Sometimes closets just don’t have the right shelving or hanging rods to provide enough space or functionality to store clothes and other items efficiently.
Closet shelves in condos are usually white wire shelves with metal brackets. We see these fail more often than you’d think. If installed correctly they can hold a considerable load. However, typically by the time we see them they are on the floor and the supports are mangled. There are a few varieties of white wire closet shelves. Some varieties have more tightly spaced wires and will prevent more things from falling through and are a bit more heavy duty. These are our favourite! And some have the integrated support of a closet rod.
Regardless of the type, we often find that the mounting hardware is the reason closet shelves fail. From the factory, the hardware is optimized for speedy installation - think a production crew installing these in every closet in a condo building. There is an integrated drywall anchor which receives a nail that is hammered in. In practice, we find that this isn’t necessarily the best way.
Our approach is to modify the brackets so that a regular drywall anchor and screw can be used and, whenever possible, to screw into studs. We also add extra support arms so that weight capacity is not an issue.
For melamine shelves and closet systems, we can work with your existing closet and your ideas to make or repair the shelves to fit any size or shape. Do you have an angled closet wall? How about a really deep wall? No problem! We can custom cut melamine to fit. We often use thicker 3/4” melamine and edge band it ourselves in applications where a lot of weight is involved. We can also integrate heavy duty brackets that support a closet rod. If there are units from IKEA or elsewhere you want us to incorporate, we can do that too!