Installing Kitchen and Bath Slide out Shelves

Installation instructions for Pull out shelving

Use the slide out shelf

The #1 tip on installing our slide out shelves is to let the slide out shelf be your guide for adjusting the drawer glides. There are points in every method of installation that will be easiest to accomplish when you use the slide out shelf as your guide. The drawer glides that we use have a control side and a free side. The left side glides are the control side, the track that the wheel rolls in is a captive side. The metal is bent around the wheel and the wheel will only track in that groove. The right side glide is the free side that allows for adjustment of the assembly. It is very important to pay attention to the right side glide for any problems with glide alignment with your slide out shelves will show up on the right side.

Existing Shelf

If you are mounting to an existing shelf you should check to make sure it is held securely in place. When the slide out shelf is extended, all of the weight will be on the front of the existing shelf, and if the shelf is not supported with strong clips, there is a possibility the existing shelf could beak down. Metal clips in both 5 mm (about 3/16") and 1/4" are available on our hardware page. It is also important to make sure the back of your shelf is secured down or else it will tip when the sliding shelf is extended. We usually secure the back of the shelf by installing a screw on each side of the shelf either to the back wall or the back of the side walls. We leave the head of the screw sticking out 1/4" or more just on top of the adjustable shelf so that the extended head keeps the shelf from tipping. Make sure you do not put the screw through an exposed wall or cabinet back. Or you can secure the adjustable shelf in the back with a 1/4 piece of plywood cut 1" wide.

Full Shelf installation (click on thumbnails for larger pictures)

The simplest installation method is when mounting the slide out shelf to the cabinet base or an existing full depth shelf. If you order your slide out shelf with the full shelf mounting the drawer slides will come with two L brackets attached on each side. Set the glides in place in your cabinet with the wheels facing towards the front, the glides are marked CR and CL Then set your slide out shelf with the front tipped up slightly in place by lifting the wheels at the rear of the shelf over the wheels on the front of the cabinet glides. Slide the shelf slowly all the way inside the cabinet. If the left side glide comes out of place you can slip it back into position without removing the shelf. Align the shelf in the cabinet and make sure the front of the CL and CR glides are lined up with the front of the existing or base shelf. Put a slight downward pressure on the shelf and extend it far enough to expose the rear brackets.

Install a screw in the right to left slotted hole closest to the slide member and tighten. You can now close the shelf again and re-check your alignment. Repeat the process for the other side and then again for the front of the glides. If the glides move while installing you can simply close the shelf and re-align them. When you have one screw in each bracket you can open and close the shelf a few times and check the adjustment looking at the right side glide and paying attention to the front alignment. There should be about 1/16" to 1/8" of play in the glides. If the glide is too tight or too loose simply loosen the screw in one of the brackets (front or rear whichever needs adjustment) and move the bracket the correct direction and tighten. Remember to pay careful attention to the right side glide if the gap is too large in the rear the shelf will roll great but as soon as you add weight you will get a bump when you slide it out. If the shelf is tight, you can tell which rear bracket needs to be moved outward by tapping on the front of the slide out shelf, which either side has movement, the opposite rear bracket is the one to move outward. After you have the shelf adjusted

correctly you need to add a second screw in each bracket using the center hole to lock the slide in place.

Half Shelve

The second method of installing slide out shelves is mounting to a half depth shelf in the back of the cabinet. You will need a small level, with a magnetic strip on one side. Check the existing shelf to make sure it is secure and can not lift up. The glides for the half shelf installation will have one metal "L" shaped bracket on each glide mounted toward the rear. The end with the wheels faces forward. If you have 4 "L" brackets , the

front ones will not be needed . Set the rear bracket on the existing shelf and place the front edge of the glide against the cabinet face frame, about midway. Place your level on the glide and level it. When you have the glide level, mark the location of the front hole in the glide. Repeat this step for the glide on the other side face frame. It is best to drill a small pilot hole to prevent splitting, before screwing the glide in place. After you have the front of the glides attached you can set the shelf in place by placing the wheels on the rear of the shelf glides over the wheels on the front of the cabinet glides. Insert the shelf all the way into the cabinet and align the shelf to be square with the cabinet front. If there is too much space between the cabinet face frames you will need to insert spacers or washers to build out. You can order spacers from us in various sizes. Check the alignment of the left side glide and when it is properly aligned press down slightly on the shelf and extend it far enough to see the rear bracket. Place a screw in the left to right slotted hole closest to the glide and tighten moderately. Reinsert the shelf and check glide alignment. When alignment is correct repeat the process of extending the shelf and insert a screw in the other side's bracket. Again insert the shelf and adjust as needed. When everything is aligned extend the shelf again and place a screw in the center hole of each bracket to lock it in place. Note: When using Full Extension slides: The full extension glides do not have a hole in the front of the cabinet glide. To use a full extension glide in the middle of the cabinet, it is usually easiest to side mount by using a 1x4 inch of wood mounted to the sidewalls at the height of the desired shelf placement

Rear Sockets

Rear mount sockets are for mounting shelves where there is no existing shelf to mount to. The first step is to determine the height that you want the slide out shelf. Make a mark on both cabinet face frames for the bottom of the shelf. Insert the cabinet glides partially into the plastic sockets (you must have specified rear extension mounting when ordering) note the brackets are marked CR and CL. With a screw, attach the front end of the glides (the end with the wheels) to the cabinet face frame where you marked. You will need to push the glide slightly against the back wall of the cabinet to get the rear socket seated to the correct depth (make sure to push back tight enough that the friction will help to keep the glides in place. Install the shelf by sliding the rear end of the shelf glides (the end with the wheels) over the wheels on the front of the cabinet glides. Slowly slide the shelf in completely and align it to be square with the front of the cabinet.

Using a level, make sure that the vertical of the slide out shelf is level. Make a pencil mark in the upper small hole of the rear extension. Repeat this process for the other side. Now you can remove the shelf and insert a screw through the rear socket and into the back of the cabinet at the marks you just made. Now, reinstall the slide out shelf and check for adjustment. Once you have the shelf adjusted, install at least one more screw in each socket. If you are having trouble getting the shelf to slide smoothly make sure the glides are parallel to each other and not twisted.

Side Mount

Another option for mounting slide out shelves in cabinets that do not have an existing shelf is side mounting. You can purchase spacers from our store to build up the space or you can attach a 1x4 board the full depth of the cabinet so you can mount to the cabinet side walls. A good alternative in pantries is to install vertical strips of wood on both sides (two on each side, one near the front and the other near the back) that provide the proper filling to match the space behind the cabinet face frame and the inside of the sidewall. A side mount installation can be the strongest and most space efficient installation. It is best to use a piece of wood the same thickness as the space behind the face frame that runs from the bottom of the cabinet to above the height that you want the shelf installed. You may need to double up the wood to get the right size. You can glue and screw this wood in place to make a secure attachment. After the wood is installed you can install the glides at the proper heights and put the shelves in place. Due to the fact that cabinets are often out of square it may be necessary to use spacers or washers to take care of any wide spots.

Important note

Make sure to read all of the instructions on this page. These instructions are meant to be a guide only and they can not cover every possible installation. Pull out shelves are fairly easy to install for the average homeowner and can take as little as five minutes or less to install. It is important that you be able to determine the soundness of your installation. If you are not comfortable with your ability to determine the quality of your installation you should seek advice and possibly hire someone else to review the job or do the installation for you.

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