Built in bookcase on sloping floor

[mrauspicious]

Hi

I have a large vinyl record collection that I want to build a built in bookcase/shelving unit for. Obviously it will need to bear a heavy load, I will use plywood for the bookcase with a base to support the bookcase.

It will be between two chimney breasts with four shelves, the chimney breasts are over 2000mm apart so the bookcase will span quite a long space.

The main problem I think I'm facing is that the floor isnt level - its an old Victorian terraced house with old floor joists and floorboards. Theres a four centre meter difference between the highest and lowest point. Its also complicated further by the slant not being uniform - there isnt a straight line from the highest to the lowest point.

In terms of aesthetics would the difference in height be a problem, would it being on a slant be too much? And if so, and bearing in mind the load that the unit wold have to support how would I go about levelling it out without compromising the structure?

Thanks in advance for any help

 

[Notch7]

just build a sub base first -made of timber with a ply top, scribe it so its dead level -screw it to the floor

then stick your bookshelves on top

hide the sub base with abit of skirting

I used to play vinyl, Ive got a Linn Sondek LP12 with a Naim pre / power amp, but theyve been up in the loft for a decade

Ive also got some immaculate 1960s Decca Verdi boxed sets which were my dads -I need to get around to selling them really

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

As above, like this, except I was a cheapskate and used a bit of old chipboard shelving I had lying around:

 

[mrauspicious]

just build a sub base first -made of timber with a ply top, scribe it so its dead level -screw it to the floor

then stick your bookshelves on top

hide the sub base with abit of skirting

I used to play vinyl, Ive got a Linn Sondek LP12 with a Naim pre / power amp, but theyve been up in the loft for a decade

Ive also got some immaculate 1960s Decca Verdi boxed sets which were my dads -I need to get around to selling them really

Excuse my ignorance but how would I scribe the base - I’ve scribed infils and shelves but never anything like that?

Nice set up, my I’ve got Technics Turntables and an amp from my DJing days but I should think about swapping them for something a bit more refined one day

I’m sure you know how much vinyl goes for these days, I’ve just sold some to pay for Christmas, crazy prices for some of it

 

[mrauspicious]

As above, like this, except I was a cheapskate and used a bit of old chipboard shelving I had lying around:

View attachment 366730

Thanks, that looks perfect. How did you make sure it’s all level?

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

With a laser level, which you can see is the green lines in the pic. You can pick up levels for about £30 at Screwfix etc. Just fine for DIY, I have the Magnusson one, it does what it says.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

I've just done an Ikea bookcase hack, that is taking some cheapy bookcases from Ikea, reinforcing them somewhat so they're a bit more beefy and then making them look built in. I might do a write up in the Projects section over the hols.

 

[JohnD]

If you are not fond of woodwork, you can use the "legs" as sold for kitchen units, which have a wide plastic foot to spread the load, and legs that screw up and down for levelling. You can hide them with a removable kick plate recessed from the front, or possibly use matching skirting. The usual plastic ones are very inexpensive.

Modernist legs are available if you want exposed chrome or stainless.

Examples

https://www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/search?query=legs

 

[Tigercubrider]

If the house is old, the skirting will be difficult to replicate (which you may want to do)
So carefully remove the existing skirting from the alcove to reuse in front

You may want to also remove the skirting returns into the alcove and if any is left over, store in under the plinth that you make for future use.

It may be easier to build a box inside the alcove out of ply if the walls are not true. Edge with trim./architrave.

You could use spur shelving screwed to the wall and infill the gaps between the strips with ply to hide them?
You’d have to contend with the shelf supports. There are also “library supports” that are similar to spur but less obvious.
Shelves of LPs weigh a lot and need support along the back to avoid sag.

 

[mrauspicious]

If the house is old, the skirting will be difficult to replicate (which you may want to do)
So carefully remove the existing skirting from the alcove to reuse in front

You may want to also remove the skirting returns into the alcove and if any is left over, store in under the plinth that you make for future use.

It may be easier to build a box inside the alcove out of ply if the walls are not true. Edge with trim./architrave.

You could use spur shelving screwed to the wall and infill the gaps between the strips with ply to hide them?
You’d have to contend with the shelf supports. There are also “library supports” that are similar to spur but less obvious.
Shelves of LPs weigh a lot and need support along the back to avoid sag.

Thanks

The skirting is really old and I'd be worried about wrecking it - I doubt I'd find anything close to it in a similar size . Its also really high so any plinth would need to be high as well. The walls arent true either, the angles are all out on the chimney breasts. But building a box inside the alcove does sound like a good idea.

I thought about shelving but the shelves would be really long and the vinyl on each shelf would weigh so much I dont think its going to work. And its in the living room facing you as you walk through the door so the aesthetics are important.

I'll take another look at it in the new year, plenty to think about

 

[mrauspicious]

I've just done an Ikea bookcase hack, that is taking some cheapy bookcases from Ikea, reinforcing them somewhat so they're a bit more beefy and then making them look built in. I might do a write up in the Projects section over the hols.

I did that in both my son's bedrooms. They were my second and third projects and came out pretty well considering I'm a beginner.

 

[mrauspicious]

If you are not fond of woodwork, you can use the "legs" as sold for kitchen units, which have a wide plastic foot to spread the load, and legs that screw up and down for levelling. You can hide them with a removable kick plate recessed from the front, or possibly use matching skirting. The usual plastic ones are very inexpensive.

Modernist legs are available if you want exposed chrome or stainless.

Examples

https://www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/search?query=legs

Thanks. Would they be ok supporting the big amount of weight from the vinyl records?

Another option to bear in mind

 

[Tigercubrider]

If the walls are out of true you could screw 2x2 to the walls with 14 3/4 (15”?) gaps including the back wall.
Whether you then fill in the spaces is up to you.
The shelves would be supported on 3 sides and shouldn’t bend.

You could increase the gap between shelves depending on space available (no point in neat shelves fitted but 10” at the top.
That could allow you to add a front support rail to the shelves. Possibly add moulding to have detail.