Overhead Garage Storage
It just seems like there is never enough storage space especially in the garage. It also seems that with the many DIY projects undertaken around the house the tools and materials need their own space crowding out the personal items stored in larger boxes. So where to you put the holiday decorations that are needed only once a year or the luggage or other memorabilia now boxed for safe keeping? The most unused area of the garage is along the ceiling; so let’s talk overhead garage storage racks.
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Sounds funny to say but it is true. There is a lot of untapped storage space in the upper 2′ of the garage, either along the walls or in the middle of the garage. For example, look above your work table, the wall space over 7′ is unused. Or look above were the cars park, another untapped area. So how do you capture that space to use for overhead garage storage using racks?
First Venture with Shelves
My first venture into this was to build wall shelves from dimensional lumber just below the ceiling height. Hence, after a quick trip to the local big box hardware store I returned with 2x4s and plywood. No big deal right. Then the next step is to wip up some triangle shaped mounting brackets, cut the plywood to size, locate the wall studs and in no time I had shelving all along the top rim on one wall.
No problem there. They could hold a lot of weight. It added some much needed storage space. And ultimately, the boxes were off the floor. The mounting brackets over time were changed out to look more craftsman-like since the first set were done without much finesse. But something was still not working for me. They were so bulky looking.
More Refined Organization
Spring forward a few years and I find myself better utilizing the space in my garage. Because of that there are more shelves and therefore I would like them to look sleeker less bulky. Admittedly I am a bit of a organizational nut and prefer things to be nicely coordinated not just functional. Plus I like to find ways of doing things that can be used in many different circumstances that will work equally well.
So let me share with you some garage storage shelving that I feel has worked really well in several different applications. The Fleximount shelving seems to do the trick. These shelves come specifically with wall mount brackets to secure shelving at the the outer edges of the garage. Additionally, the product offers brackets for securely suspending shelving from the ceiling. The amount of overhead garage storage space that these racks create is amazing.
Overhead Garage Storage
Seldom used places now are usable for overhead storage in your garage. The most often overlooked space is above the garage door. It is fully accessible when the door is down so retrieving stored items isn’t a problem. So why not use the space for storage? With Fleximount overhead storage you can suspend a 4×8 storage rack(s) above the garage door(s) garnering that much needed storage area. Or add sections side by side to maximize the space.
The same suspended shelving can also be moved to the outer edges of the garage to create larger storage areas. Or change to the shelving with support brackets for more traditional depth shelves. But with shelves don’t forget that you can maximize storage space by installing one of the other about 16″ to 20″ apart; that should give you plenty of storage for smaller boxes and loose items that may be stored without boxes. I have used these in combination with the slat walls that I have covered in my post Budget Friendly Garage Storage System.
Here are a few features that may be of interest to you
- All mounting hardware is included
- The anchor bolts provide are heavy duty
- Installation instructions and template are included
- Overhead storage brackets are height adjustable, 22″ to 40″
- Cold rolled steel brackets and decking
- 4 overhead storage rack sizes: 4×8, 4×6, 3×6, 3×8
- Versatile mounting, either parallel or perpendicular to ceiling joists
- Integrated wire grid option or plywood decking
Plywood versus Wire Grid
The other feature about these shelves that I like is the option for a plywood deck or wire grid deck. In either case these 4′ x 8′ storage racks will handle about 550 to 600 lbs. An additional feature is that the plywood deck comes in a few color options for those of us who like the option to color coordinate. But, don’t laugh I recently consulted on a project where the tall utility storage cabinets (royal blue) and the work bench cabinets (orange) where selected to match the epoxy coated garage floor and surf boards.
Overall, the grid decking is my preference just because it looks less bulky plus the dirt and debris does not sit on top as it would with a plywood deck. Additionally, the wire grid comes in two colors to match the rack framing, black or white. The overall look for this overhead garage storage racks and shelves is very nice. It also provides a clean, organized look for an area that all too often looks forgotten.
I would enjoy getting your comments and pictures on how you used the Fleximount Racks and Shelves.
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