Floor-to-ceiling bookshelf advice needed

[Hermione]

I'd love to have the walls in a small room in my house filled with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, to make it look like a formal country house library (pretentious, I know, but my heart is set on it). My question is how best to do this: should I have the shelves built directly into the walls, or should they be built off-site and assembled as separate elements and then fitted?

[Randy Weersing Furniture Designs]

The choice of on-site or shop-built depends on a couple things. How much detail? Fancy moldings, odd angles and curves are more efficiently done in the shop. This is a generalization and I'm sure some would disagree, but finer work usually comes from the workshop than from on-site work. The shop is a more controlled environment, the maker has all the best tools and equipment at hand, wasted time is minimized, etc. On the other hand, if its a very simple design that doesn't require anything above the level of finish carpentry, on-site construction can work well. My opinion based on 30 years experience.....others may vary.

[Laroja]

I have the same idea but already have built in cupboards I was planning on transforming into a built in bookcase.  The only pieces I would need made are the framing and shelf edges.  My question, is this something that is doable through a custom builder or better done on your own?  I would like to have them more unique than what is typically found at a lumber shop, but am concerned about the installation if custom is chosen since most custom item ship already assembled.

[Carl Stigers]

My recomendation is made in shop and then installed. Can be trimmed in place and made uniformly in shop. Modular designed type units brought in from the shop and trimmed in with shop made crown moldings give the appearance of built ins with much less cost. (The additional factor is that you can take them with you and use as individual units if made properly and you sell with the new buyer not wanting them).  WWW.treetothee.com

[Grandpa\'s Cabinets]

I also have to agree, better to build in the shop and bring the sections in and "fit" them into the space.  The mess is minimalized for the home owner and the finish will almost always come out much finer since the environment the finish is applied in is controled.  Best of luck with this project.

[Darrin]

Definitely built in a shop and then fitted on site with moulding. As stated earlier if built in a controlled evironment it will be built better, can be sized accordingly and there is less mess in the house.
Darrin

[Jim Kovach]

I built bookcase exactly like you said you wanted.  I built them as modular units in my garage and the attached them individually to make a solid custom made looking bookcase that goes floor to ceiling and is 15 feet wide. That minimized the mess and allowed me to make them with my tools the correct way. My shelve sections are approximately 22" wide(4  of them).  In the center is another lower unit in front of a window that has a 48" wide top with double doors beneath.  If you need, I have the basic plans for making the shelves.  All you would have to do is determine the width of the modular units. and how deep to make them.     Jim K.