Ladder shelving

Turn an old wooden ladder into a fabulous shelving unit with a little bit of help from Resene.

Ways with wood with Mark Rayner – 46

Difficulty level: Moderate

You will need: two 75mm screws, clean cloths, detergent and water, nylon pot scrubber, old wooden ladder, paintbrushes, paint scraper, paint stirrer, sandpaper, screwdriver, solvent resistant gloves and protective goggles. Resene Strip-Off paint stripper, Resene Aquaclear and Resene Colorwood Enhance Jarrah.

To get the look: Mark painted the background walls with Resene SpaceCote Flat. One was tinted to Resene Alabaster and the other tinted to Resene Sour Dough.

Other ideas: For a dark effect use a combination of Resene Aquaclear mixed with Resene Colorwood Enhance Black.

Step 1 how to build a ladder shelving unit

Step one
Wearing gloves and goggles, apply a generous amount of Resene Strip Off to any paint and varnish splatters on the ladder and leave for at least 30 minutes.

Step 2 how to build a ladder shelving unit

Step two
Carefully remove with a paint scraper, running in the direction of the grain. Remove any stubborn residue with a nylon pot scourer, rubbing in the direction of the grain.

Step 3 how to build a ladder shelving unit

Step three
Wash down with a weak mix of detergent and water to completely remove residue. Allow to dry for 24 hours.

Step 4 how to build a ladder shelving unit

Step four
Step four Using medium and fine grade sandpapers, sand the ladder running in the direction of the grain.

Step 5 how to build a ladder shelving unit

Step five
Wipe off any sanding dust with a clean cloth.

Step 6 how to build a ladder shelving unit

Step six
Carefully pour the Resene Colorwood Enhance into the Resene Aquaclear and stir well with a paint stirrer.

Step 7 how to build a ladder shelving unit

Step seven
Apply one coat of Resene Aquaclear to the ladder, brushing in the direction of the grain, and allow two hours to dry.

Step 8 how to build a ladder shelving unit

Step eight
Repeat step seven and apply a third coat of Resene Aquaclear, if necessary, to achieve a high gloss finish. Once dry, fix securely to the wall with two 75mm screws.