Trimming Shelves to Fit into a Corner or Niche

Shelves that will fit into a niche we build with open ends so these can attach to the walls on left and right with a wood cleat that attaches to the side walls.

For shelves over 30" the steel bracket supplements the support in the middle span.

On shelves 30" or less the steel bracket typically isn't necessary so it’s a wood cleat on the back edge as well. 

In most cases the shelves must be scribe cut to fit nicely. In the case of a niche it is impossible to hold up the shelf to draw a scribe line so good ways are to either make a template or use a stair tread jig.

Every situation is different. Its best to asses the walls for squareness and unfairness to decide how much if anything to add for scribe cutting. I usually either add nothing or 1/8" for scribe if its a shelf fitting 1 end into a corner.

For a shelf in a niche space (walls on both ends) I carefully measure the left-right dimension where the front of the shelf will situate and subtract 1/16" to 1/8". That way the front I know the front will fit without trimming. Normally the back edges of the shelf will need to be trimmed a bit with the belt sander due to how drywall inside corners are typically taped and mudded. 

In any case I advise against planning to trim more than 1/4" from one edge. 

In all cases, please do all of the math on your end we do not modify your dimensions the size you order is the size we make. The term we use to specify shelves made in this way is "Wood Cleat 2 Ends" (WC2E)

There is no upcharge for this customization.

 

 
Open ends allow for side support


 
Wood cleats attached to walls


 
Shelf fitted into a small niche

 

Shelves that will fit into a corner in nearly all cases need to be scribe cut to fit nicely as well as in this situation there is usually not a stud available to attach the steel bracket right at the end so it helps to attach a wood cleat the adjacent wall to supplement the support of the steel bracket. The term we use to specify shelves made in this way is "Wood cleat 1 end" There is no upcharge for this customization.

Walls at inside corners are nearly never square

 
Holding the sander sideways to prevent chipping the top or bottom


The end has been scribe cut to fit against the slight irregular shape of the walls


 
Loose cleat at the end makes for easier supplemental attachment at ends where shelf fits into a corner