Finally figured out why my garage shelves kept sagging after 3 attempts

I spent a year reinforcing plywood shelves with different brackets and still got a 2 inch dip in the middle, then a neighbor pointed out I was using oriented strand board instead of actual plywood. Has anyone else made that mistake or am I the only one who didn't know the difference mattered that much?

3 comments

3 Comments

masonbell1mo ago

Did you catch that episode of Ask This Old House where they talked about OSB vs plywood? I saw it on YouTube and they basically said OSB soaks up moisture way worse than plywood which is probably why your shelves kept sagging. It's crazy how much of a difference the actual material makes compared to just the brackets.

jakeb251mo ago

Saw that episode too and it's wild how something as simple as shelf material can make or break the whole thing. It's like that with everything though, not just shelves. People cheap out on paint and wonder why it chips in a year, or they buy the cheapest air filter and their HVAC craps out. We always want the quick fix but the real answer is usually just buying the right stuff from the start. Saves you time, money, and a headache down the road.

thomas27515d ago

Right, preach. I helped my buddy throw together a project last month using particle board for a closet shelf cause it was cheap and look, the whole thing is bowing already. Meanwhile, I redid my garage with good plywood years ago and its still flat as a rock. People see the price tag and their eyes glaze over, forgetting their time matters too. Spending Saturday fixing something you coulda done right the first time is a good way to waste a weekend.