Common Questions

• We are not a franchise and have operated one location in Nashville, TN for 36 years. Because of our independence, we do not carry franchise overhead, which often amounts to 25% or more of a location’s gross revenue.
• We manufacture all our systems in our facility in Nashville. This enables tight control over quality as well as flexibility in design and materials.
• Our systems utilize cleats, not metal rails, to attach to the walls. These cleats are nailed to the home’s studs and do not fatigue over time. Adhering to this more traditional and functional method gives us all the advantages and capabilities of trim carpentry and cabinet making.
• Our material selection is unmatched. There are no corporate-level supplier agreements here that limit your choices. Typically, if there is a look you are going for, we work with a supplier that can provide the right material.
• Our employees average over 12 years with us. We take immense pride in their talents and character, and work to ensure that they are the best treated, trained, and compensated in this trade.
• We have been in business, consecutively, for 36 years, and are into our 2^nd generation of ownership. Franchise owners come and go, but our experience in this industry is unmatched.
• We stand behind our work. Your system is guaranteed for the life of your home. If you have a problem, we will fix it. Simple as that.

• We know how valuable your time is, and we will not waste it trying to speed through a design and get you to commit to an installation date when we first meet. Our consultations are driven by you and take as much or as little time as you need. We will take measurements and an inventory of contents and ask questions to ensure we have a solid understanding of what you want, as well as what you need. We’ll then create a design and quote, typically in a day or two, and send for your review. We always encourage a visit to our showroom where we will meet with you to ensure you understand the design, walk through the options available, discuss changes, and update the plans.

• We are happy to provide a quote based on your own design or one that came from someone else. We will also offer our advice as far as changes we recommend based on our many years of experience.

• The best product at the best price. Its really that simple. Our pricing is established long before you call us. It will not change based on your budget, or on the car you drive or the house you live in. If you have a budget in mind for your project, we genuinely encourage you to share that with us. We will use that information to ensure you are getting the absolute best design and options possible, while staying within the budget you’ve allocated. We will not play pricing games based on the budget you tell us.

• A walk-in closet can range from $2000 to $30,000 or more depending on many factors and variables. As a guideline, our average walk-in closets are around $2,500-$3,000. Most reach-in closets can be built for less than $1,000. Our pricing starts on a linear-foot basis for structure (shelves and rods) of any combination. The advantage to this approach is you can change the overall design without worrying about the effect on price. If you select a material other than white, the upgrade is calculated on a percentage premium. Finally, items like drawers, doors, moldings, accessories, and added customization are additional and added as a line item at your request.

• If there is existing shelving to be removed, we will do so as part of the quote. We will complete a first-pass patch on any holes created through the demo process. If we are removing “painted” shelving, you should expect some drywall paper tears although we will do our best to avoid them. Then, the system is installed over the patched walls. If you chose, you may touch up the patches prior to moving your clothes in. Most clients recognize that their clothes will cover the disturbed areas and are OK with this approach. It is also possible for repairs to be made after our system is installed as most shelves are entirely removable. For clients that would like a truely finished wall, we offer demo and disposal services scheduled prior to install at an additional cost. Once that is complete, a painter should be hired and scheduled prior to the agreed-upon installation date.

• Installation is always included in the price of the project.

• We partner with local suppliers to ensure that a wide selection is available. We have access to over 20 patterns of Uniboard TFL as well as DixieLAM laminates. These are thermally fused over industrial-grade particle board. Additionally, we offer our paintable product in a B/BB grade maple or birch plywood. This material is a common choice for high-end custom cabinet makers. Choosing this more expensive material does cut our margins down, but it is far superior to MDF in every way and will last as long as your home. Finally, we offer nearly any species of stain-grade hardwood veneer that we will stain and finish to your specifications. This includes matching crown and trim.

• Because we are not franchised and forced to standardize, we use whatever construction method gives you the best design. Typically, this is a combination of floor-supported and suspended sections. Hanging, for instance, is typically suspended so that there is no unnecessary height added by a toe kick. This makes all rods are as accessible as possible. Though not required, sections with doors and drawers are often built on the floor to achieve the look of furniture.

• Yes, we drill 32mm system holes wherever possible to offer the most flexibility. One exception is that with paintable systems, they’re typically only drilled for shelf sections.

• Like all closet companies, our systems are not designed or quoted to include a back. Unless there is a specific reason why a back may be needed, and unless it is specified on your design, backs are not included. There are instances where backs are certainly required, and your designer will design accordingly. Otherwise, if you desire backing, it can be included at an additional cost.

• In areas where the structure goes to the floor, we will notch the existing base board to accommodate the structure. Suspended areas will not interfere with most typical base board heights, and if they do, we will adjust accordingly.

• Its common to have structure going to the floor over existing HVAC registers. Sections that go to the floor will have a 4” kick with a bottom shelf above it, creating a small void. We will cut and install a vent in the kick to allow conditioned air to enter the room with no loss in efficiency.

• Not typically. Most designs do not exceed 96” or 8 feet in height. This is reduced to 86” underneath an 8-foot ceiling. This principle allows for a fully functioning and spanning top shelf, as well as ensures that most items remain within reach for the average person. We can, and often do, however, build systems to the ceilings either for aesthetics or additional shelving under taller ceilings. Building above 8 feet will add to the cost of the project overall.

