HyLoft 540 45-Inch-by-45-Inch Overhead Storage System, White
by Hyloft
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of HyLoft 540 45-Inch-by-45-Inch Overhead Storage System, White
Customer Review: Overall, fairly good
Summary: 3 Stars
This product probably deserves 4 stars -- I'm giving it a 3 beacuse I'd like to pass on some information and I think it's more likely that someone looking for potential problems would read a 3-star entry.
I ordered two of these units -- one came with the correct instructions, but the other came with the slightly different instructions for their (presumably discontinued) 48" model. Having two units made it obvious what the problem was -- if your instructions mention the 48" unit, call the 800 number because you'll want the correct instructions (and you'll need two extra small screws). Alternatively, you could probably download the instructions from tehir website, but you'll still want the extra screws because the shelves for the 45" model come in three sections instead of two and eventhough the screws don't support weight, they help to keep the shelf sections alligned. It very well could be that my experience with the incorrect instructions here was atypical.
Next, the pilot nails for the ceiling brackets can be a problem if you're not used to hammering up into a ceiling -- you might want to use a small drill (smaller than the pilot nail) to drill a pilot hole for the pilot nail. This makes it easier to drive the pilot nail its full length without the risk of bending.
The instructions recommned using a nut-driver with an electric drill to install the 3" lag bolts. Good idea -- if you don't have one, look into borrowing one from a friend -- it can take quite a while to turn in all of the lag bolts using a socket wrench, especially if you're doing more than one unit.
Definitely use a stud finder, the lag bolts need to be securely fastned to a stud. Failing to do so results in a very unsafe situation.
The individual parts appear to be well made and nicely finished.
The shelves are wire frame -- so a small but heavy load right in the middle might cause it so sag a little.
The unit hangs from thick metal straps -- the straps appear to be very strong and capable of supporting the recommended load -- however they are straps and eventhough very stiff, the shelf can sway from side to side by an inch or two. This is not a problem for holding the weight, but if you need a shelf that absolutely doesn't move even slightly when placing or removing items, then this unit may not work for you.
The unit hangs from four mounting brackets -- make sure the mounting brackets form a reasonable rectangle on the ceiling -- doesn't need to be perfect -- but measure as best you can.
All in all, these units worked well for me and weren't difficult to install -- don't rush, take the time to measure correctly -- hope the notes help anyone who might run into problems or needs the extra information.
*** UPDATE ***
These work very well and are easy to install. Bought a third one when Amazon ran a sale -- always wait for the sale.
Customer Review: Great storage solution
Summary: 5 Stars
I've installed six of these Hyloft overhead shelves already and I think they're great. They gave me a lot of storage space in areas of my garage which would have never been used anyway.
Here are some installation tips that I picked up along the way.
Key items to have before starting:
- good stud finder
- corded or powerful cordless drill (my old 9.6V cordless drill was too weak)
- 7/16" Nutsetter (so that you can use your drill for the large lag screws)
- small 7/64" drill bit and 4 wood screws (instead of sinker nails)
Installation tips:
- use a good stud finder to find the joists. Then plan which joists should be used and how far away from the garage wall to place the shelves. I put some 1.5' away from the wall so that I could access both sides of the shelves. I put some others about 0.5' from the wall so that I could use the extra space as "overflow" for large boxes and also so that I could clean behind the shelves.
- Important: instead of using the provided sinker nails and trying to pound them above your head while not hitting the bracket, drill a hole first to make sure a joist is really there (stud finders can be misleading) and that no nail plate or other obstacle is there just beyond the drywall. Then use wood screws instead of the provided sinker nails. Don't drill in any of the large lag screws until you've confirmed placement for all four brackets. Trust me, this will save you a lot of frustration.
- if joining two shelves together, use the included plastic tie straps to join the shelves between the two units before fastening the shelves among the same unit (with the small screws).
- fasten all screws loosely (except the ones for the brackets) until everything is assembled and fitting together nicely, then tighten them.
The hardest part of the installation by far is determining the locations for the brackets and installing them. I would allocate about 2-3 hours from opening the box, completing the installation, to cleaning up.
One other thing to keep in mind is that there are different colors for the shelves. Some stores sell the white ones, while others sell the black/gray ones. Keep this in mind if you want your shelves to be color coordinated.
Hope that helps.
Customer Review: Amazingly forgiving installation
Summary: 4 Stars
Others have said it - installation is incredibly forgiving. Other than making sure you are anchored to the rafters, you can be off by even a few inches in just about any direction and the system will install properly.
Probably the thing that surprised me most was that the installation kit included some extra mounting hardware for the times a nut will slip out of your hands as you are reaching toward the ceiling.
