In this video, This Old House general contractor Tom Silva transforms stock shelving into a custom built-in.

Project details

Skill

Cost

Estimated Time

Building a custom built-in

  • Use a utility knife to slice through the existing paint and caulk along the top and bottom edges of the baseboard.
  • Carefully pry the baseboard from the wall with two flat pry bars.
  • Saw through the baseboard with the oscillating multitool fitted with a plunge-cut wood blade.
  • Clamp and screw together two cabinets using the impact driver and 1¼-inchdecking screws.
  • Set the extension-shelf units on top of the two cabinets, and secure them with the provided cam-screw fasteners.
  • Measure and mark the stud locations on the wall, then set the cabinet assembly against the wall.
  • Insert wood shims under the front of the cabinet and check for plumb with the 4-foot level.
  • Fasten the cabinet bydriving screws through the cabinet back and into the wall studs. Repeat to install the other cabinet.
  • Glue and nail ⅛-inch-thick pine filler strips (ripped from your 1x stock) to the upper edge of the cabinet. Secure the strips with glue and the pin nailer equipped with ¾-inch pins.
  • Screw a 2x4 nailer to the ceiling directly above the cabinets.
  • Cut a fascia from pine 1x8s to fit along the top of the cabinet. Nail the fascia to the cabinet and to the 2x4 nailer attached to the ceiling.
  • Install crown molding along the ceiling and across the newly installed cabinets.
  • Nail the new baseboard across the base of the cabinets.
  • Build a pine-frame toekick to fill the space between two cabinets. Then cut a shelf to fit on top of the toekick. Adhere the shelf with construction adhesive only.
  • Build and install a second pine frame and shelf to create a storage nook between the two cabinets.
  • Scribe the 1x6 pine face frame to fit between the wall and cabinet. Bevel-cut the board along the scribed line with a circular saw.
  • Nail the scribed face frame to the cabinets.
  • Cut and install the remaining face frames to the cabinets.
  • Finish the cabinets with a coat of semigloss acrylic latex paint.

Tools

Tools & Materials

  • Utility knife
  • Flat pry bar
  • Oscillating multi-tool
  • Spring clamps
  • Impact driver
  • Screwdriver
  • Level - 4-foot
  • Stud finder
  • Pin nailer and 3/4-inch pins, to attach trim
  • Finish nailer
  • Scribe tool
  • Circular saw
  • Caulk gun
  • Sash paint brush