FAQ

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General

What is the company history behind Harkraft?

Harkraft was incorporated in 1962 when it was building closet doors for multi-family housing applications. Around 1970 the company had the opportunity to be the first in the area to represent a wire shelving manufacturer. It wasn’t until sometime later that we began offering installation services as well, which opened the door for us to meet with homeowners and actually design closets to meet their storage needs. We have a 20,000 square foot facility in Plymouth with a large showroom, warehouse and manufacturing area. We primarily serve the residential builder—and, in turn, their homeowner. Often, at the builder’s request, we have added many products that complement our timing near the end of the construction process: laminate shelving systems, mirrors, shower doors, garage organization products (including epoxy floors) and wine cellars. The “one stop shop” has been a huge benefit to the builder for scheduling.

What products/services are available from Harkraft?

Harkraft offers storage solutions and installation for closets, mudrooms, pantries, garage storage, mirrors, shower doors, and wine cellars.

Wine cellars seem to be a popular addition in upper-bracket new construction. What type of customization options are available for wine cellars?

This has turned out to be a really fun addition to our offerings. People are generally excited about our wine cellar systems and have great ideas for what they want to accomplish. We are able to do anything the customer needs—from the simplest 30-bottle wine rack system to an investment grade, climate-controlled wine cellar with a granite-topped tasting table and an insulated etched-glass door. We have carpenters on staff who can actually build the room, if needed, with appropriate vapor barriers, etc.

Storage solution products are available at big box retailers as well as smaller independent companies. Are all home storage products created equal? What sets Harkraft apart from companies that offer similar products?

In many cases the product one would get at a large retailer is a different grade (i.e. thinner gauge wire or wood thickness), but the primary difference is service. We are large enough to offer competitive pricing, yet small enough to pay attention to the details. We listen to the customer, provide 3-D computer drawings of what we have designed, and then install to the customer’s specifications. A “big box” project can often turn into a three weekend nightmare. We try to help people avoid that.

What kind of closet shelving do you install, wire or wood?

We offer both epoxy-coated steel mesh (wire) shelving and melamine-laminated particle board (laminate).

What shelving colors are available?

The steel mesh shelving is available in white (standard) and satin nickel. Satin nickel is a non-stock product and may require extra lead-time.

We stock our laminate shelving in Oxford White (standard), Antique White, Almond, Maple, Caramel Apple, Wild Apple and Chocolate Apple. There is also a wide array of custom colors available that may require extra lead-time.

How much weight can your storage shelves hold?

Our steel mesh shelving is a durable, high-quality, environmentally friendly product manufactured by Rubbermaid™. The amount of weight it holds depends largely on the installation method used. A general guideline is 75 lbs. per foot assuming normal installation and loading. Please call for further clarification on your specific application.

Are your shelving units wall-mounted or floor mounted?

We offer a wide variety of options. Generally speaking, our steel mesh shelving is wall-mounted and our custom melamine organizers are floor mounted. Depending on the specific application, however, we can offer either option (or a combination) to suit your personal preferences and/or structural requirements.

What accessories are available?

We stock a wide variety of closet accessories, such as tie and belt racks, travel rods, closet valets and baskets. In addition to our stock products, we have access to a wide variety of specialty products from several premium closet accessory manufacturers.

How long will this take?

Our lead-time for a closet system fabricated from in-stock materials is generally two to three weeks from the day we receive your deposit until the day we install your new shelving. This can vary depending on our production/installation schedule, the size of your job, and the availability of any custom materials.

What size of vanity mirrors do you have?

We stock ¼” thick by 36” high pencil-edged vanity mirrors in 6” increments from 18” to 96”, and 42” high mirrors from 18” to 102”. We can cut any of our stock mirrors down to a size that fits your needs.
We also stock 36”x 24” oval mirrors with both a pencil edge and a 1” bevel.

Do you have framed mirrors?

We have a variety of suppliers, including Kentwood. Kentwood has a wide variety of framed and frameless vanity mirrors to match any decor.

We also have a wide variety of frame options for our stock mirrors and are also able to custom-fabricate them.

How do I clean my mirror?

It is important to avoid harsh chemicals on and around your mirror. The best way to clean your mirror is to simply use warm water and a soft lint-free cloth. Immediately wipe all moisture away with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth, especially around the edges. If you must use a glass cleaner, spray the cleaner on the cloth, not directly on the mirror. No harsh acid, ammonia-based or abrasive cleaners should be used on a mirror.

What kinds of shower doors do you have?

We stock builder grade framed shower doors with 3/16” tempered glass panels. We also supply and install custom ¼” and ⅜” frameless shower doors.

How do I clean my shower door?

It is recommended that you use a squeegee to remove all excess water after every shower and wash your door on a regular basis using a cleaning product approved by the Bath Enclosures Manufacturing Association (BEMA). We strongly discourage the use of abrasive powders and/or liquids, bleach or bleach-based products, steel wool, teflon pads or bristle brushes. Use of abrasive and/or caustic cleaners on your shower door may void your warranty.

What is the lead-time on shower doors?

The lead-time on our stock (framed) shower doors is two weeks from the receipt of your deposit. Lead-time on heavy glass frameless shower doors can be two to four weeks, depending on your site conditions and the manufacturer’s shipping schedule.

What are your wine racks made of?

The majority of our wine cellar materials are made from redwood. Other materials are available, such as pine and/or mahogany. We also supply high-quality metal wine racks.

Are your wine cellars modular or custom?

Our wine cellars are all custom designed to suit your unique requirements.

What is the lead-time on wine cellars?

Please allow six weeks minimum for your wine cellar project. This gives us about two weeks to design your ideal cellar and an additional four weeks for production and shipping of this highly specialized product.

What sort of wine storage options does your company offer?

We offer everything from wire racking for a few bottles of wine to complete construction of a climate-controlled room with storage for thousands of bottles. We have clients who purchase wine as an investment and require an environment so controlled that they are able to document temperature and humidity consistency when they resell the wine.

Up to how many bottles can be housed in one of these systems?

Bottle count is only limited by the size of your room.

Is there a preferred location in the home for a wine cellar?

The two things that do the most damage to wine are light and inconsistent temperature. Ideally, you want to achieve a temperature in the 55 degree range, but even 70 can be okay if it is consistent. What many people do is keep a few bottles in a rack in their kitchen. While convenient, this is probably the worst place, since light is ever-present and temperature can vary greatly.

This said, most people who enjoy wine enough to have a cellar are placing it in the lower level, adjacent to an outside wall. The block or concrete walls aid in temperature consistency and the elimination of sunlight is most easily achieved. Essentially we are trying to recreate the “caves of old” where wine could age gracefully without modern disturbances.

Is there anything that’s involved with installing a wine cellar that you think most people need to know? Do you need refrigeration? A permit? Anything surprising or necessary that homeowners should know in advance?

The biggest recommendation I have in this regard is to allocate enough money to be able to truly enjoy the experience. This is a luxury item and should be fun. Be upfront with your supplier about your budget and then “play” with the possibilities. Refrigeration and/or climate control is only important if you intend to age your wine. Most of the wine we are purchasing from stores today is meant to be consumed now or within 3-5 years. If you are on a budget, spending a large amount on controlling the environment unnecessarily will limit your ability to do some other things like slate floors, glass doors and tasting areas which really enhance the experience. Permits are generally only needed when walls are being built or moved. If the area already exists, racking can be installed without pulling a permit.