How can I fix this gap between bookcases I made?





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I just built two bookcases to line the wall of a room in my house and apparently didn't build them square enough so, when I put them next to each other, I get this giant gap. (I think the one on the right is pretty square but the one on the left appears to lean to the left at the top.)



Any suggestions on how I can make this look a little less crappy? The shelves are going to be sanded, spackled, caulked, and painted. One thought I had would be to remove the vertical strips of molding where the two bookcases meet (there is 3/4" square molding on all the edges) and make one custom piece that attaches to both. This piece would be wider at the top and taper at the bottom. Maybe that would look bad--I don't know. It also wouldn't address the gap on the top horizontal surface.



enter image description here



Any suggestions would be appreciated!






woodworking furniture carpentry







share|improve this question


















  • 5





    Is it possible that some portion of the gap is due to variation of the floor?

    – Michael Karas♦
    12 hours ago






  • 4





    You should get a tool called a framing square so that you can check squareness rather than guess. Maybe it is possible for you to remove the back of one unit and spring the shelves into square and reattach the back to hold it in the square shape. It is not quite clear how the backs are fabricated and the worst could be that you would have to make a new back.

    – Michael Karas♦
    12 hours ago











  • @MichaelKaras -- Your comments would make a good answer.

    – Jasper
    1 hour ago


















2















I just built two bookcases to line the wall of a room in my house and apparently didn't build them square enough so, when I put them next to each other, I get this giant gap. (I think the one on the right is pretty square but the one on the left appears to lean to the left at the top.)



Any suggestions on how I can make this look a little less crappy? The shelves are going to be sanded, spackled, caulked, and painted. One thought I had would be to remove the vertical strips of molding where the two bookcases meet (there is 3/4" square molding on all the edges) and make one custom piece that attaches to both. This piece would be wider at the top and taper at the bottom. Maybe that would look bad--I don't know. It also wouldn't address the gap on the top horizontal surface.



enter image description here



Any suggestions would be appreciated!






woodworking furniture carpentry







share|improve this question


















  • 5





    Is it possible that some portion of the gap is due to variation of the floor?

    – Michael Karas♦
    12 hours ago






  • 4





    You should get a tool called a framing square so that you can check squareness rather than guess. Maybe it is possible for you to remove the back of one unit and spring the shelves into square and reattach the back to hold it in the square shape. It is not quite clear how the backs are fabricated and the worst could be that you would have to make a new back.

    – Michael Karas♦
    12 hours ago











  • @MichaelKaras -- Your comments would make a good answer.

    – Jasper
    1 hour ago














2












2








2








I just built two bookcases to line the wall of a room in my house and apparently didn't build them square enough so, when I put them next to each other, I get this giant gap. (I think the one on the right is pretty square but the one on the left appears to lean to the left at the top.)



Any suggestions on how I can make this look a little less crappy? The shelves are going to be sanded, spackled, caulked, and painted. One thought I had would be to remove the vertical strips of molding where the two bookcases meet (there is 3/4" square molding on all the edges) and make one custom piece that attaches to both. This piece would be wider at the top and taper at the bottom. Maybe that would look bad--I don't know. It also wouldn't address the gap on the top horizontal surface.



enter image description here



Any suggestions would be appreciated!






woodworking furniture carpentry







share|improve this question














I just built two bookcases to line the wall of a room in my house and apparently didn't build them square enough so, when I put them next to each other, I get this giant gap. (I think the one on the right is pretty square but the one on the left appears to lean to the left at the top.)



Any suggestions on how I can make this look a little less crappy? The shelves are going to be sanded, spackled, caulked, and painted. One thought I had would be to remove the vertical strips of molding where the two bookcases meet (there is 3/4" square molding on all the edges) and make one custom piece that attaches to both. This piece would be wider at the top and taper at the bottom. Maybe that would look bad--I don't know. It also wouldn't address the gap on the top horizontal surface.



enter image description here



Any suggestions would be appreciated!






woodworking furniture carpentry




woodworking furniture carpentry






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked 12 hours ago









johnnyb1970johnnyb1970

1387




1387








  • 5





    Is it possible that some portion of the gap is due to variation of the floor?

    – Michael Karas♦
    12 hours ago






  • 4





    You should get a tool called a framing square so that you can check squareness rather than guess. Maybe it is possible for you to remove the back of one unit and spring the shelves into square and reattach the back to hold it in the square shape. It is not quite clear how the backs are fabricated and the worst could be that you would have to make a new back.

    – Michael Karas♦
    12 hours ago











  • @MichaelKaras -- Your comments would make a good answer.

    – Jasper
    1 hour ago














  • 5





    Is it possible that some portion of the gap is due to variation of the floor?

    – Michael Karas♦
    12 hours ago






  • 4





    You should get a tool called a framing square so that you can check squareness rather than guess. Maybe it is possible for you to remove the back of one unit and spring the shelves into square and reattach the back to hold it in the square shape. It is not quite clear how the backs are fabricated and the worst could be that you would have to make a new back.

