Breakouts
W
ith the exception of new or recently remodeled homes, removing the old closet material
must be considered before any design or price estimates are given to the customer. Breakout can
be as simple as lifting out the existing shelf and pole. It may also be as complex as gutting the
room where the new closet system will be installed. There are three basic types of breakout (a/k/a
“tearout”):
DESCRIPTION OF BREAKOUTS:
LIGHT (STANDARD)
The simplest and most common type consists of a pole, a shelf and cleats. The installer may need
only his basic tools to remove these items in 10 – 15 minutes.
MEDIUM
In addition to the standard pole and shelf, a medium breakout could include extra shelves and/
or poles or a simple shelf system in the corner. This type of breakout will generally require an
additional 30 minutes to the usual installation time.
HEAVY
Extensive built-in sections are often insurmountable. Some older homes have large built-in
drawers inside their closets. This category can also include complex built-in floor shoe racks.
Labor and materials for this type of breakout require careful examination and calculation. Most
importantly, unless you have extensive experience with these structures, you cannot know
whether or not they contain elements which affect structural and/or wall damage. Use extreme
caution before tackling these closets!
Most importantly, make good use of your time. If the breakout requires removal of refuse, take a
load out to your truck and then bring in another stack of supplies. Don’t waste trips walking back
and forth with empty hands.
BREAKOUT INSTRUCTIONS:
LIGHT
Remove pole and its hardware. Gently knock the existing shelf up and then carefully remove
without dinging walls or light fixtures with shelf corners and edges. Cut away any remaining
caulking used around the old shelf. Pry away any support cleats carefully where they are fastened
to the walls and studs. Scrape away any remaining caulking or nails. Patch and sand any holes, if
necessary.
MEDIUM
Use the same procedures as above for Medium Breakouts.
HEAVY
Heavy Breakouts may require extensive removal of refuse, for which dumping fees may be re-
quired. Additionally, further materials may be needed for patching and painting (drop cloth and
other supplies). Use wire pliers to pull embedded wall anchors.
Finally, bear in mind that older homes may have pole holes cut into thick support cleats. We
advise you to cut the poles out of these cleats and then cut the cleats, as they are often extremely
sturdy, and any heavy torque pulling against these existing supports may cause both items to pull
away from the wall and cause significant wall damage. Proceed with caution.
INTRODUCTION
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