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26 votes
Accepted

Is it safe to put a microwave in a walk-in closet?

There should be no problem assuming that you leave adequate clearance around the unit. Any appliance becomes a fire risk if there's flammable junk piled against it. Also be diligent about vacuuming ...
  • 115k
23 votes

Closet system to be installed - boards in the way

Those 2x4's are almost certainly the remnants of a previous shelf support and are certainly not structural elements. You can safely remove them.
  • 5,490
13 votes

What is this bendable thing found in a closet?

It's a tripod for cameras (see pic):
8 votes
Accepted

Are the walls of my garage closet load-bearing?

I don't believe that it's load bearing for these reasons. I can't provide 100% certainty, however. There's no indication in the attic that the walls transfer load to the roof framing. You have a very ...
  • 115k
6 votes

Load bearing or non load bearing wall

Steel studs are almost never load-bearing in residential and light commercial construction. The header is not sized for load-bearing. Corner closets are an extremely odd place for load-bearing framing....
  • 115k
5 votes

Cleaning up home network wiring closet

It's called a structured media enclosure and it does actually look decent. Granted, it's only half-assembled -- the second half of the project is the part that costs $$. If you wanted to hire a pro ...
  • 23.5k
5 votes
Accepted

Ideas for rigging a light switch to a double bifold door?

I think you have already worked out the solution in your own mind. Good for you! 😆 If you're looking for an opinion on your conclusion, I would say that low voltage magnetic reed switch is your best ...
  • 1,783
5 votes
Accepted

Is it okay to have exposed framing on one side of a wall?

Unless you're required to create a firewall, and unless it's a stressed load-bearing wall that requires doubled sheathing for shear, it doesn't matter at all. Zillions of basements have walls that are ...
  • 115k
5 votes

Load bearing or non load bearing wall

You cannot tell just from a photo like this. You need to check above and below and see if there is any load on this wall. If in doubt, you should consult an engineer or architect. That being said, ...
  • 22.7k
4 votes

How to provide power to laptop in unused ceiling access panel?

Besides having chosen possibly the most hostile environment to run a laptop, you have an advantage in using a laptop...it probably has a wall wart transformer and some lower voltage lead that actually ...
  • 153
4 votes

How much overlap should bypass doors have?

You want the doors to overlap a bit. You also want the two doors to be the same width so when they are slid all the way to one side or the other that they are even. A one inch overlap is about ideal ...
  • 62.8k
4 votes
Accepted

Additional support for closet rod

One simple thing to try that would not be too much work would be to re-mount the plastic bracket in nearly the same place on the center divider panel as before. Instead of the short screws use some ...
  • 62.8k
4 votes

Closet light off of doorbell junction box

There are a few problems: Transformer shouldn't be covered up. Low voltage wiring of transformer output can't be in the same box as the high voltage wiring of transformer input (and of the lights). ...
4 votes

Is it okay to have exposed framing on one side of a wall?

That should not be a problem at all. Even with electrical, there would not be a problem. The main place this is an issue is with garages or other places where a firewall is needed. That typically ...
4 votes

What is this ledge on the closet floor?

Ledges like these could be covering pipes and conduits. Sometimes it's not possible to integrate these into the floors or walls (or they've been applied after the house was built), and this is a ...
  • 2,372
4 votes

Please help determine if section of wall is load bearing

You do NOT want to remove that double 2x4 post. It is very clearly load bearing as per the blue arrow that I added. The red downward pointing arrow shows the obvious sloping roof section overhead that ...
  • 62.8k
3 votes
Accepted

Concerns with washer and dryer in walk in closet

All dryers need a vent. Gas and electric dryers need a vent to the outside of the house to allow all the moisture to escape from the dryer. All-in-one washer/dryer combo units don't need an air vent,...
  • 24k
3 votes
Accepted

Remove closet center support beam?

I agree with Tester101's comment. The current "header" in each closet opening appears to be just one flat 2x4. You will want to install a pair of 2xX framing members on edge that can span the total ...
  • 62.8k
3 votes

How Do I Remove Plastic Shelf Support Holder Pin

This is a thread-cam locking shelf support. You can undo it by turning the screw a quarter turn counter clockwise, then lifting up on the shelf.
  • 1,084
3 votes

Vent in closet below stairs

It depends on what you plan on storing there. I have lots of closets that have no air movement and they are just fine. I wouldn't worry about it.
  • 19.6k
3 votes
Accepted

How to attach a top plate to a plaster and lath ceiling for a closet?

It should be fairly easy to determine the direction the joists run. In older homes they almost always run across the short dimension of the home's footprint. Once you know that, and you have your ...
  • 115k
3 votes
Accepted

How to remove these nails (no access to head)?

Grab them with a locking plier and bend them back and forth a few times. They'll fatigue and snap off. Or use a rotary tool with a cutoff wheel. Then use a nail set to drive them below flush.
  • 115k
3 votes
Accepted

Is it a bad idea to drill a hole through this door frame to pass wires?

Not a bad idea what so ever. However, let me clarify on the posted answer... A hole saw can be used to cut clean perfect holes, but are limited in cut depth. You'll most likely need to use the hole ...
  • 1,224
3 votes
Accepted

Closet door doesn't close completely from the top side - IKEA closet and hinges

Use a long straight edge (4-6' long, depending on the height of the cabinet) on the door (maybe use the level you used to ensure that the cabinet itself was vertical) to ensure that the door itself is ...
  • 37.2k
3 votes

What do you call a door-attached bar for hanging belts?

It could be a number of things. For search terms try Tie rack, Belt rack, Towel bar, belt organizing bar. You could make one out of pipe or a wood dowel. There are no rules for your closet, come up ...
  • 13.4k
3 votes

Using Patch Panel for CAT6a wiring from attic to closet

My standard procedure: Put a big piece of plywood on the wall - in this case, the wall shared between the closet and the attic. Make sure you get screws through the plywood into two studs. Mount ...
3 votes

Using Patch Panel for CAT6a wiring from attic to closet

In my experience with a small inexpensive patch panel (something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Dshot-network-Mount-Surface-Patch/dp/B00NUXCHE6/), there wasn't really space to bring the cables into ...
3 votes

Converting closet to sliding closet doors

Some ideas. Who says they need to overlap 3 to 4 inches? The nice thing with less overlap is better opening. Think about bifold doors, they don't overlap at all where they meet. So if sliding ...
  • 25.4k
3 votes
Accepted

Strategies for supporting a narrow shelf on deeper drilled melamine boards

You'd be surprised at how many tall things you discover to store in this space once you have it available. Leave a large area at the top that you can get these tall things in under the top of the door,...
  • 37.2k
3 votes

What's the purpose of diagonal braces on the attic's wall

The diagonals are necessary to stiffen the walls; they are usually at a corner. You can replace the wood with strap steel, it comes with holes every couple inches. Place the steel strap where it will ...
  • 8,105

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