| Now that you have got a plan you are ready for | | | | house. Remove all nails and screws that might be |
| action. Solicit some help from a few choice friends | | | | sticking out of the wall and thoroughly clean the area |
| you can work well and have a good time. If you | | | | before starting to build. |
| know anyone who is project oriented that can be a | | | | Layout: Referring to your plans detail the closet |
| huge plus. These people know how to get things | | | | layout on the closet walls. Measure off the floor |
| done. They are used to taking large projects and | | | | where each shelf will go and use your level to scribe |
| breaking them into smaller tasks that can be tackled | | | | a line across the wall. Do this for the entire plan |
| efficiently. | | | | before starting any rebuilding. Draw vertical lines at |
| Meet at the hardware or home store as soon as it | | | | the edges of each cabinet. At this time you may be |
| opens. Usually this is a quieter time for stores. If you | | | | able to make limited adjustments with shelving |
| wait till mid morning, especially on a Saturday, it can | | | | heights if you are unhappy with the layout. Next use |
| be hectic and you won't be back with your materials | | | | the stud finder to locate and mark the center of |
| till after lunch and may run out of time in the day to | | | | each stud wherever you have layout lines. Studs will |
| finish your project. Take your categorized shopping | | | | typically be found every 16". |
| list and delegate part of it to each person. Stick to | | | | Construct: Start by installing any cabinets you have |
| your list and don't get side tracked looking at other | | | | decided on. Transfer the stud layout to the cabinets |
| interesting things. You are there to pick up your | | | | and drill one hole towards the top of the box for |
| closet materials, not to plan a future project. | | | | each stud. While someone holds the cabinet on the |
| Designate a meeting time at the checkout. Double | | | | layout lines screw it to the wall. Fasten adjacent |
| check the materials to for size and quantity. When | | | | cabinets together first with clamps then with shorter |
| organizing your materials at the worksite they should | | | | 1 ¼" screws to avoid blowing through the |
| be out of the way, but each item should be easily | | | | other side. Shelving may be held up by angle |
| accessible. Putting everything in one pile can be | | | | brackets, wood cleats, or plastic hanger clips. Since |
| frustrating when trying to find a specific item. You | | | | there will be a lot of weight on shelves and closet |
| should now be ready to for the first phase, | | | | poles make sure all fasteners are driven into studs. |
| demolition. | | | | With brackets in place you can measure up and cut |
| Demolition: Put on your gloves and safety glasses. Be | | | | your shelving. Follow the carpenter's mantra, |
| judicious with your use of force. The idea is to | | | | "measure twice, and cut once." Measure up the front |
| deconstruct your closet so that the surrounding walls | | | | and the back of shelves since walls may be out of |
| are left in the best condition possible. Swinging wildly | | | | square. |
| with a sledgehammer is likely to put a hole in a door | | | | Spackle up any damaged walls or holes you may |
| or send debris flying through the window. Have one | | | | have created during construction and pickup some |
| person do the demolition and the others form a | | | | classy matching wooden hangers to finish the project |
| bucket brigade to pass the wreckage out of the | | | | off. |