Garage racks: types of storage structures

For many people, a garage is not only a place for parking and repairing vehicles, but also a place to store all kinds of things, from small things like tools to broken household appliances and old furniture. Everything that is a pity to throw away instantly migrates to the garage, where it lives out its time. Over the years of accumulation, the garage space turns into a dump, where you can hardly find the item you need when you need it urgently.

In order for the car to quietly enter and leave, without encountering unexpected obstacles, so as not to stumble over junk and avoid unnecessary cluttering of space, convenient, spacious and versatile storage systems - racks are often used in the garage.

Garage shelving is an open or closed storage system made up of different heights of uprights, crossbars and shelves. High quality steel and wood are used for their manufacture. Wooden products are more fragile and withstand less stress than metal products that can withstand fairly large objects. Structures are collapsible, if assembled on bolts, and non-collapsible, if welded and installed permanently on the wall using nails or self-tapping screws.

Garage shelving remains in practice the best option for storing tools, spare parts and other equipment. Among the main advantages are spaciousness, compactness and affordability. Depending on the type and material of manufacture, large-sized items, small parts, unnecessary utensils, cans, tires can be stacked on them. They fit neatly along the wall, and the shelves are under the ceiling and conveniently position on themselves everything that makes the garage space cluttered. Spare parts, tools, consumables and other little things put on their shelves look more aesthetically pleasing and neat and will always be at hand.

The rack can be made by yourself, without making large expenses, or purchased in specialized stores. The modern market allows you to choose exactly the product that is right for you. Do-it-yourself racks will be in no way inferior to purchased ones if you follow the diagrams and instructions, use quality materials and put in a little effort, and they will last as many years, keeping your garage tidy and clean.

Racks are designed for storing and organizing tools, parts and other things, allow you to efficiently use garage space and save as much free space as possible. Things laid out on the shelves are much easier to find and they will always be in the first place. The risk of fire is also reduced, because it is in garages that flammable substances are usually stored that can lead to a fire if improperly stored and adjacent to other substances.

For order and cleanliness, you can select separate racks for wheels and tires, small parts, tools, grinders. Above the workbench, it would be nice to fix a rack for keys and screwdrivers - the necessary tool will not be lost and will always be at hand when working on the table.

Typically, racks and shelves are made of wood, metal, or plastic. For a wooden structure, not only wood is used, but also PVC and chipboard, which are reinforced with sheet metal for strength.

Do not forget that wood is a flammable material. and it is very light, so it will not withstand heavy loads. Also, wood is very sensitive to moisture, despite the fact that temperature does not affect its structure. At high humidity, it undergoes rotting, deformation, and mold. So if you decide to equip your garage with wooden shelves, immediately think about what you will be folding on them and take into account the humidity of the room. Do not place racks and shelves where it is damp. In addition, if you make a wooden rack with your own hands, do not forget to saturate it with antiseptics, which will give the material strength and durability, protect it from insects, and prevent the appearance of mold, fungi and other microorganisms.

Metal products are made from a perforated corner, shaped pipes, combining them with wooden materials to make the structure lighter. Most often, there are profile racks, which are distinguished by their lightness and strength.

Metal products are more resistant to the influence of chemicals, withstand heavy loads, and humidity and temperature do not affect its performance, do not rot, do not ignite. If the structure was bought in specialized stores, then it will not be difficult to assemble it.

Plastic is not resistant to severe frost and heat, but it tolerates moisture well. Such structures are flexible and lightweight, but do not withstand heavy loads. They are inexpensive and only meant for lightweight items.

When choosing shelving for your garage, take into account the area of ​​the room and the space reserved for them. So, some structures may be too bulky for the parameters of your garage, or, on the contrary, not spacious enough. Before choosing a model, immediately think about what will lie on them, because different types of storage systems fulfill their individual function and withstand different loads.

There are the following models of shelving:

• stationary;
• collapsible;
• mobile;
• island;
• rotating;
• modular;
• hinged.

Stationary racks are stable due to the fact that the weight pressure of the loaded shelves falls on the floor. The structure is made of vertical beams and horizontal beams on which the shelves are attached, has a rigid connection, which ensures safety. Implies installation on a wall in a permanent place without the possibility of movement. They are easy to use, stable and durable.

