Frequently Asked Questions
Wood Questions
What kind of wood should I use?
Most of our plans use standard construction lumber like pine or fir. It's affordable, easy to work with, and easy to find. It's also rapidly renewing and biodegradable, so a great eco friendly choice!
Can I use hardwoods instead?
Yes—just keep in mind they're heavier, cost more, and can be tougher on tools and harder to join together and finish. I recommend not tackling a hardwood project until after you have built several softwood projects.
What if my boards are warped?
Choose the straightest boards at the store. You can often work around slight warps by cutting them into shorter pieces.
What wood should I use for outdoor furniture?
Use red-toned or pressure-treated 2x lumber for framing, and cedar or cedar fence pickets for the decking. Outdoor furniture should be built like a deck—your local home center can help recommend the right wood for your climate.
Will my wood move or warp after I build?
Potentially, especially in humid climates. Let your wood acclimate indoors before building. Once acclimated and kept in a stable environment, movement should be minimal. Remember, most houses are built using framing lumber - it's all about keeping moisture down indoors.
Cutting Questions
Do I need a miter saw?
A miter saw is great, creating fast, safe, and precise cuts, even for beginners. But most plans can be built with a circular saw and a straight edge. If using a circular saw to cut, take time to practice, and get good at making cuts, before cutting your project boards.
How do I get clean cuts with a circular saw?
Clamp your board, measure twice, cut slow, and use a sharp blade. This takes practice, so spend some time making cuts. I go through becoming proficient at freehand cutting in my course, it is worth taking if you want to master this skill.
Will the store cut my wood?
Yes—most stores will do rough cuts to help you transport your materials home. But from store to store, the quality of cuts could greatly vary.
Joinery Questions
What screws should I use?
We recommend star-head self tapping screws for framing, most common sizes are 2-1/2", 1-3/4". Pre-drill if close to the edge or you find your wood is splitting.
Do I have to use pocket holes?
Pocket holes are the cheapest, easiest and fastest way to do some joints - like edge to edge or a hidden fastener joint. There are other methods, but these can be time consuming and expensive. We recommend using pocket holes as indicated in plans for best results.
How do I keep things square?
Use a speed square and measure diagonals after each step. Always clamp joints before screwing to keep them tight and flush.
Finishing Questions
Stain or paint before or after building?
A quick sand before and a full finish after gives the best results. Pre-finish if you're doing two-tone or detailed finishes.
What type of finish?
Use oil-based or water-based stain. For paint, cabinet-grade latex or enamel works great. High use surfaces on indoor projects should get a coat of polyurethane, I recommend a Helsman or Spar or other flexible poly that won't crack or peel with wood movement. For exterior projects, use a finish suitable for exterior fences.
How to get a smooth finish?
Start with a well sanded project. Sand between coats (220 grit), wipe clean, and apply light coats with a foam brush or roller.
Plan Questions
Can I change the size?
Many people do, and that's the great thing about building your own furniture! But do keep in mind going bigger might mean more supports are required, and often plans are optimized for minimal material waste.
Are these beginner-friendly?
Yes—plans are written with simple tools and clear steps in mind, with every effort to make plans as simple as possible.
Can I sell what I build?
Absolutely! Just don’t resell or repost the plans themselves.
General Questions
What tools do I really need?
A drill, circular saw, tape measure, square, and a few clamps will get you through most projects.
Do I need a workshop?
Nope! A driveway or small patio is plenty to get started, just make sure you have a level place to work. If you find you are building several projects a year, creating a small workbench is a great way to store tools and have a dedicated workspace.
What if I mess up?
Wood filler, sanding, or flipping boards goes a long way. Mistakes are part of the process!
What can I do to make my projects look more professional?
Start with straight boards, make accurate cuts, clamp all joints, and line up everything neatly. Sand thoroughly, use a neutral finish, and apply it in light coats for a clean look.
I've never built anything before. Where should I start?
Start with a few smaller softwood projects to get hands-on experience. Or if you're tackling a big project, buy a little extra lumber and practice your cuts and joints first. If possible, work with someone who has a bit of experience.
