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A garage is the perfect home for all sorts of items and activities from storing sporting equipment to tools and machines; and it’s original purpose for car parking to activities like a home-office, a gym or a workshop. If your garage is only used for storage rather than other activities it really needs some shelves for organization.
Usually garage shelves can be found in two main forms: site-built and prefabricated. Site-built shelves are usually less expensive and allow you to adapt the sizes to the space available. You can find everything that you need at the local home center, lumber yard, discount store or hardware store.
One of the basics of the garage shelves is made of a simple piece of three-fourth inches plywood or a length of 1x or 2x lumber on a set of heavy-duty shelf brackets. This is mounted by attaching the brackets to the studs directly using long screws then by attaching the shelf to the brackets. To strengthen the shelf you can add a brace at each stud.
Another type of shelves are the floor-supported ones. One method is to run vertical 2x4s every 50 inches and resting them on the floor and attaching them to the rafters or ceiling joists at the top. In addition, the 2x4s are run horizontally on edge between the uprights then a particleboard is used to create the shelve. The most commonly used dimensions are 19-25 inches for depth and the spacing between 2x4s is usually on 25 inches but of course, these sizes can be changed to accommodate the size of the items that you are storing.
For storing small items you should take into consideration the
space between the studs. By attaching a series of 1x2 strips horizontally to the inside edges of two adjacent studs approximately 6 inches apart, cutting some 1x4 and 1x6 pieces of lumber and fitting them between studs and slipping them on top of the 1x2s you can create some small adjustable shelves. These are great for jars, cans and bottles and also for other small and light
items. The small shelves are great for organizing and storing screws and nails.
The best choice when building prefabricated garage shelves is Steel shelving. Plastic shelving may be enough for storing light Weight items but in time you may need something more resistant for storing heavier items. One disadvantage of the steel shelving is that they cannot be cut to size so they have standard widths, depths and heights so you have to choose something that fits within your available space.
Adjustability is another important consideration in prefabricated
shelving. Prefabricated shelves should be adjustable to at least two different locations within the shelving framework and also the pins for adjusting should be heavy duty and should have something in place for preventing them from working loose or becoming accidentally dislodged.
Another thing to be taken into consideration when opting for prefabricated shelves, especially those designed for heavy loads, is that they may require a wall attachment or other support against tipping.
What would your dream garage look like? Some people want to have it fitted for the car, others dream for a really nice workshop, a laundry room, a gym or a rehearsal studio for their own musical band. Some other people only want it to expand their living space and improve their lifestyle.
How much money do you have to work with? Even if you want only to remodel, rebuild or only reorganize a small area of your garage you must have a budget. It is imperative to have in mind a specific target and a realistic and finite budget for it.
The first step is to carefully evaluate your needs regarding the space and your needs. Even if it is a small garage, you can find plenty of space to use for your work area.
Making the decision regarding whether to do the project yourself or to hire a contractor depends on several factors, including your skills and the magnitude of the project. Having only basic skills you can produce a great reorganization project.
You can buy the needed furniture yourself according to your
needs and your available space. Cabinets, shelves, pegs and hooks are a must have in order to turn your garage into usable space over a weekend. If you have a greater project in mind, maybe you should consult a plumber or an electrician.
If you are planning to convert your garage into a living area you’d better be a professional or you’ll be risking decreasing the safety and value of your own home.
If you opt for a contractor, and this is the choice that we
recommend regardless of the project’s magnitude or your skills, get one whose work you’ve seen and if you have the chance, get some recommendations. It is better to see with your
own eyes the skills and some relevant work of the contractor so you can decide whether you could be satisfied with his work or not.
Costs and construction times vary with the scope and the magnitude of the project. If there are no structural issues, finishing and enclosing a garage and turning it into useable room would take less than two weeks. The costs depend on the materials that you decide to use, but keep in mind that expensive does not necessary mean quality and that cheap does not grant you reliability every time.
Your garage can be a place to spend many happy hours for a long time to come if you plan it right according to your needs and dreams.
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