Where to put the junk

[dfunk]

Getting ready to make my garage a bit more useable.

Just started with lighting this weekend.

6 - 8ft t8 electronic ballast fluorescents. Great improvement over the two 4ft t12 magnetics (was very dim when cold).

Going to have Epoxy floors done in the spring (Live in reno, I think its too cold to do now?)

So for now I want to focus on getting usable storage set up. I do light mechanical work. I do do some wood work, so I have some wood stock. No welding .

I have two young kids, with another on the way, so lots of odd shaped toys, way too many strollers. Lawn mower, snow blower ,33 gallon compressor, pressure washer, wheel barrow , trash cans, ladders, .... lots of random oddly shaped things

So my question...I see a lot of the posts all look like mechanics garages, where do you guys put all your other stuff!? Want a clean looking garage but not a completely dedicated mechanics workshop...

Input greatly appreciated.

 

[gto65goat]

Looks like you might have the room.
Have you thought about adding a "pull down stairs", and placing all your "stuff" in the attic?

 

[the dude]

I have a small shed for all my "garden" items. There's no good way, IMO, to store lawn mowers, fertilizer spreaders, etc in a garage! Everything from rakes to water hose etc go in the shed. And it is a bit of a mess.

Also, remember to go up as high as you can with your shelving. I really like the gorilla shelves from Costco. They are HD, you can stack them and they attach to the wall for safety. Plus they are fully adjustable and you can take them with you if you move or move them around to find the best placement for them.

I also find that I need to have a home for everything or things get disorganized fast. I also have changed my mind set on keeping junk. If I don't have a plan to use it, it gets thrown out. If my plan to use it is longer then 6 months from now, it goes in the attic. So far it has worked well and keeps my clutter down.

 

[mhoffm911]

I think you have received good advice so far.

My first thoughts when I looked at your picture:

1. Needs shelving to go higher around the perimeter.

2. Needs a drop-down into the attic to store stuff up there.

3. Needs pegboard above the work bench beside the window.

4. Hang the ladders on ladder hooks horizontally at the top of the wall by the ceiling.

 

[D KRAGER]

I have a 30 x 56..... and it isn't big enough to put all the odd stuff. I have a 10 x 16 garden shed for the lawn mower, garden tools, tiller, parts for all the projects, ect.

If you can't go with the garden shed, build some shelves up high on the back wall out of 2x's and plywood. For the odd large plastic toys, some pully's and rope, you can hoist them to the ceiling. The key, keep it all off the floor!!!!!!!!

 

[The Super]

I want to second the note on the shelving at Costco

$150 buys shelf rack that is 6' tall and 6' wide - each shelf is rated for 2000 lbs (?)
2 end legs
4 shelves systems - wire mesh decking that will not get destroyed if it gets damp

If you have room for a long run of shelves, look at the picture on the box where they combine racks. You could buy 2 boxes of shelving and end up with a rack that is 18' long for only $300.

 

[rsanter]

if it is junk then get rid of it.
if it is stuff then you need some good shelving and some plactic containers to neatly store the stuff.
if the stuff is disorganized and cannot be found when you need it then it is junk

bob

 

[dfunk]

Not so much Junk. We do go through it every now and then. Of course there are things that my wife has I'd like to get rid of. My biggest deal is getting the Lawn mower and snow blower, things that take up floor space, hidden. I do need to use them. Not sure if anyone has a good idea for this.

I do have room above the garage, so I'll probably look into the attic latter for some of the less accessed stuff.

Shed is a good idea. But it does get below freezing quite frequently. So I guess being mindful of what goes in there ( storing paints, other liquids that shouldnt be frozen.. etc.)

Also not pictured is a 2 Car garage. I have a long shelving system made out of 2x4's. Right now it houses Holiday decorations, camping gear. In that garage there is also a 17.5 foot boat, which takes up a good amount of wall space.

 

[itb76]

Your garage reminds me a lot of mine, except I don't have drywall yet. I am very interested in this thread.

I have two young kids, with another on the way, so lots of odd shaped toys, way too many strollers.

I have four kids, so keeping all the stuff organized is a real chore. Only one small enough for a stroller but all the bikes really get in the way. Kids' primary bikes are in the garage, extras go in the shed or give them away. Mine is hung from the ceiling; I don't use it often but don't have enough space to put my wife's bikes there. Why does she need two bikes anyway?

