Homeowner Ken Griffey Sr. selected a two-tone color -scheme for his home office walls, and the desk elements were covered in a coordinating gray laminate (figure A). With the desk elements cut and covered in the laminate surface, the next phase of the home-office remodel is to install the desk-system onto he wall. Desk Installation Materials: Lumber for wall cleats
Cordless drill and screwdriver attachment
Hole-saw drill-bit attachment
Tape measure
Carpenter's level
Stud sensor
Construction adhesive
2-1/2" wood screws
Safety Alert: Always wear eye protection, and follow proper safety precautions, when working with power tools and pneumatic tools.
Steps:
- For installation of the desk, measure up and make a tick-mark at the desired desk height (figure B). (For Ken's desk, we measured 29-1/4 inches up from the carpet. With the addition of the desk top, the work surface was a standard 30" height.) Repeat at several locations around the room.
- Connect all of the tick marks, and check to make sure the line is straight using a carpenter's level (figure C).
- Use a stud finder to locate and mark position of the stud supports behind the wall (figure D). Since the desk is quite heavy, and will support a good deal of weight, it will need to be secured into the walls studs.
- Next, you'll need to make and install wall-cleats for mounting the desk to the wall. The cleats can be constructed by joining 1"x2" and 1"x4" boards together at a 90-degree angle.
- Apply construction adhesive to the back surface of the cleat. Place the flat surface of the cleat on the wall, lining it up with the layout line you marked earlier, and secure the cleat into the wall studs using 2" wood-screws (figure E).
- The L-brackets made earlier serve as extra support for the desk. Fasten the brackets to 1"x4" boards using wood screws.
- Pre-drill screw-holes in the brackets (figure F), then apply contact cement to the back of the bracket.
- Secure the brackets into wall studs using wood-screws, and using a level to ensure that the brackets are positioned properly (figure G).
- Since, in our case, the desk intersects with an existing window, the window-treatments are removed before the desk surface is installed.
- With the support brackets installed, position the desk top on top of the brackets (figure H). Because the desk is so large, this may require two people.
- Attach the top to the brackets and cleats using wood screws, sinking the screws from below (figure I).
- Use a hole-saw bit to drill cord holes in the desk top at the appropriate locations (figure J). This will allow electrical, phone and computer cords to be dropped down below the desk top for easy access to outlets and connections.
Note: For this demonstration, we made the desk system from scratch. If you're less of an advanced do-it-yourselfer, you can purchase pre-made desk systems to install. Just make certain that you have all the proper room-measurements.
In the segment that follows, a chair-rail -- with baseball bats -- is installed in the remodeled office.
RESOURCES :
Roadside Baseball: A Guide to Baseball Shrines Across America
Model: 0892047143
Author: Chris Epting, Joe Buck
McGraw-Hill Companies
Website: www.mcgraw-hill.com
Triumph and Tragedy in Mudville: A Lifelong Passion for Baseball
Model: 0393057550
Author: Stephen Jay Gould
W. W. Norton & Company
Special thanks for DIY's Major League Remodel
Athlete's Advantage, LLC
Featured in Major League Remodel marathon.
www.athletesadvantage.com
Louisville Slugger factory and museum
800 West Main St.
Louisville, KY 40202
Featured in Major League Remodel marathon.
www.slugger.com
Wilson Sporting Goods
Featured in Major League Remodel marathon.
www.wilsonsports.com
Stan Mar Sports Nets
Batting cage featured in Major League Remodel workshop, episode 101.
www.stanmarnets.com
SpaceMakers Of East Tennessee
Featured in Major League Remodel special.
www.spacemakersofet.com
Memories Photo and Portraits
Knoxville, TN
Photo transfer featured in Major League Remodel marathon.
www.memoriesphotos.com
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