Copyright 2007 Ben S. Pollock
The other day, I came out of the closet to my wife. To my relief, she saw what I had been up to and was delighted.
I’ve been meaning to do this for eight years, and once ready, it surprisingly took less than a week. Despite the arrival of cooler weather, every time I went in I broke a sweat. I’m just not used to repetitive-though-mild physical labor.
Probably, it was because most of the time I stood on a stepladder, with my head near the ceiling, not to mention being in that confined space. Hot air rises. Doesn’t matter, the pounding and rubbing were exhilarating.
I know this isn’t for everyone, but technology has made it not too difficult. Don’t you admire clever engineers and their T-squares?
Ever since we bought the house in early 1999, I dreamed of converting both of our clothes closets to wire shelving. The 44-year-old Shady Hill’s had conventional wooden shelves and one steel rod each. I’ve redone closets in two other homes, but finding the right product takes time. Companies always “improve” their lines, either to make them cheaper or to make them better. At Target I discovered the best one yet, a brilliant Rubbermaid line, Configurations closet organizers. Sometimes it seems like Rubbermaid is all over our house.
Oddly but not surprisingly, the Web site doesn’t list Target but Home Depot, but the Home Depots around here just have ClosetMaid, which are coated wire, not enameled. Vinyl on wire may split within months then the metal rusts. Enamel can crack off, but you have to work at that. Besides, any oil-based white paint can mask it. I recommend a Liquid Paper-type of office supply masking fluid. Tapping a finger on the display at Target showed this was baked-on enamel. The package protected the items without being excessive. Even the instructions were well laid out. I bought two of them so next I could play in my wife’s closet.
First, though, I had to hang out in my man’s closet. After piling my clothes in the spare bedroom, I pounded the boards with a hammer. Gee, those were long nails. These were permanently installed. I tried to be patient, but I did punch a few small holes in the walls. The repairs, though, worked just like I had seen others do. I had laid in drywall spackle and joint compound. You have to let the drywall putty dry 24 hours then plaster some more on to cover the inevitable shrinkage. With sandpaper blocks you lightly rub the patches smooth. The goop withdraws, unevenly, as it dries. I kept two fans blowing as I rubbed. Flying powder coated the bedroom.
These are fine wooden shelves. Though pine, they are straight and quite dry. Anyone want them? Also in the carport is an eight-foot pipe. If anyone needs something touched with an eight-foot pole, call me.
Then a final sand to blend the untouched parts of the wall with repairs. Now, paint. That only needed four hours’ wait before the second and final coat. Latex has a great reputation.
The next day was the most worrisome: the installation of the horizontal rail, on which the vertical standards would hang. If I found studs behind the wall then made the rail perfectly level, all else would follow straightforwardly. I have a stud finder, but knocking up the walls works nearly as well.
Dads and the like say, “Measure twice, cut once.” I measure six times for each pilot hole drilled for the anchor screws. I don’t want to have to patch, sand and paint in this particular closet again, when there are other closets to explore.
I had a rough idea of where the shelves would go, as well as the upper and lower rods. But once I started hooking the brackets, shelves and extendable rods, the obvious became visible. I used sample clothes to try out different heights. Double-hanging is a must when you don’t have walk-in closets. I have denied myself too long.
I was at work when my wife came in my closet. On the phone she was so excited. When can I do yours, I asked? She needs it worse than I do. Hers is shaped differently, and she has lots more hang-ups.
Next weekend it is, then. I’m glad she’s game. -30-
