Aluminum Shelf Brackets & Standards

Aluminum Shelf Brackets

• Aluminum brackets are sturdy choices for installing shelving units in homes, offices and commercial businesses. They are used in homes and offices to create shelving units to store and display everything from books to files and framed photographs. Retailers rely on aluminum brackets to develop attractive merchandising displays to entice shoppers and show off the products they sell.

Bracket Styles

• There are six basic aluminum bracket styles: universal, bar, T-style, floating, slat wall and decorative. Universal brackets have a tapered, triangular shape with predrilled holes for attaching the shelves to the bracket. Bar-style brackets are 1 to 2 inches tall and rectangular in shape. They hang under the shelf so the bracket is inconspicuous. T-style brackets have a coupler that unscrews about 1-inch wide to insert the shelf and secure it to the bracket housing. Floating brackets give a contemporary look to room décor. The bracket fits into a pre-cut channel on the back edge of the shelf, so it is invisible and the shelf appears to float. Slat wall brackets are most commonly used in retail stores and fit into slots in wall panels to hold shelves for displaying merchandise. Decorative brackets are designed to be seen and have ornamentation on the side edges. The bracket is often oversized so the ornamentation is visible. Wrought iron, carved wood, etched glass and resin brackets made to replicate old-world charm with architectural details are a few examples of decorative bracket styles.

Standards

• Standards are aluminum strips that are installed on walls to support brackets and shelving systems. They have pre-drilled slots and holes for attaching brackets according to the height and position that is desired. Standards are used to create wall-shelving systems for every room from bedrooms to home offices, and to create closet storage systems. Standards are commonly used to create industrial, business and retail shelving systems. In these settings, the standards are typically made of heavyweight aluminum to support the weight load of product inventories, equipment and supplies.

Standard Styles

• Standards have pre-drilled holes along the entire length of the strip. They are typically evenly spaced at intervals of 1/2 to 1 inch or more. The holes are used to attach the standard to wall studs and to attach the brackets to the standard. The spacing provides options to space shelves at any height you choose. Standards can be flat, beveled or have lips on the left and right sides to keep the brackets secured. Standards range in width from 5/8 to 1-inch, and can be custom made in other widths. Styles, colors and spacing of holes can also vary. For example, a ready-to-assemble closet organization kit manufacturer might offer a variety of aluminum finishes or even aluminum standards that are painted.