Frequently Asked Questions!

Q· How much weight does the pot rack rack I want hold?

A. Pot Racks have no pre-determined weight capacity. Most are designed to accommodate all your pots and pans when properly installed. Please follow all installation instructions. The most important advice we can give you is to be sure to secure your pot rack firmly into ceiling joists or wall studs.

Q· Do I have to assemble my pot rack?

A. To save on shipping cost most Pot Racks are shipped flat with hardware and assembly instructions. A few manufacturers do provide fully assembled racks. Assembly is relatively simple in most cases and amounts to no more than attaching the chain or hanger rods onto the rack and hanging it. Some of the bookshelf and half dome rack require some nut & bolt type assembly that most individuals can handle.

Q. What tools will I need to hang my pot rack?

A. Typical tools that you will need include:

• Ruler
• Pencil
• Stud Finder
• Drill
• Ceiling screws – hanging pot racks (usually included)
• Wall screws – wall pot racks (usually included)
• Screwdriver (for wall pot racks)

Q· How do I choose the right pot rack for my kitchen?

A. The three main things you will need to consider are your kitchen décor, your storage requirements, and the available space you have to work with. Pot Racks are available in every possible size, shape, type, and finish. Whether you choose a round, rectangle or oval, hanging or wall mounted pot rack you must determine if the dimensions of your pot rack choice will fit in the space you have available. If you are purchasing a hanging pot rack, you must consider your height and the height of your ceiling, the dimensions of the pot rack, and the overall distance from your ceiling to the bottom of your hanging pots.

Q· I want a hanging pot rack but, will it fit in my kitchen and will I be able to reach my pots?

A. First and foremost, you need to determine the height of your ceiling and the ‘reaching height’ of the person (s) that will be using the rack. To determine the ‘reaching height’, reach into the air as if you were reaching for the bottom of a pot or pan. It's important to know that you do not need to be able to reach the hooks on the bottom of your pot rack. You only need to be able to reach the bottom of the pots and pans to lift them off the hooks. The height of your out-stretched arm at mid-palm is your ‘reaching height’. Now, subtract your ‘reaching height’ from your ceiling height. This is the space where your pot rack and pots and pans will need to fit.

To determine whether your pot rack will fit, first find out the height of the pot rack you want. The height listed in our product descriptions refers to the distance from the ceiling to the bottom of the pot rack or, in some cases, the bottom of the pot hooks. The next step is to determine the sizes of your pots and pans. On average the length of pots and pans varies from about 9-12” for a small pot to 20-24” for a large skillet. Yours may be smaller or larger. In order to arrive at very accurate measurements, add together the length of your pots to the height of the pot rack. The result will give you the total distance from your ceiling to the bottom of your hanging pots & pans. Then subtract the distance from your ceiling height to see if they will hang above or below your reaching height.

Q· What's the best Pot Rack for my Kitchen?

A. The Pot Racks we sell come in many different shapes, sizes, styles, and finishes. Your choices also include whether either a hanging or a wall mounted pot rack. You are the one who has to determine what will work best for you in your kitchen space. Wall pot racks work well in kitchens with wall space to spare and little or no accomodation for a hanging pot rack. Hanging pot racks are ideal when placed over counters or kitchen islands. The choice of shape and finish depends mainly on personal preferences and your existing kitchen décor. We offer a great selection of rectangular, oval, round, square, and bar pot racks. Most are available in many different finishes, including hammered steel, stainless steel, copper, chrome, brass, wrought iron, wood/metal combinations and numerous powder coated designer colors.

Q. What kind of Pot rack should I buy to go over my Kitchen Island?

A. Hanging pot racks of any shape are ideal when placed over countertops or kitchen islands. Keep in mind that when installed over a kitchen island, hanging pot racks can sometimes cast a shadow, depending on the lighting in your kitchen. In that case, you may want to consider purchasing a lighted pot rack, which will allow you to store your cookware while illuminating your workspace below. When you are trying to decide where to place your pot rack, make sure it is in a place where you can easily access your cookware. Keep in mind that pot racks hung over kitchen islands require at least 6” of rack clearance on all sides. You should determine the size of the island and make sure that the pot rack dimensions are inside the 6" on all sides. This will prevent a lot of 'head bumps'. You will need to reach up and in to access your pots. Also, even when your pot rack is not hung over an island, you may find that you have to stretch a bit to reach your smaller pots and pans.

Q. Can I install my Pot rack or should I hire someone to do it?

A. If you decide to install it yourself it is very important that you install your pot rack securely! Loaded pot racks can be very heavy, and dangerous if not properly attached to ceiling joists. Each pot rack will come with its own set of hanging instructions. Follow these instructions carefully to make certain your pot rack is securely installed. We cannot stress the point enough, that hanging pot racks need to be fixed firmly to ceiling joists with ceiling eyebolts. Most pot racks come with ceiling eyebolts; some do not. If your pot rack does not come with eyebolts, we recommend you purchase them from your local hardware store.



The next thing you need to determine is if your ceiling joists run parallel with your rack. If they do, then mounting your rack to the ceiling will be relatively easy. If your pot rack runs perpendicular to your ceiling joists, you will need to use a ceiling plate. A ceiling plate has two eye bolts attached to the plate and holes that are drilled at the same distance apart as your joists. The ceiling plate is attached to the ceiling, and the rack hangs from the eyebolts on the plate.



Now let's deal with wall mount pot racks which need to be firmly fixed into wall studs with lag bolts or substantial screws. Most, if not all of our pot racks come with complete installation hardware for typical installations. However, for special mounting needs, such as attaching pot racks to masonry or metal ceilings or walls, we recommend that you consult a local professional.

Q. Some of your pot racks list two finish colors such as, Black/Chrome or Hammered Steel/Brass. What does that mean?

A. The first finish listed is the rack (frame) itself the finish after the slash is the hardware/accessories, pot hooks, chain, grid, ceiling hooks, etc.

Q. How do I care for my pot rack?

A. Maintenance instructions are usually included with the assembly instructions that accompany your pot rack. We've put some basics together here to help you to keep your pot rack looking as good as new:

• Chrome, Stainless, Wood, Hammered Steel and Powder Coated finishes are very low maintenance – they shoudn't require anything more than an occasional dusting.
• Copper and Brass pot racks - simply polish them occasionally with a non-abrasive cleaner.
• Iron pot racks should be cleaned regularly with warm, soapy water and then dried thoroughly. Occasional application of auto wax will help to prolong the life of the finish.
  
  
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