10. Slide special box extenders through the
paneling and into the electrical boxes to extend the box. Reattach the
receptacles and switches with extra-long screws. Caution: Make sure the power
is turned off at the main electrical panel.
11. Measure from the corner
to the edge of the board, excluding the tongue, to determine the width of the
last board. Measure every 12 in. along the corner and mark these dimensions on
the final board. Connect the marks to create a cutting line.
Click image to enlarge.
12. Saw 1/8 in. beyond the line with the saw set to
a 30-degree bevel. Then plane to the line, checking the fit occasionally.
Remove the back half of the groove by sawing it off or slicing it off with a
sharp utility knife. Press the board into place and nail through the face into
the corner stud to secure it.
13. Notch boards with a jigsaw to fit around the
window stool. Trim and plane the board to fit tightly to the window trim. Cut
off the back half of the groove if necessary to get the board
in.
Tip
Whenever possible, hold boards up and
mark them in place rather than measuring. It’s quicker and more
accurate.
14. Cut out brackets with a
jigsaw and sand the curve with a belt sander or sandpaper wrapped around a
wooden dowel.
15. Cut 1x3 boards to fit on top of the paneling
and drill two 3/32-in. pilot holes at each stud location. Temporarily fasten
them and position the brackets. Attach them temporarily with a pea-size dab of
hot melt glue. Stand back and look. Adjust the bracket locations if you like.
Then mark the location of each bracket. Remove the brackets and
1x3s.
16. Drill two 5/32-in. pilot holes at each bracket
location and attach the brackets to the 1x3s with 2-in. drywall screws.
Reinstall the 1x3s. Drive two 2-1/2 in. finish nails into each stud and use a
nail set to sink the nailheads slightly below the surface.
Click image to enlarge.
17. Cut 1x6 boards to fit over the brackets. Miter
the corners. Nail the shelf boards to the brackets with 1-1/2 in. finish nails.
Cut 1-1/8 in. wide edging strips from lengths of tongue-and-groove paneling for
the shelf edging. Leave a “bead” on one edge and align this edge
flush with the top of the shelf. Nail the strips to the shelf with 1-in. finish
nails.
