A step-by-step guide to organizing your garage with a variety of economical storage systems, including wall-mounted pegboard, French cleats, and metal storage grids.
When it comes to organizing tools, equipment, and other paraphernalia in your garage, a variety of wall-mounted systems are affordable, effective, and great at saving space. Following is a closer look at some of the most popular options:Pegboard Storage Systems
Pegboard is an old favorite for garage storage, and it continues to be a simple, economical, and versatile choice. A pegboard system is also easy to install, making it a great project for do-it-yourselfers.
Standard pegboard is a manufactured-wood product that comes in various thicknesses and bears rows and columns of holes. Hooks then sit within these holes and hold tools.Basic J hooks, which have a crook in their design that allows them to hang onto pegboard, can be further secured by using peg locks. A variety of hooks—including kits—are available.
You may prefer the natural color of pegboard, or you may choose to paint it. Light colors are usually best because they will contrast with dark tools, allowing you to see your gear without difficulty.
To take your organization a step further, you may want to outline the shapes of your tools onto the pegboard so that you will always know where to place each item after use.
A sheet of 1/4-inch-thick pegboard (lesser thicknesses are more easily warped and damaged) that is 4 by 8 feet is usually enough for most garage storage, but you can certainly buy more or less according to your needs.
To install pegboard, glue furring strips 1⁄2 by 1 inch or 1 by 2 inches around the backside’s edges. You may choose to add more strips, spaced at intervals, to provide extra support, particularly if you are hanging a very large piece of pegboard.
Adhere the panel to the wall, inserting long screws through the furring strips and into wall studs.
Metal pegboard is another choice for those who like the look of steel or may be seeking a sturdier option for weighty tools. These come with mounting screws and utilize their own hook and hanger accessories.
French-Cleat Systems
A French-cleat system is a classically easy and inexpensive way to mount storage cabinetry in a garage. Just follow these simple do-it-yourself steps:
1) Using a table saw, cut a pair of 2 by 4s or void-free plywood at least 3/4 by 3 inches thick to the width of the cabinet you are planning to mount. Then cut a 45-degree bevel along each cleat.
2) Position one cleat at the height you want the cabinet to be. Point the beveled edge up and screw the cleat into wall studs.
3) Position the other cleat on the top back of the cabinet with the beveled edge pointing down. Glue the cleat in place and then screw the ends to the cabinet’s top and side edges. Attach a spacer the same thickness as the cleat along the bottom of the cabinet so the cabinet will hang level against the wall.
4) Position the cabinet so the cleats lock together. Add screws where the top cleat crosses wall studs to secure the cabinet.
French cleats can also be used to hang storage boxes—just attach a cleat as you would molding along a wall and screw another cleat onto the box. If the box will carry light items, the second cleat does not need to be screwed into the studs.
You can also add heavy-duty hooks to a cleat for items that have hanging straps such as many types of garden tools.Metal Storage Grids
Metal grids are an attractive, sturdy way to keep your garage organized. Their durable construction can support a variety of hooks, baskets, shelves, and other accessories.
For a grid that needs to hold lots of heavy items, choose one with 1/4-inch-thick bars with welded intersections. Use 5/16-inch lag bolts to attach them securely to wall studs. These heavy-duty grids can also be attached to the ceiling.
Depending on the weight of the items you intend to hang from them, you may want to attach them to rafters or joists.
Lighter grids made with metal wire are ideal for organizing a wall over a workbench or the space next to a door. Wire shelves can be used with grid systems. To hold heavy items, use shelves that come with a support bracket that attaches to the grid.
Photographs (from top to bottom) courtesy of The Lehigh Group, Griot’s Garage, Frank Gaglione, Schulte Corporation, Garage Grids
