ELF shelving and storage system/Freedom Rail/Closet Maid

[BabyNurse]

I have been watching Clean House and a lot of the time when they do an office/craft room, they use either Freedom Rail or ELFA systems. Locally, I can only get Closet Maid. Does anyone have either of these systems? Can you tell me pros/cons, ease of installation, durability, etc. I just read on Craig's List that ELFA is a little more durable than Freedom Rail. Of course that person was trying to sell the ELFA system. Thanks for any help.

[frosted_gorilla]

I have the closet maid version, with the bar that mounts horizontally across the top of the wall, with hanging supports to put the shelves on. My only trouble is the nut who build this house put the wall studs in odd places, and then ran electrical wiring through only other wall I want to put shelves on (which makes it hard to screw the stuff to the wall)! But I put up three sets of it by myself, so the installation is pretty easy.

[StamperCathy]

We have the freedom rail system in our master closet. It was so easy to install. The reason we chose it over Elfa was I wanted the light ash wood shelves. It is a very durable, strong system.

[s_anthony]

Quote:

Originally Posted by frosted_gorilla

I have the closet maid version, with the bar that mounts horizontally across the top of the wall, with hanging supports to put the shelves on. My only trouble is the nut who build this house put the wall studs in odd places, and then ran electrical wiring through only other wall I want to put shelves on (which makes it hard to screw the stuff to the wall)! But I put up three sets of it by myself, so the installation is pretty easy.

If you havn't already you can get an electrical line detector for the wall - if he followed code (it doesnt sound like it) there should be metal brackets over the electrical lines. The detector will find the hot areas in your wall and you can screw around those studs. That's what I'm trying to do as well - we have a 105 year old house with some active knob and tube in it (more lines than romex wiring) so until I finish wiring the rest of the house in romex, I have to work around the knob and tube.. and it doesn't run always paralell to each other..

[klhbenson]

I just have 2 ELFA carts/baskets...and love them. They're each about 48" tall...have a mix of different drawer depths. I store all my accessories, punches, etc in them. Everything is right at my finger tips, stays organized, I love them! I've had one rack for 10 years...the other for 3 years...both look brand new...have handled all the weight I've thrown at them! (punches are heavy!)