Wire Shelving, What's Good & Bad.

clincher123

I'd like your opinion on wire shelving. Most contractors in New England sub-out the installation of closet and storage shelving. Ventilated wire is used at least 80% of the time.
My experience with wire shelving is that the plastic support clips break with time and the shelfs falls down.

I'd like to hear builder's experiences. What do you like about wire shelving? What don't you like? Would you have interest in a melamine particle board shelf system that has the strength and quality equal to finish carpenter work for little more than wire shelving?

My appreciation for your reply.

Thanks!

Teetorbilt

You pertty much hit the nail on the head with the wire although you left out the part about it getting sticky. I usually go with ventilated wood shelving or system. Melamine over particle board would be the last thing that I would install.

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PipeGuy

I had closet systems installed by a 'closet contractor' (go for it Bob ) in all four bedrooms of my 30 year old home when I moved in 10 years ago. The adjustable items (shelves, drawers, hanging bars) have metal supports that, while sometimes hard to remove, never break or fall out. I've experienced no delamination of the melamine shelves thus far.

About six years ago I installed a bunch of Elfa brand wire shelving in my mudroom, kitchen pantry and basement. It's the kind that requires a horizontal bracket mounted at the ceiling line from which uprights hang to support the shelf brackets. The stuff went up without much hassle, is sturdy and easily adjusted.

My wife's a model home addict and, as such, I get to see lots of big closets and pantries- most have cheap wire shelving systems. For what people will be paying for the homes ($750K - $1M+) I can't for the life of me understand why the shelving products being used are consistently "economy" brand.

I wouldn't have a builder 'ugrade' shelving system. IMO, self-installing a good product or hiring a reputable closet specialist is the way to go. And having a heavily used closet without an organizing system is like having a grcery bag full of tools.

Glasshousebltr

LOL.......you gota give me something thats more of a reach Pipe. No sport in that spike. ..............closet contractor?.... ....LOL

Bob

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Bob

nywoodwizard

i think wire shelves suck (DYI homeowner shelves) melamine looks better ,is stronger ,and comes in a lot of colors,white black,wood grain and so on,lasts longer for sure,i perfer to laminate an edge on instead of that iron on crap that peals off the first time you yank a pair of jeans off the shelf,but i guess sometimes budget restricts what you can use.

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slickshift

OK...I'll bite
it's not my primary, but I install shelving for commercial and residential customers
I install custom made shelves and shelving systems by different manufacturers

You seem to be interested in opinions on wire shelving
I sell and install wire shelving
I think it is popular here for two reasons
1) It's the least expensive system
Most people have no idea what a good shelving system costs
2) It's the least expensive system

Yeah, OK, maybe some like it for what it is, and some appreciate not throwing their wool sweaters away come winter
(On the corner of river and ocean here, the land of rust and mildew...wool gets pretty moldy in the summer with no AC on a flat shelf)

I offer a few different types of systems
Custom wood, metal track/wood/melamine, wire systems, slatwall/wire combos
It seems to me most of the wire customers would rather had solid shelves, it's the price that holds them back

I have used the Closet Maid support clips in heavy use commercial apps
I've never had the newer clip break
I don't recall replacing an older one because it broke
Because it was ripped out of the wall maybe, but the clip itself wasn't broken
At least not any that I recall
In a repair situation I replace all the clips with new anyway, and properly install them to a stud
The wire also pops out of the clip
I solve this by installing extra clips upside-down
This solves the problem
Well, if you scratch the "equal to", that's what I have now
3 price points
Custom Wood
Metal track/melamine
Wire systems

It's a little more complex than that, but that's basically how it goes

You also would have to stick the slatwall systems in there somewhere
I'm not sure where to put them
They start at more than the wire systems, but they are extremenly versatile
Rarely do customers go for just shelves, often it ends up being more
Installation is a breeze, and the customers usually want to install the actual shelves and accessories themselves
I usually just put up the wall and sell the shelving and accessories

clincher123

Hi,
I appreciate your comments, thank you.

I am curious about your reservations on the melamine. It's solid, flat, smooth, and pre-finished. Seems like an ideal shelf material as long as there is a good support system underneath to keep the board from bending under load. Is this one of your concerns? Have you had problems with the melamine de-laminating?

Mike Finley

LOL, you and I think alike, I routinely see these Parade of Homes houses some prices at 2.5 million, with Viking appliances, granite everywhere and the best finishes you can buy, then you go into the closests and the are ridiculous wire closets or maybe an upgrade to fake wood and drawers.

I can't imagine in a 2.5 million dollar home why a 400 square foot master bedroom closet doesn't have $25,000 worth of custom drawers and shelves and mirrors in it.

nywoodwizard

i think the thread was a general question,million dollar houses will most likly have custom wood :Thumbs:

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