Metal racks are the strongest and can withstand a lot of weight, wooden ones are suitable for light things and are easy to make on your own. Installation of such a storage system does not require special tools and skills.

More common are prefabricated metal garage racks, which can also be bought in any market and easily assembled by yourself. Unlike stationary ones, they are made of a perforated metal profile, and the shelves can be fixed at any height, depending on the needs. Such racks are more convenient and capacious and allow you to store both a set of spare wheels and bulky goods. They can be equipped with boxes that can additionally store the necessary things.

Mobile racks are made mainly of metal structures. They are equipped with small wheels that allow tools to move freely around the garage.You can easily move the toolboxes to the workbench and continue working.

Although the movable structure is mobile and makes it easier to work with the necessary items, its load capacity is much lower than that of other shelving. Such a rack is sold disassembled and, without much effort and skill, is assembled in the garage like a designer. Withstand load - no more than 100 kg.

The metal island rack is a stable system of several shelves that can be interchanged in height. This design is designed for lighter items and is well balanced to prevent the shelves from collapsing and collapsing due to weight. There are central racks, which can be approached from all sides, and corner racks, installed in the corner of the room, with a load capacity of no more than 50 kg.

The rotating rack is designed for storing and storing small, piece goods, bolts, nails, hooks, keys and other small things that are easily lost and difficult to find in drawers. Every little thing will be in plain sight. Such designs are convenient, do not take up much space (it would be rational to install on a workbench) and free up space for more massive parts. Withstand load - no more than 50 kg.

Modular shelving - multifunctional products, consisting of separate block elements that can be interconnected, like a constructor, into a convenient storage system. You can do exactly what you need, and if there is a need for additional space, you can attach more sections and shelves to the existing rack. Withstand load - up to 150 kg.

Hanging shelves may not quite be called shelving, but such a convenient and versatile design can be used in garages. They will fit everything unnecessary, something that is not particularly useful in work, small parts, light objects. Wall systems are practical and affordable, making such shelves will not be difficult from any available materials, and ceiling ones, if they are attached with special fasteners under the ceiling at such a level that they do not touch the roof of a car or your head, will completely hide everything from prying eyes. unnecessary items. The load should not be large, because wall shelves can hold much less weight than stationary racks. Withstand load - no more than 100 kg.

The modern market offers countless convenient and multifunctional shelving, both wooden and metal. Versatile designs will fulfill their purpose completely and fit into any garage space.In Ikea stores you can find excellent options from steel and high-quality wood, complemented by cabinets, drawers, fasteners and hooks for more convenient use.

Convenient and practical to use in the garage space is a rack for tires. Excellent copies can be found in stores, but some craftsmen assemble a similar structure themselves, separately purchasing metal consumables: a corner or a profile. Shelves and panels for tools that you can buy or make yourself will be useful.

A simple shelving system can be made on your own if there is no opportunity to purchase a finished product. There are many schemes freely available to make your work easier. If you know a little bit of carpentry or own a welding machine, you can easily make some pretty good shelving yourself that you can proudly display in your garage. The main thing is to decide which material is better to use. As mentioned above, racks are usually made of metal or wood.

Wooden racks are much easier to manufacture, but do not forget that besides the fact that wood is a flammable material, it is very light and will not withstand heavy loads.If, nevertheless, the choice fell on him, do not forget to impregnate it with an antiseptic so that the wood does not rot over time. Also, do not install such racks in a place that is too humid.

Metal structures are stronger and stronger, but you have to seriously tinker to make them. Metal consumables are much more expensive than lumber. However, wood for work needs high-quality, processed, knot-free, and this in itself is not cheap.

So, in any case, it turns out that the cost of consumables will be almost equal. The choice is entirely yours.

To make a rack from wood, the first step is to draw a design drawing. Determine exactly where in the garage it will fit. Its length directly depends on the height of the garage, and the width of the shelves depends on the things that you will put on them. Let the length of the shelves be no more than 90 cm, otherwise they will bend. It is not necessary to be a talented artist to depict a drawing; a schematic representation of the future product is also suitable.

