How to Build Overhead Storage Units for the Garage

Garage organization instructions usually talk about shelves and cabinets along the walls, but what about all that empty space near the ceiling? With a few common tools and a few dollars' worth of materials, you can build a ceiling rack to hold those bulky items that refuse to fit on ordinary shelves.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 2 8-foot 2x4s
• 6 3-inch lag bolts and washers
• ½-inch plywood
• #8 x 1½ screws
• glue
• drill and bits, saw, screwdriver, wrench (for lag bolts)
• measuring tape, framing square
• (optional) stud finder

1. Cut eight (8) strips of ½-inch plywood three (3) inches wide and 24 inches long.

2. 
    
   Parts: four each four-foot 2x4s and eight each ½-inch plywood strips cut to 3

   Cut both 2"x4"x8' in half, so that you have four pieces four feet long.

3. 
    
   Make 'em good and square.

   Assemble the parts using carpenter's glue and wood screws (for reference, the shank hole of a #8 screw is 11/64" and the pilot hole [in soft wood] is 5/64"). Attach four strips to the outside ends of each pair of 2x4s (see photo). Use a carpenter's square to align the parts correctly.

4. 
    
   A pair of completed hangers.

   Repeat with two more 2x4s and another four plywood strips. You now have two hangers.

5. Use a stud finder, magnet, or the old "tap until you find a solid spot" method to locate your rafters. You'll want to find three ceiling joists so that you can mount the hangers across them - do not mount parallel to the joists, mount across them. Mark the joists so that you can mount the hangers four feet apart.

6. Mount the hangers securely to the ceiling joists using a lag bolt per joist in each hanger. Your ceiling storage is now ready to use.

Tips & Warnings

• You may have heard that ceiling joists are sixteen inches apart - they're supposed to be, but rarely are.
• To store smaller articles, add a "floor" of one-inch boards or other inexpensive lumber such as dog-ear fence pickets
• The stated two-foot height, four-foot length, and four-foot spacing are merely guidelines. Feel free to customize.
• You can add a second level to your storage by inserting a pair of 1x4s partway down both brackets (see photo at top of article)
• Get help to mount your hangers near the ceiling
• Use safety glasses whenever you're using power tools
• For heavy loads, make certain to securely lag both hangers to the ceiling joists.

[jase1125]

on 11/29/2009 I built this with a dimension of 8' wide, 6' long and 3' tall. I have been able to store a ton of stuff. I love it. One recommendation is to use plumbers tabe (metal strapping with holes for a screw to fit through. You can run the tape from the bottom of the 2x4 on the end up to a floor joist on either side. This provides additional support and stability. Otherwise, they tend to sway a little under pressure.