Container store vs. Lowes - for Garage shelves, hooks, etc

[B-Stead]

I'm in the process of building a 24x26 garage along with a 16x12 adjoining Utility room.

The Utility room is basically a shed, for all the garden stuff, bikes, strollers, etc.

I went to both the Container Store and Lowe's and was wondering what the thoughts were around the hooks, shelves, brackets, storage cabinets, etc.

Which is one is better/cheaper? Or, should I be looking at a diff store? I want a highly organized space.

B-Stead

 

[MadMechMaster]

You probably won't find it all in one store. Look around this forum at other builds, and cherry pick what is best for you.

 

[LWW]

MadMechMaster is right, you have to look around. I frequent OSH, HomeDepot and Lowes and don't ever find everything I need in one place and more importantly better prices can be had on items that you can get from more than one store if you shop around.

I'm a big fan of the Gorilla Racks that are slightly smaller versions of the modular shelving systems used at HomeDepot, Costco and other "big box" stores. I figure if it works there, it's probably a pretty good bet it'll work for me.

The connectors that run the full length of the uprights and let you adjust the height of each shelf also make great slots for hooks and hangers. I have all my cordless tools and other hand held power tools hanging from these. Keeps them off the shelves and out of my toolbox saving precious shelf space for more important items and takes advantage of a normally useless space.

I've seen people on here mount doors on them to give them a more finished look too.

Enjoy!

 

[LWW]

Here's a thread you definitely need to read:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=39367

 

[B-Stead]

This is great info, thank you. Here's what I'm storing in my Utility room -

Sprinklers
Grass seed, soil, fertilizer
Lawnmower
Spreader
Wheel barrel
Garden Hoses
5 Bikes
3 Strollers
Garbage
2 Recycling bins
Balls, toys
3 Sleds
Push toys / toys
Kayak w/ Paddle
Garden Shovels
Rakes
Snow shovels
Power cords

And more ... ... all in a 12x16 space.

Hopefully it all fits.

B-Stead

 

[mmhouse]

You'll probably need hooks for hanging things and shelves and/or storage cabinet(s).

I like doing my own shelving using extra heavy duty standards, brackets and 24" wide particleboard shelving. I've never been able to find the very heavy duty hardware at a home center or hardware store. Last time I purchased it online at this place... http://www.specialtysupplies.com/index.php . The following hardware ran me about $130 shipped in '08:

5 x KV HEAVY DUTY 187 BRACKET-24" (KV-18724) = $69.55
1 x KV Heavy Duty 187 Standard-96" (KV-08796) = $25.99
5 x Shelf Rests for Heavy Duty Standards - Front Rest (KV-00212) = $4.25

The shelves are deep enough that I can put good sized totes on them and heavy-duty enough that I can load them up with paint cans or whatever and not worry about them coming down. They are adjustable so can be easily re-configured and they keep everything up off the floor for easier cleaning.

If you want shelving that sits on the floor (a mistake in my book) Costco sells some pretty nice heavy duty stuff that's fairly deep.

I have the Rubbermaid FastTrack system in my shed for all the stuff I hang and it works well. It's pretty heavy-duty, looks good and has enough different types of hangers that I can find a good one for most things I have to hang. I especially like the wheelbarrow hanger.

http://www.rubbermaid.com/Pages/fasttrack-garage.aspx

I have just one enclosed storage cabinet (other than at my tool bench) that hides all my car care stuff but is nothing to brag about.

 

[KermitFrog]

+1 on Gorilla Racks. My wife has them in her library and they are heavy duty. I will be moving them out to the garage soon as she has tired of having so many books (thank you Kindle and e-readers

I currently have about 20ft of 9ft tall shelving that I got from dumpster diving. I got wind the local AutoZone was doing a store reset and junking all of their perfectly good shelving and they politely dumped it at precisely the same moment I arrived after I drove the 35 miles one way to get there.

I HATE the plastic stuff. I had one collapse next to one of my cars once. Never again! Thick metal from now on. The plastic seemed sturdy but it wasn't.

 

[peelman]

+1 for gorilla rack as well. I have 14 ft of it in my garage. It is some awesome stuff, well worth the investment!

 

[LWW]

+1 for gorilla rack as well. I have 14 ft of it in my garage. It is some awesome stuff, well worth the investment!

And I've picked all of mine up on sale for about half the retail price. Between the old house and the new house I've got about 70' of Gorilla Rack shelving and two 6' Gorilla Rack benches.

 

[MrSnicks]

Put me down as a fan of Gladiator Garageworks.. It's expensive new so look for the closeouts/sales at Lowes and search your local craigslist.

Patrick

 

[peelman]

I've been using GarageWorks stuff as well.

ProTip: Buy a quality pine 1x3, using a router, table saw, or circular saw, rip a 1/4" deep channel along the top that's about 3/16" wide and 1/4" from the 'face'. Cheaper, and a lot more compact than buying those expensive *** gladiator rails.

 

[B-Stead]

Here's the shelving I went with. If anyone has questions, let me know. I learned a lot about storage things correctly.

 

[strnge]

I bought 5 Gorilla Racks and they are holding all kinds of weight. I have car parts on one rack, made on in the a pantry shelf, the other 3 have containers full of stuff. They are really durable. It's been 2 1/2 years since I bought them and not even a scuff on them.

 

[peelman]

I'm up to 18' of Gorilla rack (or Xtreme Garage as Menards has them labeled as now) in our little 2 car garage. in 6' height i have 2x 4' sections (2 shelves each) surrounding a 6' section (3 shelves). Then i have a separate 8' tall, 4' long section of 4 shelves storing a lot of heavy books that we had nowhere else to put when we moved.

The stuff is unbeatable. I'm convinced you could park a car on the top shelf.

 

[dittle fart around]

Here's the shelving I went with. If anyone has questions, let me know. I learned a lot about storage things correctly.

Looks great. I like the metal bins on shelf brackets. Can you give me more information on those.
I must say you have the hairiest thumb I've ever seen!
Sorry that must be some kids head.

 

[Matt M PA]

I did my attached garge with slatwall and then went to the local retail store supply place. In Philly, it's Gershell Brothers. Tons of baskets, hooks, etc...very reasonable