A simple shelf without drilling
24.3.2020
Translation: machine translated
Where to put cleaning products, toilet paper and magazines? The clutter in the loo has to be placed somewhere. It looks better on a simple shelf than on the floor. And you don't even need a drill for that.
I've been looking for a small shelf for my toilet for a long time, where I can put toilet paper, cleaning products and maybe a bit of decoration or a notebook with a pen. I often develop my thoughts on the loo or a suitable formulation for a text falls like scales from my eyes. I want to be prepared for this moment. There is space for the notebook and everything else, as the loo has its own room in my flat. No shower, no washbasin, nothing, just a small corridor with a toilet at the end. The crux of the matter: the shelf has to be incredibly narrow so that the door still opens and closes. 12 centimetres deep, but still at least 150 centimetres long doesn't seem to be a common measurement.
Spontaneous DIY
Until I eventually find a rack like this that I also like, I'll cobble together a shelf from scrap wood in a fit of zest for action. Oak and beech are best suited for robust, long-lasting pieces of furniture. Spruce and birch are cheaper, lighter in colour and easier to work with, which makes them ideal for shelves. This takes no longer than an hour, including drying of the colour. And it can be wider than the intended shelf, as I only need space at shoulder height, not all the way to the floor.
My plywood panel is a good size, so I don't need to cut it to size. So I start with the sanding. I first do a coarse sanding with a grain size of 60 and then another fine sanding with 180 grit sandpaper. For soft wood such as spruce, you should use sandpaper with an open grit pattern, as the sanding grains are further apart and the removed material can be removed more easily. A dense grit is recommended for hard wood such as oak, as this is more robust and durable.
Since my plywood panel isn't particularly pretty, it gets a creamy white coat of paint. I use 2-in-1 acrylic paint (primer and varnish), which I also have lying around at home. After half an hour, the surface is dry enough to touch. That's enough for me to carefully mount the panel. However, the board is only fully loadable once it is completely dry.
Gluing instead of drilling
Since I still have mounting tape that is suitable for plaster, I don't drill any holes. Because every hole less in the wall means five less beads of sweat on my forehead when I move out. If you prefer to drill or your shelf has to withstand a very heavy load, then you need a stone drill bit attachment for holes in the wall or a tile drill for holes in the tiles. Be careful with the latter to avoid cracking the tile. Drill without applying too much pressure and stick masking tape to the marked area. This will prevent the drill bit from slipping away so easily and no parts of the drill hole will splinter. Then you need the right sized dowels and screws and above all shelf brackets.
Whether you use mounting tape or a drill, you need a spirit level in any case. Unless, like me, the tiles stop at the perfect height for a shelf and you can simply place it along the edge of the tiles. The edge also provides extra support, which is why I decided to attach the shelf to the plaster in the first place. If you want to attach your board to the tiles, there are extra mounting tapes that are suitable for this. And for wet rooms, make sure that the adhesive tape is waterproof. Otherwise the moisture can cause it to come loose at some point.
Despite the manufacturer's promise that the mounting tape can withstand several kilos, the variant makes my forehead sweat at first. Does everything hold, even with a load? Yes. Although only a small area can be taped and the board protrudes a good 20 centimetres. Nevertheless, I'll stick to light loads such as toilet paper or a small notebook for good ideas in the loo. 😉
My life in a nutshell? On a quest to broaden my horizon. I love discovering and learning new skills and I see a chance to experience something new in everything – be it travelling, reading, cooking, movies or DIY.
