To start this project, I needed to clear out the space. First, I backed out the car, then move the two snowblowers, the power washer and a wheelchair. On the shelf were 2 bags of fertilizer, a bag of grass repair, empty boxes, and a portable grill, (that I am keeping for spare parts). I gathered up the items and placed them on the floor.
Now I could tackle the shelf. I told my wife, Efiwym, that this task should be easy. I said to her,
“I just need to remove the lag screws holding the shelf to the wall, remove the one leg, and just raise it up to the height I needed.” (Sounded good at the time.)
Well, that’s how it started, I removed the screws from the wall, but one. It was the screw behind the one rail. I messed up originally when I installed the shelf. I should have made the shelf about 1-1/2 inches longer, so the shelf would extend past the stud in the wall where the screw went into. I never thought I needed to remove the shelf.
To get at that screw, I needed to remove the side rail. I removed the shelf screws from the side rail and the screws holding the front and side rails together. Then I discovered I needed to remove the angle leg from the shelf. I was going to remove it anyways. Sans screws, I kept the leg there as a support so the shelf would not fall. The rail was finally freed so I could remove the last remaining screw.
I suddenly had second thoughts about the “just raise it up to the height I needed” comment. This shelf was heavy. With 4 rails on all sides and a shelf made form 3/4-inch MDF, it would require 2 people to move it up. Should I call on Efiwym? Between the two of us lately, we have not been too successful working as a team, especially lifting heavy items. It was time for plan B, which I did not have.
“The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry” (Robert Burns). For a just okay DIYer, it is not uncommon.