Upgrade Your Garage or Workshop

Alot of serious DIY’ers have a second home at their home—that being the garage or workshop. What superficially appears to be a cluttered shelter for tools and materials is, to some, a solitary retreat from a noisy household, to others, a mad scientists’ laboratory for germinating projects yet to come. Whether a skilled carpenter or a part-time tinkerer, a home-improvement enthusiast’s garage or workshop is often considered sacred ground, deserving at least as much attention to design as the kitchen and great room. Here’s a look at a few garage amenities to consider when outfitting your home headquarters.  

The Wall as Storage Space

A couple of nails in the wall serving as storage hooks are par for the course in virtually any garage or workshop. A few dozen nails is another story, and while no one will be giving your workspace the “white glove test,” some degree of organization will pay off not only in garage décor, but also when searching for that lone, misplaced tool.  

The traditional upgrade from the scattered-nail approach has been pegboards made from pressboard panels, but the material has a tendency to warp, swell, crack or fray when it absorbs moisture. In response, Wall Control, has developed an all-steel pegboard panel that utilizes a secure hook and shelving system. The strength of steel combined with a formed flange around the perimeter make Wall Control’s metal pegboard panels more than 10 times stronger than conventional pegboard. More strength equals more storage. The durable steel panels are available in a variety of powder-coated colors, along with a variety of hooks, brackets, shelves and accessories (www.wallcontrol.com).  

Tool Chests to Build On

Storage and organization are key to an efficient workspace. When choosing a tool storage system, consider your size and mobility requirements. Although an enormous 72-inch tool chest might be the envy of your neighbors, a fully stocked tool box can weigh well over a thousand pounds and encroach on a great deal of precious space. Is your work space at a premium? If so, bigger may not be better. Will the tool chest be mobile or stationary? Because the larger the chest, the more difficult it is to move, casters or not.  

Gladiator GarageWorks now offers a line of stackable tool storage chests, each sold separately so you can add to the system as your storage requirements expand. The Premier series of stackable chests includes the 7-Drawer Roll-Away, a 3-Drawer Intermediate Chest, and a 6-Drawer Tool Chest. Each tool chest features heavy-duty, welded steel construction, sleek recessed handles, steel ball-bearing slides, cushioned drawers and a combined weight capacity of 1,000 pounds. The 7-Drawer Roll-Away makes a strong, mobile base with its rugged, reversible casters and reversible side-push handle.  

To expand the system, stack on the 3-Drawer Intermediate Chest, which is compact, modular and ideal for frequently used items. Then top it off with the 6-Drawer Tool Chest, which has ample room for large and small hand tools that are easily misplaced, plus it has a divided top till for even smaller items.  

Available in Classic and Premier stylings, both versions will be sold as three-piece stackable units available for purchase separately. Additionally, Gladiator will soon introduce Wide Tool Chests for more tool storage options, which will be available in a 41-inch two-piece stack or a 52-inch two-piece stack (www.gladiatorgw.com).  

Overhead Storage Racks

Simply put, overhead storage racks make the most economical use of your living area by utilizing space that would otherwise go unused. Easily installed by a DIY’er, some quality overhead storage racks can hold up to 600 pounds and be customized to fit any garage.  

One popular system, called SafeRacks, is solidly constructed of 14-gauge industrial steel horizontal supports with a c-channel design with wire mesh decking on top. To maximize the amount of weight that can be held when attached to the ceiling of your garage, each vertical support in the SafeRacks system is attached to at least two ceiling supports. The dual connection design helps to displace the amount of weight bearing on any single joist for additional strength. SafeRacks is available in sizes ranging from 2-by-2 feet to 8-by-4 feet. The system comes with powder-coated finish and limited lifetime warranty (www.saferacks.com).  

Another overhead storage system comes from Hyloft, which offers both ceiling and wall storage units available in various colors, sizes and finishes. Hyloft’s flagship 45-by-45-inch ceiling storage unit is made of strong, durable steel and adjusts in height from 16 to 28 inches. It offers storage space of more than 30 cubic feet and holds up to 250 pounds. Each unit is easy to install and includes all necessary hardware to attach to finished or unfinished ceilings, and multiple units easily connect to maximize storage capacity. Hyloft also offers a 36-by-36 version of the overhead unit, as well as two wall storage units and a variety of accessories, including racks, baskets and hooks (www.hyloft.com).