In this video, Ask This Old House general contractor Tom Silva trims a coat closet by installing a clothes rod and shelf.
Trimming a coat closet
- Use a stud finder to locate studs in the closet walls.
- Cut three pieces of 1x5 pine to measured length using the miter saw.
- Nail pine pieces together using a nail gun or hammer to assemble the shelf cleat.
- Screw the two clothes-rod brackets to opposite ends of the cleat assembly using a driver.
- Measure 5'4" off the floor and draw a straight line across all three sides using a level.
- Dab construction adhesive with the caulk gun to the inside of the wall where the cleat will sit.
- Line up the cleat to match the top of the level line.
- Nail the cleat to the studs using a nail gun or hammer.
- Cut the clothes rod to measured length using a reciprocating saw.
- Measure across the top of the cleat to figure out the desired length for shelf.
- Mark the measurement on 1x12 pine and cut it to length using the miter saw.
- Place the pine shelf on top of the cleat and nail it to the cleat using a nail gun or hammer.