Installation is easy (not so much in finished garages), in that you install this thing a tiny piece at a time. At no time are you installing a piece that weighs more than 5 pounds nor anything that requires 2 people to install. It's a 15 minute installation in an unfinished garage. Add an hour for finding the darn studs in an finished garages. No question that installation is a one-person task.
The claim is that a shelf will support up to 250 lbs, but honestly, I wouldn't put more than half that on them. The supports are flat strips of steel (not L-shaped) with a small lip at the bottom. This in turn allows for a lot of movement of the shelf in two directions. With the lack of a lip on the shelf itself, I can imagine a box slidng off the shelf during a quake, or being pushed off the far end as you are pusing a box on the shelf. My solution is to wrap bungee cords around the perimeter, making a "side" to the shelf units. If you hook the cord ends into the holes used for adjusting the shelf height, it will shove the shelf contents together toward the center of the shelf, but should keep it secure.
5-star product, less one star for the lack of a lip. Even an optional accessory lip would have been nice.
Pros:
* Simple, forgiving installation
* Easily mounts to any rafter spacing
* Shelf height adjusts in 2" increments
* Can be mounted in vaulted garages
* Very low price
* Spare mounting hardware included
Cons:
* No shelf lip to keep things from sliding off during earthquake - NOTE: hook bungee cords around supports in the adjustment holes for a DIY solution.
* Supports will allow a LOT of movement of the shelf in a quake. I think it's even possible for one or more supports to fatigue and snap in a prolonged shaker.
Customer Review: Great solution for unused space
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a great storage solution that allows you to turn wasted garage space into a useful long term storage area. I have five of these shelves.
I'll echo what the other reviewers have mentioned. The installation is about as easy as you'll find. There is nothing complicated.
Finding the joists is the hardest part and a good studfinder is essential.
Here are some tips:
1) If you want to install several units in a row, think about which wall is best. The installation instructions tell you not to put more than two shelves per joist, so your row of hanging shelves needs to be installed across (perpendicular) to the joists-- not running in the same direction. This means that only two walls in the garage are suitable for a row of shelves. Even if you only want to install one or two units now, you may want to expand in the future.
2) A good quality cordless drill makes the installation much easier. If you don't own one already--- buy, borrow, or rent one. You'll be glad you did.
3) The kit comes with nails. You are instructed to nail the ceiling bracket in place before drilling and securing with the lag screws.
Swinging a hammer straight up over your head without hitting your hand or knocking a hole in the ceiling is pretty tough. Save those nails for some other project. Get some wood screws with heads big enough to hold the bracket. Mark the hole position, drill a pilot hole, then install the bracket using your drill and a wood screw. Screws are easier, safer, and will serve the same purpose.
4) Two long lag screws are be installed on each bracket. It is tiring to use a socket wrench overhead to screw them into the ceiling. Make it easy by using your cordless drill and a DEWALT DW2542 3/8-Inch Socket Adapter with the appropriate socket.
All in all, this is a great product.
Customer Review: some installation hints
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought and installed two of these. Installation was very straightforward, and I would just offer a few suggestions.
When attaching the horizontal cross bar to the bottom of the vertical supports, I would reverse the position of the bolt - instead of having the head up and the nut underneath, put the head on the bottom and the nut on top. It looks more finished, and is less likely to snag something from underneath.
Second, when putting the 3 grids on top of the cross bars, pay attention to the grid orientation. I installed mine so the grid wires that run length-wise are all facing up, to achieve a consistent look, and to possibly make it easier to slide boxes across. (Actually, I didn't do this on the first one, because I wasn't thinking about it, but it occurred to me when I installed the second one. Maybe I'll go back and change the first one.)
Third, they give you 4 small bolts, nuts and washers to use to attach the three grid sections together. I ended up using 2 larger washers with each bolt, one against the head of the bolt, and one next to the nut. This lets you tighten up the bolts a bit more, with less likelihood of damaging the white powdercoat on the grids. Just don't use washers that are too big, or they will stick above the grid, making bumps in the "floor".
I think using the nails to hold the ceiling brackets in place is a matter of preference - for me, it was just as easy to mark the holes with a pencil, move the bracket out of the way to drill them, and then install the lag screws to hold the bracket in place.
If you have an impact driver, its the perfect tool to screw the lag screws in. I've used a ratcheting socket wrench in the past, and it was a lot more effort and took much longer.
I'm very satisfied with these units - they're perfect for a smaller garage, and go up pretty easily if you're moderately handy. The white color has a cleaner look than the previous hammertone gray.