Over time, under the roof of any car garage, a whole arsenal of various household accessories and household items accumulates, which did not find a place either in the home environment or in the closet.

To prevent the formation of a chaotic landfill, the indoor space must be properly organized. And this can be done using a homemade shelf and rack system. It will allow you to neatly and rationally place the things stored in the garage and thereby create the most comfortable conditions not only for car care, but also for solving everyday household tasks.

The principles and possibilities of arranging a car garage

The main purpose of the garage is car storage. This means that first of all the car owner must exclude possible encroachments on the property stored inside, that is, ensure the safety of the latter. An equally important issue is the correct climatic regime in the internal garage space - the condition of the car should in no case depend on the vagaries of the weather or the appetites of harmful microorganisms such as fungus or mold. Another of the principles of organizing the atmosphere in the garage - ergonomics - says that everything under the roof of the structure should always stand, lie or hang in its place, without interfering with the passage, passage, cleaning or car care process. With all this, it is imperative that cleanliness and order are present in the room, which are the key not only to the health of the car owner, but also to his safety when visiting the garage and performing all sorts of household or repair operations.

In accordance with these principles, at the first stage of the garage arrangement, you will need:

1. Install a secure locking system on doors and windows, if any.
2. Insulate the structure of the building or organize high-quality heating of the interior during the cold season.
3. Execute interior decoration reliable, durable and easy to clean materials.

After finishing finishing works you can proceed to the final stage of the arrangement - the organization of the interior of the garage. To do this, you need to draw up a detailed plan of the premises and determine what and how exactly will be stored in it, in addition to the car.

Garage plan for a car with estimated dimensions

As a rule, the wall farthest from the entrance to the garage is allocated for racks and shelves. If the dimensions of the room allow, it is advantageous to equip the side walls with shelves. In case of a lack of free space in the garage, special attention should be paid to the space under the ceiling, as well as above the car itself. Shelves equipped on the upper level will relieve the lower part of the room by taking over things that need to be used from time to time.

Wooden shelves on a metal frame under the ceiling of the garage

The configuration and dimensions of the shelving system depend on the size of the garage and the needs of its owner. The materials from which the shelves will be made must be strong enough to support the weight of the stored items. For example, the tiers can be made of thick plywood or planks, and the frame can be made of metal pipes or corners, but other options are possible.

Wooden shelving system for garage premises

The way of assembling and installing the racking system depends on the material with which the finishing in the garage room is made, as well as the design features of the structure itself. In many cases, the shelves are hung on the walls and the racks are installed directly on the floor. However, the shelves can be hung from the ceiling, while to increase the stability of a separate rack, its frame is often equipped with fasteners for walls, floors and ceilings.

Open Hanging Garage Racking System

When calculating the parameters of the shelving system, several points should be taken into account:

1. The distance from the bottom shelf to the floor is taken at least 20 cm. This significantly simplifies the process of cleaning the garage.
2. The width and height of the shelves must correspond to the dimensions of the stored items.
3. It is advisable to perforate the shelves in order to improve ventilation, as well as to avoid the accumulation of dust and dirt.

Self-production of shelves and racks for the garage

You should thoroughly prepare for the arrangement of the garage. For this you will need:

• perform a design calculation;
• pick up and prepare materials;
• collect the tools and means necessary for the design, assembly and installation.

When planning a shelving system, first of all, you need to make at least an approximate list of items stored in the garage, not forgetting to estimate their weight and dimensions. You should also draw a plan of the garage, on which to scale to the nearest centimeter it is required to indicate design parameters structures (height, width, thickness, pitch and number of shelves). After that, it remains to carefully consider the method of assembly and installation and fixing of shelves or a separate rack.

Please note: The choice of the type of shelf and rack system and the method of its installation and fastening largely depends on the properties of the materials from which the garage is made. So, if the walls of the latter are metal, you will have to tinker a lot with hinged shelves, while the simplest side-mounted shelving will save the garage owner from complex manipulations with fasteners, garage insulation, etc. The most convenient option is plastered brick walls... In such a garage, you can give free rein to imagination and install a combined shelving system with many useful functions in the household.

Material selection: highlights

Materials for creating a shelving system for a garage are selected based on considerations of ease of assembly, as well as reliability and practicality in operation. So, for shelves designed for storing heavy and bulky items, you will need a reinforced frame, for the creation of which a metal corner or a profiled pipe is best suited.

But in this case, the garage owner cannot do without the skills of cutting, drilling and welding metal. In addition, the latter needs protection against corrosion, and this is associated with additional financial costs.

Wooden blocks 40-50 cm thick can also be used as a frame for garage shelves or racks. Working with wood is much easier than with metal, but you still have to take care of protecting the material from mold, rotting, moisture and other aggressive operating factors.

As for the material for the manufacture of shelves directly, the most practical solutions include:

• boards with a thickness of 2 cm;

Edged board is one of the cheapest and easiest materials to use. Garage shelves made from planks will last for years. But to improve ease of use and increase the service life, they must be sanded and must be covered with an antiseptic and paint, which will protect the material from mechanical damage, pests and decay.

