Garage shelving/storage systems (1 Viewer)

[gianmarco]

Going to be moving into a new home in the next couple months and curious what some of you like or don't like about your garage in terms of shelving and/or storage. To start, I'm not at all handy and don't really spend any time doing any kind of work in my garage with tools as it's just not my thing. So, I'm not particularly looking for a workbench and I don't own a huge array of tool sets, but I do have basic things for around the house, some garden stuff, and then bikes and other basic things to throw in the garage to keep out of the way.

Not all of the walls in the garage are finished but I might end up doing so at a later date. I don't want to break the bank, but at the same time I wouldn't mind spending a little to at least keep it clean and organized.

I'm curious to here what some of you guys have and things to definitely avoid or definitely invest in.

 

[Cjw_55106]

Using 2X4s and plywood, my dad and I built shelves about 4 feet off the ground on two of the four garage walls. It works great for storage and generally keeping things off the floor. Its been years, but it had to have cost me much less than $100.

 

[E-Z Glider]

check the products you recommend thread.... pretty sure someone actually recommended something for this

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

First off, if you don't finish the walls before you move in you are extremely unlikely to do so at a later date, once the garage is full. If you are in a northern climate definitely buy some insulation batting and some particle board and insulate and cover the wall. The energy savings in a year or two will return the investment. Also, using particle board instead of dry wall sheets will allow you to mount items on the wall more securely due to its strength. If You don't like the look just cover with a very washable outdoor paint so that if you hose out your garage from time to time you will not be damaging drywall.

I like to use an epoxy paint on the floor. It is an easy job and will return your time over the years many fold with the ease of cleaning that surface as opposed to a concrete surface alone.

You can look into Hyloft overhead storage products. They hang from the ceiling, taking up zero floor space as to may shelving systems. they are great for light items, sleeping bags, tents, cushions, life vests, Christmas decorations and the like.

Otherwise, go to Home Depot with no plan to buy, just to look at all the storage options. Spend some time, think it through at home, and then buy with a plan. Penny wise and pound foolish when it comes to these items, in my experience.

 

[Quez]

There are a variety of wall organization products to hang things from. I have the Rubbermaid fast track, but I hear the other brands are good too. Then I have several of those free standing shelving units.

I wouldn't recommend DIY garage floor epoxy unless it is a new slab kr grinded down. I pressure washed, etched, & preped the surface really well & have had quite a bit of peel in 2 years.

 

[matttyl]

If you don't mind what it looks like and just want it to be functional, nothing wrong with a horizontal 2x4 with some nails to hang tools on - this is especially true if the walls aren't finished anyway.

If you do finish off the walls, I personally have the gladiator wall system. One continuous strip about 5 feet off the ground all the way round 3 walls.

I built a "work bench" from a tick piece of plywood and a pegboard back where I hang hand tools from. Shelves under plywood hold power tools.

For bikes, I have a set of these, and love them.

 

[E-Z Glider]

You can look into Hyloft overhead storage products. They hang from the ceiling, taking up zero floor space as to may shelving systems. they are great for light items, sleeping bags, tents, cushions, life vests, Christmas decorations and the like.

The ceiling space above the garage door is a great (often wasted) storage space to hang shelves from. You obviously wouldnt want to keep things there that you need all the time, but I use it to store seasonal items (ski stuff in the summer and kayaking stuff in the winter). Just switch the stuff each season.

 

[avoiding injuries]

Using 2X4s and plywood, my dad and I built shelves about 4 feet off the ground on two of the four garage walls. It works great for storage and generally keeping things off the floor. Its been years, but it had to have cost me much less than $100.

I did something similar with my dad. We made 2 units with 3 levels, each about 8 ft wide. So much storage. I also put hooks into the studs of the wall to hang things.

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

There are a variety of wall organization products to hang things from. I have the Rubbermaid fast track, but I hear the other brands are good too. Then I have several of those free standing shelving units.

I wouldn't recommend DIY garage floor epoxy unless it is a new slab kr grinded down. I pressure washed, etched, & preped the surface really well & have had quite a bit of peel in 2 years.

I did have a new slab when I applied my product, so my experience may not be reproducible.

 

[avoiding injuries]

Buying the garage organization products is outrageously expensive.

 

[Quez]

Buying the garage organization products is outrageously expensive.

Depending on the extent it can be. You don't have to deck out the entire garage. Just pick and choose what you want. For me 1 track and a few hangers was sufficient to hang my trimmer, edger, and a few other tools.

