How to support a desk with brackets?

[Tshelf]

Hello!

I have a bench top resting on 2 IKEA Alex drawers that has developed a sag overtime in the middle. The sagging isn't that noticeable at a glance but I can see gaps between the bench top and drawers so I'm worried that it'll get worse as time passes. It has similar specs to this Kaboodle bench top. I want to keep a 5cm gap between the wall and desk to run cables down. I'm planning on keeping things simple and want a quick but effective fix.

I'm thinking of either removing one of the drawers and adding 2 380x380mm angle brackets attached to the studs to hold up the desk. Will they be enough to support and distribute the weight of the table and prevent future sagging? Any recommended screws for attaching the brackets and would I need to attach the brackets to the tabletop as well? There's a power outlet between the studs, is there any risk of hitting any wires while drilling into the studs?

Will temporarily flipping the tabletop and placing weights in the center be enough to undo the sagging? I'll protect the nice side of the bench top with some cardboard while it rests on the brackets until it flattens out.

Rough sketch of idea, not to scale

[JacobZ]

Hi @Tshelf,

A warm welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community and thank you for your question.

You have a couple of options, with your angle bracket plan being a simple and effective solution. I would, however, use a larger angle bracket such as these Carinya 600 x 300mm Black Heavy Duty Twisted Stay Brackets, so you can ensure the outside edge of the desk is well supported, as you will be resting your forearms on this outside edge while typing.

Alternatively, if you didn't want to use angle brackets and you were happy to keep the second set of drawers, you could simply add some supports to the underside of the benchtop, in a similar fashion to what I have shown in How to build a dining table using Specrite panels? Attaching timbers to the underside of the benchtop will add support that will help prevent sagging without the need for attachment to the wall.

Let me know what you think and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob

[JacobZ]

Hi @Tshelf,

Can we get some photos of the benchtop to see how pronounced the sagging is?

Flipping the table top will have some degree of effect, if you were to go with the angled brackets.

If you used the timber supports, and screwed the benchtop to it and the drawers, this would help pull the sag out of the benchtop.

Let me know what you think.

Jacob

[Tshelf]

Hi Jacob,

Thanks for the and response and warm welcome!

There isn't much clearance between my legs and the table so the timber supports wouldn't work for my particular situation.

I was going to use the space under the desk to store a trolley and drawer unit on wheels, the diagonal bracing on the bracket you linked will obstruct the space underneath. As an alternative, If I use the brackets I initially linked, will an adjustable table leg opposite provide the needed additional support? I could easily move the leg around if I need extra space and it would take some load off the brackets.

I couldn't get a good shot of the whole desk, but here's a picture showing the raised corner caused by the sag in the middle. The gap on the left is about 5mm and the desk sags a further 5mm in the middle. Since the sagging isn't too bad, I was hoping gravity and a bit of time would be enough to correct it.

[JacobZ]

Hi @Tshelf,

Using your original brackets and adding an adjustable leg should work fine, I would just make sure you use some good long screws into your studs. These Zenith 10 - 8 x 75mm Galvanised Countersunk Rib Head Timber Screws should do the trick.

To counteract the sag, it might be worth taking the top off, flipping it and putting some heavy weights in the centre for a few days to see if you can remove some of the bend. 

Once the bend has been reduced you can install it as originally intended.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob

[Tshelf]

Hi Jacob,

I sat the desk upside down with weights and it seems to have fixed most of the sagging. When I flipped the desk back, I noticed that there was a small gap between the brackets and the desk. This shouldn't be a problem and I'm fine to screw the desk down, right? With the added leg the desk doesn't tilt forward when I lean on it and feels sturdy.

[MitchellMc]

It looks like you'd be fine to secure the brackets to the top with screws now @Tshelf. Quite often, when installing brackets, you'll find a gap like that. Once you've tightened down the screws it should get rid of it.

Mitchell