The plywood everyone uses for garage shelves is way too thin

I've been helping a few neighbors with their garage builds around Edmonton this winter and I keep seeing the same mistake. People grab that 1/2 inch OSB from the big box store thinking it'll hold totes full of Christmas decorations. Last month I had to reinforce a set of shelves for a guy off 118 Ave because his 3/4 inch MDF was already bowing after just 8 months. I learned this the hard way back when I built my own workshop racks - 3/4 inch plywood or nothing if you want it to last. The sagging gets worse with our cold winters too, the moisture makes the cheap stuff flop even faster. Has anyone else noticed how fast those thin shelves start to dip after the first heavy tote goes on?

3 comments

3 Comments

patriciareed13d ago

Can't believe someone used 3/4 MDF for shelves, that stuff turns into a potato chip in any humidity.

sage_ramirez4213d ago

Hit it with a coat of shellac on all sides before installation.

karen_west5913d ago

I mean, idk, maybe it's just me but I've actually had decent luck with MDF shelves in my basement that isn't climate controlled. Sealed them up good with a couple coats of primer and they haven't warped in like 4 years now. Guess it depends on how bad your humidity really is.