 

[matttyl]

Buying the garage organization products is outrageously expensive.

not on black friday from Lowes 2 years ago.

 

[FUBAR]

Buying the garage organization products is outrageously expensive.

Plywood cut to your needs and 2x4s aren't expensive. I've used this system in 3 houses now, slightly different each time.

 

[El Floppo]

 

[gianmarco]

First off, if you don't finish the walls before you move in you are extremely unlikely to do so at a later date, once the garage is full. If you are in a northern climate definitely buy some insulation batting and some particle board and insulate and cover the wall. The energy savings in a year or two will return the investment. Also, using particle board instead of dry wall sheets will allow you to mount items on the wall more securely due to its strength. If You don't like the look just cover with a very washable outdoor paint so that if you hose out your garage from time to time you will not be damaging drywall.

I like to use an epoxy paint on the floor. It is an easy job and will return your time over the years many fold with the ease of cleaning that surface as opposed to a concrete surface alone.

You can look into Hyloft overhead storage products. They hang from the ceiling, taking up zero floor space as to may shelving systems. they are great for light items, sleeping bags, tents, cushions, life vests, Christmas decorations and the like.

Otherwise, go to Home Depot with no plan to buy, just to look at all the storage options. Spend some time, think it through at home, and then buy with a plan. Penny wise and pound foolish when it comes to these items, in my experience.

Thanks for this.

It's a new construction home. Any of the walls touching the home do have drywall, the others just have the framing. It was one of those things where the drywall guys were done and I didn't realize they weren't planning on doing that. That said, our builder said it ends up just costing a lot of money to finish those walls and simply isn't necessary and I don't necessarily disagree. I'll actually ask him about having particle board put up over the framing and see if they can just get that done before I get in there as that sounds like it would help.

Will definitely look into that Hyloft as well as the Gladiator that was mentioned.

 

[avoiding injuries]

Buying the garage organization products is outrageously expensive.

Plywood cut to your needs and 2x4s aren't expensive. I've used this system in 3 houses now, slightly different each time.

Yes. That's what I did and why I did it.

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

First off, if you don't finish the walls before you move in you are extremely unlikely to do so at a later date, once the garage is full. If you are in a northern climate definitely buy some insulation batting and some particle board and insulate and cover the wall. The energy savings in a year or two will return the investment. Also, using particle board instead of dry wall sheets will allow you to mount items on the wall more securely due to its strength. If You don't like the look just cover with a very washable outdoor paint so that if you hose out your garage from time to time you will not be damaging drywall.

I like to use an epoxy paint on the floor. It is an easy job and will return your time over the years many fold with the ease of cleaning that surface as opposed to a concrete surface alone.

You can look into Hyloft overhead storage products. They hang from the ceiling, taking up zero floor space as to may shelving systems. they are great for light items, sleeping bags, tents, cushions, life vests, Christmas decorations and the like.

Otherwise, go to Home Depot with no plan to buy, just to look at all the storage options. Spend some time, think it through at home, and then buy with a plan. Penny wise and pound foolish when it comes to these items, in my experience.

Thanks for this.

It's a new construction home. Any of the walls touching the home do have drywall, the others just have the framing. It was one of those things where the drywall guys were done and I didn't realize they weren't planning on doing that. That said, our builder said it ends up just costing a lot of money to finish those walls and simply isn't necessary and I don't necessarily disagree. I'll actually ask him about having particle board put up over the framing and see if they can just get that done before I get in there as that sounds like it would help.

Will definitely look into that Hyloft as well as the Gladiator that was mentioned.

Code in most places is that the exterior walls on all living areas have to be insulated and finished. In garages this often means that about half the space is finished where it is up against bedrooms or whatnot, and those areas not immediately adjacent to living areas do not get finished. It is a bull#### cost saving measure by builders. the few extra dollars they would spend at wholesale costs and with crews already on scene is negligible. They, regardless will take all the profit they can get. This practice is industry standard.

Still, buy a few rolls of R14 batting, at least, put that in, and then close up the airspace with particle board. Since it is a garage you really don't need the fine finish of drywall, and the 3/4 inch particle board gives you sufficient backing to hold most nails and screws as you hand stuff, such that you don't have to search for studs to screw things into. I am willing to bet that you can finish the job with no more than 8 sheets of particle board, a few rolls of insulation, a circular saw, a box of screws, and one charge on your drill. half a days work, maybe a bit more if you want to paint it. (Me, I caulked as well, but that is not necessary.

