A comparison between Proslat®, Crownwall ® and Handiwall® (HandiSOLUTIONS)
Garage Guru carries all three brands of slatwalls, with the goal to meet each clients needs perfectly. Each slat wall has unique features and attributes which may be important to you and your slatwall needs. Quickly lets define slatwall: Slatwall is a wall paneling system with horizontal grooves (or slots) that allow for the easy attachment of various accessories
Now lets dig in, in no particular order lets start with Proslat®.
Proslat®
Proslat® is a Canadian company, operating since 2009 offering a variety of garage storage solutions. At the time many of their products were manufactured in China, however in 2021 they built a state-of-the-art manufacturing center in Quebec and now manufacture most their products in Canada.
Proslat® offers a wide range of slatwalls, regular PVC, Procore, Procore Plus and Aluminum, All Made in Canada 🍁. Now what’s the difference?
PVC Slatwall
- 4 inch Panel, 8ft long x4ft high
- White, Grey, Charcoal and Sandstone
- Holds 75lbs per sqft.
- Installs on studs up to 16inches
- Impact resistant
- 90% Recycled Materials
- Concealed Hardware construction
Procore Slatwall
- 4 inch Panel 8ft long x4ft high
- White or Grey
- Holds 200lbs per sqft.
- Installs on studs up to 24inches
- Concealed Hardware construction
- Hidden Aluminum Core Strip
Procore PLUS
- 4 inch Panel 8ft long x4ft high
- Carbon Fiber Finish – Silver & Black 🖤 & Grey WOOD
- Holds 200lbs per sqft.
- Installs on studs up to 24inches
- Concealed Hardware construction
- Hidden Aluminum Core Strip
Aluminum
- 4 inch Panel 8ft long x4ft high
- Holds 200lbs per sqft.
- Installs on studs up to 24inches
- 100% Brushed Aluminium
- Concealed Hardware construction
- Lasting Impression
When deciding between Proslat’s slat wall, your entry level slatwall is the PVC. It works perfectly well in almost all garage environments and meets the needs for your everyday storage requirements. So is there a need to upgrade to Procore…maybe. The things to ask your self are, do I have something heavy I want to hang? Like weights, or a shelf with a heavy tool box? Are the studs 16 or 24 inches apart? If so, adding the aluminum core would be the best way to go. If you are looking to add strength and a showstopper look, go for Silver Carbon, Black Carbon, or Grey Wood.
Proslat® has been in the industry a long time, the products are built to last, have a lifetime warranty and the company is always innovating. In this next year we will see their Stealth line of Slatwall Accessories. All black, and made to improve the look and feel of the wire accessories. Looking forward to seeing those. If you are wanting to add metal cabinets to your garage you have to check out Proslat’s line of Fusion and LUX cabinets. They are top of the line, 18 gauge metal which will raise your garage game to the next level.
Crownwall ®
Crownwall ® is a newer slat wall to the industry however they have the right team in place and have taken their time to make sure they have brought the right product to market.
They offer a few different sizes, 3-inch panels, 6, 8 and 12inch. All other features remain the same.
Crownwall® Slatwall
- Size: 3 inch, 6, 8, 12 inch
- Panel 8ft long x4ft high
- White, Dove Grey, Graphite, Sandstone, Premium colours Black & Blue (limited sizes available)
- Holds 150lbs per linear foot
- Installs on studs up to 16inches
- Full back eliminates warping
- Cavity Promotes airflow and space wiring
- Rigid PVC withstands extreme climates
- Concealed Hardware construction
- Made in North America
Crownwall has a great product newly on the market, a good competitor to Proslats PVC slatwall. Crownwall offers a few more colour options at the similar cost.
HandiWALL®
As an American-made enterprise, they pride themselves on revolutionizing organizational spaces with an original slatwall system, HandiWALL®. Made with a proprietary high-performance PVC blend, HandiWALL® is perfect for all applications, offering a seamless blend of durability, versatility, and style.
- Size: 3 inch slots in a 12 inch panel
- Panel 8ft long x4ft high
- White, Graphite, Beachwood, Driftwood, Taupe, Grey and Black
- Holds 100lbs per square foot
- Scratch, water and moisture resistant
- Easy to clean with a smooth Satin finish
- 100% Recyclable, made with responsibly sources materials
- Fire tested at ASTM E84 grade A for flame spread
- Installs on studs up to 16inches
- Rigid PVC withstands extreme climates
- Exposed Hardware – Color coordinated Screws and Trims & Feature Colour Strips
- Made in USA
HandiWALL sells by the panel, not by the kit. You can be more more precise with your purchase, however this brand of slatwall is more expensive to begin with. Since it doesn’t come as a kit, the customer will have to also purchase each trim required for the job. HandiWALL does have a unique satin finish, unlike the PVC or plastic like look as the others do. The accessories are very robust, and versatile.