    – Michael Karas♦
    12 hours ago











  • @MichaelKaras -- Your comments would make a good answer.

    – Jasper
    1 hour ago








5




5





Is it possible that some portion of the gap is due to variation of the floor?

– Michael Karas♦
12 hours ago





Is it possible that some portion of the gap is due to variation of the floor?

– Michael Karas♦
12 hours ago




4




4





You should get a tool called a framing square so that you can check squareness rather than guess. Maybe it is possible for you to remove the back of one unit and spring the shelves into square and reattach the back to hold it in the square shape. It is not quite clear how the backs are fabricated and the worst could be that you would have to make a new back.

– Michael Karas♦
12 hours ago





You should get a tool called a framing square so that you can check squareness rather than guess. Maybe it is possible for you to remove the back of one unit and spring the shelves into square and reattach the back to hold it in the square shape. It is not quite clear how the backs are fabricated and the worst could be that you would have to make a new back.

– Michael Karas♦
12 hours ago













@MichaelKaras -- Your comments would make a good answer.

– Jasper
1 hour ago





@MichaelKaras -- Your comments would make a good answer.

– Jasper
1 hour ago










4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes


















14














Swap their positions.



Place the bookcases so that they lean into each other instead of away from each other. This will eliminate the gap between the tops.



Bookcase contents are usually quite heavy. Once the cases are filled, you will probably find that you can force the bottoms together and the weight of the contents will distort the shape of the cases so the gap disappears.



If an unsightly gap remains visible then you will need to resort to a decorative molding.






share|improve this answer































    11














    You don't have to buy or get a framing square : just measure the diagonals... That will tell you if either or both units are out of square.



    If they are both ok, then look to the floor - small change in the floor will make a large gap at the top... Then you need some adjustable feet of some sort.






    share|improve this answer































      7














      Thanks everyone; I figured it out and came back here to update my post and noticed that Michael Karas said the same thing I realized (although it was a comment, so I couldn't mark it as the correct answer): I had to pop the back off the left unit (which was actually quite easy because it was just 1/4" plywood attached with brads and no glue), re-rack the unit into square, and then reattach the back. Thanks for the input!






      share|improve this answer
























      • Yes - this is certainly the correct answer. It is not a huge gap and the force required to push the backless bookcase into a cuboid is unlikely to be too great to be held by a few panel pins once you put the back back on. They look like nice bookcases, and good luck!

        – ruffle
        2 hours ago





















      3














      If the shelves are sturdy, just get some molding and cover the junction of the two units. Nail the molding to only one unit so they can be easily separated if you want to move them.






      share|improve this answer
























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        4 Answers
        4






        active

        oldest

        votes








        4 Answers
        4






        active

        oldest

        votes









        active

        oldest

        votes






        active

        oldest

        votes









        14














        Swap their positions.



        Place the bookcases so that they lean into each other instead of away from each other. This will eliminate the gap between the tops.



        Bookcase contents are usually quite heavy. Once the cases are filled, you will probably find that you can force the bottoms together and the weight of the contents will distort the shape of the cases so the gap disappears.



        If an unsightly gap remains visible then you will need to resort to a decorative molding.






        share|improve this answer




























          14














          Swap their positions.



          Place the bookcases so that they lean into each other instead of away from each other. This will eliminate the gap between the tops.



          Bookcase contents are usually quite heavy. Once the cases are filled, you will probably find that you can force the bottoms together and the weight of the contents will distort the shape of the cases so the gap disappears.



          If an unsightly gap remains visible then you will need to resort to a decorative molding.






          share|improve this answer


























            14












            14








            14







            Swap their positions.



            Place the bookcases so that they lean into each other instead of away from each other. This will eliminate the gap between the tops.



            Bookcase contents are usually quite heavy. Once the cases are filled, you will probably find that you can force the bottoms together and the weight of the contents will distort the shape of the cases so the gap disappears.



            If an unsightly gap remains visible then you will need to resort to a decorative molding.






            share|improve this answer













            Swap their positions.



            Place the bookcases so that they lean into each other instead of away from each other. This will eliminate the gap between the tops.



            Bookcase contents are usually quite heavy. Once the cases are filled, you will probably find that you can force the bottoms together and the weight of the contents will distort the shape of the cases so the gap disappears.



            If an unsightly gap remains visible then you will need to resort to a decorative molding.







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered 11 hours ago









            A. I. BreveleriA. I. Breveleri

            7,5071824




            7,5071824

























                11














                You don't have to buy or get a framing square : just measure the diagonals... That will tell you if either or both units are out of square.



                If they are both ok, then look to the floor - small change in the floor will make a large gap at the top... Then you need some adjustable feet of some sort.






                share|improve this answer




























                  11














                  You don't have to buy or get a framing square : just measure the diagonals... That will tell you if either or both units are out of square.



