Building Extra Storage Space

If there’s one thing that condo dwellers always need more of, it’s storage space. Whether it be closets, bookshelves, cabinets, etc., we’d almost all like to have more space than we have.

There are many potential solutions: closet organizers, wardrobe units, free-standing bookcases, etc. But if you’re planning to live in your unit for a long time and you want a functional design that suits your individual space, sometimes a built-in unit is the answer.

Reasons for Choosing Built-In You have a particular, underutilized space and available retail items don’t suit that space You want something with a certain aesthetic that you’re not finding in the marketplace You’re handy and enjoy doing the work yourself You want the sense that your storage unit is part of the architecture of your condo. Some Cautions Custom work can be expensive If the unit doesn’t come out quite the way you were hoping, you’re stuck with it for a good while If you’re thinking of selling your property (and most of us will, eventually), potential buyers may not like what you’ve done and you’ll have to figure the cost of removing it into your selling price

Aw, What the Hell – I Want Built-Ins!

• Figure out what your needs and wants are with regard to how you’re going to use the storage space, what the broad measurements will be, whether you need tall shelves or lots of small ones, whether you need access to electrical outlets or phone jacks, and how much you’re willing to spend
• Look at designs. It helps to gather ideas by seeing what other people have done. There are plenty of books on the subject like this one and this one, as well as home design magazines and sites on-line. One nice trick is to go to Google.com and check out their “Images” page. You can type a word like “bookcases” and see lots of pictures.
• Get recommendations on carpenters from friends. A personal recommendation based on a successful past collaboration is the best insurance against being surprised by unsatisfactory workmanship, inflated prices or a bad attitude.
• Get recommendations on line. If none of your friends or acquaintances has had such work done before, or the contractors they recommend don’t work in your area, try doing some research on line. There are forums where you can check out others’ experiences or post a query for a recommendation or an estimate. There are also sites where you can look up contractors in your area and even request a quote. Your local newspaper is a good resource, too.
• Make a rough design. Even if you have zero artistic skills, it’s good to draw out what you think you want so that you can visualize what the result will look like, share your design with the contractor, and find out up front if there are cost or feasibility issues. For example, a contractor can tell you whether your design doesn’t provide enough support for the items you’re intended to store on your shelves.
• Contact a contractor. Once you’ve discovered a contractor or two (two or more is better), make a preliminary inquiry to get a ballpark idea of how this contractor works. You might initiate this through an e-mail or a phone call. You can give the contractor the rough dimensions of your proposed unit (height, width and how many shelves you’re going to want) along with any “extras” like doors for some of the shelves, exotic moldings, etc.
• Ask for references and samples. Any experienced carpenter or woodworker should be able to provide at least two references from previous customers and be able to show you samples of previous work. Ask references not only about their satisfaction with the finished project (that’s, of course, crucial), but also about work habits, timeliness of delivery, discrepancies between estimates and final cost. Of course the contractor is only going to point you toward satisfied customers, but at least you’ll know they have a couple!
• Meet with carpenter to discuss design, materials, etc. At this meeting you should have a pretty clear idea of what you want, but be open to changes if the carpenter points out potential issues. Work from your drawing and take measurements so you’ll know exactly how much space you’re talking about.
• Get a preliminary rendering. The carpenter should be able to show you even a rudimentary design that shows measurements of the unit as a whole and between elements like shelves and columns. It should be drawn more or less to scale.
• Make a final decision. First, go back to your space and make sure you’ve thought of everything. Double-check measurements, think through any accessibility requirements like outlets and phone jacks, plan what you’re going to put where to make sure it fits with the design measurements and then give final approval to the design.