Shelving from fire doors

[LazyDoll]

Hi,
I’m getting a bespoke tv cabinet made to fit an alcove and it requires a top and 2 shelves to go above it.
I’ve been advised to use fire door blanks for this but can’t remember why blanks and not doors.
I’m going to be painting them to match the unit below.
Can anyone give me a clue why blanks would be needed?
Thanks

Fire doors are generally made of thick, heavy chipboard, with a decorative skin of veneer or paintable material. Blanks are the rectangular slabs that doors are made of.

The chipboard is very coarse, and will be exposed on cut edges which will not be suitable for painting.

Being coarse and heavy, I'd say it is unsuitable for shelving.

Thanks for that! What would you suggest as an alternative? 1600mm x 400mm approx shelves.

The shelves are primarily decorative/to fill an alcove and won’t be heavily laden. I’ll try and find a picture...

Like this...

I can't help with the fire door info OP but I'm looking at getting a similar tv unit/alcove shelving fitted. Would you mind telling me what you were quoted for something like this? Is it a carpenter who is doing it for you?

I’m afraid I can’t help you with that...I work for a kitchen company so we’re making it from Belfast sink bases with Burbidge Barnes doors so the costing is a work benefit

For poster above, we had similar to the picture above made out of MDF by a joiner. 10 years ago, looks great, about £800 for two.

Cat were the shelves MDF?

The measurements you give are quite long and will tend to sag. I recommend a batten all the way along the front and the back to give beam depth and stiffness. This will also give the impression to the eye of greater thickness. The back batten can be attached to the wall at several points so the back won't droop.

You can add battens at the sides as well to screw to the walls, then you won't need brackets.

I'd probably use 18mm ply, hardwood faced because it will be free of knots or cracks. Birch faced would do.

And battens maybe 30mm sq. But at least 20mm.

Many timber suppliers will cut sheet material to your dimensions.

The alcove will not be straight or square so it might be easier to fix the mounting battens first and make the shelves to fit them. If you trim the back and sides, your cut edges will not show.

Perfect thank you. I’ve spoken to my carpenter and ply it is!! All good to go on Tuesday now with just handles to choose (fun bit!).

PigletJohn. Just the fronts to go and painting! Thanks for your advice!