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Most often the questions we receive from customers relate to the hardware and accessories needed for pot rack installation. It's no wonder that these items are at the forefront of many people's thoughts; without the right accessories, you may not be able to securely install your new piece, hang all of your cookware or hang your rack at the right height to suit your reach.

To help ensure that you have everything that you need to install your rack perfectly the first time, we've created our Buyers' Guide to Pot Rack Accessories. The guide will tell you everything that you need to know about when you may need to purchase extra accessories and hardware and what choices are available. We recommend that you bookmark the guide in case you have questions while you shop or want to return after you purchase your rack should you decide that you need additional accessories.

Hooks

On both hanging and wall styles, the hooks enable you to hang your cookware and keep it within easy reach. Many styles come with some hooks installed on their frames. Grates are often included or available for purchase separately to allow you to hang items in the space at the center of the frame as well hanging items by hooks.

When You May Need Hooks

Most models come with a starter set of hooks, though depending on the size of your cookware collection, you may need to purchase more. Reading the product descriptions carefully and having a rough idea of how many pots and pans you need to hang will ensure that you have an adequate supply of hooks available.

Types of Hooks

If you decide to purchase additional hooks for your rack, you'll find a wide variety of styles to choose from. Many people ask us if they need to purchase hooks made by the same manufacturer as their racks. The answer is no; while some people prefer to buy hooks from the same manufacturer to ensure an exact match with the finish, you are free to mix and match hook styles. In most cases, the finishes will have a close enough match to not be detectable.

There are 10 common types of hooks available for today's styles:

• Basket Hooks have a very round, wide curved shape. They are often around 4.5 inches long and are designed for cookware and utensils with thicker handles.


• Twin Hooks have a thin U-shaped middle that fits down over the wire in the frame or its grate. At its ends, the hardware has two round hooks that face in opposite directions. This allows you to hang two items on one hook and maximize your space. Typically, these hooks are approximately 4.5 inches long.


• Double Level Hooks are shaped similarly to twin hooks, but have one of the hooks at a higher level than the other. This is convenient if you have two items the exact same length that you want to hang on the same hook piece. The tiered design of the hook will keep the pieces hanging one above the other to make them easier to see and grab. Typically, these hooks are approximately 6.5 inches in total length, but will hang one piece about an inch or two higher.


• Long Hooks are shaped like a standard hook, but are elongated. This is perfect for hanging shorter pans and utensils so that they are easier to reach. Normally, these hooks are approximately 5 or 6 inches in length.


• Butcher Hooks have a single hook, but the curved end is slightly straighter than that of a standard hook. This is great for hanging specialty tools with handles that are too bulky to fit within the curve of a traditional hook shape.


• S Hooks get their name from their shape, which looks just like the letter "S." This hook’s style is incredibly popular with home chefs as it allows the hook to cling more tightly to the frame or grate. When you pull the pot or pan off the hook, it is less likely to lift up as a result.


• Eye Hooks have a very thin curve that attaches to the frame or grate and may not be suitable for wood racks and others that have very thick frames. The Eye Hook has a very round hook shape with a slightly straight end. This lip makes it easier to slip a heavy pot or pan onto the hook piece by sliding it along the straight edge.


• J Hooks have a very narrow catch on one end to cling tightly to the grate or frame and prevent lifting off. The opposite end has a very wide hook that makes the entire design resemble the letter "J." The hook is ideal for cookware and utensils with wide handles.

Chains

The chains> chains are the pieces that travel from the hardware in your ceiling to the top of the rack in order to keep it suspended. A thick, sturdy chain is vital for secure installation, so we recommend only using chains that were specifically designed for use with pot racks rather than purchasing standard chains from a hardware store.

When You May Need Chains

Nearly all pot racks come with a basic chain among their included hardware. Before purchasing a rack, read the description carefully to ensure that there is an included chain, and also make note of its length. If your rack is too high or too low once installed, you may want to swap out the chain or add additional chains to get it to the perfect level for you. In addition, if you have a drop ceiling, you will likely need extra chains to travel from the true ceiling past your tiles to the appropriate hanging height.

Length

To determine if you will need to purchase additional or replacement chains for your rack, it's important that you measure your space accurately and know the minimum and maximum heights that can suit your space. Visit our Buyers' Guide to Hanging Pot Racks for measuring instructions. Once you know the ideal height for your rack, determining what length of chain you need will be a cinch.

Finish

Another thing that you'll need to take into consideration when purchasing chain accessories for your hanging rack is the finish of the rack. Whenever possible, try to purchase the same finish to keep a unified look; however, in some cases, you may need to opt for something that appears similar, such as purchasing a stainless steel chain to go with a chrome rack.

Links

For hanging styles, links are used to attach your rack to its chain. They can also be used in conjunction with chains to adjust the height of your rack to make it ideal for your reach height and counter tops.

When You May Need Links

Most models come with the links necessary for basic hanging. Like chains, links may need changing if the standard size of your rack is not adequate for your space or if you have a drop ceiling.

Types of Links

There are four primary styles of hanging links made by today's manufacturers.

• Quick Links have an oval shape and resemble those found in an ordinary chain. On the end that opens, a turning barrel screws open and closed to make it easy to add links and then to keep them securely fastened.


• Hanger rods are metal bars that have hooks on either end that face in opposite directions. Changing the hanger rod is a perfect solution when you need to add several inches of length, but not enough to add an entire length of chain. Sometimes hanger rods are also called extension hooks.


• C Links are simple metal links that are shaped like the letter "C." They have a slight opening between their ends, where you can slide in another hook to create a chain or attach to a hanger rod or the hardware on your rack.


• Hanging Links function in the same way as C Links, but have slight indentations on their closed sides, which gives the links a somewhat curved shape.

Ceiling Screws

The ceiling screw is the piece of hardware that you will secure into the joist on your ceiling in order to hang your rack. It is vital that you use a heavy-duty screw specifically designed for racks to ensure safe installation.

When You May Need Ceiling Screws

Your hanging rack will generally come with a basic set of ceiling screws to work with the model that you have chosen. You may decide to use different screws if you want your rack to hang a little higher or lower than it does with the included screws.

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