Are you tired of trying to find your way through a disorganised garage full of lost tools, holiday decorations, and sports gear? It’s time to eliminate the mess in your garage and make the most of its storage space.
Using the space above your garage to store things is a great way to eliminate garage clutter. Most garages need to make the most of the vertical space they have.
We’ll reveal to you how in this complete guide. Say goodbye to the disarray and hello to a well-organised, efficient space that will leave your neighbours green with envy.
Are you prepared to get rid of the mess and make your garage not only useful but also nice to look at? That’s great! Let’s start this do-it-yourself project.
Installing Overhead Garage Storage
Installing overhead garage racks for storage is a great way to add more storage space, free up space on the floor, and make your garage easier to move around.
It’s a simple job that you can do yourself, so here’s a simple guide on how to put a ceiling-mounted shelf in your garage:
- Get together everything you need: A storage rack attached to the ceiling, mounting equipment, a power drill, a stud finder, a measuring device, and a ladder.
- Measure the area: Measure where you want to put the rack. Be certain that you have sufficient space to put the rack up and that it won’t get in the way of any lights, air vents, or additional equipment already there. Also, make sure it is lined up to a stud or guarantee strapping to hold the weight. It would help to never put a factor like this in drywall or other thin materials.
- Find a studs: If there are holes in the ceiling, you can use a tool called a stud finder to locate them.
- Use a pencil to mark where the studs are. This is important and will keep your racks from falling out.
- Assemble the storage rack. To assemble the rack for storage you bought, follow the instructions from the company that made it. Make sure that everything is put together well.
- Mark the holes. With the help of a ladder and maybe another person, put the rack in the ceiling and line it up with the studs. Make sure your rack is level by using the levelling tool. Mark the locations of the holes where the rack will be mounted with a sharp pencil.
- Drill a few pilot holes: Use the drill to create pilot holes in the marked spots. Make sure to drill into the studs and through the ceiling. Making these holes helps the screws hold the parts together.
- Install the mounting hardware. Put the mounting components into the pilot hole holes and tighten them with a screwdriver or drill, whichever is easier.
- Lift and place the storage rack carefully over the fixings used to hang it. You might need a second pair of hands to do this. Tighten the bolts or screws that hold the rack to the framework to keep it in place.
- Check the rack’s stability by carefully loading it with what you intend to store and ensuring that both the rack and the items are safely contained within it.
Garage Overhead Storage Tips for Space Efficiency
How your garage is set up is one of the most important factors in figuring out which storage methods will work most effectively. One of the first things you should consider is how much room you have to work with. When you park a car in the garage, the clearance depends on the car’s height.
You don’t have to take down your overhead garage storage later; you should consider the height of your current car and any cars you might buy. Even more, than vehicles, layout is important. Some types of overhead shelving work best when attached to the walls, while others work best when just hung from the ceiling.
No matter your chosen method, your DIY garage storage should stay in the way of your windows, doors, workspaces, or vehicles.
How the garage is set up is one of many things that will affect how it ends up. Kayaks and plastic totes may live in your garage, but they will need different storage. Usually, pulley systems work best for storing long, odd-shaped items like kayaks, while shelving works best for storing bins.
Also, consider how often you will need to get to each item. You might only put out holiday decorations once a year, yet you might need to use your sports gear more often. To find overhead garage storage that works for you, make sure your plans are based on your needs.
Choose the Best Garage Overhead Storage System
The most important thing about garage overhead storage is picking the right system. Find out what you want to store in the space above you, and then choose an organising option that fits your needs. From there, everything gets much easier regarding garage overhead storage.
Most of the time, heavier, bulkier items are stored in the garage’s overhead storage. So, you’ll need sturdy storage racks that can handle the job, are well-made, and can last for a long time in a busy garage.
Install a Smart Pulley System
A system of pulleys is not only a smart way to store things in the garage’s ceiling, but it’s also straightforward to use, particularly for large items. A pulley system can be used to store bikes like the one in the picture and kayaks, ladders, and car-top transporters. When you want to get to your item, don’t lift it. Instead, gently lower it down.
Make Sure You Store the Right Things in Your Garage’s Overhead Storage
Along with tyres, garage overhead storage is a great place to put many things that would be more useful up in the air than on the floor, where they could get in the way when you want to park. One of the best ways to use overhead collecting is to store only useful items for a small part of the year.
This includes lawnmowers, snowblowers, plant cutters, hedge cutters, shovels, and rakes for taking care of the property.
Build a Mini-Loft
If the garage has a high ceiling, a mini-loft or other permanent addition could be the best way to store your things. You can put a set of recyclable bins or random things like picnic bags and lawn chairs in your loft. This do-it-yourself option may take more effort and time, but it could save you some money.
Get Your Garage Overhead Storage Ready.
