Since I was going to move this shelf by myself, I started by taking the shelf top off to lighten it up. About thirty screws later, I got the top off. After I removed the top, I tried to lift what was left of the shelf. It would not move. After a couple of attempts, I found I had screwed to the wall the two rails that met into the corner. I removed the screws and the whole frame fell to the floor. Okay, now I would install the shelf, one piece at a time.
I started by measuring 51-1/2 inches from the floor. This height would allow the 48-inch-high riding lawn mower to clear the 2 by 3 shelf rails. Using the back rail and a level, I drew a line on the wall across the rail. I was ready to install the back rail. I started screwing in the first screw and I missed the stud. I tried the second, and again, I missed the stud. The screws did not miss the studs before. What was going on? Oh yeah, you big dummy, the side rail by the outside wall was installed first and the back rail butted up against it. I was off by 1-1/2 inches. I guess I needed to install the side rail first.
I tried to screw in the first screw and the impact driver was working hard. That screw would not turn until it broke. That old wood was hard. I would need to drill a pilot hole. Since the screw broke off in the stud, I drilled a pilot hole slightly below the screw. Naturally the rail dropped down too when I screwed in the screw. Good enough! I was going to be one bolt short, so I just skipped a hole and I only had screws on both ends of the 2-foot rail.
I screwed down the back rail and not surprisingly, I found the studs for all the screws. Since the front rail was attached only by toe-nailed screws, I decided to install the shelf top so I could stiffen the shelf. I only put a few screws around the back, side and front and that helped.
For some reason, I decided to discard the only 2 by 4 that I used for the remaining side rail. I found some more 2 by 3 material and went downstairs to cut it on the table saw. I was having a difficult time toe-nailing the side rail to the back rail. I kept hitting the screw on the back rail. After several tries, I decided to remove the screw on the back rail. I had 4 screws holding the shelf anyways. I finally had no problem getting the rail attached to the back rail. I screwed the front rail to the side rail, and I was ready to finish screwing in all the screws for the top. The top was still a little shaky as it was missing a support for the outside corner.
I had already decided to remove the shelf bracket holding up the higher 12-inch shelf next to it and use it for the lower shelf support. I would then put a brace between the two shelves. I removed the bracket and attached it to the shelf. I then found the perfect sized piece of melamine shelf material to use as a support. It was a little long, so I trimmed it down and attached it with screws and small corner brackets. DONE!
The riding mower fits nicely under the shelf. Another problem averted and no money spent on a storage shed, at least for now…
