A garage is the perfect home for all sorts of items and activities from storing sporting equipment to tools and machines; and it's original purpose for car parking to activities like a home-office, a gym or a workshop. If your garage is only used for storage rather than other activities it really needs some shelves for organization.
Usually garage shelves can be found in two main forms: site-built and prefabricated. Site-built shelves are usually less expensive and allow you to adapt the sizes to the space available. You can find everything that you need at the local home center, lumber yard, discount store or hardware store.
One of the basics of the garage shelves is made of a simple piece of 3/4" plywood or a length of 1x or 2x lumber on a set of heavy-duty shelf brackets. This is mounted by attaching the brackets to the studs directly using long screws then by attaching the shelf to the brackets. To strengthen the shelf you can add a brace at each stud.
Another type of shelves are the floor-supported ones. One method is to run vertical 2x4s every 50 inches and resting them on the floor and attaching them to the rafters or ceiling joists at the top. In addition, the 2x4s are run horizontally on edge between the uprights then a particleboard is used to create the shelve. The most commonly used dimensions are 19-25 inches for depth and the spacing between 2x4s is usually on 25 inches but of course, these sizes can be changed to accommodate the size of the items that you are storing.
For storing small items you should take into consideration the space between the studs. By attaching a series of 1x2 strips horizontally to the inside edges of two adjacent studs approximately 6 inches apart, cutting some 1x4 and 1x6 pieces of lumber and fitting them between studs and slipping them on top of the 1x2s you can create some small adjustable shelves. These are great for jars, cans and bottles and also for other small and light items. The small shelves are great for organizing and storing screws and nails.
The best choice when building prefabricated garage shelves is Steel shelving. Plastic shelving may be enough for storing light Weight items but in time you may need something more resistant for storing heavier items. One disadvantage of the steel shelving is that they cannot be cut to size so they have standard widths, depths and heights so you have to choose something that fits within your available space.
Adjustability is another important consideration in prefabricated shelving. Prefabricated shelves should be adjustable to at least two different locations within the shelving framework and also the pins for adjusting should be heavy duty and should have something in place for preventing them from working loose or becoming accidentally dislodged.
Another thing to be taken into consideration when opting for prefabricated shelves, especially those designed for heavy loads, is that they may require a wall attachment or other support against tipping.
The garage of a home is the location for storage a plethora of items, although its original purpose was intended for the parking of cars. It can be used for a wide variety of things depending on the desires of the residents. However, when the garage becomes a place for storage only and cannot be used for other purposes, an organizational structure of some sort is necessary. Shelves can typically be found in both site-built as well as pre-fabricated. Site built shelves can be less costly and also more adaptable to one's space. Home improvement stores, lumber yards, and hardware dealers will have supplies for these purposes and sometimes even at discount stores.
In the simplest form the garage storing shelves can be fashioned from a piece of inch plywood or a length of lumber that is 1x or 2x and then placed on a set of shelf brackets. The shelf brackets should be heavy duty to hold the weight of the shelves and contents. The studs can be attached directly to the brackets using long screws and then the shelves can be secured to the brackets. The studs can have added braces to increase the shelf's strength.
Floor-supported shelves are also available. These can be used by running vertical 2x4s about every fifty inches. Then they are rested on the floor. They should be attached to the rafters or joists in the ceiling. This is to secure the shelves. Further to this, the 2x4s are to run horizontal between the uprights. Then particleboard serves the purpose of the actual shelf. For dimensions, the shelves are most commonly between 19 and 25 inches in depth. The spacing is about 25 inches between the 2x4s. However, these sizes can be altered in order to best store the items necessary.
When garage storage includes smaller items the space between the studs should be thought about. A hint is to attach 1x2 strips to the inside edges of the adjacent studs. They should be placed about six inches apart. By cutting 1x4 as well as 1x6 pieces of lumber that are then placed between the studs and on top of the 1x2s can serve the purpose and create adjustable shelving for smaller items. These should not be too close to your . Some smaller items to take into consideration are jars, cans, and other light or tiny items, especially nails and screws.
For prefabricated storing shelves for the garage, the most common and trusted is steel. If plastic shelving is used, it should be used for small light items and not heavy items. However, steel shelves cannot be altered in any way or cut down. They come in a standard width, length, and depth. It is essential to make sure the available standard sizes fit well within the space before purchasing them. Being able to adjust shelving is an important factor for consideration. If using shelving that is adjustable, the pins for adjustments should be heavy duty for weighted items. As well, they should be used in such a way that they cannot become knocked out or loosened. Prefabricated shelves should also be attached to the wall or ceiling joists somehow to ensure that they do not tip. Do not place these too close to your .
Both Jerald Shapiro & Eric Slarkowski are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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