Care & Maintenance
How long will my furniture last?
With good joinery and regular care, your DIY furniture can last for decades. I have pieces in my own home that are over 20 years old and still going strong! One of the best parts about DIY furniture is that it’s easy to repaint, refinish, or repair—so your projects can grow and adapt with you.
How should I care for outdoor furniture?
Lightly pressure wash or hose it down once or twice a year. Tighten screws and reapply finish as needed to protect it—just like a deck or fence. A little upkeep goes a long way in extending the life of your furniture.
How about indoor furniture?
Regularly dust or wipe with a damp cloth. If it starts to look worn, a light sanding and touch-up paint or stain can refresh it in no time. DIY pieces are meant to be durable and fixable—so don’t be afraid to give them some love now and then.
Want to Build with Confidence?
Check out my ebook: 12 Skills to Build Your Own Furniture
It walks you through the core skills every builder needs—measuring, cutting, joinery, and finishing—so you can build beautiful furniture that lasts.
Still Have Questions?
Email us anytime at [email protected] and we’ll be happy to help!
Comments
Camp Grandma
Fri, 09/12/2014 - 07:57
Thank you again Ana!
I came to your site looking for plans like this and poof there they were, right when I needed them. My closets in the house require some serious decluttering and these shelves are just perfect. The same thing happened with another plan, the plan came out the very day I needed it. Love the new site btw.
TaylorMade1205
Fri, 09/12/2014 - 08:49
I am so excited
WOW Ana!!! I am so excited about these plans that I had a dream about them last night. My garage is desparate for organization with all the things I'm building from your site and here you are offering me an alternative to the stacks and stacks of stuff piling up in the garage. It will be a duanting task to clean it up, but these plans have me more motivated than ever. I'm going to build an entire wall on one side which of course I will have to determine the full board length and a smallerish one on the other so I will have wall-to-wall shelving for all my many items. Also a good excuse to throw out stuff that's been there for years.
Excited to start!
kmatt55
Sat, 09/20/2014 - 18:14
All that storage for $170 is a steal!
All that storage for $170 is a steal!
payne.kj
Tue, 09/23/2014 - 11:06
wall
Hi, new to all of this. How did you securely attach the selves to the wall?
jad4188
Tue, 12/01/2020 - 11:24
Did you ever get a response…
Did you ever get a response on how this was attached to the wall?
LisaDee
Fri, 09/26/2014 - 18:49
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
I've been refurbishing my home and have one room that I've kept my tools and materials in. That will be the last room to be done. It was a mess! These shelves are perfect! They're temporary for this room, but once I build my small shed, they'll be resized for that. This was easy peezy! Fast too! My son helped me and didn't think we could get it done by the time he had to leave. Ha! 3 hours, 2 shelving units. One is 5 feet long and the other 7. Did I mention it only took us 3 hours?!
Angie Overton
Sun, 10/26/2014 - 15:57
GREAT PLANS! Thanks!
Yesterday afternoon my daughter and I built some shelves from these plans. We had to make due with what we had so we used rescued lumber. I look forward to making another set.
This was an easy project that just me and my 14 year old were able to complete in one afternoon. The plans were easy to follow and it was a great bonding time for us as well. Thank you for the plans.
edapina
Wed, 11/26/2014 - 07:08
Just what I was looking for!
I have been living in my new home for the last 13 months and I still had a big mess in my garage from the move (can any one relate to this?). So it was time to put some plan into action to organize it before I was kicked out of the house ;-) and looking around for simple but sturdy solutions to build I stumbled upon this website and its wonderful array of plans for all skill levels so I went ahead bought the wood and started building and I couldn't be any happier with the results I got. Thanks Ana for taking the time to creating and maintaining this website for all of us newbie woodworkers and also big thanks to the community for their participation!
jgravitas
Fri, 12/05/2014 - 13:05
No pocket holes?
