OFFICE FURNITURE PLACE
Office Furniture "That Works" With Amazing NY Deals
Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Office

                           How to buy a Cubicle / Workstation.

        Most large and small companies want to buy cubicles to save space as well as the cost of building offices and getting permits. Cubicles are a modular paneled product that can be reconfigured to meet the needs of a company’s work force. In this article, we will discuss the pros and cons. As well as some simple solutions where additional funds are saved and used for other purposes. We will discuss a variety of  situations we have come across and will talk about solutions we have come to and some of our clients came up. We have an open mind and will always listen to our clients needs. That is the basic rule.
The Pros:
1. Hundreds of colors and sizes.
2. Various heights and widths
3. Base power in feeds for – easy wire management and power.
4. An almost unlimited amount of storage.
5. Various lighting and key boards options.
6. Fast set up. No permits needed. Follow simple fire rules.
7. Custom furniture to your space.
8. Affordable to most budget.
9. Can be redesigned to a new space with a small investment.
The Cons:
1. Many systems available hard to chose right one.
2. Matching fabric color options may make it hard.
3. In most cases, an outside company is needed to reconfigure or move
4. Each system has its own limitations.
5. Brand name is not always the solution – at times costs more.
6. Cost and speed of going up varies by system
7. Lead time can be form 2 days to 6 weeks
   In the end, the Pros do out weight the Cons. At time for some clients, it does not seem so. Many parts have to go up. Most projects go up in a day or two unless there unforeseen events or very large number have to go up. Having an open space usually helps move things a long. At times, it is deceiving because the panels go up fast but the other parts take much longer. Once you have decided that cubicles are for you, Here is a list of thing you should do before make that purchase.
Buying help:
1. Make sure that you and your vendor or designer measure with a tape measure.
• I have had a variety of designers use plans to scale with out measuring the actual space. What we call a field measure. Make sure they use a tap measure not there feet.
2. Make sure you leave proper walkway space.
• Follow all fire codes. If you have, questions ask the building they should be able to help you.
• Find if you can block certain radiators or AC units. The building may need to gain access to service these units.
3. Find true dimension of cubicles.
• Most cubicle systems have crepe to them. Meaning there are additional inches to each cubicle
created by the panels.
• Find out the with of the panels you have chosen. Add those widths to the foot print of where the
cubicles will stand. You dealer can help you with this.
4. Choosing the correct height.
• This is tricky because the employees want privacy and management wants to see that every body is working.
• There are 4 popular height sizes. 42” , 48”, 54” and 65” high
• Most clients will do some kind if high to low so that a shelf can be put in.
• For more privet areas an all high panels
5. Choosing the correct system.
• There are many systems are visually similar. Choose the look that you like first.
• Have your dealer recommend systems that are in your budget and style.
• The most bang for the buck are flat panel systems.
• Certain systems have varied panel heights and withes, which may not work for your project.
• Even if you are buying new. Find out what products your used dealers are selling. Later when you have to sell the stations you will have a product that can be sold.
• Most used dealers will buy products that are more durable. Call several because some have certain favorites which are not name brand.
6. Color and trim
• There are thousands and colors and trims. Choose neutral colors usually works best.
• Having a contrast to the carpet floor works best. Try to stay away matching logos or floor trims. Those will cost more and may end up pay to get ride of the stations later. If you have a designer let the help with a color.
7. Power and data
• Power and data is run in the bottom of the cubicle in most cases.
• There are ways to save with power such as stations that are wall based and there are power and data in the existing wall.
• There are 3 ways power comes in . 1 in what is call an wipe – or in feed to the side of the cubicle. 2 is a power pole and the wires come down through a metal pole from the ceiling. If you have pole have it divided so that the v-d and power do not mix. It will be cheaper to run. The third is wall based power that you use a serge protector.
A word to the wise.
There some places which we do not require stations. People still put them in but I find it useless because it is not serving its original concept of space saving. One place is one person or even two person offices. There is just taking wall space. It is better to put up a simple portion for privacy. Also always, use a serge protector. I see people plugging right in the stations but they do not protect your equipment in case there is a sure or a power out age. For more information about this topic and others, see our web site officefurnitureplace.com