How to support your Laundry Room Countertop.

Ever wanted to set your folded clothes on a shelf out of the way of the pile of clothes resting on top of your dryer? It gets difficult when you’re pulling wet clothes out of the washer. Looking for a place to set your detergents, bleaches, and stain-removers? You may need a countertop or shelf in your laundry room.

If you decide to take the road to organization your countertop shelving will need support. If it doesn’t have solid supports it will lack stability and strength which can lead to a countertop loosening and falling – dangerous to those around your washer / dryer unit – children, small animals and you personally.

Federal Brace makes shelf brackets that are capable of holding a countertop in a laundry room. I am going to tell you how easy it is to install.

Things You’ll Need:
* Shelf Brackets from Federal Brace
* Stud Finder
* Construction adhesive
* Power Drill
* ¼” Screws
* Power Screwdriver
* A Level
* Pencil

You’re going to have to use a stud finder to find wall-studs along the entire length of the countertop. Mark the wall stud locations with a pencil.

Take the first bracket. Position it against the wall on the first stud mark. Figure out how high you want the shelf to go. Once you have reached your desired height you can make another mark.

Take a ¼” screw and a power screwdriver and place the bracket back where you want it to go. Drill through the bracket holes into the wall with your ¼” screw. Once it is secure you can move on to the second bracket.

Take your second bracket and move to the second stud mark. Move the bracket to the same height as the first bracket and use a level to make sure that the countertop is straight. Once you have a solid position mark where the bracket will go.

Take a ¼” screw and a power screwdriver and place the bracket back where you want it to go. Drill through the bracket holes into the wall with your ¼” screw.

Now you have your two brackets up. Time to put up your shelf. You should put construction adhesive on top of the brackets. Be careful not to put too much material on because it will leak over the edges. After it sets for a few seconds, you should be ready to apply your shelf. After the shelf dries for a bit it should be ready for use.

By the way, the number of shelf brackets is determined on the length of shelf you will be using. If you are using a gusseted shelf bracket (or bracket with a cross brace between the supporting flanges) then Federal Brace suggests using a bracket at no more than 24” spans. Check out our helpful video section covering the subject (CLICK HERE)

Please make sure to check out the shelf brackets at FEDERAL BRACE. Thank you and have a great rest of your week!

VIDEO: How to install Freedom Countertop Brackets for an Invisible Countertop Support

www.federalbrace.com - In this video, Scott Toal and Broc Siefert of Federal Brace take us through the installation of the Freedom Invisible Countertop Support Bracket.

This video walks us through the features that make the Freedom an excellent selection when a countertop with invisible support is desired. Broc and Scott show us how simple and easy it is to properly route out the channels in your support structure and install your invisible countertop support bracket.

For further information on countertop brackets and the invisible Liberty Support Plates, please contact Federal Brace at http://www.FederalBrace.com or #877-353-8899

VIDEO: Elevated Glass Bar on a Countertop Mounted Support

www.federalbrace.com - In this video, Scott Toal and Broc Siefert take us through the installation of a Counter Mount Elevated Bar supported with the stylish Perrine countertop support bracket.

Countertop mounted support brackets give the ability to elevate a counter or bar with a bracket directly fastened to the sub-counter. There are some key points to consider when doing a countertop mounted bar application. This video will highlight the countertop mount features.

For further information on countertop brackets and the Perrine support brackets, please contact Federal Brace at http://www.FederalBrace.com or #877-353-8899

VIDEO: How to Install the Liberty Countertop Plate for an Invisible Countertop Support

Liberty Installation Video

www.federalbrace.com - In this video, Scott Toal and Broc Siefert of Federal Brace take us through the installation of the Liberty Invisible Countertop Support Plates.

This video walks us through the features that make the Liberty an excellent selection when a countertop with invisible support is desired. Broc and Scott show us how simple and easy it is to properly route out the channels in your support structure and install your invisible countertop support plates.

