Carpentry and Woodworking - HEAVY floating shelf: how?

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redearth

01-08-06, 07:22 PM

I would like to install quite a heavy floating shelf in my bathroom, made out of LVL, and supporting a small countertop sink. I have researched many methods of building a floating shelf, and I am not convinced that they would work in this situation... Any suggestions?

Pwrbait

01-09-06, 06:13 PM

For the most part, I don't think it will work either. Weight is such a big factor here, plus your plumbing. Unless you don't mind seeing the drain line and the underside of the sink, you may want to rethink this one.....unless the sink is made for this application and only weighs a pound or two :)
Chris

tae

01-09-06, 09:56 PM

basically you would need a steel frame that would support the sink and attach to the studs, and surround/cover that with wood. At least, thats what i would do.

redearth

01-10-06, 07:45 AM

Thanks very much for your replies. I do not mind seeing the drain line, and I think I have finally settled on a solution - similar to the steel frame idea, I am going to use two heavy duty steel brackets, screwed into the studs - I am going to use the 14" double brackets, seen HERE (http://www.johnsterling.com/FMshelfbrackets1.htm). These should be sufficiently hidden from view, and will definitely support the weight of the shelf and sink (it's quite a small sink). Thanks again for your suggestions!
Adam

Herm

01-10-06, 07:41 PM

Those shelf bracket are going to require 2 standards to be mounted to the wall. They will be visible. The link below is for a company that sells cantilevered supports. Very strong, and a little more decorative than shelf standards. If your going to have something visible anyway, maybe consider something like these?

http://www.supportbrackets.com/index.html

Kobuchi

01-21-06, 03:56 AM

What I've done, and holds plenty of weight, is use threaded 1/2" steel rod, screwed tight into holes drilled 2-3" into the studs (hammer rod to start, then use a pair of nuts and wrench to finish). Then some little blocks with similar holes thread onto the rods, the shelf fits over those blocks. If the rod was bent slightly beforehand so it turns eccentric, you can tweak the shelf position.