• multilayer plywood;

Plywood is a practical and inexpensive material with high strength and durability measured for decades. It is not difficult to work with this material, however, when making shelves, it should be sanded with fine emery and covered with a protective layer of paint or varnish. This will prevent the plywood from getting wet, dry and cracking due to moisture, temperature extremes and aggressive chemicals.

• particle boards.

Chipboard is a cheap and easy-to-use, but capricious material in operation. In the manufacture of shelves from chipboard using varnishing or painting, it is necessary to protect from damage and aggressive effects not only the working (upper) and lower surfaces, but also the ends, as well as holes for bolts and perforations. At the same time, the latter require increased accuracy when performing due to the peculiarities of the structure of the material.

Please Note: A quick but rather expensive option for setting up a garage is to buy pre-fabricated plastic or metal perforated shelves with factory mounts or a prefabricated rack frame. In the absence of sufficient funds, the most reasonable solution would be self-production structures made of materials prepared at the discretion of the garage owner.

Structural calculation

First of all, it is necessary to determine the location of the rack system. If we are talking about several small shelves, you can sketch directly on the wall, while drawing a frame rack will have to be done on paper.

Sketch of hanging shelves on the garage wall

When planning a structure, consider:

• dimensions and weight of items placed on the shelves;
• the necessary reserve of free space for the passage;
• the dimensions of the gaps between the sections and the vertical pitch of the shelves;
• ways of attaching shelves to the walls or ceiling of the garage;
• the need to fix the racking system to the floor or ceiling.

Calculation of the attached shelving system for the garage

If a rack is installed in the garage, it is advisable to select its height according to the height of the room. As for wall or hanging shelves, it is convenient to calculate them from top to bottom. If the dimensions and layout of the garage allow, the width of the shelving tier is selected along the entire length of the wall with a 5–10 cm margin for ease of installation. The optimal rack depth is 50-60 cm, although it would be reasonable to provide wider shelves for bulky items (car tires and wheels, spare parts, boxes, etc.).

Closed Hanging Garage Rack

The tier height can be different and is selected in accordance with the needs of the garage owner. It is practical to place the widest and deepest shelves at the bottom. It is more convenient to store heavy and bulky items here, which are easy to reach if necessary. On the other hand, deep shelves can also be installed under the garage ceiling. Indeed, on the upper tier it is very convenient to store large, but light things or rarely used items. In addition, it is convenient to divide individual tiers into sections, which will facilitate sorting of the stored goods.

Drawing of a simple shelving system for a garage

Please note: It is undesirable for the width of the shelves, especially those made of thin material, to exceed 1–1.5 m. This will lead to a decrease in the strength of the structure and sagging of the tiers. As for the length, it is convenient to start from a size of at least 60–80 cm, otherwise the shelves will be inconvenient for storing long items. The vertical step of the rack system is taken according to the required storage height. For example, the height of the lower tier can be taken as 70 cm and taken away for storing car tires, rims, large containers, etc. If you add 2 more tiers of 50 cm each, then the total height of the rack will be 1.7 m.In a garage with a ceiling height of 2.5 m, the uppermost shelf of such a structure will have a 60-cm step, taking into account the 20-cm distance from the floor to the lower tier ...

Tools and supplies

For self-production, assembly and installation of the racking system, you will need a considerable arsenal of tools, as well as auxiliary materials. The toolkit for the task contains:

• building level;
• tape measure and marker;
• screwdriver;
• electric drill with puncher function;
• jigsaw;
• circular saw with discs for metal (if the rack frame is made of steel angle or profile pipe);
• welding machine (for welding the elements of the metal frame of the rack);
• hand tools (building corner, pliers, hammer, screwdrivers and wrenches).

Please note: The welded rack frame is difficult to manufacture, therefore, bolted connections are often preferred to welding.

The list of support materials should include:

• dowels or anchors (for attaching a wooden or metal frame to garage structural elements);
• self-tapping screws for wood or metal or bolts with nuts (for attaching shelves to the frame);
• drills for concrete, wood and metal;
• primer and paint for metal and wood structural elements;
• priming brush;
• sanding paper.

Please note: In some cases, it is more convenient to fix the wooden shelves to the frame using special glue.

DIY shelving system

Self-construction of shelves or racks for garage facilities is performed with subsequent assembly. The work algorithm is as follows:

1. With the help of a circular saw or jigsaw, frame elements are cut from a steel corner, a profiled pipe or a wooden block: racks, transverse and longitudinal beams, amplifiers.
2. On the vertical racks of the rack, markings are made for the installation of transverse and longitudinal beams under the shelves.
3. When it comes to shelves, the fixing points with dowels or anchors are marked on the horizontal beams that will hold them on the wall. Further, they must be transferred to the wall and made with a perforator holes of the appropriate diameter and depth.
4. Holes of the required diameter are made on the frame elements for bolted joints using a drill with a drill for metal.
5. If the choice fell on a welded frame, the elements of the latter must be joined with neat seams.
6. The metal frame is sanded, primed and painted. The wooden base of the shelving system should also be sanded, primed and painted to protect it from mold and decay.
7. Shelves of the desired size are cut from chipboard, plywood or boards, after which their surface must be perforated.
8. The shelf frame is attached to the wall or ceiling of the garage, after which the shelves are fixed on it using glue, self-tapping screws or bolts.
9. The assembly of a separate rack is carried out in several steps:

• installation of side racks;
• fastening of transverse and longitudinal beams, as well as amplifiers;
• installation of shelves on the frame.