Ana, I know from reading some of your other plans that you're a big fan of the Kreg jig and pocket hole screws (as am I). Is there a reason you decided NOT to use them here?
literaphile
Fri, 12/05/2014 - 15:39
Just a guess, but probably
Just a guess, but probably because this is a utilitarian design and the looks don't matter much. The main benefit of pocket holes is to hide joints so that furniture looks more polished and "professional", but that's not really a concern here.
sunilg7
Fri, 03/27/2015 - 16:21
osb board for shleving
i made similar one in my garage, i used osb board for shelving
sparkling
Sun, 04/12/2015 - 16:21
Garage Shelving and Organization
I can't wait to get started on this project and clean up all the junk in the garage. Thank you so much for the video and plans.
payne.kj
Tue, 06/02/2015 - 10:32
20' 2x4s
I can't wait to build about 4 sets of these things! I just need to figure out how to get 20' long boards home from Home Depot in my Minivan!
payne.kj
Tue, 06/16/2015 - 05:16
basement floor
It seems my basement floor is a bit uneven, I'm assuming to allow for draining purposes.. How would you adjust these shelves to account for that?
char993
Sun, 09/06/2015 - 21:31
Awesome
Just the plans I was looking. Made such an approvement to my garage
vdotmatrix
Wed, 11/11/2015 - 10:43
LAdder Shelf Results
I made these shelves for the top of my work bench to keep from going insane,,,,they are 57" tall with shelves every 14", 8 feet long and 16" deep. I had to loose 2-18" deep shelves to accomodate my drill press.
Cloud1979
Sun, 01/31/2016 - 21:34
Wow
So I never built anything like this before and you made it look so easy so I went out and got the wood.. I had all the tools except a table saw instead I used two donkeys and laid the board on top to cut with the circular saw. My garage is weird, I have a door and I could only got 15 feet and 6 inches so I got the 10 foot wood and the 16 foot wood and well it looks pretty good thanks for the amazing plans next thing i plan to make is shelfs for the pantry area in the house I hope you have plans for those.
KimWilson
Sun, 05/01/2016 - 14:40
Attaching to walls
How did you attach them to the walls? Is this something I should consider when I'm building the shelves? Maybe attach a 2x4 to the backside of the 2nd to top shelf at a 90 degree angle so it can be screwed into the wall studs?
KimWilson
Sun, 05/01/2016 - 14:51
Board to attach to wall
How did you attach your shelves to the wall?
Should I attach another 2x4 to the wall side of the 2nd shelf down at a 90 degree angle on each end of the unit so I can attach the unit to the wall studs>
Links2
Mon, 05/09/2016 - 12:09
Board to wall attachment
The good part about this shelving unit is that the 2x4 studs (the uprights) lay flat up against the wall. As long as a couple ot hem land over wall studs you can just drill a screw threw the uprights into the wall stud. If you are able to locate wall studs you can lay out the 2x4 uprights to land over them.
Links2
Mon, 05/09/2016 - 12:06
Shelving
I just downloaded the plans for this shelving project. One thing I have noticed in most, if not all, garages is the floors are sloped either toward the middle where there is a floor drain, or they are sloped downwards toward the over head door. You make no mention of this or how to measure and cut for the slopes. If compensation isn't made for those slopes then the shelving unit will not look level, because they will not be level. Do you have advice on that?
sgrams04
Tue, 07/12/2016 - 05:03
Idea for Sloped Floor
You can buy 1.5" adjustable furniture "feet" from Home Depot - around $4 for a pack of four. Drill 11/32" pilot, tap in the plastic ring, then install and adjust the feet (clockwise to shorten, counterclockwise to lengthen). Once you get it level, anchor your shelves to the wall as the feet alone may not provide enough stability.
sgrams04
Fri, 07/08/2016 - 06:48
Actual Depth?
Can anyone provide me the actual depth once the shelf is completed INCLUDING where the 2x4 leg supports jut out? I only have 17.5" to work with (we have a small one car garage). I know 2x4's don't equate to exactly 2x4, so I'm seeing if I need to modify these plans or not. I need as much of that 17.5" as I can get!
Thanks in advance.
