How to Make Scaffold Board Shelving

Welcome to our scaffold board shelving page, where you can get tips on creating amazing-looking shelves for your home, office, or workshop using scaffolding boards.

You can also browse through images of what some of our customers have made using this kind of timber.

What can you use scaffold board shelves for?

The most popular uses are in the kitchen as shelving to create that rustic, country look and feel. Others have used them to make bookcases and bookshelves in their study or living room or shelves in their shed or workshop. Whatever the use, scaffolding boards for shelving are a great option as the boards are sturdy, made from only the best quality European whitewood, and manufactured to British standards.

How do you make shelves from scaffolding boards?

It sounds straightforward; however, preparing the scaffold boards and creating the shelves is a little more time-consuming than first thought. There are also different factors in play. For example, do you want a clean sanded look, or are you looking for more of a rough rustic used look?

Here is a little how-to guide on creating scaffold board shelving:

Once you have purchased your new boards from us and we have safely delivered them to your door, you will see that they have a metal band around both ends. This is where you decide if you want to keep the bands or take them off; again, this depends on the type of look and feel you are going for. Removing the end bands is very simple; all you need to do is use the end claw of a hammer to prise them off. They are also pretty straightforward to add back on should you want to.

Look 1 – rustic without the end bands.

Look 2 – industrial appearance leaving the end bands on, and you can paint the ends or leave them as they are.

Once you have decided on the style you prefer, you will need to cut the board to size and then sand them. You can make an outside working area using builders’ trestles to hold the boards whilst working on them.

When purchasing our boards, they will be brand new but may have the odd mark or scuff on them through transportation, but 99.9% of the time, they will be in perfect condition. When sanding, you can either use a hand sander or save time and use an electric sander; this will get the job done much quicker. If hand sanding, use coarse sandpaper that is suitable for wood to smooth the edges and the boards themselves.

Remove any dust fragments before you move to the waxing/varnishing stage. Customers have advised us that Briwax in dark oak is a good colour to use; however, there are many different colours for you to choose from, and it all depends on the style you are going for. When applying the wax, use a wire wool (grade 0000) with a lint-free cloth to polish the wood. Also, when applying the wax, it is advisable to add it in the same direction as the grain to ensure it is completely absorbed and smooth. Once you have done this, you will notice how striking the shelving looks and that any knots or grain stand out and look more enhanced, bringing your shelves to life.

Now the scaffold boards are ready to be fixed to their brackets. Although we do not sell them, most hardware or DIY stores will have many varieties. You will need to ensure the brackets are suitable to take the weight of the boards and also wide enough.

When you have decided on your bracket, you need to make sure that extra strong fixings are used; most brackets you can buy should have suitable fixings with them. Drill them into the wall, then place your newly created scaffold board shelves on top. The great thing about buying new scaffolding boards is that they will not be warped, so they should fit comfortably.

How do I make a scaffolding board bookcase?

A slightly different project but very simple to create once you have decided on the bookcase’s style, colour and size. You will similarly prepare the boards as you would with the standard scaffold board shelving. However, this time you will need to create a frame then within that frame, you will add the shelving; you can either make a free-standing bookcase or one attached to a wall. The options are endless, as you can build different-shaped shelves or have them all the same size and height, depending on your creative flair!

Ready to build your shelves?

We hope this page has provided you with inspiration or ideas on creating scaffold board shelving. To purchase our boards, please submit your quantity and delivery details, and we will get back to you with our cost for delivery and when we can get your order to you.

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