You have the money, space and now, you feel the right time to increase your refrigeration facilities has come. At Walk In Freezer Brooklyn, we want to help you make the right decision to maximize your space and your return on investment.
One of the best investments you can make in commercial refrigeration may come in the form of a walk in box, but it is important to understand what you are buying and how to know you are getting the right deal.
Types of Walk in Boxes in Brooklyn
- There are two main types of walk in box which you should familiarize yourself with before making your buying decision:
- Prefabricated walk-in boxes
- Built in walk in boxes
Prefabricated boxes usually come with urethane panels sized in accordance with the pre-determined specifications. There are a couple of benefits associated with this type. For instance, they offer great versatility as owners can change the configuration when the business experiences growth. Prefabs also require fewer contractors, making them less expensive to install.
On the other hand, built-in walk-in coolers/freezers are designed in a manner that meets your specific needs in your space. They have the benefit of offering unlimited sizes and configurations in the event you need something untraditional. Unfortunately, they aren’t as easily expandable or alterable to accommodate changes that come with business growth. They are also slightly more costly to build.
Know Your Materials Too!
The other major factor to consider during the selection process is the materials used to construct your Brooklyn walk in box — both internal and external.
Insulation Choices:
The performance of an insulation material is measured in terms of its R-Value. Higher values represent increased resistance to the flow of heat, and consequently, the better the insulating properties are. Let’s consider each of these insulating materials separately.
Extruded Polystyrene
This material is popular for its high initial R-value among other properties such as significant resistance to moisture, as well as the ability to retain approximately 47 percent of its R-value over its lifespan. For this reason, you will notice that coolers made of this material are more expensive up front. The good news is that they offer significantly lower operating costs over their lifespan.
Option 1: Extruded Polystyrene
This material is popular for its high initial R-value among other properties such as significant resistance to moisture, as well as the ability to retain approximately 47 percent of its R-value over its lifespan. For this reason, you will notice that coolers made of this material are more expensive up front. The good news is that they offer significantly lower operating costs over their lifespan.
Option 2: Polyurethane
This material has a high initial R-value, but only 19 percent of this is retained over the lifetime of the product. As a result, even though the initial R-value is impressive, the overall lifetime value of a freezer or cooler made of this insulation material is likely to be higher. When all is said and done, Polyurethane units are very economical up front.
External Materials
Especially when considering an outdoor unit, the external materials of your walk-in box in Brooklyn can be critical in its long-term performance. Let’s get to know some of the most common types of materials:
G90 Galvanized
This was the most popular choice for walk-ins, until recently. The “G90” refers to resistance to corrosion. It is the minimum requirements for a walk-in box Brooklyn. It has a reputation of being dent resistant and strong. Unfortunately, if mishandled or washed using the wrong cleaners, it can develop white rust.
Galvalume
This one is steel coated and combined with aluminum and galvanizing material. As such, it has the strength present in steel, yet 12 times more resistant to corrosion than galvanized. As far as the exterior is concerned, Galvalume is considered the best bang for your buck.
Aluminum
One of the best aluminum properties is its resistance to corrosion – apart from salt spray. However, it also has the disadvantage of denting more easily compared to other materials. In some models, the aluminum floors are diamond plate embossed to enhance its strength. The majority of aluminum walk-ins also have stucco – embossed ceilings and walls for increasing the strength.
Stainless steel
Stainless has a reputation for being the least corrosive and the strongest. It does however tend to carry a premium price tag so you’ll have to weigh budget vs. performance here. Individuals who can afford a walk-in box Brooklyn made of stainless steel enjoy the benefit of variety, as they come in many different polishes such as polished or brushed. A lot of people prefer to buy the brushed polish to reduce the appearance of possible scratches.
We’re Here to Help!
Of course, while it is great to know your stuff before you make an investment like a walk in box, it is even better to work with a team that has decades of experience outfitting businesses all over Brooklyn with top quality refrigeration units.
Get in touch with our team today and we can help walk you through your next project and decide which options fit your unique Brooklyn walk in box needs.