JANETA
Mon, 12/19/2016 - 13:15
bins for 2 x 4 shelves
Can someone please tell me what size bins work best with the plans as they are presented? The totes look big and don't waste space.
Luis colon
Sun, 01/01/2017 - 09:29
Puma Garage Organizer
Last week I took this project and came up really good.
Luis colon
Sun, 01/01/2017 - 09:34
Sorry here I attaching the Pic
miner1964
Thu, 01/19/2017 - 20:45
Plans
Your plans rock, as they show materials list and cut list
dbarthel
Tue, 09/05/2017 - 23:16
Suggestion for improving shelves
One issue with this design is that the weight of the shelves is completely supported by the screws of the uprights. To solve this just double up the upright 2x4s by adding another behind to go between the shelves. One to support the first shelf from the floor. Another to support the second shelf from the first. Etc.
tennety
Mon, 01/01/2018 - 16:52
Can you share a picture?
Would you be able to share a picture? It will help to understand your improvement.
Thank you!
wiley5007
Wed, 09/05/2018 - 04:57
8ft span?
Would an 8' span require a middle leg support or would one on each end be enough?
In reply to 8ft span? by wiley5007
Brian Famous
Wed, 09/05/2018 - 05:49
Support for an 8' span
The amount of support you need for an 8' span, and more particularly if you'll need a center support, will depend greatly on how much weight you plan to put on the shelf.
By itself, a 2x4 laid on it's long side will support it's own weight without sag. It will even support additional weight. Turn it on it's short side (with the crown up) and the amount of weight it can support goes up dramatically because you go from 1.5" of wood to 3.5" of wood supporting the vertical load.
Assuming your 2x4s are made from Eastern White Pine, and you set them on end, each 2x4 can hold approximately 80lbs per foot over an 8 ft span. Compare that to if you lay them on their side, where you'd only get about 15lbs per foot.
Remember also that if you're laying them on their end you'll also use a few more of them. If you use 6 total and your loads are evenly distributed across all 6 boards, you should be able to support a total of an estimated 480lbs per foot of shelf. Though I would be extremely hesitant to suggest putting even close to that much weight on the shelves and now you would be over taxing the risers supporting the shelves...
I guess the short answer to your question is you should be fine with an 8' span and no middle support as long as you're not overloading the shelves.
Iacosta
Fri, 06/05/2020 - 19:48
2x8 instead of 2x4
do you think this same plan but with 2x8s instead of 2x4s on the shelves will work as good as it is now?
Thanks!
Tsu Dho Nimh
Wed, 09/05/2018 - 08:56
https://www.woodbin.com/calcs
https://www.woodbin.com/calcs/sagulator/
Go to this site and enter the variables. It will tell you if you need support or not.
clarehannah
Thu, 06/20/2019 - 19:52
Maybe I’m missing it, but is…
Maybe I’m missing it, but is there a way to print off the instructions and materials list? I have a really hard time doing projects like this on the phone with the ads popping up and the need to scroll. Is there a way to find a pdf version? I really wanna try to build this :)
sukumarj
Tue, 02/11/2020 - 05:23
Thanks Ana for posting this…
Thanks Ana for posting this project.
This was my first project and I spent less than $180 to get this done.
It was very easy.
Thank you!!
Iacosta
Sun, 05/31/2020 - 05:39
2x8 instead of 2x4
Thanks for sharing. I'm about to tackle this next week but I was wondering, can I substitute the 2x4s of the shelving for 2x8? I would maintain the leg supports exactly as you use in this plan.
Thanks!
pappamike
Tue, 09/14/2021 - 06:40
Simple to make and easy to modify
I have made several of these for my garage. Two of them are exactly these dimensions for the sides of the garage, but in the back of one side, i made a set that were double deep to allow for the Christmas boxes and more stuff. It worked like a champ. Also, on one set of shelves, where I knew there would be greater load, I put scrap pieces of 2x4 underneath each of the support ladder joints with glue and screws.
Nav Zum
Sat, 01/22/2022 - 06:18
This is so informative!
This is so informative!