How to Hang Overhead Garage Shelves

Finding storage space in your garage can be challenging when you've used up the space on the walls for shelves and cabinets. But have you looked up? Building and hanging overhead garage shelves can add a whole new dimension of storage space to your garage. It only requires basic carpentry skills and some simple materials you can get at any lumber yard or home improvement store.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 2-by-4 inch boards
• 1-by-10 inch planks
• Nails
• Hammer
• Saw

1. Cut two crosspieces out of 2-by-4 inch lumber, using your circular saw. The cross pieces should be 48 inches long.

2. Cut four vertical supports out of 2-by-4 lumber. The vertical supports are used for hanging the overhead shelves from the joists of your garage. Make the vertical supports 30 inches long. Note that you can adjust the length of these, depending on the height of your garage ceiling.

3. 
   Hanger assemblies (illustration by NL)

   Assemble the crosspieces and vertical supports. The two vertical supports will be placed at right angles on the end of the crosspiece. Nail them together. You'll end up with two hanger assemblies, each consisting of a crosspiece and two vertical supports.

4. 

   Nail the two hanger assemblies in line with each other on two joists in the garage ceiling. Space the two hanger assemblies 48 inches apart.

5. 

   Cut four 1-by-10 inch boards, each 52 inches long. Slide them onto the hanger assembly, parallel to each other, and nail them in place.