Why A White Metal Boltless Rack Is The Best Choice For Your Storeroom

(Contributed Post)

The trend for young BTO couples is moving towards white, boltless, metal racks for their HDB bomb shelter. The installation is done after completing their renovation.

These racks fill up every corner of the bomb shelter or storeroom to help save space and are incredibly cost-saving compared to the traditional huge standing cabinet. The open shelves help owners to have a quick glance at the items on display.

There are different types of racks to choose from - mainly by their materials used, boltless or bolted, the shape of the base and support, frame types, and hinges. Never knew a rack can have so many details, right?

Image © StoreRoomRack.com

Let us explain more starting with the materials used.

Material Used: Wood vs Metal

Mould growing on wood. Image © StoreRoomRack.com

The three most common materials used in racks are metal made of steel and wood made of plywood and fibreboard.

The humidity level in Singapore is high. Many items in your homes suffer from excessive humidity. Materials that have organic components are highly susceptible to mould, dust mite & silverfish infestations.

Wood is highly porous and can absorb up to 30% of its weight in water weight when saturated. This makes wood ideal for fungal growth at high humidity. Many mould species love cellulose which is a primary component of wood.

At high humidity, wood is very susceptible to mould, thus causing the wood to rot. These moulds emit a bad and stale odour that leads to mould plague over an extended period of time, causing discomfort to susceptible people suffering from allergies.

Over time, wood will decay and cause wear and tear. It might form splinters which could graze your hands as you reach for your items or slide your finger across the surface of the shelves. Wood also gives your rack a heavier look and dull in colour over time.

That is why more people are opting for white metal racks as they have cleaner looks and do not give way under a humid environment. Most metal racks in Singapore are coated with epoxy coating to give them a smooth anti-rust finishing. They are made to last for a long time.

Bolted vs Boltless Racks

Image © StoreRoomRack.com

These bolted racks secure the standing leg frame to the shelves using bolt and nuts. These traditional bolts and nuts will rust over time and cause the rack to be weakened. A bolted rack takes up more staged space as they need to be screwed and fixed on-site.

It is tough for them to be dismantled easily due to their installation nature. Therefore, more sweat is needed to move the shelf to a different height. With that said, more rack owners are going for the alternative.

The common trend now is metal boltless racks. As the name suggests, a boltless rack needs no special equipment to be assembled.

The polished, continuous lines of the racking system complemented by the clean finishes give an aesthetic appeal, which has contributed to their fame and reputation among suppliers, especially amongst office buildings and commercial centre storages. They are made for anyone to DIY and easily connect the parts.

Boltless Rack With Butterfly Hinges vs Keyhole Hinges

Image © StoreRoomRack.com

Suppliers offer different types of boltless storeroom racks. They vary in their hinges.

The two types of boltless rack hinges come in Keyhole and Butterfly grooves. The Butterfly hinges have deep grooves of 3cm deep while the Keyhole hinges have a 1.5cm depth.

The deep groove allows for the Butterfly hinges to provide more stability for the overall structure and ensure the horizontal frame will be attached nicely without coming apart.

Straight Leg vs Z-Welded Leg Frame

Next, moving on to the support and stand of the shelves. There are two types in the market, mainly Straight Leg frame and Z Welded Leg frame that support the entire structure of the shelves.

The Straight Leg frame requires you to put additional shelves on top of one another to stabilize all four sides of the independent frame. The Z Leg has double welding at the top and bottom of the frame. It is very sturdy on its own.

To connect both sides of the legs and stabilize it, only one shelf panel is needed to secure the entire frame.

If you have luggage and big items in your storeroom, you can leave the bottom and middle shelves empty to store those items and build two to three more shelves on top for your other items.

Here are some tips for building your DIY storeroom rack. 

Image © StoreRoomRack.com

Base Of Storeroom Rack - L shaped vs U Shaped

As for the base of the storeroom rack, there are two stark differences within all the domestic and office racks suppliers in Singapore.

The 1st is an L-shaped Base Stand as shown in the photo below. Like its name, its base has a surface area shaped in an “L” with its entire weight of the shelves resting on the perpendicular structure. Over time, the impact from the heavy-duty weight of shelves might leave marks on your floor. Most sellers will provide you with a rubber cap to protect against damage.

L-shaped base. Image © StoreRoomRack.com

The 2nd type is the Flat Base Stand. These flat bases will carry the weight of the shelves, prevent cuts to your tiles and be good for your newly renovated flooring. The supplier will usually provide rubber pads as well for an additional layer of cushion.

Try to look out for these details when you shop for your racks as they make a significant difference in the long run.

Flat-shaped base. Image © StoreRoomRack.com

Installation Layout in HDB Homes

More young couples are going for a white, clean and sturdy rack. The white rack gives off a cleaner and brighter appearance compared to the traditional black rack.

The boltless rack is easy to install, has adjustable shelving and prevents rust. Also, the Z frame minimizes the need to add more shelving and are sturdy on their own.

These are some different installation layouts depending on the location of the rack, from BTO Bomb Shelter, Storeroom, and the Kitchen dryer area.

Image © StoreRoomRack.com

Why You Should Get A White Storeroom Rack

After knowing all the differences between the different racks, you are now ready to make an informed decision on getting your first storeroom rack.

If you already own one, good for you! You must be thinking about how great it is to keep all your items organized without mould and foul odour.

For more information on white boltless racks, you can check out storeroomrack.com. They offer white, boltless metal racks for your newly renovated flats or even existing homeowners to stash your things away neatly.