Wood wall for every man-cave!

For those men who fantasize about their very own mancave - that special space where you can put up superhero posters and figurines of yesteryear, watch some uninterrupted football games - here's a great idea for making a storage wall.

 

Builders want to pose a challenge to all mancave owners, and power tool wielding men in general, to do something that will spruce up their space in no time. This raw meranti wood wall, complete with rack shelves, is the perfect finishing touch. It has space-saving racks that can be put up against any wall with just a little bit of effort. The nifty shelves, made out of chunky slabs of wood and large industrial-looking hooks, will free up plenty of floor space for that foosball table.

YOU WILL NEED:

Note: The amount of wood required will depend on the area of wall you want to clad. Our area was 2,4 x 2,4m.

4 of 22mm x 69mm x 2,4m planks

6 of 12mm x 94mm x 2,4m planks

6 of 12mm x 94mm x 1,8m planks

20 of 12mm x 144mm x 1,8m planks

4 of 32mm x 144mm x 1,8m planks

 4 x 30mm self-cutting screws

Wall plugs and screws

10 rubber coated hooks.

TOOLS:

Drill / Driver plus assorted bits

Cordless screwdriver

Jigsaw and clean-cut blade

Tape measure and pencil

Spirit level

Stepladder

Buy everything you need for this project at your local Builders.

HERE'S HOW:

1. Measure and mark where the vertical uprights will go on your wall. Space them evenly to look neat. Use a spirit level when measuring the vertical and horizontal to ensure all the pieces will be straight and level.

2. Attach the 22mm x 69mm x 2,4m uprights to the wall on marks you’ve made in step one using wall plugs and screws.

3. On [2] of the 12mm x 94mm x 1,8m, and [2] of the 12mm x 144mm x 1,8m planks, mark lengths of 600mm and cut with a jigsaw.

4. Now start attaching the 12mm planks to the uprights with screws. Randomly use the broad (144mm) and narrow (94mm) planks to create interest.

GOOD TO KNOW: Some of the 2,4m planks will stretch the whole way across, while other times you will add a 600mm plank to a 1,8m plank to make up the 2,4m.

5. Decide where you want to place the shelves and use a spirit level to mark where the hooks should go. Remember to do this only where the uprights are, for the hooks to be secure. Drill pilot holes and turn the hooks into place.

6. Cut the 32mm x 144mm x 1,8m planks into various lengths (600mm / 800mm / 900mm) and place on the hooks.

GOOD TO KNOW: Start cladding from the floor up and use offcut timber as spacers to ensure you space the rows of planks evenly.

In 6 easy steps, your mancave will look even manlier than it did before, complete with wooden wall and handmade rack shelves. Now invite all your friends over for a braai, notice the disbelief on their faces when they admire your handiwork…and show them how it should be done!