Gentry Stinson · Build with a plan
DIY Learning Center / All resources
Practical guides for the decisions that make a project work: what to measure, which materials and hardware to choose, how to approach the build, and where failures begin. Explore floating shelves, mantels, pedestals, decorative hood surrounds, cabinetry and wall-mounted furniture.
Watch: Before you drill
An 84-second silent instructional diagram overview—not installation footage or a load test. All guidance appears on screen; captions and a text transcript are provided.
Video transcript
00:00:00.000 — Before you drill: measure, locate, verify. This planning overview is for shelves, mantels and wall-mounted furniture. Follow the instructions for your exact product and wall.
00:00:14.000 — Check the whole opening. Record width, height and depth. Measure at several points, including the planned mounting height. Note trim, outlets and door swings. A room can taper or be out of square.
00:00:28.000 — Establish a true reference. Check your level before layout and mark the intended finished height. Look for bowed walls, loose plaster, water damage or crumbling material. Do not force a cabinet or bracket straight by tightening it against an uneven wall.
00:00:42.000 — Know what is behind the wall. Verify suitable studs or blocking and check for wiring, pipes and ducts. Use records, inspection and appropriate detection methods together. A scanner reading is not proof that a drilling location is safe. Stop if uncertain.
00:00:56.000 — Match every part of the connection. Use the exact mounting instructions. Confirm the fastener type, length and placement for the verified structure. Plan safe support and a second person. There is no universal screw spacing or load rating for every wall and installation.
00:01:10.000 — Ready means questions answered. Do not drill through uncertainty. Get qualified help for hidden utilities, structural questions or damaged walls. Keep the product instructions and your field notes, then follow the installation sequence.
Start here
DIY Tools & Workshop Setup: Measure, Support, Protect
Organize a useful woodworking toolkit and a safer workspace before cutting, drilling, sanding or finishing.
DIY Measuring, Anchoring & Load Planning
Record the room accurately, verify the wall assembly and plan the full load path before choosing mounting hardware.
DIY Materials, Joinery & Finishing
Choose wood, plywood or MDF for the actual job, plan joints before cutting and test the complete finish system on offcuts.
DIY Troubleshooting: Find the Cause Before the Repair
Diagnose fit, joint, finish and installation problems without hiding structural warning signs behind cosmetic repairs.
Choose your project
DIY Floating Shelves: Build, Fit & Install
Plan and build a hollow floating shelf, choose compatible supports, fit the opening and avoid common installation failures.
DIY Mantels: Construction, Clearances & Mounting
Plan a decorative mantel shell around fireplace clearances, wall construction, proper support and a carefully checked fit.
DIY Display Pedestals: Build Square & Plan Stability
Design a display pedestal around the object, footprint and room; build a square enclosure and recognize rocking, tipping and joint failures.
DIY Decorative Hood Surrounds: Plan Around the Insert
Plan a decorative wood hood surround around a listed insert, with model-specific clearances, service access and professional ventilation coordination.
DIY Cabinet Installation: Base, Wall & Tall Cabinets
Prepare the room, establish reference lines, shim and align cabinets, and avoid fastening and installation mistakes.
DIY Wall-Mounted Furniture: Boxes, Mounts & Moving Loads
Plan wall-mounted cabinets, nightstands, media storage and desks around structure, moving parts and a complete mounting system.
Hardware, finishes & supplier documentation
Find official product-selection pages and technical resources for brackets, screws, nails, hinges, slides, adhesives, finishes, drills, measuring tools and listed ventilation inserts.
More instructional videos
Box assembly checkpoints
Watch the 98-second diagram overview, then follow the detailed guide. Captions and transcript included.
Cabinet installation planning
Watch the 98-second diagram overview, then follow the detailed guide. Captions and transcript included.
Gentry Stinson installation videos
Installing one of our shelves? Start with the video that matches the mounting configuration. The Standard, Single Return and Wall-to-Wall guides show different support systems.
Know what you are building
DIY material choices in these guides are not a substitute for our manufacturing specifications. Gentry Stinson floating shelves and mantels use 3/4-inch MDF panels for Paint Ready and Painted products, or genuine wood veneer on MDF-core panels for Wood Veneer products. Finished shelf thickness and mantel height are separate dimensions.
Educational planning guidance. Current product instructions and applicable local requirements govern the actual work. Last reviewed October 2026.