As the years roll bye and you are in the house, and you are not having cold draft problems in the kids rooms over the garage, you will thank me, or more to the point, if you don't do it you will wonder why. (Oh, I am a big believer in the insulated garage door as well - though the cost return on that probably goes out to 7 years, at lest in my climate.)

 

[Brony]

:sehorn:

 

[Fat Nick]

Cheapest: 2x4 DIY shelves

Most versatile: Shelf Track systems (Gladiator, Rubbermaid, Closetmaid, etc).

I went with the Closetmaid Max Load stuff.  It used to be a stock item at Home Depot, but I'm not sure if it still is or not.  Attach the header bar to studs with 2.5" lag bolts.  Attach the standards to the studs too (not required, but really increases your holding) with 3" screws.  You can basically load up the shelves with whatever you want.  I have a full 10' x 18' wall on the back of my garage with shelves floor to ceiling filled with stuff.  If I change what I want to put where, I just remove the shelves and brackets and reorganize.  Cost me ~$500, but it's a lot more flexible than DIY shelves, and a lot faster to put up. 

Also, someone mentioned ceiling space - I have 2 kayaks, a storage pod, and 2 ladders suspended from my garage ceiling with a pulley system to raise and lower them.  Amazing use of space I'd otherwise have no use for.  You can build a pretty cheap pulley system with some angle iron, pulleys, and some rope.  Just bolts up to the ceiling. 

Oh, and I SWEAR by plastic bins.  I've probably got 50 of them throughout the house for various things.

 

[belljr]

Those walls are also finished for fire rating.   Around here it is required to have .75" of sheet rock

ETA it migh be .75

 

[Fat Nick]

Those walls are also finished for fire rating.   Around here it is required to have 1.75" of sheet rock

  That's like 4 sheets!  That's crazy.  I've seen doubled between the garage and the interior, but 4 sheets?

 

[belljr]

  That's like 4 sheets!  That's crazy.  I've seen doubled between the garage and the interior, but 4 sheets?

May I was mistaken maybe it's .75"   

ETA  - I have 3 - 1/2" I think

 

[VA703]

get one of these

 

[BowieMercs]

get one of these

I got one of these Overhead storage rack things for my basement (its unfinished & its almost 10' from the floor to the floor joists overhead). It didn't include the accessories shown in NoVA Guys link.

 

[VA703]

I got one of these Overhead storage rack things for my basement (its unfinished & its almost 10' from the floor to the floor joists overhead). It didn't include the accessories shown in NoVA Guys link.

nice!! wish I could do that in my basement

my next project is a pulley system connected to a platform so I can store my sons powerwheels above my car and out of the way.

 

[Andrew74]

If you don't mind what it looks like and just want it to be functional, nothing wrong with a horizontal 2x4 with some nails to hang tools on - this is especially true if the walls aren't finished anyway.

If you do finish off the walls, I personally have the gladiator wall system. One continuous strip about 5 feet off the ground all the way round 3 walls.

I built a "work bench" from a tick piece of plywood and a pegboard back where I hang hand tools from. Shelves under plywood hold power tools.

For bikes, I have a set of these, and love them.

Bought a new house last May and we did the Gladiator system.  Nice thing it is flexible in how you arrange it, so it will work with probably any garage setup.  It's kept our garage clean and organized.  I am not a handyman by any stretch and it was easy to install.

 

[Fat Nick]

nice!! wish I could do that in my basement

my next project is a pulley system connected to a platform so I can store my sons powerwheels above my car and out of the way.

My neighbor just gave us one of these, and I'm dealing with where the heck to put it too.  This is a good idea.  I've already got a decent system for pulleying things up in the garage, and plenty of height.  Food for thought...

I can tell you that for the three pulley systems I've made for hoisting my kayaks and also our car pod, the biggest challenge is that they don't go up level.  You kind of have to pull on the rope, pull on the high side of the load, and alternate.  It's fine for things that are tied on securely, or that can tip, but I'd worry that a car on wheels on a platform may be more tricky, even if tied down.

I'll be curious to see what you come up with.

 

[VA703]

My neighbor just gave us one of these, and I'm dealing with where the heck to put it too.  This is a good idea.  I've already got a decent system for pulleying things up in the garage, and plenty of height.  Food for thought...

I can tell you that for the three pulley systems I've made for hoisting my kayaks and also our car pod, the biggest challenge is that they don't go up level.  You kind of have to pull on the rope, pull on the high side of the load, and alternate.  It's fine for things that are tied on securely, or that can tip, but I'd worry that a car on wheels on a platform may be more tricky, even if tied down.

I'll be curious to see what you come up with.

ill keep you updated