Garage Storage Help

When it comes to garage storage, in addition to overhead storage and garage storage cabinets, another option to create more space is by installing garage shelving. While you can purchase various garage organizers, garage shelving is ideal because you can quickly build custom heights and lengths to add additional storage.

A great place to start is by visiting your local hardware store or hardware chain store or even a lumber yard to gather the supplies you will need to build the shelves. Even if you are not that comfortable with tools, shelving can be done with little equipment and in a short amount of time if you are not that worried about a fancy design.

To build a basic garage shelf, you will need plywood, usually 3/4 to 1 inch thick, shelf brackets, screws and possibly wall anchors. If you have wall studs available to you, you can screw the brackets directly into the wall. You can find the wall studs by either using a stud finder or looking for other screws already in the wall. Most vertical studs will be between 16 to 24 inches apart. If you screw or drill into the wall and hit only drywall, they you will need to use an anchor for the screw to make sure it stays in the wall. Otherwise the screws will not be able to support the weight you load onto the shelves.

You will also need a screwdriver, a hammer, a level and possibly a drill. The level is the most critical element of the installation process because if you have uneven shelves, items could possibly slide off of one of the ends. It is also important when you are installing the brackets underneath the shelf to not space them out too far. Otherwise the shelves will bow in the middle and instead of being a straight across horizontally, they will have a “u” look to them.

If you are looking for ready made garage shelving, you best bet is to go with steel shelving units. Steel shelves allow you store much more weight than if you were to go with a plastic type shelving unit. These units will need to be assembled so they take do take some time  to put in place. Also, they are on the ground so usually contain three or four levels shelves. You can screw them into the wall to keep them from moving from the additional weight that they are able to support.

Shelves serve as great garage storage solutions and they allow you maximize the open space up in the air that create additional square footage for garage storage of household items.