r/DIY • u/Bonezjonez999 • 1d ago
woodworking Inset bookshelves
Hi, my wife wants me to build recessed bookshelves in our office wall. My question is how much can I modify vertical studs to add in long horizontal book shelving? I am fairly handy with woodworking, and have plenty of tools and know how to get the execution part done. I just don't have any formal knowledge in home structural weight. Or is the best option here just to lose 12” of one side of the room and build out? Thanks for any help.
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u/3-Little-Twigs 1d ago
It entirely depends on whether that particular wall is load-bearing. If it isn’t load bearing, then you can pretty much do whatever you want. If it is load bearing, you’ll need more advice than I could give you. I’d start with asking a professional to come take a look and confirm whether it is load bearing.
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u/SharpTool7 1d ago
I'm not sure which caues more home disasters, "Hold my beer" or "My wife asked me to"
If a load bearing wall you would need to frame it in the same way you would if installing a window.
If in doubt reinforce the area.
If you open up the wall and all you see is single 2x4 or 2x6 studs, then this is doable. If you see 4 2x6 studs nailed to each other, then don't remove those.
Good luck.
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u/Current_Step9311 1d ago
Can you recess a series of 16” wide cases between the existing studs without modifying them? You typically need some kind of vertical support for bookcases anyway. This might make it easier.