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Store-bought garage storage shelves.When you build storage shelves for the garage, you can put away important things that you still need and be able to find them without having to look everywhere. It's one of the methods for organizing a space so that the garage doesn't look cluttered--and it makes it easier to park your car.
There are many choices of garage storage shelving units at home improvement centers. There are those made of wires, heavy-duty plastics and laminate wood that require only a few tools to assemble and install. The cost of these shelving units can add up, especially if you need to assemble many as your things multiply.
A more cost-effective alternative is building storage shelves from scratch, using lumber available at home improvement stores. Make them as sturdy as possible in order to carry heavier loads such as machinery, small appliances and tools. -
Determine the location where you will build your garage storage shelves. If you have a big garage, you can build the garage storage unit along the sides or an unused corner space; however, in a small garage, you need to build your storage unit mounted high up on the wall, close to the ceilings so that you have enough room to park the car.
Measure the length, width and depth of the garage shelving unit. Go deeper if there is enough room. For shelves on the sides closer to parked cars, keep the depth to a minimum of 18 to 24 inches, leaving enough clearance for the car.
Gather materials to use. For this example, we would need a tape measure, miter saw, hammer and nails (pneumatic gun if possible), level, clamps, square, 8 to 10 pieces of 8-foot, 2-by-4 lumber for the posts and one whole sheet of OSB (Oriented Standard Board). -
Garage storage shelves made of lumber.Build the shelving frame. Cut the two vertical posts measuring 72 inches each out of the 2-by-4s. Then, cut eight pieces of 2-by-4 lumbers, measuring 24 inches each. Cut eight pieces of 2-by-4s measuring 48 inches each.
Locate the studs on the garage wall. Attach four 2-by-4 lumbers measuring 48 inches each to the garage wall studs, spacing them at least 18 inches apart on top of each other.
Build two half ladders where one half ladder consists of a post measuring 72 inches high, and connect four 2-by-4 lumbers measuring 24 inches each, spaced 18 inches apart. These two half ladders are the frames that go on each side. Attach the half ladders to each end of the four lumbers you connected to the garage wall. Use clamps to hold them in place then use a pneumatic gun or hammer and nails to attach them together. Remove the clamps once you're done.
Connect the remaining four pieces of 2-by-4 lumbers measuring 48 inches wide across the front, connecting the two half ladders. Use clamps to hold them into place before nailing them together.
Build the shelves out of the OSB sheet by cutting four pieces, each measuring 48 inches wide and 24 inches deep. Then nail them to each shelving frame.
