Installing a STRONG shelf on garage wall

[Daniel Prince]

It is the type of wardrobe cabinet factories use for workers. It is two feet wide and about six feet high.

[Ed Pawlowski]

While that does have a ring of truth, it is probably more likely that the water table is low enough that if we dig a hole it will stay dry. Once you get the cellar hole dug you still have to dig a little deeper around the perimeter and pour a footing.

[DerbyDad03]

To be more precise, footings have to be placed below the frost line. In many areas, it is indeed 4 feet. In some areas it's less, in some it's much more.

To be more precise, the person(s) who contracted the building to be built will decide whether a basement should be added, assuming that there are no other factors the would prevent it.

In your OP you said "I live in an frost-free area so I do not have a basement"

I don't know the real reason as to why you don't have a basement, but it's not because you live in a frost free area. In other words, there are lots of houses in frost free areas that have basements for all the reasons you mentioned above, plus many more.

Good luck with your shelf project.

[WW]

Snip

Can you recommend screws that are as easy to drive as drywall screws but are not brittle?

[TomR]

If you want to keep the wardrobe cabinet, maybe just put that up on a few bricks or blocks so you can look under it for termite tunnels. And then just get two sets of the shelves that I posted about earlier and use them to replace the wooden shelves that you have now.

[chaniarts]

gold deck screws from the borg

[DerbyDad03]

I'm purposely not getting into argument about the strength of drywall screws because I don't think that's the main concern here.

I'd be more concerned about dampness, thus the suggestion to use PT wood for any wood that touches concrete.

Drywall screws will rust and eventually disintegrate if they remain wet. I would suggest that you use Deckmates or other such screws that are designed for exterior use.

Not only will they last longer, but the star drive will make them much easier to install.

[dpb]

On 7/7/2013 9:57 AM, DerbyDad03 wrote: ...

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And, there's really no need for screws, per se, anyway...other than the one ledger against the wall, possibly, and even there a 12 or 16d common will be all it'll ever need. And, as for the rest of the frame, ditto. There's nothing in tension to need anything more if it's designed at all smartly.

[Vic Smith]

I use square drive (aka Robertson) when I have a choice. But to each his own.

[DerbyDad03]

Given the choice of attaching the ledger with screws or nails, I'll choose screws every time. In fact, given the choice of nails vs. screws for any attachment, I'll choose screws virtually every time. Easy install, easy removal, etc.

Obviously there are times when nails make more sense, like trim, etc. However, if I'm building a frame for a shelf or anything similar, it's getting screwed together.

Granted, if I had a framing nailer or even a palm nailer, I might use nails for some projects, but when it's a choice between a hammer and screw gun, the screw gun wins out every time.

[dpb]

On 7/7/2013 11:28 AM, DerbyDad03 wrote: ...

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OP said he was going w/ lag's for that so I presumed we were talking the frame, etc., primarily if not exclusively. OTOH, for his purpose, it'll never come off o' there if just nailed, either--

I've got both but the hammer will win almost every time w/ me--it's less nuisance and cheaper and unless there's a real reason for the screw it just doesn't turn me on (so to speak... :) )...

A prime reason may be you'll play the devil driving a screw of _any_ sort in any of this 100-yo SYP which is 90% of what I'm generally dealing with either in the house or any of the outbuildings. OTOH I _can_ drive a nail in it.