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FAQ - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The following list of questions and answers is provided to assist the user by answering some of the most frequently asked questions regarding our custom shelving.
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Is there a page on the web site that shows all of the pages and all of the topics discussed?
There are actually two pages that provide that type of information. The Web Site Map is an outline format list of all of the pages on the web site in which the pages are grouped by subject topic coverage. The Web Site Index is an alphabetical list of topics and subjects. Each item listed is a link to the web page with that content.
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Is the installation of HouseWerks Custom Shelving difficult for the average home owner?
No, all customers who have decided to try the installation themselves have succeeded. HouseWerks provides complete instructions and is available to answer any questions you may have.
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Does HouseWerks have staff available after regular business hours to provide help for customers installing HouseWerks shelves?
Yes, with advance notice, HouseWerks will have staff available to answer installation questions after regular business, Monday through Friday - 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Saturday from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM, and on Sunday from 1:00 PM until 10:00 PM Eastern Time Zone.
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Are HouseWerks shelves made from a single piece of solid wood?
No, HouseWerks shelves are not made from solid wood. They are made from furniture-grade, hardwood laminated board, which is plywood. The exterior is covered with a high quality veneer with your choice of six hardwoods: Birch, Maple, Red Oak, White Oak, Walnut, and Cherry. Classic Style shelves and Elegant Closet Style shelves are constructed from five pieces of wood, ThinLine Closet Style shelves are constructed from four pieces of wood.
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Are the vertical supports made from solid wood?
Yes. Each vertical support is made from a single, solid piece of wood. Note however, that vertical supports that exceed 92" in length will be shipped in two or more sections. The vertical support sections must be glued together using a biscuit joint. All materials and instructions are provided.
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If I order shelves that are 3" thick, does that mean that each shelf is a solid piece of 3"-thick wood?
No. First of all, shelves made from solid lumber would be very expensive, very heavy, and difficult to install. All HouseWerks shelves are constructed from furniture-grade hardwood laminate (plywood) that is 0.75" thick. Even our Classic Design Shelves that range in "thickness" from 1.875" to 3.000" are all made from 0.75"-thick lumber. These shelves are called "box shelves" because they are built like a wooden box without a lid, except the box is turned upside down. Each shelf is constructed from five pieces of wood, which are: top, front, left side, right side, and back. The shelves are open on the underside. This allows the shelves to be installed without brackets. Screws are driven through the back of the shelf, which is accessed under the shelf, into the wall studs. If this is the only means of support, the shelf is called a "floating shelf." Most shelves are ordered with two or more vertical supports. The supports may extend from the top shelf down to the bottom shelf (wall-supported shelves), but most are ordered with vertical supports extending to the floor (floor-supported shelves)to provide maximum support.
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Are the vertical supports the same dimensions for 11"-deep shelves as for 16"-deep shelves?
No. The vertical supports are cut to approximately 50% of the depth of the shelves. The depth of the vertical supports for 11"-deep shelves is about 5.5", while the depth for vertical supports for 16"-deep shelves is about 8".
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Do HouseWerks shelving units have a warranty?
Yes. HouseWerks shelving units are guaranteed for life. Refer to our Guarantees page.
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How long does it take after I place an order to receive my shelves?
Completion time is determined by the number and size of the orders in line ahead of your order.
Most orders are completed 4 weeks to 7 weeks after receiving the materials deposit. After final payment is received, your order will be packed and shipped, with delivery within 5 to 9 days depending upon your distance from Knoxville, Tennessee.
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Do I have to pay for the shelves at the time of placing the order?
No. At the time you order, you pay a Materials Deposit, which usually ranges from 25% to 45% of the total price of the order, depending upon which options are selected. For some orders full payment is required for the deposit.
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Are the vertical supports used to attach the shelves to the wall?
No. The vertical supports are usually at least 2" away from the wall. The supports pass through an oval slot cut into the shelves. The slots are centered on the depth of the shelves. The shelves are held in place by resting on two 2" long steel pins that are placed horizontally through the vertical supports. The sole purpose of the vertical supports is to support the weight load on the shelves. The shelves are attached directly to the wall through the back surface of the shelf.
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How are the shelves attached to the vertical supports?
The shelves are not attached to the vertical supports. At the height at which a shelf is to be installed, two holes are drilled horizontally through the vertical support, one close to the front edge and one close to the back edge. A 2" steel dowel pin is inserted into each hole and the shelf rests on the two pins.
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Can the vertical supports be placed at any location on the shelves?
Yes, almost anywhere, except at the very ends of the shelves. The closest the supports can be placed to the ends of the shelves is about 3".
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What are the dimensions of the vertical supports?
The vertical supports are usually 0.75" to 1" in thickness, and the depth is usually 50% of the depth of the shelves.
