Originally Posted by
Ken Cobbing
Thanks Gerry, Mark, and Wayne for your advice.
I agree that the best way to remedy the problem is to build a level platform and stack the cabinets on top. However, I think that if I did so, the holes that I've drilled to attach the cabinets to each other (with sex bolts) will no longer line up (i.e., the adjustments will put the holes slightly out of alignment). Additionally, I'm guessing that taking all the cabinets down, building a new base, and putting them all up again will take me another 1-2 days (yup, I'm that slow). Meanwhile, DW can't understand why she isn't allowed to fill up the cabinets yet (because they look finished) and I need to get back to my real job!
With the above in mind, I've attached a couple of photos showing what I'm dealing with. I understand that the installation right now is pretty amateurish, but I wonder if any of you would suggest to just leave it as-is with the composite shims. Opinions? As the photos show, the full weight of the assembly is not resting solely on the shims - only the front edges.
BTW, I decided early on that I would build these shelves to be floor-bearing rather than wall-bearing because the other side of the wall is already completely filled (floor-to-ceiling) with stud-mounted bookshelves. I figured it would be better to not add additional weight to these studs on the other side of the wall, since I'm not sure how well this wall was framed (post-construction addition).
Thanks again for all the advice!
Front, middle shim: