Adjustable Shelving

Space the tracks on a solid wall to suit the shelving material and the likely loading. On a timber-framed wall the tracks must be fixed to the studs.

1. Hold the first track at its chosen fixing position and use a pencil or bradawl to mark the wall through its topmost screw hole. Drill and plug the hole, then drive the screw in part-way so the track can swing freely.
2. Use your spirit level to get the track truly vertical. Then mark the other screw positions on the wall with the pencil or bradawl as before. Swing the track aside (or take it down if it's easier), and drill and plug the remaining screw holes. Put the track in position and drive in all the screws.
3. Mark your chosen track spacing on a batten - any thin straight strip of wood will do - then hold it on top of the first track with your spirit level on top. Line up the first mark on the batten with the first track, get the batten level, and mark the wall where the second track should be.
4. Hold the second track up to this mark and repeat steps 1 and 2 to fix the second track in place. Repeat this sequence of operations to fix further tracks as necessary to complete the arrangement of shelves.
5. Slot the brackets into place at the intervals you want and put the shelves on them. If you want to screw the brackets to the shelves, hold the shelf down on its brackets and push the bradawl up through each screw hole to make pilot holes in the shelf underside. Lift the shelf and its brackets down, screw on each bracket, and replace.