My garage needs help

[cantdrv55]

Too much stuff and no more room to stuff them in. I get ads from garage organizer companies who'll come in, take a look see and then build a storage system that'll hold everything - guaranteed. Has anyone used such an outfit? How'd they work out for you?

My project's going to be a challenge for them. Two 911s, three kayaks, five bikes, two refrigerators, a stand-up air compressor, rolling tool box, two golf bags and carts, washer and dryer, 8' fake xmas tree and all the extra car parts and **** laying around in a small two car garage. I bet they'll turn down the job.

[cantdrv55]

Dammit. I meant to post this in OT.

[Kroggers]

We have just bought a new (to us) house in Stockholm, and I will now get my first personal garage for my 911. Although only a one car garage, I know I will face the same problems as you. Having space for all the usual stuff a family would put in a garage and still have space to work on my 911 during the cold winter months. I will be very interested to see what answers you get to this post - any pictures would be good as well.

[David E. Clark]

Pick up a copy of the book Ultimate Garage Handbook:



Chapter three is called The Challange of Storage and it contains lots of good tips with addresses for resources and an easy project for wheel storage that's pretty helpful. I'm sure there are other good resources but this one is cheap and pretty useful!

[Peter Bull]

Lista makes drawers and lockers which lasts almost forever. Really good products. No affiliation.

/Peter

[makaio]

I think you could save a lot of money by doing this yourself, with just a visit to your local home improvement store. Build some shelves, buy a few cabinets, some hooks, wall anchors, maybe even some more tools!

[Kroggers]

Originally posted by David E. Clark
Pick up a copy of the book Ultimate Garage Handbook:



Chapter three is called The Challange of Storage and it contains lots of good tips with addresses for resources and an easy project for wheel storage that's pretty helpful. I'm sure there are other good resources but this one is cheap and pretty useful!

Amazon order completed - should be with me within the next 5 days. Let the garage transformation begin
I had to promise the future wife that this would be a sensible cost project (all our spare cash went on the deposit for the house!!), so I will have to do all the work myself. And at the end of the day I hope to have a clean and happy project room for me and the car...

Peter, when are you going to help me with my new front bumper modifications I have got this far, but need some cool brake cooling duct stuff for the indicator holes to be made.

[Rot 911]

I feel your pain. We just moved and I went from a 1500 sq ft garage to one that is maybe 500 sq ft. Not sure where I am going to put everything. Or even how.

[jthwan22]

You will need to get stuff off the floor. I hang cabinets, peg boards, hang from ceiling etc.

[Kroggers]

Originally posted by jthwan22
You will need to get stuff off the floor. I hang cabinets, peg boards, hang from ceiling etc.

The only worry I have with that is based on an experience my dad had with this classic car. Everything that you hang from the ceiling can (and eventually will) fall on your car!!

[Westy]

Don't cry to me,,,all I got is a 950 square foot barn with cabinets and shelves and workbenches,,,,talk about a lack of room!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[notfarnow]

Kayaks: Under the deck or hung from the garage ceiling

[Zeke]

Most who are messy housekeepers (speaking of the garage) won't do much better with all the shelves, etc. Get big cabinets with large doors and adjustable shelving. Then, no one including you, will see your mess. One other way to do this is to simply hang cheap hollow core doors from tracks in front of your shelves and a few inches off the floor. Looks like a wall.

[defcon65]

I do this every year, as stuff just seems to accumulate day to day. First thing, you figure out what you don't need and get rid of it for $$ or give it to Goodwill and take the tax deduction.
Next, prioritize based on frequency of need - if you only kayak once a year, store them up above if you have the room. I bought a couple jumbo-paks of screw-in storage hooks for $10 each and managed to get three bikes, a fertilizer spreader, weed-wacker, all the garden tools, four sets of clubs and six lawn chairs off the floor and overhead. Then I put in a eight by twenty foot storage loft onto the joists for all the smaller stuff - camping equipment, gardening supplies, building materials, coolers, parts, etc. I used 5/8" plywood bought cheap at a lumber yard because it had broken corners.
With my 2x6 joists 24" OC it works fine and will support my weight plus the stuff. If you have a truss roof, you will be limited in the amount of stuff you can put up there or hang from them unless you install vertical reinforcement from the top to bottom of the web.
Of course, you want to make sure anything you put up top is securely stored and will not fall on your Porsche!
Another good option is a small storage shed, either prefab steel or stick-built. I have also seen enclosed storage racks for canoes and kayaks cheaply built from treated lumber with a corrugated steel roof. Depending on where you live there might be local codes for storage sheds and small outbuildings so you'll want to check that first.

Regards,

[ChemMan]

That is a real good book. I am thinking about adding a couple of garages next summer. I have 576 square foot and it is just not enough.
Mike

[berettafan]

www.garagejunkies.net

[1973911s]

Before



After





If I could only find a P-car to take up one of the bays.

[scottb]

Originally posted by 1973911s
Before



After

Heck...I'd be happy with the "before" version.

Scott

[cantdrv55]

Originally posted by scottb
Heck...I'd be happy with the "before" version.

Scott

I was just about to say the same thing!

David, thanks for the tip on the book. Just placed the order.

[cantdrv55]

Originally posted by notfarnow
Kayaks: Under the deck or hung from the garage ceiling

Garage ceiling isn't going to work because the garage door takes up a lot of the space when open. Each kayak is at least 12' long. Will explore the under deck space.