Do you notch bookcases to go around baseboard?

[Art Mulder]

The subject pretty much says it all.

10 years ago I built my first pair of bookcases, which launched me into this hobby. And I thought I was smart, and put a notch at the bottom/back to go around the baseboard... two years later we moved into a house with taller baseboard.

I am just now planning a tall/narrow child's bookcase and I wasn't planning on notching the back at all. As I put my mind back to various plans or photos that I've seen over the years, I can't recall seeing many, if any, custom units that are notched.

The reason I ask, is that my Mum asked me if I was going to fasten it to the wall for safety. (She doesn't want her grandkids pulling it over...) This made me think about notching again, in order to get the bookcase snug up against the wall. Hmm.

[Jamie Buxton]

I generally don't notch bookcases, because I don't know where they'll eventually wind up. However, I live in earthquake country, so I always find some way to tie the bookcase to the wall near the top.

[Tim Sproul]

This made me think about notching again, in order to get the bookcase snug up against the wall. Hmm.

Why not put a piece of 5/8 or 3/4 or 1 inch board between the wall and the bookcase.....up at the top where you fasten the bookcase to the wall?

[Stu Ablett in Tokyo Japan]

Yes, I do, as I too live in Earthquake country.

Cheers!

[Wes Bischel]

Art,
I have in the past. Also, some manufacturers do this as well - though based on ranch/colonial molding baseboard.

Wes

[Hunter Wallace]

I will notch/cut out the baseboard if the casework is something that's
put in with a sense of permenance. And I have never notched or scribed
the cabinet/case to fit against the wall. It could be because I tend to
be installing that sort of thing here in 150+ year old New England homes where "level & plumb" aren't in the local vernacular!!! To attach it to the wall I might use the beveled cleat idea...ripping a 1x4 with the blade
set to 45Degrees, attaching one piece to the shelf back and the other to the wall. Only leaves a few holes in the wall at the stud locations and makes it (fairly) easy to remove the whole thing later.

[Mike Cutler]

I do put "notches" in them, but for a different reason. I cut a relief into them to compensate for the carpet tack strip the goes around the baseboard moulding.

If I had kids, I think I would anchor them to the wall somehow. The little ones are born to climb.