• Most closets are built with a combination of 12”-14”-16” shelves depending on the application and the overall design. Some depths are more appropriate than others depending on the overall design. For instance, if you have a tighter closet, we will recommend 12” deep shoe shelves so that we do not encroach into the room any more than necessary. The opposite may be true in a linen closet, where 16” depth (or deeper) is appropriate if the space can accommodate it. Typically, selecting depths up to 16” will not affect the price. If you specify deeper sections, that can increase the linear-foot cost of the unit.

• Our white laminate is the most economical material, and looks excellent with metal rods, crown molding and decorative drawer faces. Adding a stained top in certain areas or using different material for drawer faces can be creative ways to make the look more sophisticated. Ask your designer for their ideas and you’ll be surprised at the possibilities!

• Because we are an independent, small shop, the sky is really the limit. There is a world of accessories and options available from our hardware suppliers. Because we stay on the cutting edge of design, we have relationships with suppliers who are leading the innovations in this industry. There are some amazing new products in lighting and audio, for instance, that can be controlled by an app on your phone. If you have an idea, let us know and we’ll make a recommendation as part of your design. If it makes sense, we’ll incorporate it. If it doesn’t make sense and is a waste of your money, we’ll tell you that as well. We also partner with other trades in situations where clients want us to be their one-stop-shop. We have partnerships with outstanding painters and stone companies, and are happy to contract them as a part of your project.

• We do our best to help you keep your project moving forward. We try to return all calls same-day and schedule consultations as soon as possible, typically within a day or two. Once we’ve met, a design and quote will be sent typically within a few days, depending on the complexity. If you wish to meet at the showroom, we do so by appointment and can typically meet within a day of you making the request.

• Our target lead-time is 2-4 weeks. During busier seasons, however, its not uncommon to book 6 to 8 weeks out. Our schedule is constantly evolving, and often clients will be able to move up several weeks based on normal delays in other projects (typically new construction projects). If you have a deadline to meet that is tight, let us know. We are often able to work projects in quickly if we are aware of the timeline. The only other consideration is ordering any materials we don’t stock. Typically, the longest lead-time items are decorative doors and drawer faces at 2 weeks. Any last-minute changes to the design that require re-orders put the project at risk for delay or return visits at additional cost.

• A 50% deposit will be invoiced upon approval of designs. The deposit must be paid to guarantee your installation date. You will be invoiced for the final 50% upon completion of the project per the specifications and design. For paintable systems, the balance is due in full when the system is “paint-ready”, and we will gladly return to install hardware after painting is complete. Occasionally, changes may be made mid-stream that require additional work days, or the project is otherwise delayed due to factors that are not in our control. In these cases, we may invoice a progress-payment that reflects the amount of work completed to that date. We do accept credit card but ask that our customers pay the additional 3% cost associated with choosing this payment method. We prefer cash, check, and free ACH transfer to minimize the cost of the project to everyone.

• At the end of the day, we’re very stubborn about making you happy. That being said, you are responsible for understanding the design prior to installation. If you expect something other than what was designed, both of us will be disappointed on installation day! If anything at all is unclear to you, the only way we will know is if you bring it up and ask us about it. Minor changes that do not add significantly to the install time are usually fine and can be handled by a request to the installers. If changes to the fundamental elements of the design are desired, however, that will typically add cost as well as an unwelcomed delay.

• We enjoy being on construction sites and make every effort to be good partners to our fellow tradesmen. Kindly assist us in ensuring priority access for unloading on arrival and loading when finished. Please avoid scheduling other tradesmen to complete their work in or immediately around our work areas. If conditions are too crowded to work safely and/or effectively, we reserve the right to delay the installation to the next available date and charge for the cost of a lost workday. If you have a general contractor, it is wise to discuss contracting directly with them. If you’re comfortable engaging us outside the scope of their contract, please ensure that we are able to communicate directly with your GC regarding scheduling and logistics.

The following are a few things you can do to help us make the project go well:

• Ensure that you have a complete understanding of your design and the specifications for your project. If anything is unclear, make sure you let us know well in advance of installation!
• Please remove all the contents of the space and everything not attached to the wall prior to our arrival.
• If your closet had shelving installed when we measured, then your quote includes demo, disposal, and a first-pass patch of any holes. Unless specified otherwise, our installers will install the system over the patched walls.
• Please remove all pictures and other fragile items from adjoining walls to avoid damage from the installation process.
• Kindly ensure that we have clear access to the space we are working in by moving vehicles and any obstacles out of the way prior to our arrival.
• Typically, new flooring is installed prior to our installation, only to assist the flooring folks. This is not a hard and fast rule. It is entirely possible to install after we are finished but may make their installation slightly more involved.

A few tips for you while our crew is in your home:

• Please keep children and pets away from the work area.
• We know it’s a fun process, but we ask that you avoid the work area as well. We certainly expect you to check in, ask questions, and see the progress. However, for liability reasons we ask that you remain a safe distance from the area and the crew.
• We appreciate the owner being home during the installation, but it is not required. If you are unable to be there, please ensure that we have clear access. Also, please keep your phone close at hand in the event we need to reach you.
• Our teams are sent with only the material they need to complete that day’s work according to the final design. Please know that most changes, unless very minor, may not be possible on installation day and require a return trip at additional cost.
• If you have questions or concerns during the process, always bring them up as soon as they arise. Our employees are talented, resourceful, and responsive. With an average tenure of 12 years, they can answer most questions and address most issues on-site, but only if they are aware of them!

• They are not initially designed to slant, but certainly can be. The reason is that most clients come to us wanting the most capacity possible. Slanted shoe shelves are less efficient as they need greater spacing between shelves, as well as at the top and bottom, to function properly.