DIY: PCShutters Home Renovation Projects

I like these threads. It's fun to see how different people approach the same project from a different perspective/idea/tastes.

Which of these remaining tasks are you starting first?

The first project I will post on this thread is my Custom Built in Closet. I have a small house and space is at a premium so I have to come up with some space saving ideas for our closet and this is what I have come up with.

Here is the typical builder grade closet that came with the house:



Ripped out the door and open up the drywall as much as I could and put in the base cabinet. These base cabinets are on plastic leveling feet. I tried to save some money and use the construction grade plywood that I have left over from the flooring project. Bad idea. These plywood are not meant to be used for this. SOOO much more work and they warp like a potato chip.



Added the upper cabinets



Trim out the cabinets



Milled the wood for the drawers that I will be putting in the bottom. These are poplar and I got a good deal on these. They usually goes for about $2.50/bdft but I got mine for $1.25/bdft. The only downside is that I have to mill these from rough lumber. So much more work.



Dry fit the drawers in the cabinets and they are all on soft close full extension slides



Installed the ikea closet light



Paint the cabinet white



Reinstall the drawers. I finished the drawers with clear coat lacquer.



Install the doors. These doors are solid 1" thick doors.

koffey wrote: ↑ I like these threads. It's fun to see how different people approach the same project from a different perspective/idea/tastes.

Which of these remaining tasks are you starting first?

I am already finished with most of the project I listed above. I just need to find some time to post them. I will update this thread regularly with my progress

PCshutters threads aren't even fair and shouldnt be considered a do-it-yourselfer lol. More like a contractor, doing exceptional work for himself that 99.9% of diyers, hell even contractors cannot achieve.

And yes I'm jealous.

Second Closet build:

Similar to the first closet but I have decided to use some of iKea accessories. Bad idea--horrible quality and it wasn't cheap. iKea and the like are the reason why I want to build everything myself (if time permitted).

Not much to say here. The picture really says it all.

Linden Closet Build:

The Fourth closet build are much bigger than the first 3. We gave up the walk-in closet in the master bedroom to build a laundry room on the second floor because we are one of those lazy people that don't want to carry our laundry down the the basement every few days.

Equipped with what I learnt from the past closet build, I went out and bought a truck load of real Russian Baltic Birch for this build and this is my wood haul. Each of these sheet weight about 70lbs (but I swear they weight a lot more than that when you have to carry about 30 of these sheets. LOL)



Because these cabinets are a lot bigger and heavier, I have decided to build my own base and level them with wood instead of the cheap plastic feet.



I have to redirect one of the heat register so I made my own out of 26 gauge steel and tape all of the seams with aluminum tape.




Pre finished a 14.5ft long piece of wood for the kick plate and routed the grooves for the HVAC.




Meanwhile, I glued on the strip of hardwood to cover the exposed plywood edges. This project will require about 12 sheets of plywood.


Build the boxes and set them in place



Making sure everything is level and plumb and secure them in place



Mill more poplar for the drawers



Glue them up because these are only 5-1/4" wide.



Cut all of the pieces to size and cut the groves for the drawer bottom. I was going to do dovetails for these drawers but I ran out of time and used pocket holes instead.



Put on two coat of clear polyurethane for the cabinet boxes, install the lights and trim out the future window seat.



Install the under-mount slides for all of the drawers, finish trimming out the cabinet for that built in look.



Next week, I will paint all of the front white and install the doors and this project is almost finished.

Still need to make the cushion for the window bench and put a live edge seat rest there...

Wow!

I was going to ask what grade of plywood you were using, as it looked pretty rough to be painting white. Then I saw the transition to Baltic birch which I assume has a birch veneer.

One more question - from a complete noob. Any reason you're not using something like a Blum kitchen drawer slide that mounts on the bottom of the drawer box, so it's not visible from the sides?

torontotim wrote: ↑ One more question - from a complete noob. Any reason you're not using something like a Blum kitchen drawer slide that mounts on the bottom of the drawer box, so it's not visible from the sides?

I have over 200 full extension soft closing slides I have to use up before I can get to the undermount slides. I am saving those for my kitchen cabinet build.