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Are there any differences in the strength rating of the shelf styles?
There are differences in the strength rating of various configurations of shelving, but not in the type of wood used to build the shelves. All wood used for our shelving has the same strength rating.
The style of shelving that will support the greatest amount of weight is the Classic Designer Style Shelves, with Elegant Closet Style Shelves being second. ThinLine Closet Style Shelves, because they are built of only a single piece of wood, can support the least amount of weight. For all shelving styles and layout configurations, the shorter the shelves, the stronger they are.
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Do all HouseWerks shelves require at least one wall for installation?
Yes, a single wall is required for attachment of Classic Style shelves. Screws are driven through the back of the shelf into wall studs. If no wall is available for attaching shelves through the back, shelves can be installed with two side walls and no back wall. These are called wall-to-wall shelves.
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How many walls are required for installation of HouseWerks Closet Style shelves?
The minimum number is two, a wall on each end of the shelves (wall-to-wall shelves). It is helpful to have a wall on the back of the shelves for extra support, especially if the shelves are over 30" in length.
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Do Classic Style shelves require attachment to the back wall?
No, wall-to-wall Classic Style shelves do not require attachment to the back wall. As long as the shelf ends abut a wall on each end, no other attachment is required. As the length of wall-to-wall shelves is increased, the need for vertical supports is also increased.
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Does HouseWerks make enclosed bookcases or any free-standing shelves?
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Does HouseWerks make enclosed shelves with doors of any kind or glass enclosures?
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How many different hardwoods are there from which to choose for my shelves?
You have six different woods from which to choose: Birch, Maple, Red Oak, White Oak, Cherry, and Walnut, not counting special order woods that are not kept in stock.
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Can I order my shelves unfinished so that I can do the finishing myself?
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Do you provide any guidance to help me finish my shelves?
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Am I obligated to complete the purchase for my shelves after they are built if I don't like the way they look or if I don't have the money to complete the purchase?
No. After you have paid the non-refundable Materials Deposit, you are not under any obligation to complete the purchase.
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What happens to my shelves if I decide not to complete the purchase. Can I buy them later when I have the money?
Yes, if we still have them available. Your shelves will be offered to other customers at a discount equal to the Materials Deposit you have already paid. If your order was $1,000 and you paid a $250 Materials Deposit, we would sell the shelves to anyone who was interested for $750.
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Do you offer a guaranteed exact match of stains to match other woods in my house?
No, there is no way anyone can guarantee a match for what you have at home. We do our best to come close to the color of wood that you want, but there is no guarantee. If you can send a sample of what you want matched, we will be able to produce a closer match than if we only have a description or a photo from which to work.
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Do you have any free samples of the wood and stain that I want for my shelving unit?
Yes. In most cases we have the wood, although we may not have the exact stain or finish, or the lacquer sheen that you want.
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If you don't have exactly the wood and stain I want available as samples, will you prepare the exact combination that I want?
Yes, however, you will be charged $20.00 for this service. The money will be credited to your balance after you place your order.
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I noticed that most of the shelves displayed on your website are 11" deep. Do you offer shelves with other depths?
Yes, while 11" is our standard depth, you can order shelves with the depth ranging from 8" to 33".
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Is there any limit to the length of shelves that can be ordered?
No. There is a limit to the length of any single shelf that can be shipped, but shelves can be ordered for rooms with very long walls. We have made them for walls up to 50 feet so far.
There is a length limit of 92" for any single shelf section shipped intact as one piece. If shelves are ordered over 92", the shelves are shipped as two or more shelf sections that must be joined before installation. Shelves can be made that will wrap your entire room in shelving.
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Do you provide any help in designing a shelving unit to meet my needs?
Yes. We have a number of web pages that provide information you can use to make decisions regarding your shelving design. If needed you can call and ask our staff for help in designing a custom shelving unit that is perfect for your home or office.
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How many different wood finishes do you offer for the shelves and the vertical supports.
Counting "unfinished" as a finish option there are four. Clear Lacquer Finish, Colored Lacquer Finish, and Stain and Clear Lacquer Finish.
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I am confused about some of the terms used to refer to the dimensions of shelves. What is the difference between the Length, Depth, Thickness, and Height of a shelf?
The Length of a shelf is the horizontal distance a shelf extends along the wall from one end of the shelf to the other.
The Depth of a shelf is the distance from the front surface of the shelf to the back surface of the shelf. It is the distance that the shelf extends out from the wall.
The Thickness of the shelf is the distance from the uppermost surface of a shelf to the lowermost surface of a shelf.
The Height of a shelf is the distance from the uppermost surface of a shelf to the floor. The height of a shelf has nothing to do with the physical dimensions of the shelf, only the height at which the shelf is installed from the floor.
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