasteners attached and line it up on the wall. As the shaft of the pencil passes over an uneven place in the wall it causes the line drawn on the board to skip outlining the uneven parts of the wall. Use the drawn line to help you ensure the shelf stays even.

Then check the shelf to make sure it s sturdy and ready to bear the weight of whatever you put on top of it. Remember that the top of the shelf will be above your marks. Place the shelf frame with the bottom but no top where you want it on the wall and screw it into every stud that it touches.