However, I did use those undermount from Grass & Salice (similar to Blum) for my bigger closet build as seen on my last post.

On the Baltic birch cabinets: how have you joined your fixed shelves? Screws? Finish nailer? I’m looking to build similar units for my mud room out Baltic birch. I was originally planning to cut dados into the vertical panels and brad naile them from the sides. Wondering if that’s overkill and could just use a few good cabinets screws from the side. Nice craftsmanship, btw.

Would it be possible to also include information on where you source raw materials? Great work btw!

dottawat wrote: ↑ On the Baltic birch cabinets: how have you joined your fixed shelves? Screws? Finish nailer? I’m looking to build similar units for my mud room out Baltic birch. I was originally planning to cut dados into the vertical panels and brad naile them from the sides. Wondering if that’s overkill and could just use a few good cabinets screws from the side. Nice craftsmanship, btw.

For these cabinet, I kept all of the joinery very simple. Used pocket holes.

The upper shelf is on adjustable shelf pins.

The fixed shelf is secured with pocket holes. Nobody can see the screws after I put in the drawers.

Wow
Just wow.

ReAder wrote: ↑ Would it be possible to also include information on where you source raw materials? Great work btw!

I can certainly do that but my list of suppliers are so long it might be easier to ask me for a specific product that you are interested in.

For example, I get most of my lumber off kijiji and more exotic woods from my local lumber yards.

I get most of my hardware from JC Furniture Hardware but they only sell to contractors

All of my finishes come from Sherwin Williams--they do sell to the public too but it is better if you sign up for an account for more discount.

get most of my lumber off kijiji

more details please! looking to build a computer desk/bookshelf

PCShutters wrote: ↑ I can certainly do that but my list of suppliers are so long it might be easier to ask me for a specific product that you are interested in.

For example, I get most of my lumber off kijiji and more exotic woods from my local lumber yards.

I get most of my hardware from JC Furniture Hardware but they only sell to contractors

All of my finishes come from Sherwin Williams--they do sell to the public too but it is better if you sign up for an account for more discount.

What kind of places are you sourcing your lumber from on Kijiji, if not ads from local lumber yards?

Jon Lai wrote: ↑ What kind of places are you sourcing your lumber from on Kijiji, if not ads from local lumber yards?

BenK wrote: ↑ more details please! looking to build a computer desk/bookshelf

I got my Baltic Birch plywood from Rafael. He is at 80 Galaxy Boulevard in Etobicoke
https://www.kijiji.ca/v-renovation-othe ... 1481046665

For other plywood, try Robert Bury in Brampton.

As for hard wood, I try to look for local sawyer like
The Lumber Guys in Toronto
Sawmill Sid in Mississauga
Exotic Wood in Burlington
Century Mill in Stouffville
Fairbank Lumber in Toronto

and bunch of smaller guys like this:
https://www.kijiji.ca/v-other-business- ... 1423060826
https://www.kijiji.ca/v-hobbies-craft/n ... 1033314780
https://www.kijiji.ca/v-buy-sell-other/ ... 1480828257
https://www.kijiji.ca/v-other-furniture ... 1469307181

PCShutters wrote: ↑ I got my Baltic Birch plywood from Rafael. He is at 80 Galaxy Boulevard in Etobicoke
https://www.kijiji.ca/v-renovation-othe ... 1481046665

For other plywood, try Robert Bury in Brampton.

As for hard wood, I try to look for local sawyer like
The Lumber Guys in Toronto
Sawmill Sid in Mississauga
Exotic Wood in Burlington
Century Mill in Stouffville
Fairbank Lumber in Toronto

and bunch of smaller guys like this:
https://www.kijiji.ca/v-other-business- ... 1423060826
https://www.kijiji.ca/v-hobbies-craft/n ... 1033314780
https://www.kijiji.ca/v-buy-sell-other/ ... 1480828257
https://www.kijiji.ca/v-other-furniture ... 1469307181

Thanks for the referrals. That is an awesome price for Baltic Birch plywood! Too bad they don't cut... I don't have a pick up