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Garage reformat

sreidmx

sreidmx

Fortify Offroad
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ugh... I freaking hate not having my chit organized, lately my garage has been in a state of disarray. So I think I am going to change the way it's configured. Yea I have some crap, I'm sure you can all relate.
I want some input on this because I suck at it.. I need to store full lengths of tube on the wall where my work bench is now. I need shelves eveywhere.. And more storage for odd size things.
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I wish mine was tall enough for a lift. I plan on installing one off the side but I have flood zone issues..
 
How about a loft or raised floor,one tall enough to back or drive a vehicle's trunk or nose under--pile all the "clutter" stuff up on that...get floor space back..
I'm debating whether to do that to my quonset..but I'm also tempted to just take off the plywood sheets I used to block off a pre-framed garage door opening, and extend it with a lean too roof & walls,rather than block off the rear of the building with a loft..
Probably be easier to just ditch all the "stuff" I've accumulated over 40 years of being here though...:blush:..
 
Mine is as bad, but with a 57 Pontiac to one side, a K5 outside the door, a 4 x 8 trailer in the other bay of the garage. I'm lucky mine is not attached to the house and I've done a good job of purging household and garden stuff from it. On the downside I can't blame any of the mess on my wife no more.
 
I agree with Kert declutter first. You gotta be brutal with this. Best to do it with a friend who could care less about your crap.

Second shelves.

Third, shelves.

Fourth, shelves.

I have seen rack systems you can build to put storage bins over the garage door.

IMHO you gotta have like 3 seperate steel racks. One for full sticks. One for partials down to say 4 ft, and one more for shorter pieces and scrap.
 
We have a shed out back, I talked to the wife and we're gonna go through this stuff and clean it up.
 
Best thing you can do immediately......

Build a perimeter shelf around all three sides of your garage that is about 18" - 24" down from the ceiling. Make them about 24" deep.

Then go buy as many Hefty 72Qt (NOT Sterilite!) clear bins as will fit (loading them with the short dimension forward)

You will probably end up with at least 30 bins-worth of storage that way and will be able to get a TON of stuff up off the floor, and if you buy the clear bins (which you should) then everything will still be easy to see and find and will be easy to pull down when you need to retrieve something. The locking lids are great because it will keep out rodents from blankets, towels, pillows, sleeping bags, etc.

Be advised that you'll want to build the shelves to be strong, ultimately you're going to have a LOT of weight up there if you do your organizing well. I typically use 2x4s and 1/2 plywood. You can rip the plywood lengthwise for the shelving and it will be an efficient use of material. 2x4's on the sidewalls can be screwed in with basic 3" drywall type screws but I like supporting the shelves from above to save valuable sidewall space and those should be lag-bolted into the ceiling joists. Depending on which way the joints run, it can be a bit of a pain to do.

After that is all completed, you can do well by storing long-term restoration items into small ZipLoc bins like these:




Even though they are clear, I usually put some green tape on the outside to describe the general category of parts inside (Front Mog Bolts, Trim Panel screws, etc)


If you've got a lot of that kind of stuff, build some shallow shelving along one of the sidewalls (out of the way) and put it all over there.


The main thing IMHO is to preserve the sidewall space if the truck is going to be pulled into the garage. It sucks to always be bumping into stuff when you are trying to walk around the truck and work.

I also HATE floorstanding shelving because floorspace in a small 1-car or 2-car garage is at such a premium. The floor space on the sides is great for storing rolling carts, toolboxes, floor jacks or mobile workbenches... and you have the flexibility to reconfigure the shop more easily as the projects change and evolve.


-G
 
Greg72 said:
Best thing you can do immediately......
Build a perimeter shelf around all three sides of your garage that is about 18" - 24" down from the ceiling. Make them about 24" deep.
-G
Click to expand...

I've built several variations of the shelving pictured below at different houses. Some over the door and some down the side walls and I make them fit standard plastic bins.

IMG_8269sm_zpsshyta9qv.jpg


and I agree about the crap we accumulate, go through it and ask yourself when's the last time you needed or used it before deciding to keep it around.
 
@Greg72 and @skunked thanks guys that's a huge help!! I'll be doin this in the coming weekend.. I have a ton of 2x6 left over from the barn so I'll use that where I can and get the plywood also..
 
sreidmx said:
@Greg72 and @skunked thanks guys that's a huge help!! I'll be doin this in the coming weekend.. I have a ton of 2x6 left over from the barn so I'll use that where I can and get the plywood also..
Click to expand...

Do yourself a favor and buy at least ONE of those 72Qt bins ahead of time. You'll want to have it to check the dimensions of your shelving before you get too far ahead of yourself!!

Nothing more embarrassing than building shelves too short for the bins to fit....!!! And there's no value in building them too low either...the wasted space above the bins would be more useful to you underneath the shelf.


-G
 
Greg72 said:
Do yourself a favor and buy at least ONE of those 72Qt bins ahead of time. You'll want to have it to check the dimensions of your shelving before you get too far ahead of yourself!!

Nothing more embarrassing than building shelves too short for the bins to fit....!!! And there's no value in building them too low either...the wasted space above the bins would be more useful to you underneath the shelf.


-G
Click to expand...

Yep, definitely buy a bin first.
 
Also as much clear floor space. It can be useful in a smaller garage to make everything moveable
 
Oh also as much as this pains me to admit.


Pinterest RULES for garage storage ideas. Many ideas need a bit of beefing up but most are generally sound
 
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