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Built in closet question - ®smpr_fi_mac® - 07-23-2025
I'm about to start building a custom closet for SWMBO. It's a very large closet, 24'x8'. I'll be building it in 36" sections to make installation easier over time.
My question is about mounting. The floor in the closet has carpet (that's 23 years old) and will eventually (if not now!) need to be replaced.
I want to rip up the carpeting to leave bare subfloor (plywood) so that I can place my 2x4 frame bases directly on it to shim them level. This will allow me to leave a 3" toe kick under the units. Once done, I want to put in vinyl tiles and maybe a long rug.
My wife hates this idea because it'll be bare subfloor for many months until the build is complete.
Then I suggested hanging them from the wall on a French cleat.
She hates this idea because she wants them on the floor.
I don't want to build them on top of the carpet because they'll likely settle independently and end up wonky. I also don't want to have to remove them all when we decide to replace the carpet.
Give me some ammo to tell her I'm not going to start the job if the carpet is remaining. Or tell me I'm an person and go ahead and build it as she wants.
I just need to know the best way to go.
RE: Built in closet question - fredhargis - 07-23-2025
What about just cutting the carpet where you;'ll be laying the base and leave the rest of it in there? Otherwise, I got nothing....except: happy wife, happy life. Well, maybe one more idea...buold the cabinets unassembled and get them all done, then assemble and install at one time.
RE: Built in closet question - jteneyck - 07-23-2025
(07-23-2025, 04:54 PM)fredhargis Wrote: What about just cutting the carpet where you;'ll be laying the base and leave the rest of it in there? Otherwise, I got nothing....except: happy wife, happy life. Well, maybe one more idea...buold the cabinets unassembled and get them all done, then assemble and install at one time.
Exactly. Cut the carpet where needed, install the cabinets, and put a trim strip in place until the rest of it gets ripped out. But just for argument's sake, I installed about 8 or 10 feet of floor to ceiling cabinets on top of some wall-to-wall carpeting. I put a ladder base on the carpet and cut small holes through it where I wanted to add screw blocks to level the base. When it was level side to side and front to back. I added some L brackets and screwed them to both the bare floor and base. Almost 20 years later, all is well.
John
RE: Built in closet question - ®smpr_fi_mac® - 07-24-2025
(07-23-2025, 04:54 PM)fredhargis Wrote: What about just cutting the carpet where you;'ll be laying the base and leave the rest of it in there? Otherwise, I got nothing....except: happy wife, happy life. Well, maybe one more idea...buold the cabinets unassembled and get them all done, then assemble and install at one time.
She's amenable to this idea--cutting out the strip of carpet and leaving the center in place.
I don't have the space to store 16 of them and she wants to be able to make use of them as they're completed.
(07-23-2025, 06:07 PM)jteneyck Wrote: Exactly. Cut the carpet where needed, install the cabinets, and put a trim strip in place until the rest of it gets ripped out. But just for argument's sake, I installed about 8 or 10 feet of floor to ceiling cabinets on top of some wall-to-wall carpeting. I put a ladder base on the carpet and cut small holes through it where I wanted to add screw blocks to level the base. When it was level side to side and front to back. I added some L brackets and screwed them to both the bare floor and base. Almost 20 years later, all is well.
John
I didn't think of this method! I'll look into it and figure out which of the two will work best.
Thanks to both of you!
RE: Built in closet question - Snipe Hunter - 07-24-2025
Probably a dumb question but why not just build it with studs and drywall. If you want the wood look, just face it with something. Cut the carpet out and build it.
RE: Built in closet question - Cabinet Monkey - 07-25-2025
Curious why she cares whether the units hang on the wall or sit on the floor ?
Most closest I’ve seen , owned , and built are always a combination of floor standing and hanging units anyway.
Carpet is not a suitable substrate for installing built in cabinetry in any industry guideline publication.