At Top Tier Shelving Company, we've made the deliberate decision not to include wood with our kits - and we want to be clear about why. This choice isn't about cutting corners. It's about doing right by our customers.

1. You shouldn't pay for what you don't need.

If we included wood, you'd be paying for it - along with the shipping, packaging, and markup that comes with it. By sourcing your own lumber locally, you get the material that you need at the price of the store only.

2. Shipping wood is wasteful and risky.

Lumber is bulky, heavy, and expensive to ship. In fact, many carriers absolutely refuse to ship it as 8-ft boards. It's also apt to damage during transit. Long boards are easily warped or bowed by the humidity in carrier trucks and facilities. Rough handling would also cause damage to the boards.

It's not worth the risk - and waste - of sending you material that might very well arrive unusable.

3. Your garage is unique. Your shelf should be too.

No two garages are alike. Stud placement can vary by inches and fractions of inches. If we sent pre-cut boards, there's an almost 100% chance that they would be an incorrect length. This would require you to cut them again, or even worse, they are too short and are entirely unusable.

That would frustrate us - and we suspect it would frustrate you too.

4. You choose the wood that works best for you.

Some customers prefer the look and weight of Southern Yellow Pine. Others go with Spruce or White Pine. Others like the red coloring of Douglas Fir.

You may even have 2x4s from another project hanging around ready to be used. Whatever your preference, we believe you should have the opportunity to choose the material that matches your needs, budget, and personal style.

We will guide you with clear recommendations.

Top Tier Shelving requires 1.5 inches of wood material for a successful installation. Our default recommendation is 2x4 lumber. For the price and performance, 2x4s are an excellent choice.

Any "two by" material is suitable to complete a Top Tier installation. Once the boards are installed, there are tons of customization options available. For example, you might choose to add a thin sheet of plywood atop the boards to create a solid deck with no gaps. That's absolutely acceptable.

Over time, we will be adding tons of customization projects. Check our blog or YouTube channel regularly.

It depends on the size of the shelf that you purchased. As a general rule of thumb for 8-foot-long 2x4 boards:

• Large Shelf: Requires 2.5 boards
• Medium Shelf: Requires 2 boards
• Small Shelf: Requires 1.5 boards

PRO TIP: Here's the smart way to do it. Install your Top Tier Assemblies first. Once the assemblies are in place, you can take exact measurements between them. Then, before buying lumber, group your measurements into combinations that add up to 96 inches or less.

For example, if one section is 48-1/2 inches and another section is 47-1/4, both of these boards can be cut from a single 8-ft board.

To maintain the advertised 650-lb weight capacity, the maximum recommended span between assemblies is 54 inches. That distance ensures the shelf remains strong, stable, and safe under heavy loads.

If you want or need to span a longer distance, we recommend that you limit your weight to 400 pounds and reinforce the shelf in one of the following ways:

1. Add a plywood top layer.
Install the 2x4s as directed. Then, place a thin sheet of plywood atop of the 2x4s and screw it down securely. You may also use wood glue if desired. This creates a continuous surface that helps distribute the weight evenly and stiffens the entire deck.

2. Fill in the gaps.
In a standard Top Tier Shelving installation, 2x4s are spaced 3.5 inches apart - the same width as the 2x4s themselves. To reinforce the shelf, simply fill in those gaps with additional 2x4s. This effectively turns the deck into a solid surface with effective load-bearing capacity.

These reinforcements aren't always necessary - but if you're planning to go beyond 54 inches, they're a smart way to make sure your shelf performs at its best for years to come.

The gaps are an intentional part of our design and offer incredible, practical benefits.

• Strength and efficiency. By spacing the 2x4s, we reduce the overall lumber material that you need while maintaining a robust 650-lb weight capacity.
• Easy organization. When you are moving large totes or boxes, the gaps make it easy to "fine-tune" their placement without lifting the entire item. You can slide a tote slightly to make room for another, which makes organizing heavy or bulky items a lot simpler.
• Customization. Not everyone needs or wants a fully solid surface. With our design, you have the option to leave gaps, add extra 2x4s to fill them, or top the boards with a sheet of plywood for a smooth deck - whatever you want and whatever works for your space.