Lawn mower, snow blower ,33 gallon compressor, pressure washer, wheel barrow , trash cans, ladders, .... lots of random oddly shaped things

First off, you need a bigger compressor! Lawn mower and snow thrower go in the shed in the off season. Wheelbarrow goes in the shed. Ladders lean up on the wall; the stepladder is used to access my upper shelves. Get lockable (against dogs & *****) trash cans and keep them outside. A lot of the big outside kids toys go under the deck for the winter. Sometimes the Thule box goes under there but it does get dirty. Pressure washer belongs in the shed but sits in my garage in pieces.

Best thing I did in a while was rent a 10x20 storage unit about two miles from my house. My race car, off season tires (I run snows in the winter on both cars; all season tires are no season tires), motorcycle, spare parts, etc go there. This is new to me and not fully utilized.

A garden shed would be a good place for you to start. Mine is 8x8. It is way too small.

 

[RPH]

Now that I live in the country, storage is less of a problem. But when I lived in the city with small kids and summer / winter equipment issues then UP was the only way. Snowblower on the top shelf until winter then the lawn mower took it's place. Bikes and other toy's sat the off season up high. It was work but you had what was needed for the season handy.

 

[logical]

For stuff that only gets used once in a while, a loft is handy. It looks like you have maybe 9.5 ft ceilings? If you build a 2 foot deep shelf all across that wall to the right in the picture out of plywood and 2x4s you can put some pretty big stuff up and out of the way. Make the bottom at least 6'8" off the floor and it can probably cross above any doors. I screwedca 2x4 flat against the wall for the bottom-back support and lag-bolted a 2x4 to the ceiling to screw a 2x4 hanger for the rest. I've also used threaded rod thru a board laid across the joists in the attic. You can kinda see it in this picture. the angled supports you see are not part of the loft, they are homemade ladder hangers. And the member coming down from the ceiling is beyond the edge of the picture....but it's basically a 2x4/plywood construction platform screwed to the wall on 3 sides and suspended from the ceiling o0n the front side.
pla

 

[rsanter]

you need a bench or shelving that will accomodate putting the mower and edger under and all the space above is yours to use

on the back wall of my garage I have 2 sections or pallet racks (the big Industrial type).
in one section I have the tablesaw, jointer, and shaper stored under the first shelf. storage of boxed stuff on the next two shelves and storage of hardwood on the top.
the section next to it had the lowest shelf just over head height and I have the lathe under there (and it gets used there) and then the bandsaw and grinder roll in front of the lathe when not in use. the two shelves above the lathe hold my plywood, osb, lexan, and other sheet stock.

lots of storage in a fairly compact space. everything is on wheels (except the lathe, its about 2 tons) including my B-Port mill so to do work one of both cars go out and I can roll things to the center. everything goes back when I am done.

bob

 

[dfunk]

For stuff that only gets used once in a while, a loft is handy. It looks like you have maybe 9.5 ft ceilings? If you build a 2 foot deep shelf all across that wall to the right in the picture out of plywood and 2x4s you can put some pretty big stuff up and out of the way. Make the bottom at least 6'8" off the floor and it can probably cross above any doors. I screwedca 2x4 flat against the wall for the bottom-back support and lag-bolted a 2x4 to the ceiling to screw a 2x4 hanger for the rest. I've also used threaded rod thru a board laid across the joists in the attic. You can kinda see it in this picture. the angled supports you see are not part of the loft, they are homemade ladder hangers. And the member coming down from the ceiling is beyond the edge of the picture....but it's basically a 2x4/plywood construction platform screwed to the wall on 3 sides and suspended from the ceiling o0n the front side.
pla

Yeah adding 2x4 shelves would be pretty easy and cheap.. although i do like the idea of doors to keep it clean looking. But a lot of the cheap garage cabinets at the big box stores aren't deep enough..

A buddy of mine had these cabinets put in by a local company

They turned out nice, but he doesn't have kids, nor very many things in his garage to begin with.

 

[dfunk]

Now that I live in the country, storage is less of a problem. But when I lived in the city with small kids and summer / winter equipment issues then UP was the only way. Snowblower on the top shelf until winter then the lawn mower took it's place. Bikes and other toy's sat the off season up high. It was work but you had what was needed for the season handy.

Yeah , don't think a snow blower is going to make it off the ground.. That thing has got to be a few hundred pounds.

it's quite amazing how all the kid gear can make a garage go to ****