Oh no. My closet collapsed. (tile, home improvement, photos, light)

[Marble cake]

Hi. I have a walk in closet in my master bedroom. There was just the wired shelves and rods for clothing and storage on all 3 sides. Well 2 sides have fell down. So I basically need to have the interior of the closet rebuilt. Putting more of the same kind of racks will ultimately end up the same way and fall from the weight of my stuff.

I live in a condo, and I noticed neighbors have very nice interior closets. So my question is should I have a custom closet built by a closet company or get a handy man. I’m sure the handy man would be cheaper. They advertise their ability to do any job.

I plan on getting a quote from this closet factory near me and then call the recommended handy man and get a price from him. I know the closet factory guarantees their work for life. The handyman doesn’t.

Any advice? Also what is a fair price to rebuild an averaged size walk in closet with just shelves and rods? I would like to know a ballpark figure so that I’m not taken for a ride.

Thanks.

[Izzie1213]

The big box home improvement stores sell closet systems that are better than those wire closet systems. Rather than custom made, unless you have the money to blow for custom made. Probably can get a handy man to install it.

Like these,

https://www.homedepot.com/b/Storage-...s/N-5yc1vZcd8v

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by Marble cake

There was just the wired shelves and rods for clothing and storage on all 3 sides.
Well 2 sides have fell down. So I basically need to have the interior of the closet rebuilt.

Who put up what was there ...and how long ago was it done?

Putting more of the same kind of racks will ultimately end up the same way
and fall from the weight of my stuff.

Not if they're put up correctly.

I’m sure the handy man...
Any advice?

About $20-30 worth of lumber and hardware to REINSTALL the wire shelves.
Add some 1X's across the studs to make it easier to put anchors where needed.
Done in an afternoon. $100 for labor.

[Marble cake]

The racks were there when I bought the condo.

Thanks for your replies.

[kab0906]

Wire racks that have the brace bars can fail when overloaded. I use these instead:

https://www.drafthalter.com/390400/w...ystems-photos/

[davebarnes]

https://www.californiaclosets.com - somewhat expensive, but functional
https://www.containerstore.com/elfa/index.htm - less expensive, but functional
a LOCAL closet company - less expensive, functional and you can customize it to a gnat's eyeball
https://www.homedepot.com/collection...tion-in-walnut - less expensive, notthe best quality
https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S19219008/ - cheapest, not versatile

Wire shelves suck - based upon experience

Take your time and do a bunch of research. You can live with a broken closet for while.

[ChessieMom]

Originally Posted by Marble cake

Hi. I have a walk in closet in my master bedroom. There was just the wired shelves and rods for clothing and storage on all 3 sides. Well 2 sides have fell down. So I basically need to have the interior of the closet rebuilt. Putting more of the same kind of racks will ultimately end up the same way and fall from the weight of my stuff.

I live in a condo, and I noticed neighbors have very nice interior closets. So my question is should I have a custom closet built by a closet company or get a handy man. I’m sure the handy man would be cheaper. They advertise their ability to do any job.

I plan on getting a quote from this closet factory near me and then call the recommended handy man and get a price from him. I know the closet factory guarantees their work for life. The handyman doesn’t.

Any advice? Also what is a fair price to rebuild an averaged size walk in closet with just shelves and rods? I would like to know a ballpark figure so that I’m not taken for a ride.

Thanks.

You can certainly put up wire shelving that WON'T collapse. You simply need to use a different type.

kab0906 posted a good example.

[TrapperL]

If you're anything like my wife, a wire shelf ain't gonna get it. I swear she has every dress she's ever owned and then some. Her closet has a shelf and rod support every 16" screwed to studs. The key is the shelf support can't just be an L bracket. The rod and shelf makes a triangle and it's that other side that makes the triangle that gives it the strength to hold just about anything. The downside, each one of those rod and shelf supports are 10 bucks with taxes. So it's not a cheap date but I doubt it'll fall any time soon. I'd have a handy man take a look at it to design and put it up for you. The wire shelving is generally rated at 25lb per linear foot max. You've experienced why it never is used in any of our houses- it's cheap crap waiting to fail.

[K'ledgeBldr]

Most wire shelving failures are due to two things-

Poor installation- anchors not screwed to studs.

Over weight- this is particularly true when people tend to coordinate their wardrobe. Like shirts all together (light load) and suits or coats all together (heavy load). Not so much "total" load but the concentrated loads are the reasons for failures.

Generally, there are not enough knee braces either.

[JOinGA]

I have installed ClosetMaid and Rubbermaid ShelfTrack and FastTrack systems in my clothes and pantry closets and have had no problems with them falling.