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Adding sliding drawers to cabinets can transform your life. You won’t believe the difference sliding drawers can make to help you easily organize and access everything you have stored inside. And it is as easy as 1-2-3 to measure, order and install your very own inside your existing cabinets. Read on to find out how and then contact DIY Shelfworks to order your sliding drawers today.

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Adding Sliding Drawers to Cabinets

Adding Sliding Drawers to Cabinets is as Easy as 1-2-3

To add your sliding drawers, all you need to do is:

1. Measure
2. Order
3. Install

1. How to Measure

Clear everything out of your cabinet before you begin.

Clear out your cabinet

Measure the opening width of your cabinet in inches.

measure to the nearest inch

Subtract one-half inch from your total measurements. This is to account for the width of your sliders. If your cabinet is 24 inches wide then you would write down 23.5 inches.

minus one half inch

Your shelf will need to be able to pull out without any obstructions. So take a measurement to the obstruction. For example, if your cupboard has a drainage pipe inside, measure to the front of the pipe.

measure a clear path

Measure the full depth of your cabinet from front to back in inches. Subtract one-half inch from this measurement as well.

measure from front to back

2. How to Order

  • Go to the DIY Shelfworks website and click on shop.
  • Select the type of sliding shelf you would like: Baltic birch or Economy.
  • Select the depth of shelf: 3″, 5″ or 7″.
  • Enter the measurements that you took in Step 1.
  • Add your shipping details and pay by credit card or PayPal.
  • You will receive your order through Canada Post in about two to three weeks.

3. How to Install

Place your pull out shelf into the cabinet that you are planning to install it in to make sure that it fits without any trouble.

make sure it fits

Place a level on the base of the shelf to make sure it sits level.

level

Attach two L-brackets on either side of the front and back of your adjustable shelf to reinforce it. If the shelf is not level or is not adjustable, then use shims to properly level the pull-out brackets.

L-brackets-and-shims

Make sure the shelf is centred from side to side and front to back. Push down firmly on the shelf in order to release both of the rails simultaneously. Check that the shelf is flush with the front of the cabinet. If your shelf sticks out past the front of your cabinet you will find that the door will hit it and not close completely.

push down firmly

Slowly slide the shelf towards you. This action should expose both rails.

pull out towards you

Screw in a half inch screw into each of the rear brackets to hold them securely in place.

screw in each rear bracket

Pull the shelf out again to see if both rails stop at the same time. If you notice that the shelf wobbles, then you will need to make an adjustment because one of the sides is set in deeper than the other. Remove the screw from the deeper side and make an adjustment to its placement. Re-test to make sure there are no more wobbles.

test for wobbles

Once you have no more wobbles, mark each hole with a pencil. This mark will make it easier for you to make adjustments to the brackets if they move while you are working.

mark each hole

Remove your sliding shelf from the rails by pressing on the side clippers shown in the photo below. Note that one of the clippers will go down while the other one will go up.

press on the clippers

Now that your shelf is removed, you will be able to see the brackets clearly and be able to install the remaining screws.

 install remaining screws

Replace the sliding shelf back onto the rails and push it towards the back of the cabinets. You should hear a click, but continue to push it all the way to the back.

place shelf on rails

Once your shelf is locked into the rails, you can begin to install your upper shelf if you have one for this cabinet. The steps are the same.

install upper shelf

Guaranteed Satisfaction and Personal Customer Service with DIY Shelfworks

When you purchase sliding shelves from DIY Shelfworks you are guaranteed to be satisfied. This is because we guarantee our premium custom made in Canada shelves to be free from manufacturer’s defects for as long as you own and live in your home. We also provide personal customer service. We truly care about our customers, so if you have any concerns or questions about your sliding shelves, please contact us and we will make sure that you are fully satisfied.

Benefits of Rolling Shelves

No More Bending and Stretching: Adding sliding drawers to cabinets means that you will never again have to get down on your hands and knees stretch uncomfortably to the furthest back corner of your cabinet to retrieve an article. Instead, you can simply and effortlessly slide out the rolling shelf to access it.

Easy Access for Seniors and Those with Mobility Challenges: If you have difficulty bending over due to age or mobility restrictions, then rolling shelves will help to make the items stored in cupboards in your home much more accessible. Rolling shelves installed on rolling cabinets make everything easy to reach even from a wheelchair.

Save Time: Imagine the time that you can save preparing meals, doing laundry or getting ready in the morning. Sliding drawers mean that you can easily see at a glance everything in your cupboard, whether it be food, appliances, toiletries, or laundry and cleaning products.

cabinet sliding shelves

The laundry room is another great place to install sliding shelves

Importance of the Right Slides and Top Materials

If you want your sliding shelves to last, then it is worthwhile choosing them carefully, making sure that they come with the best type of slide and are made of a durable material.

Slides: There are basically two different types of slides that you can have on your sliding shelves: Ball-bearing or roller. Ball-bearing slides cost a little more but they are worth it as unlike roller slides that can only extend three-quarters of the way out, ball-bearing slides can extend fully. Ball-bearing slides are also able to support more weight, 75 to 100 pounds fully extended.

ball-bearing sliders

Material: The FamilyHandyMan recommends purchasing pull out shelves made from Baltic birch plywood. Baltic birch is an extremely strong material which doesn’t have voids in its inner core. The edges of this type of wood look great and if you compare it to other hardwood plywood you will see that it is constructed with thinner and more lamination layers in the plywood core making it very durable and perfect for sliding shelves. It does cost a bit more than other plywoods, but it is worth the extra investment, especially if you are looking for quality shelves that are going to last.
please contact us and we will make sure that you are fully satisfied.