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TAKING MEASUREMENTS FOR
PLACING YOUR SHELVING ORDER
The purpose of this page is to assist you in taking accurate measurements of the area in which you plan to install HouseWerks Custom Shelving.
To make accurate measurements, we suggest assembling some basic tools to assist you in this task:
Measuring tape
A tape is a measuring device that is about the size of the palm of your hand. It has a flexible, strip of metal rolled up inside which is usually 20 feet to 30 feet long. Make sure that you use one that is marked in 1/16" increments, preferably 1/32" increments.
Carpenter's square
A square is a flat, L-shaped measuring tool used to measure the angle of all corners involved in your shelving plan. This is especially important with an inside corner unit, an outside corner unit, or any unit that has shelf ends that abut a wall. Use the largest square that you can find. The ideal size is 24" on the long side and 18" on the short side.
Plumb Line
A plumb-line
plumb-line is a string or cord with a weight (plumb-bob) attached to one end that is used to determine whether or not a wall surface is perpendicular to the floor.
The string should be slightly shorter than the height of the wall you want to measure. To one end tie a metal fastener, such as a washer, nut, or bolt, if you don't have a plumb-bob. Make sure that it is of sufficient weight to keep the string taut when suspending the string from the ceiling without touching the floor. Knowing whether your walls are plumb is important if you are measuring for your shelving that is an inside corner unit, outside corner unit, or has shelves that abut a wall on one or both ends.
Carpenter's level
These levels are usually made of wood, plastic, or metal and have one or more clear, fluid-filled tubes. The levels generally range in length from one foot to four feet. A two-foot level is adequate for this task, unless the distance you are measuring is longer than about six feet. The level is best used by placing it on the edge of a straight, 1" thick board, such as a 1" X 2" or 1" X 4". The board should be slightly shorter than the length of the shelves in your design.
Line level
A line level is a small tube of glass or plastic (3") filled with fluid. The level has a small hook on each end to allow hanging it on the string pulled taut between two walls. To assure that a shelf length measurement is accurate at some height from the floor, stretch the string, with the level attached, between the walls. Depending upon the position of the bubble in the vial, raise or lower one end until the bubble is in the middle of the vial. If you measure along this line, you know that the measurement will be accurate.
MEASURING TIPS
The following tips and suggestions will alert you to some of the problems that can occur when taking measurements.
For any shelves with shelf ends that abut a corner, all three of the measuring devices need to be used.
For wall-to-wall shelves, measure the length of each shelf at the height at which the shelf is to be installed. If the side walls aren't perpendicular to the floor, the shelves will most likely be of different lengths.
It is important to measure the length of wall-to-wall shelves at the back of the shelves and at the front of the shelves.
Try to measure shelf lengths to at least the closest 1/16", and if possible, to the nearest 1/32".
Wall-to-wall shelves need to be cut about 3/32" shorter than the distance between the walls to make installation possible.
Be careful about using the moveable end piece on the measuring tape. Because the end piece slides on a rivet to allow using the tape for inside and outside measurements. When using the end piece, your measurements may be off by 1/16" or more. A better way to measure is to start at 2", measure the distance, and then subtract 2" from the measurement.
Recheck all measurements made at least once, preferably twice.
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