For further information on countertop brackets and the invisible Liberty Support Plates, please contact Federal Brace at http://www.FederalBrace.com or #877-353-8899

How To Change Out Your Corbels

At Federal Brace we believe in presenting solutions to problems faced in common countertop support applications. In this blog we will discuss the issues faced when attempting to replace wooden corbels with metal supports. So if you want to change out your wood corbels for decorative steel brackets we’re going to tell you how to do that successfully. Before getting into any corbel change out you will want to take the time to investigate your countertop. Make sure you are removing decorative pieces only. In Load-bearing installations the supporting brackets must be attached to solidly fixed material that is capable of holding the weight of the bracket and countertop. When replacing wooden brackets that are in a load bearing application you will want to remove them individually and replace immediately with the metal countertop supports.

The tools that you will need include a Cordless drill, a pry bar, a flat and heavy scraping blade and a reciprocating saw. First things first, you need to remove all the bolts, nails and/or screws used to fix the decorative corbel to your support structure. Look for small patches of mismatched grain. This will help you identify any wood plugs used in the fascia. Also, examine the inside of the cabinet or back wall for screws and washers. If your corbel happens to be secured to the support structure with fasteners screwed in from the cabinet or backside of the support structure this will make your corbel removing easier.

Once you have removed all metal fasteners and exterior “trim” pieces, you can take a pry bar or scraper and gently pry the corbel away from the support structure surface. Use the scraper to loosen any glued areas. In some cases you might have to use a saw for hard to remove corbels. Wood corbels have Keyholes that slide over bolts that are attached to the support structure. In instances where the countertop will not be removed but you want to replace the corbel a saw is likely needed to cut the bolts. You apply layers of painter’s tape on both sides of the corbel in order to protect the fascia next to the corbel. Once you have covered the area around the corbel you will need to get a saw blade behind it. Use a reciprocal blade to cut any nails or screws, but not the wood. If you only have a hacksaw blade, you can get the blade under the corbel and manually cut the screws. Be careful to not harm the fascia on the load bearing structure.

Once the wood corbel is removed the hard part is over. To install your Federal Brace countertop support brackets you can simply place your brackets in the desired location making sure they are snug against the under counter and over a supporting stud in the support structure. Mark your hole locations and drill a pilot hole for fastening the bracket to the structure. Make sure that your pilot hole is not larger than the fastener used (generally ¼”). You will want to space corbels every 12 to 18 inches if it is a un-gusseted bracket, and every 24 to 30 inches for a Federal Brace gusseted bracket. That is what Federal Brace recommends, which is dependent on not only the gusset but also the load weight of the countertop. The great thing about Federal Brace brackets compared to wood corbels is that you are able to remove the brackets very easily. Putting them on is easy and taking them off is just as easy. Also, there is the stainless steel and steel look of the brackets and the weight carrying nature of these brackets to consider.

If your particular application will require significant weight carrying capacity or there are special features in your countertop application we suggest consultation with a design engineer on site. Always make sure that the support structure of any countertop overhang is substantial and can support the weight of the counter being supported. For more information about the Federal Brace brackets please contact them at sales@FederalBrace.com or call them at 877-353-8899.

How to Stain a MDF Wood Corbel | Federal Brace

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Cathy Morgan, General Manager at Federal Brace, shows you how to properly stain an Eva Reinforced Corbel. She shows the beauty and craftsmanship of treating your protective casing that attaches to your metal L-Bracket in an easy two-step process. The finished product shows off the beauty of a wood corbel and the polished support of Federal Brace.

For further information on countertop brackets and MDF Corbels, please contact Federal Brace at http://www.FederalBrace.com or #877-353-8899

How to Paint a Bracket Backer™ | Federal Brace

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Cathy Morgan, General Manager at Federal Brace, shows you how to properly paint your Bracket Backer™ or backer board. The beauty and craftsmanship of painting your board to match the color of your sheetrock drywall or other fascia. Backer boards and/or Bracket Backers™ are used in applications to protect sheetrock drywall or other impressionable fascia.

For further information on countertop brackets, corbels, and Bracket Backers™, please contact Federal Brace at http://www.FederalBrace.com or #877-353-8899