What Can I store on Slatwall?
Almost everything. Each company offers a large variety of accessories to store a huge variety of items. They even have shelves and baskets which are very useful. Here’s a list of items. Skis, poles, snowboards, Ski boots, snow shoes, shoes, hats, coats, garden tools, shovel, brooms, rakes, snow shovel, ladders, plants, garden pots, hand tools, Power tools, leaf blower, hoses, hose reel, weed wacker, electrical cords, umbrellas, bikes, bike helmet, skateboards, buckets, boxes, bins, hockey sticks, baseball bats, backpacks, waterskis, wakeboards, lifejackets, buoys, ropes, kayaks, SUP, wetsuits, fishing rods, tennis racquets, pickle ball paddles, badminton racquets, soccer balls, basket balls, yoga mats, gym weights, bosu balls, shelves with books, scooters, folding chairs, strollers, folding tables, golf clubs, Christmas lights, Art work, and the list can go on…and on!
Bikes
Bike Hooks for Slatwall: Bike hooks work well if you’re uncertain about where you want to place your bike or need to move it around frequently. These hooks are generally a quick and easy solution for hanging bikes on slatwall systems.
Heavy Bikes (Mountain Bikes, E-Bikes, Large Tire Bikes): These types of bikes might be too heavy or bulky for traditional slatwall bike hooks, as slatwall systems are typically designed for lighter loads. Heavy bikes can cause the hooks to bend or even damage the slatwall.
Steady Rack Solution: The Steady Rack is one of the best solutions on the market for storing bikes, especially for heavier models like mountain bikes or e-bikes. This system requires mounting into a wall stud for security. When mounted directly into the stud, it offers much more support compared to slatwall-mounted hooks.
Steady Rack with Slatwall: While the Steady Rack is typically wall-mounted, it can also be installed through slatwall, as long as the slatwall system has direct access to a stud. The downside of this is that if you need to move the Steady Rack, it will leave holes in the slatwall, which might not be ideal for those who want flexibility.
Steady Rack Adapter: Cabinets by Hayley offers a solution for this problem with an adapter that works with HandiWALL and Crownwall slatwall systems. This adapter allows the Steady Rack to be moved across the slatwall without leaving holes or causing damage. This makes it a more flexible solution if you anticipate needing to move the bike rack or change bike placements.
Comparisons
Size of panels
There is a variety of size options ranging from 3 inch to 12 inch. In short, the more slats available the more storage options. The look also varies with the sizes, fortunately “Shiplap” is on trend. The grooves not only provide an elegant look but also create a play of light and shadow, giving the space a dynamic and visually appealing look. Slatwall panels are an ideal choice for creating an atmosphere of subtle sophistication in garages.
Trims
Each kit will come with Trims. Trims are the outside pieces that contour the Kit when installed. It helps to finish the look.
- Proslat includes 2x 4 ft J’s and 2x 8ft J’s
- Crownwall includes 2x ft J, and 1x 8ft top J (no bottom)
- HandiWALL does not have a kit and does not include trims.
Installation time
The installation times for slatwall panels can vary depending on the type of panel and the specific conditions of the wall. For example, Proslat and Crownwall typically take about 1.5 to 2 hours per kit (32 sqft) to install. ProCore may take a bit longer due to its aluminum core, which requires more time for cutting, and each panel needs to be carefully hammered into place.
HandiWALL generally takes between 1.5 to 2.5 hours per 32 sqft, and more if panel strips are required inside the slots to conceal screws. Installation time can also be affected by the condition of the wall itself. A clean, unobstructed wall will be quicker to work with, but features like electrical outlets, electrical panels, plugs, angled ceilings, bulkheads, or car chargers may require extra time for precise cutting and trimming to ensure a seamless and professional look.
Cost
A kit of slatwall is 4ft high and 8ft long. Proslat and Crownwall sell by the kit, which is 32sq ft. Cost is comparable at approximately $450 installed. HandiWALL section at 32sqft would cost $625 installed, and an additional $50 for panel strips to hide screws inside each slot.
Warranty
Each brand we have discussed offer lifetime warranty on their products. Issues we have seen over the years where a failure occurs is largely due to overweighting the slatwall. Overweighting will usually cause the hook to break first. Sometimes screws will pull out of the stud at the top panel. The top panel isn’t as secure as the ones below because it doesn’t have the rigidity and support of the next panel above, only a trim which doesn’t provide any support. In order to mitigate these issues, ensure weight distribution is even across the panels. Spread the weight across a few hooks for items that are more substantial. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s recommended weight limits to avoid overloading. Hire a professional to install the slatwall.
