BUILDERS MERCHANTS RACKING & STORAGE SOLUTIONS
Cantilever, pallet racking and shelving systems engineered for UK builders merchants. From timber yards and trade counters to outdoor block stores — we design, supply and install the lot. 60+ years of experience, £10M liability cover, nationwide installation.
Storage Built for the Way Builders Merchants Actually Trade
No two builders merchants are the same — but they all share the same storage headache. You're handling everything from 6-metre lengths of carcassing timber to 25kg bags of cement, oversized plasterboard sheets, drainage pipe, lintels, ironmongery and a thousand small fixings. Some stock lives in a covered warehouse. Some lives in an open yard exposed to UK weather. And a lot of it gets self-selected by trade customers walking through your aisles with their own vans waiting outside.
Generic warehouse racking doesn't cut it. You need a properly designed mix of cantilever racking for the long stuff, heavy-duty pallet racking for the palletised stock, and accessible longspan shelving for the trade counter — all laid out so forklifts, vans and walking customers can coexist safely.
UM Storage Systems has been designing and installing storage systems for UK builders merchants for over 60 years. We work with independent yards, regional chains and national groups including BMF members. Every project starts with a free site survey and CAD layout — and every installation is SEMA-aligned, HSE-compliant and backed by £10M public liability cover.
Racking Systems for Every Area of Your Branch
Cantilever Racking
Single and double-sided cantilever for timber, lintels, plasterboard, drainage pipe, guttering and steel sections. Galvanised options for outdoor yards.
Heavy-Duty Pallet Racking
Adjustable pallet racking for cement, plaster, aggregates, insulation and palletised bagged goods. SEMA-compliant with full damage protection.
Longspan Shelving
Wide-bay shelving for fixings, ironmongery, tools and smaller bulky items. Perfect for trade counters and pick areas.
Rack & Column Protection
Heavy-duty column guards, end-of-aisle barriers and anti-collapse mesh — essential where forklifts and trade customers share aisles.
Outdoor & Yard Storage
Galvanised cantilever, A-frames and pipe racks engineered for UK weather. Foundations and groundworks coordinated.
Trade Counter Racking
Self-serve aisles with low-level pick faces, safety edging and clear sightlines — designed for live customer environments.
What to Store It On — A Product-by-Product Guide
This table is the quick-reference we use on site surveys. Use it as a starting point — final design depends on your throughput, MHE and floor loading.
| Product Type | Recommended System | Specification |
|---|---|---|
| Timber & Carcassing | Cantilever Racking | Long-arm cantilever, 600–1200mm arms, 500–1500kg per arm |
| Lintels & Steel | Heavy-Duty Cantilever | Reinforced columns, base plates fixed to concrete |
| Plasterboard & Sheet Materials | Cantilever or A-Frame | Vertical or horizontal storage with safety bars |
| Cement, Plaster & Aggregates | Pallet Racking | Heavy-duty beams rated for 1500–4000kg UDL |
| Insulation & Boards | Wide-Span Shelving | Lightweight, accessible, full mesh decking |
| Drainage, Pipe & Guttering | Outdoor Cantilever | Galvanised, weatherproof, yard-rated |
| Ironmongery & Fixings | Longspan Shelving | Bin fronts, dividers, label strips |
| Bricks, Blocks & Slabs | Pallet Racking | Ground-level or low-level heavy storage |
Cantilever Racking for Timber, Lintels & Long Products
Cantilever racking is the single most important system in any builders merchant. The arm-and-column design has no front upright, which means timber, steel lintels, plasterboard, drainage pipe and guttering can be loaded from the side using a sideloader, forklift or moffett — no obstruction, no damage to product edges, no wasted vertical space.
For UK builders merchants we typically specify medium- or heavy-duty cantilever with 600mm, 900mm or 1200mm arms, column heights between 3m and 6m, and capacities of 500kg to 1500kg per arm. Single-sided racks run along walls; double-sided racks form aisles in the middle of a yard. Galvanised finish is standard for outdoor use and adds 10–15 years to service life compared to painted steel.
Read the full cantilever racking specification guide →
Trade Counter & Self-Serve Aisles
The trade counter is a public-facing zone with all the safety implications that brings. Customers reach into low pick faces; staff replenish from above with manual handling equipment; in busy hours forklifts may operate in adjacent aisles. Trade counter racking has to be designed for that mix.
Our trade counter designs use low-level pick faces (typically ≤1.8m), anti-collapse mesh on all upper levels, clear sightlines for staff supervision, edge protection on every column, and visual aisle markings to separate customer and forklift zones. Bin fronts, dividers and full label strips keep stock organised and visible — critical for first-time-pick rates and stock accuracy.
Every trade counter installation is signed off against SEMA guidance and the HSE racking code (HSG76), and is inspection-ready from day one.
Outdoor Yard Storage: Built for British Weather
UK weather is brutal on outdoor racking. Painted steel rusts within 2–3 years; untreated timber sleepers rot; concrete blocks shift under load. Our outdoor cantilever systems are hot-dip galvanised to BS EN ISO 1461, rated for full wind loading per BS EN 1991-1-4, and installed on engineered concrete pads or strip foundations sized to your ground conditions.
Where ground preparation is needed, we coordinate the groundworks as part of the project. You get one supplier, one programme, one fixed price — and a yard that will still be standing in 20 years.
Why Builders Merchants Choose UM Storage Systems
Builders Merchants Racking — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best racking for a builders merchant?
Most builders merchants combine cantilever racking for long products (timber, lintels, plasterboard, drainage), heavy-duty adjustable pallet racking for palletised stock (cement, plaster, aggregates), and longspan shelving for smaller fixings and ironmongery. The right mix depends on stock profile, yard layout, and handling equipment.
How much does builders merchant racking cost?
Cantilever racking typically costs £180–£420 per metre supplied and installed depending on arm length, capacity and column height. A typical 20-bay timber rack runs £8,000–£18,000. Used racking can cut that by up to 60%. Get a free site survey for an accurate fixed-price quote.
Can you install racking in an outdoor yard?
Yes. We supply galvanised cantilever racking and weatherproof pallet racking designed for outdoor builders merchant yards. All outdoor systems are installed on engineered foundations with appropriate fixings for UK weather conditions.
Do you supply racking for trade counters and self-serve aisles?
Yes. We design trade counter racking that is safe for customer self-selection: low-level pick faces, anti-collapse mesh, edge protection, and clear sightlines for staff supervision. SEMA-aligned and inspection-ready.
Do you offer racking inspections for builders merchants?
Yes. Annual SEMA-aligned racking inspections are a HSE requirement (HSG76). We provide written reports with red/amber/green damage classification, plus repair quotes for any failed components.
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