                  If they are both ok, then look to the floor - small change in the floor will make a large gap at the top... Then you need some adjustable feet of some sort.






                  share|improve this answer


























                    11












                    11








                    11







                    You don't have to buy or get a framing square : just measure the diagonals... That will tell you if either or both units are out of square.



                    If they are both ok, then look to the floor - small change in the floor will make a large gap at the top... Then you need some adjustable feet of some sort.






                    share|improve this answer













                    You don't have to buy or get a framing square : just measure the diagonals... That will tell you if either or both units are out of square.



                    If they are both ok, then look to the floor - small change in the floor will make a large gap at the top... Then you need some adjustable feet of some sort.







                    share|improve this answer












                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer










                    answered 11 hours ago









                    Solar MikeSolar Mike

                    81018




                    81018























                        7














                        Thanks everyone; I figured it out and came back here to update my post and noticed that Michael Karas said the same thing I realized (although it was a comment, so I couldn't mark it as the correct answer): I had to pop the back off the left unit (which was actually quite easy because it was just 1/4" plywood attached with brads and no glue), re-rack the unit into square, and then reattach the back. Thanks for the input!






                        share|improve this answer
























                        • Yes - this is certainly the correct answer. It is not a huge gap and the force required to push the backless bookcase into a cuboid is unlikely to be too great to be held by a few panel pins once you put the back back on. They look like nice bookcases, and good luck!

                          – ruffle
                          2 hours ago


















                        7














                        Thanks everyone; I figured it out and came back here to update my post and noticed that Michael Karas said the same thing I realized (although it was a comment, so I couldn't mark it as the correct answer): I had to pop the back off the left unit (which was actually quite easy because it was just 1/4" plywood attached with brads and no glue), re-rack the unit into square, and then reattach the back. Thanks for the input!






                        share|improve this answer
























                        • Yes - this is certainly the correct answer. It is not a huge gap and the force required to push the backless bookcase into a cuboid is unlikely to be too great to be held by a few panel pins once you put the back back on. They look like nice bookcases, and good luck!

                          – ruffle
                          2 hours ago
















                        7












                        7








                        7







                        Thanks everyone; I figured it out and came back here to update my post and noticed that Michael Karas said the same thing I realized (although it was a comment, so I couldn't mark it as the correct answer): I had to pop the back off the left unit (which was actually quite easy because it was just 1/4" plywood attached with brads and no glue), re-rack the unit into square, and then reattach the back. Thanks for the input!






                        share|improve this answer













                        Thanks everyone; I figured it out and came back here to update my post and noticed that Michael Karas said the same thing I realized (although it was a comment, so I couldn't mark it as the correct answer): I had to pop the back off the left unit (which was actually quite easy because it was just 1/4" plywood attached with brads and no glue), re-rack the unit into square, and then reattach the back. Thanks for the input!







                        share|improve this answer












                        share|improve this answer



                        share|improve this answer










                        answered 11 hours ago









                        johnnyb1970johnnyb1970

                        1387




                        1387













                        • Yes - this is certainly the correct answer. It is not a huge gap and the force required to push the backless bookcase into a cuboid is unlikely to be too great to be held by a few panel pins once you put the back back on. They look like nice bookcases, and good luck!

                          – ruffle
                          2 hours ago





















                        • Yes - this is certainly the correct answer. It is not a huge gap and the force required to push the backless bookcase into a cuboid is unlikely to be too great to be held by a few panel pins once you put the back back on. They look like nice bookcases, and good luck!

                          – ruffle
                          2 hours ago



















                        Yes - this is certainly the correct answer. It is not a huge gap and the force required to push the backless bookcase into a cuboid is unlikely to be too great to be held by a few panel pins once you put the back back on. They look like nice bookcases, and good luck!

                        – ruffle
                        2 hours ago







                        Yes - this is certainly the correct answer. It is not a huge gap and the force required to push the backless bookcase into a cuboid is unlikely to be too great to be held by a few panel pins once you put the back back on. They look like nice bookcases, and good luck!

                        – ruffle
                        2 hours ago













                        3














                        If the shelves are sturdy, just get some molding and cover the junction of the two units. Nail the molding to only one unit so they can be easily separated if you want to move them.






                        share|improve this answer




























                          3














                          If the shelves are sturdy, just get some molding and cover the junction of the two units. Nail the molding to only one unit so they can be easily separated if you want to move them.






                          share|improve this answer


























                            3












                            3








                            3







                            If the shelves are sturdy, just get some molding and cover the junction of the two units. Nail the molding to only one unit so they can be easily separated if you want to move them.






                            share|improve this answer













                            If the shelves are sturdy, just get some molding and cover the junction of the two units. Nail the molding to only one unit so they can be easily separated if you want to move them.







                            share|improve this answer












                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer










                            answered 12 hours ago









                            Jim StewartJim Stewart

                            11.9k11332




                            11.9k11332






























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