How to Build Plywood Shelves for My Garage

Lay a level across two adjacent studs. Position the level's top surface at the desired height of the shelf. Use the level's vial to adjust the level to a horizontal position. While holding the level in place with one hand, use a pencil draw a line along the top surface of the level over each stud.

Hold a shelf bracket against one of the marked studs. Hold the shelf bracket's upper leg level with the stud's pencil mark. While holding the bracket on the mark, press a pencil through each of the bracket's screw holes and create a small dot to indicate the location of the each hole on the stud's surface. Place the bracket on the next marked stud, align the bracket with the mark and use a pencil to mark to draw dots for each of the bracket's screw holes.

Attach a driver bit to a power drill and attach a wood screw to the driver bit. Hold a shelf bracket over one the marked studs. Align the bracket's screw holes with the screw hole marks. While holding the bracket over the marks, fasten a wood screw through each of the bracket's screw holes and into the stud. Place a shelf bracket over the adjacent stud, align the bracket with the screw hole marks and fasten the bracket to the stud with wood screws.

Stretch a tape measure across the surface of a plywood sheet. Use a pencil to mark the desired width of the shelf; no more than 1 to 2 inches longer than the upper legs of the brackets. Move to the opposite end of the plywood sheet, stretch the tape measure across the sheet and mark the same dimension on the opposite end of the plywood. Attach a chalk snap line's tang to one end of the plywood sheet and align the snap line's string with the shelf width mark. Run the string across the sheet until it meets the width mark on the opposite end of the sheet.

Adjust the string's position so the string runs through both width marks. Pull the string taut and stretch the string away from the sheet's surface. Let go of the string and allow it to snap back against the sheet to create a chalk line through the marks and across the plywood sheet. Cut the plywood sheet along the chalk line with a circular saw. Use the snap line and circular saw to lay out and cut the piece to the desired length.

Lay the cut piece of plywood on top of the installed shelf brackets. Align the sides of the plywood with the edges of the brackets and the front of the plywood with the tips of the brackets. Reach beneath the plywood and use a drill to drive a screw through each screw hole and into the underside of the plywood shelf.