A quality shelving unit needs a quality natural board. Oak or pine are great. You can also use chipboard, PVC wall panels or plywood. It is better not to take a board made of shavings, it will not last long, it will quickly get wet from the slightest moisture and will not withstand heavy loads. It will be nice if the moisture content of the board is not higher than 12%.

The bottom-most board - the base on which the entire structure will be held - should be thick, strong and wide enough. For strength, transverse beams can be nailed onto it. Next, you need walls that will be attached to the side of the base. If you want to save on wood, replace the board with thicker plywood - an inexpensive, affordable alternative. Marks are placed on the sides - shelves will be installed there. The height is adjusted according to your choice. The shelves are carved from the same wood. If additional strength is required, the shelves will need to be secured with bars.

Whether to install the back wall is entirely your choice. It all depends on your taste and the appearance of the wall to which the future rack will be attached.

When all parts of the structure are on hand, processed and cleaned, they proceed to the assembly of the structure. It can be glued with glue, attached with nails or screwed in with self-tapping screws. Initially, a lower base is installed on the desired wall and a rear damper is installed on it, if required. On the side boards, where the marks for the shelves were previously left, holders made of plastic or metal are fixed. The metal ones are many times stronger. If there are no holders, then the shelves can be screwed to the sides. Side walls are attached to the base, and then, holding them from the inside, they are screwed on the outside with self-tapping shelves.

This is an example of the simplest wood shelving. It can also be installed in rooms other than the garage. The design will look harmonious and fulfill its task anywhere.

For a steel rack, you first need to have the appropriate equipment, for example, a grinder for cutting metal and a welding machine. Do not forget about safety at work.

The choice of consumables for a metal structure is much more. Corners, profiles, pipes will do.

For a metal rack, a profile or corner is cut according to the previously sketched drawings. The grinder is used to cut the blanks for the rack, lintels and shelves. The cut and peeled elements are collected. Side frames are created, which must be assembled correctly, since the design can be disproportionate and uneven.To do this, the frames are folded flat on the floor, check that their diagonals are even, and then welded.

Next, vertical beams are grabbed to the assembled frames. It is important to respect the proportions, check the diagonals. On vertical racks, as well as on a wooden structure, they make marks for the shelf. Any height can be chosen.

The structure is painted to prevent corrosion. For this, paint or a regular primer is suitable. If necessary, the future shelves are also painted - wood or chipboard, but before that their antiseptic. After the paint has dried, holes are drilled in the racks, a shelf is placed on top and a self-tapping screw is screwed in from the bottom so that it passes through the metal and is fixed in the wood. For stability and strengthening of the structure, it can be installed on the wall.

This is another example of a simple and versatile metal shelving unit that will hold anything you want. If possible, do not limit yourself to a simple option, make a separate rack for tires and wheels - a very necessary attribute in the garage.

Shelving is a great way to clean up your garage.

The specialist will give you some tips to help if you decide to organize the contents of the garage:

• Do not be afraid of spending and wasting time! All this will pay off many times over. Over time, you yourself will understand that ordered things will never interfere with your work and will always be at hand.
• You can make or buy a separate rack for wheels and tires, separate to store canned jars, a separate display rack for garden supplies, and a stacking plate to collect keys and screwdrivers. Unleash your imagination and imagination!

• Before you buy or make your own shelving, draw a drawing, measure the width and height of the place where you want to install the storage system, in a word, make sure that the product fits in the garage and there is room for the car.
• Remember that wood does not tolerate moisture well, so you should not install wooden racks and shelves where the humidity exceeds 12%.
• Immediately think about what will lie on the shelves. Please be aware that many structures cannot handle large items.
• Homemade wooden structures need to be impregnated with an antiseptic to avoid rotting.
• Metal structures are painted or primed against corrosion.

• A very useful and convenient shelf for power tools will definitely fit in your garage.
• A universal shelving unit can be a substitute for several storage systems. Multiple sides, movable, special hooks for securing things - convenient and practical.
• The universal wall will also replace several shelves, help to collect all the necessary equipment in one place and free up a lot of free space. This option is especially good for those who have a small garage.

• Racks for agricultural tools are an irreplaceable thing if rakes, hoes, shovels and other items that litter the space are stored in the garage.
• Sliding cabinets are convenient, economical and practical.

You can find out how to make shelves in the garage with your own hands from the video below.