Need advise re: how to Level storage cubes

[QueenOfInkland]

Hi. I got a bunch of cubes at Michael's and I have stacked them 4 cubes high. My floor must not be level because the cube stacks are leaning forward - not toppling over but leaning enough that I want to shim them somehow so that they stand up straight with no lean.

I'd appreciate suggestions re: what a good product or material is that I could use to slip underneath the bottom cube to eliminate the leaning.

My floor surface is wall-to-wall carpet.

Thanks for your help as always

UPDATE: I just placed an order on eBay for wood shims. These should do the trick.

[xayide2]

Yeah, I was going to mention that most hardware store have wood shims. It could be that your cubes are resting on the tack strip of the carpet along the wall.

[QueenOfInkland]

Quote:

Originally Posted by xayide2

Yeah, I was going to mention that most hardware store have wood shims. It could be that your cubes are resting on the tack strip of the carpet along the wall.

The carpet tack strip makes so much sense as being the 'root cause' of the lean - I had not considered that. Your insight was very helpful and much appreciated My shims will be here sometime this week - can't wait!

[sarahwms]

you can also secure the top one to the wall to ensure that they won't topple forward....

[QueenOfInkland]

[QUOTE=sarahwms;20234960]you can also secure the top one to the wall to ensure that they won't topple forward....[/QUOT

Another great suggestion - thanks very much These will be the sturdiest cubes 'known to modern man' LOL

[RiverIsis]

I'm having similar issues with a back to back shelving used as a room divider. I'm thinking about shimming and then command stripping them together just to give a little more security as I can't attach them to the wall (Solid Oak Barn wood panelling)

[QueenOfInkland]

Thanks very much Gale and Kristen. I appreciate your feedback and suggestions - it's good to have options in case one solution doesn't solve the issue and it's very helpful for you to share the pros and cons of solutions that you're using or that you have tried. I'm still waiting for the shipment of wood shims. I'll post back here once I determine how far I need to take the 'stabilization' LOL. I'm really hoping the shims do the trick so that I don't have to put holes into my wall - eek !!!!

[gregzgurl]

I use the very high-tech method of folding cardboard as many times as needed to make a "leg" to go under any offending corners or edges (Please do not look too closely at any of the shelves or trunks in my home at floor level - thank you...)

[QueenOfInkland]

Gale - I have begun 'the process' LOL. So far the wood shims are doing the trick to keep the cube stack from leaning forward. I had to put 2 shims on top of each other I think because the carpet just 'absorbed' the one shim. Looking good so far.....

Sue - LOL @ do no look too closely - I happen to have one of those right now with my bedroom's curtain holdback brackets. The screws hit metal when I tried to install the bracket into the wall around the window so I used adhesive velchro on the wall and on the bracket it's working a-ok. You cannot tell unless you look under the drapes bwahahaha.

Thanks Gail and Sue for your help re: this - really appreciate it.

[gregzgurl]

Forgot to mention that I have also used wooden shims for more "permanently-positioned" shelves. If you don't want to break or cut them off in place, you can mark them, pull them out, cut them, and shove them back into place again... (tricky, but do-able)

[QueenOfInkland]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregzgurl

Forgot to mention that I have also used wooden shims for more "permanently-positioned" shelves. If you don't want to break or cut them off in place, you can mark them, pull them out, cut them, and shove them back into place again... (tricky, but do-able)

Ok. I should be a real pro by the time this is all done (in the year 2525 haha). ;)

[gregzgurl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by QueenOfInkland

Ok. I should be a real pro by the time this is all done (in the year 2525 haha). ;)

"...if man is still alive..." - are you old enough to remember that song, too? I certainly am...:oops:

[QueenOfInkland]

High five, sistah Sue !! You bet I'm old enough to remember that song

[kj1944]

My high-tech solution is to slip dominoes under the front edge...

[QueenOfInkland]

Dominoes - so imaginative!!! I would have never thought of that.
;;;;;
I have been using the angled wood shims and so far, so good. Currently I have positioned them so that the thickest part of the shim is under the front of the cube stack which pushes the cube stack back toward the wall (which is what I was trying to accomplish). I am seeing where, for additional stability, I may need to put a shim at the side to stabilize it from side-to-side (hope this makes sense and I'm not sure I need to do this YET but time will tell). Because of the carpeting and the weight of the cube stack after fill the cubes with my stuff, I'm actually stacking two wood shims on top of each other when I place them under the cube stack in the front.

Just want to say thanks again to you guys for your ideas. I am doing everything I can to leave the cube stacks as 'stand alones' and not have to attach to anything.