There are many parts of architectural design that our community of current and prospective customers love or hate – they’re very polarizing. Believe us, here at RW Steel, we’ve heard it all, and while we’re not surprised by anything anymore, we certainly understand the range of emotions that different customers feel about pieces of their homes. They reach out to us in part because we can offer sound advice, but they also reach out because if they’re moving into an existing home or buying a new one, they want to know that the decisions that they’re making are the right ones for them.
That brings us to today’s topic- built-ins. Love them or hate them, they’re a valuable addition to your home, but as a company that focuses on reinforcing your home’s structure and making it safe and comfortable for your family, we do get a lot of questions about how they affect weight-bearing and ultimately your foundation.
It may seem like an odd point, but if you’re someone who has collected dozens of family photos over the years, memorabilia, any sort of collectables – you’re going to wonder at a certain point if that has an impact. It’s like a closet rack with too many clothes – eventually, it will fall down.
Well, you don’t have to worry about that with built-ins. They’re designed with the home’s structure in mind and they’re not going anywhere. In that spirit, let’s look at some of the pros and cons that they can offer, whether they’re existing or you’re adding them:
Pros
- They free up space.
- They can easily blend with your surroundings, so you don’t have to worry about buying that bookcase that looks nothing like the rest of the room.
- You’re essentially taking advantage of spaces that wouldn’t be used otherwise. All those nooks and crannies now actually have a purpose – and a good one.
- Many just appreciate their look. They work in every style of home, and if they’re existing, you can enjoy the history behind them.
- You’re already turning the existing space into a multi-purpose room. What was once a bedroom, can now be a library or a study. Reach out to the RW Steel team, we have many ideas to share.
- Many of our customers use their attics, basements, or garages to store items. And then they spend hours trying to figure out where these items are. That’s not necessary when you have a built-in.
Cons
- If you make the commitment, you make the commitment. Built-ins aren’t something that you can put in temporarily.
- In a similar vein, think through what you’d want to have on display. It’s a waste of time and money if the items that you’d like to share on your built-in don’t fit or look forced.
As with any decision related to your home, these take thought. And we’re here to help. Give us a call or drop us an email anytime.