SO MANY COMPANIES, SO MANY CHOICES!

You are in the market for a new closet. You're tired of that single row of wire shelving running around your closet. You need more shelves for folded shirts, a belt rack and you think you might even have room for a drawer bank in there. You call several closet closet companies, some show up, some don't. The ones that do present you with different designs and price ranges that makes you wonder, "Why is company X so cheap and why is company Y so expensive? It's just a closet." Here is some information that will help you understand better the world of custom closets.

PRICE

So, how much is a custom closet going to cost me? This is typically the first question in your mind which usually results in surprise when the designer presents your closet design. Here at Hands-On Woodworking, we believe in educating the customer because we believe it will earn your business with us and help see the value at different price points based on many things. A typical master closet, depending on which materials, options and accessories you choose, can range from $1,000 to $10,000. We build closets in the broad range every week.

Here a few important things to know when researching a new closet and what options are affecting the price.

WALL HUNG versus FLOOR BASED

This is one of the most hotly debated issues in the closet industry. Companies that sell wall-hung have nothing but bad to say about floor-based. Companies that sell floor-based have nothing but bad to say about wall-hung. Hands-On is different as we build and sell both systems because each system has its place. If the customer needs a budget closet, we recommend wall-hung. The systems are relatively easy to install, are non-invasive into the baseboards and use a minimum of material to achieve functionality. On the other side, if a client wants a true, custom look and the peace of mind knowing the weight of their entire closet system is on the floor, then we recommend floor-based. If the customer wants a cost-effective white, antique white or almond, then we would learn you towards a wall-based system. Now if you've always dreamed of a luxury closet with wood-grained appearance we would steer you towards floor-based for two reasons. It makes adding a matching wood backing and crown molding a wonderful and seamless addition.

MATERIAL

Melamine

The industry standard for closet construction is melamine. Melamine is a laminate material used on shelving and other interior surfaces to cover a substrate of plywood. It is durable and easy to clean. The standard thickness is 3/4". The term melamine got some bad press because it's chemical form was illegally introduced as a filler in China into milk products and acted as a poison. Some people assume that having this product in their home is dangerous. Even though it is true the internal structure of the wood is held together with the chemical binders (tri-amino-triazine and formaldehyde), edgebanding is applied to the product on all open sides, sealing in the exposed binding agents. We take your safety very serious and would never expose you to a dangerous product. Hands-On Woodworking also offers 'green' alternative products in the melamine price points.

MDF

Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) is made from compressed pieces of wood stuck together with adhesive. It is often used to make furniture. It is a very economical alternative to melamine and a very good choice when the client is wanting a painted piece such as built-in bookcases or entertainment units.

Wood Veneer

For customer's wanting a stained wood piece we use the time-tested method of putting a variety of veneers over an environmentally safe, formaldehyde-free plywood core. It is then stained in our paint department to beautiful finish.

EDGEBANDING

Edgebanding is a thin strip of material which covers the exposed ends. It is held solidly in place using a high pressure heating system which sets the adhesive permanently to the board. The edgebanding usually comes in two thicknesses, a standard .5mm "flat" style and a thicker 3mm edge. The specific application is dependent on several variables your designer would be happy to explain to you. Note that with MDF, since it is a primed and painted product, there is no need to edgeband it.

DOORS, DRAWERS and DRAWER FRONTS

There is a fact in the closet business. A large fraction of the bill will be in these items. As the trend continues to minimize furniture in the bedroom, many clients are wanting drawer banks in their closets. The standard choice for the fronts is what is called a 'flush' flat fronts. This means the fronts have flat faces and edges. For a customer wanting an SRP (single raised panel) look, bevels, rounded edges, or 'deco' routering we offer infinite combinations. The turnaround time increases slightly but you do achieve an aesthetic dimension to the piece not available with a flat front.

For the actual drawer boxes themselves, it is standard to do a white melamine interior. For a small charge we can upgrade the box to a beautiful Baltic Birch. For the client wanting premium drawer box construction, we can also do a dove-tailed drawer box with self-closing undermount slides. A quick note on slides. Slides are the mechanism on the slide of the drawer box which permits them to open. Traditionally an epoxy coated single-extension' slide is used which does not permit the drawer to open the full depth. Hands-On Woodworking uses a very strong, ball-bearing, 'full-extension' slide which brings the back of the drawer out to the end of the unit giving you complete access to the drawer contents.

ACCESSORIES

For the purpose of letting you know all of the convenient accessories in the closet world we thought we would present a quick list: valet rods, belt racks, tie racks, jewelry trays, hampers available in chrome, black pearl, brass and rattan with canvas inserts, tilted shoe shelves, pull-out pants rack, and tilt-out ironing boards. We ask your needs up front because we like to take these into account when designing your room, not as an after thought as sometimes happens with inexperience.

INSTALLATION

You can be presented with a functional design and great price but where is the value if the installation is not to your satisfaction? Hands-On Woodworking is proud to employ full-time professional installers to make sure the concept you were presented with reaches the completion you expect. Several of our installers have been with Hands-On for years and will tell you they are proud of the company and product they represent. They will arrive on time, be courteous professionals and leave the work area clean. While we believe in our product and craftsmen, we at Hands-On Woodworking know it is the work in the field that sets us apart from many other closet companies.

Contact us today for your free estimate and see the Hands-On difference

(704) 892-7720