Need help on a Garage Over Haul

[Jazzman442]

I have a 4 1/2 car Attached Garage. It has 2 16 X 8 Doors. The issue is I have 12' tall ceilings. What is the best way to utilize the space above the cabinets / shelves meaning around 7 to 8 feet on the walls?

 

[YOM1963]

Like with most other things, the answer starts with "that depends on what you want to do"

Do you need storage? Perhaps a mezzanine on one or two walls.

Maintaining or building your cars? 12' gives you enough height for full size 2-post and/or 4-post lifts

You could also hang some huge dealership, oil company or other signs up there.

 

[dfiler2]

Of course the 12 inch tall ceilings might be a problem. Here is a link to a thread with some good ideas for high storage. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=268710

 

[CNGsaves]

Start with hen-scratch drawing of where you think you'll put stuff like toolboxes, air compressor, work bench, etc. Then work your way up to refined drawing, or even use free software like Sketch-Up.

Do all the drawing and "dreaming" so that you'll have gameplan for improvements you might need like electrical, lighting, airline system, etc. Those you'll want done BEFORE you work on cosmetic aspects like painting.

Post up PIC's garage . . . . you know what they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.

 

[RunninOnEmpty]

Use some pulleys on the ceiling and hooks on the wall to hoist up stuff like bicycles for storage. Perhaps put some shelving high on the wall and get a ladder like the sort that might be used in a library or a warehouse. A mezzanine over part of the garage as mentioned before would be a lot of work but could open up some serious storage possibilities.

 

[Ray916MN]

A simple solution is to pallet rack to 12'. It comes in a variety of lengths and depths, is strong enough to support whatever you want to store, you can use a hoist to lift heavy stuff up between the beams. It is easy to build a workbench surface in it. You can use it to build a mezzanine with enough room to park a car or other stuff under. You can back to back install racking so you use a 4 post to lift things like lawnmowers, motorcycles and other heavy stuff up so it can be stored in the racking. It is strong and stable enough to climb on or to mount a ladder on it that slides along the length to provide access.

For example, 12' racking set in a 13.5' height space:

 

[Jazzman442]

Of course the 12 inch tall ceilings might be a problem. Here is a link to a thread with some good ideas for high storage. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=268710

Yea I know it is crazy on how I have to get into the Garage. LOL I'm fixing it. great catch..

 

[Jazzman442]

These are great Idea's. I have been on this sight for a while. I am planning on putting in a 4 post lift. Wanting to have my Play / Race car on the lift and pull my suburban under it. One side will be for Car storage and working on or building the cars. Hope to make the other side a car Garage and storage area but to make all of it blend together. I am going to get some pictures of it this week end.

 

[Jazzman442]

A simple solution is to pallet rack to 12'. It comes in a variety of lengths and depths, is strong enough to support whatever you want to store, you can use a hoist to lift heavy stuff up between the beams. It is easy to build a workbench surface in it. You can use it to build a mezzanine with enough room to park a car or other stuff under. You can back to back install racking so you use a 4 post to lift things like lawnmowers, motorcycles and other heavy stuff up so it can be stored in the racking. It is strong and stable enough to climb on or to mount a ladder on it that slides along the length to provide access.

For example, 12' racking set in a 13.5' height space:

This is a great garage and a really good Idea. I never thought of this. ThankX

 

[taumac]

I would build shelves to put bins or tote starting at ceiling and working down from there. Maybe 2 shelves with 2 feet between them. All depends on what to want. If I had 12 ft ceilings in my place that would be first thing I did. Front to back and side to side to get stuff out of the way. This can't be accomplish several ways and all depends on how how you want to spend.

 

[Jazzman442]

A simple solution is to pallet rack to 12'. It comes in a variety of lengths and depths, is strong enough to support whatever you want to store, you can use a hoist to lift heavy stuff up between the beams. It is easy to build a workbench surface in it. You can use it to build a mezzanine with enough room to park a car or other stuff under. You can back to back install racking so you use a 4 post to lift things like lawnmowers, motorcycles and other heavy stuff up so it can be stored in the racking. It is strong and stable enough to climb on or to mount a ladder on it that slides along the length to provide access.

For example, 12' racking set in a 13.5' height space:

Where did you get the Racks at?

 

[thrifty bill]

Check Craigs List, in many areas, there are businesses that sell used pallet racks. I bought mine from a private seller, not very common, but was cheaper than any of the used rack sellers. They make them in several heights, widths and lengths. I got mine 2 feet deep (unusual). Most racks are built for four feet deep pallets. In my case, the two foot depth made finding them a home much easier as I still have room in the garage for my truck. If they were four feet deep, I would have had a problem. Mine are approx 12 feet long, that can be a problem depending on your space. Realize hooking them up side by side can save on uprights. Three uprights can give you one two section shelf. But it takes four uprights to create two separate shelves.

 

[Ray916MN]

Where did you get the Racks at?

Local material handling supply house. They literally had acres of used pallet racking and accessories.