Adding shelves to your garage space for storage can help keep your garage looking and feeling more organized. This is also a great safety feature that can be incorporated as it decreases the likelihood of trips and fall injuries. Not to mention the amount of money that you can save by not having to replace tools and equipment that can get damaged when left on the ground and in walk ways.
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Planning Your Designs for Garage Shelves
Before you can build shelving in your garage you will need to determine where you would like to locate the shelving, how much space that you have available and what your intended purpose for the shelves will be. This will help you plan the dimensions of your shelves so you will have exact measurements of the amount of materials you will need to purchase.
Gathering Your Materials
Gathering your materials prior to beginning your garage shelving project will help save you time from continuously moving around to locate the needed tools while working on your shelves. You will also have an understanding of what materials you will need to purchase if you do not have the recommended tools or supplies to do this project. To build your garage shelves you will need a pencil, a three foot level, a measuring tape, a handheld drill, mounting hardware which will include two to three metal brackets per shelf and the screws to attach them, and the wood you want to use for your shelves. Most people prefer to use 2” x 12” treated pine wood to do this project as this style of wood is durable, has a long life and has a good eye appeal. For the mounting brackets, you will only need to use two metal brackets unless you are designing single shelves that will be over five feet in length. If over five feet, you should use three metal mounting brackets to install your shelves.
Prepping Your Work Area
Before you can begin building your garages shelves you will need to make some preparations in the are that you plan on installing the shelves.
You will need to remove anything hanging on the wall in this area.
Large items must be moved away from where you will be working as this can cause injury to you and damage to the item.
Using a measuring tape, measure the are for the size of the shelves to determine the exact amount of materials you will need.
Create a layout of your plans by using a level and pencil to draw lines in the exact area you will want to place your shelves. The level will help to keep the lines straight. Remember if planning for various specific items you give enough room from the top shelf to the next shelf.
Purchasing Materials For Your Garage Shelves
When purchasing the materials that you will need for your garage shelves, you should be able to get everything needed at a local home improvement store in your area. Make sure that you take the measurements with you that you got when prepping and designing your work area. The wood that you purchase for you shelves should be approximately ¾” thick. This is easiest to work with while still providing a good solid foundation for your shelves. There are also pre-fabricated wired and metal shelves that you can use if you want.
Any necessary mounting hardware will also need to be purchased at this time. This will include your mounting brackets and galvanized screws. If you are mounting your shelves to brick, you may need to get special screws for this project. Ask the sales person at the hardware for the selections available for this.
Installing Your Garage Shelves
Now that you have all of your supplies and tools lets get to work. If you have longer wooden boards you will need to cut them to your desired sizes in length for shelves. If you purchased exact fit measurements you can skip this step.
Using your penciled designs that you made on your walls, you can begin drilling the pilot holes that will be used for the mounting hardware. These holes should be located five inches from each of the ends of your shelves inward.
Position your mounting brackets in place and secure them with the galvanized screws. Make sure that they are tight but do not strip them out.
Position your shelves in place and secure them to the metal mounting brackets with the galvanized screws. You can pre-drill the holes for fastening these down prior to installing them.
