When it comes to shelving material, either for storage or display in your home or business, it pretty much comes down to two materials: wood or wire. Each material has its fan-base, with one standing out as a clear leader—wire shelving units. The deciding factor is ultimately what the shelving will be used for. For example, a home clothes closet is better suited for wire shelves, whereas solid wood shelves are preferred for storing pantry items.
Some advantages of wire shelving include:
Strength. For business or industrial storage purposes, wire shelving is capable of holding as much as 800 pounds. The maximum load capacity for wire shelving in home applications is up to 100 pounds per linear foot.
Cost Effective. From both material and labor viewpoints, installation is less expensive for wire shelving from shelving smart. Wooden shelves can be cumbersome for an individual to install by themselves due to their weight. This is not an issue with wire shelving. Wire shelves are more durable than glass or plastic shelves, do not collect dust, and require practically no maintenance.
Ease of Installation. An assortment of power tools is needed for the installation of wooden shelves. If you don’t have them on hand you will have to rent them, adding to the cost of installation. On the contrary, wire shelving units include the hardware and screws required for installation. Quite often, the units used in home or commercial applications can be assembled without tools.
Environmentally Tolerant. Another advantage over wooden shelves is that wire shelving can be used in any kind of environment, wet or dry, and the epoxy coating protects against rust. Laboratories are ideally suited for wire shelving due to the concern regarding corrosion and rust. Fluctuations in temperature will not cause bowing or warping either.
Wire shelving comes in wide range of sizes and lengths starting at depths of 12 inches up to 36 inches. They come as short as 24 inches and as long as 72 inches, with dozens of sizes in between. Closet units are available as fixed or movable shelves. Accessories such as side ledges are useful to keep items from falling over or off the shelf and shelf dividers are useful for separating inventory on the same shelf.