Bicycles, lawnmowers, and snow blowers that are going to be stored in the garage overhead should be washed and dried. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for how to store and care for motorised equipment, like changing the oil.
If you take a moment to do this before putting away your things at the end of the season, they will last longer.
Add Shelving Above Your Cabinetry
If the ceilings in your garage are high, you might have extra storage space above the shelves and cabinets you already have. The cabinets in this high-end design are sleek, and the wire shelves above them are strong. There’s space to stack bins on top of the cabinets, and the homeowner can use the additional shelf space as an additional storage level.
Allow a Trusted Professional to Install Garage Overhead Storage Racks
Putting up heavy-duty garage storage racks that hang from the ceiling takes a lot of skill. Suspended racks must be correctly attached to your rafters or ceiling joists, and a wall-mounted tyre rack also requires a stable securing foundation.
Because of this, one of the best garage overhead storage tips is to let a professional set up any speciality racks in the garage.
Where Do I Put Overhead Garage Storage?
It’s funny to think about where to put the overhead garage storage. However, you’ll be surprised when you find out the answer. Some companies are more flexible than others, and they can make garage racks for storage that are fully adaptable to your space.
Most of the time, a good garage shelf company will give you the following choices:
- Customising layouts: If your garage is an odd shape or you want to try a different layout, the best professionals who install garage storage will give you solutions made just for you.
- Installation on the ceiling: This is the most common option for overhead garage shelving, as it lets you maximise your storage space. Racks will be fixed safely to the ceiling so you can put your things up and out of your way.
- Mounting on a wall: Your garage overhead racks could also be mounted on a garage wall, which is another option. Whether or not you select this option is up to you and what you like.
An Overhead Garage Storage Unit Takes How Long to Install?
You may not want to dedicate your days to waiting for technicians who don’t know how to install your overhead garage storage. Rather, you may take your kids to the zoo or your favourite restaurant for wine and dinner.
So, is there a way to find out how long it will take to put up garage overhead storage? Yes, without a doubt! All the best businesses will tell you precisely how long it will take to set up your system. Some of the best companies will do the consultation and the installation on the same day.
Even if your chosen provider says they can install the same day, you should still ask them about their installation process. This way, you’ll have enough time to take care of other, more important tasks.
Overhead Garage Storage Rack Benefits
Overhead garage storage racks have a lot of benefits, such as making the most of space by using unused ceiling space, organising items to reduce stuff on the floor or workbench, making frequently used items easier to get to, and making the garage safer by reducing the number of places someone could trip.
Organizes Items
If your garage is full of stuff, it can be hard to find what you need. With overhead storage racks in your garage, it’s easy to keep your things in order and have them close by when you need them.
By putting seasonal or seldom-used items up high, you can free up helpful floor space for tools and vehicles you use more often. It makes it easier to identify what you want, saves time, and makes you feel less stressed.
For example, think about how easy it would be to find your holiday decorations without digging through stacks of boxes on the floor or how easy it would be to find your camping gear before a weekend trip.
Sporting equipment like boats or snowboards, large bins full of holiday decorations, extra lawn chairs, refrigerators, and other outdoor furniture during the winter, and even hunting gear that only comes in handy at certain times of the year can all be organised with these storage solutions.
Maximizes Garage Space
Think of all the things you could do with an organised garage. With an overhead garage storage space rack, you can take back valuable floor space and use your garage to its fullest.
Take the case of someone who had trouble keeping his two-car garage clean and clutter-free. Once he put up racks for storage above his bench along one wall, he had more room for supplies and tools and could park both cars inside without a problem.
Provides Accessibility
One of the best things about installing overhead garage racks for storage is that they make things easy to get to. When things are up off the ground, they are far simpler to see and reach for when needed.
This means you won’t have to dig through piles of stuff or move heavy things to find one tool or box. Also, a well-organised space saves time because things are easy to locate and put away.
Increases Safety
Putting up storage racks above your garage door also makes your garage safer. By getting things off the floor, you remove trip hazards and make it less likely that something will fall on you or your car.
With an efficient overhead storage structure, you can also put heavy things like large tools or bulky sporting goods up high so they don’t get knocked over and damaged vehicles below.
This extra security gives you peace of mind, knowing that accidents are much less likely to happen if you store everything in the right way and keep it off the ground.
In conclusion, overhead garage storage racks are an efficient way to maximise storage and create more space in your garage. To install, gather the necessary tools, measure the area, locate studs, and securely mount the rack. Consider your garage’s layout, size, and the items you plan to store when selecting a system.
For long items like kayaks, pulley systems are ideal, while shelving works best for bins. Overhead storage is perfect for seasonal items like lawnmowers and snowblowers. If you have high ceilings, building a mini-loft can add extra storage space.
Overhead storage racks enhance garage organisation, optimise space, and improve accessibility. By following installation tips and considering your storage needs, you can create a safe, efficient, and organised garage.