Homemade shelving system on a metal frame and chipboard shelves

How to make shelves yourself

If there is not enough free space in the garage to install a separate rack, the room is equipped with shelves. The latter can be:

• suspended;
• hinged.

It is rational to install suspended shelves in rooms whose walls are made of materials that are difficult to process or unable to bear additional loads. In this case, the shelf frame, which is usually made of metal, will be attached to the ceiling. The latter must be strong enough to withstand the weight of not only the entire structure, but also the things stored on the shelves.

Please note: To reduce the load on the ceiling, it is advisable to equip the structure frame with wall mounts.

Manufacturing and installation of hanging shelves is carried out in several stages:

1. After taking measurements, three elements should be cut from a metal corner or profile pipe: the main longitudinal beam, vertical posts and horizontal crossbars.
2. Holes are made on the main longitudinal beam for fixing to the ceiling or side walls of the garage.
3. Horizontal crossbars are welded to the vertical posts or bolted.
4. By welding or bolting, the frame is attached to the main supporting beam, which is anchored to the ceiling.
5. The horizontal beams resting against the wall are equipped with brackets (corners) for secure fixation.
6. Shelves are cut from boards, plywood or chipboard according to pre-calculated dimensions. Before installation, they must be perforated and equipped with holes for fastening to the frame.
7. The shelves are bolted to the frame.

Hanging shelf system with a carrier beam fixed to the garage walls

Please note: If the ceiling of the garage is made of concrete or other material of sufficient strength, the supporting beam can be omitted. But in this case, it will be necessary to fasten each of the vertical struts of the frame to the plane of the ceiling.

Installation of a shelf frame on a concrete ceiling

Hanging shelves are manufactured in the following way:

1. After taking measurements from a metal corner, shaped pipe or wooden beams horizontal bearing beams are cut out for each shelf, vertical posts and horizontal beams.
2. The horizontal beams are equipped with fixing holes and are fixed to the supporting beams.
3. The beams are mounted to the wall using anchors or dowels.
4. Shelves cut from boards, plywood or chipboard and pre-sanded and painted are fixed on the installed frame using bolts or self-tapping screws.

Wooden hinged wood shelves mounted on a brick wall

Please note: It is convenient to use special brackets that are sold in the store to mount the shelf frame on the wall or ceiling of the garage. The wooden base of the rack is additionally reinforced in the nodes with metal corners or spacers.

Video: DIY shelving system manufacturing

Additional amenities in the garage

If the garage is spacious enough, it can be used not only as a warehouse for spare parts, tools, building materials and all kinds of household junk, but also as a home workshop. To do this, you need to add devices to the situation that greatly increase the convenience of performing various technical operations. Such devices include:

• workbench;

Homemade workbench for working in the garage

A workbench is a very useful piece of furniture in the garage, which is a table equipped with drawers, shelves, bedside tables and technical devices for performing various household or renovation works (vise, electrical outlet, local lighting, etc.).

• sink;

Car wash and hob in a car garage

Washing is a practical and useful solution that will provide uninterrupted water supply in the garage, which is necessary not only for washing hands, but also for car care, as well as activities related to indoor cleaning.

• inspection pit;

DIY garage inspection pit

A viewing hole is a vital garaging device in which the car will not only be stored but also repaired.

• vegetable store (cellar);

Cellar (vegetable storage) in the garage

If there is not enough free space in the house, the garage can be equipped with a vegetable store, in which it is convenient to store vegetables, pickles or foods that require a special temperature regime.

• cupboard;

Cabinet integrated into the shelving system in the garage

A cabinet built into the shelving system in the garage will allow not only to neatly place various small items, tools or spare parts, but also to limit access to them.

• ventilation, heating, etc.

Ventilation and heating in the garage is necessary if the room is used all year round, and not only for storing cars, but also for performing repair and household work.

Please note: the arrangement of the garage space entirely depends on the needs and financial capabilities of its owner. At the same time, almost any of the necessary devices for car care or housekeeping can either be bought at finished form, or make and install with your own hands, significantly reducing cash costs.

Solution gallery

Universal wall for storing tools, auto parts and household utensils in the garage Wooden shelving system for arranging a garage

Storing power tools in the garage on a dedicated shelf

Many useful ideas are born directly in the process of arranging the garage. For example, a rack system can be made collapsible, some of the tiers can be equipped with bumpers or sections for storing various small items. It is noteworthy that it is very difficult to immediately plan everything that may be needed in the process of caring for a car and solving household problems in the garage. Therefore, it is worth starting with the essentials, for example, with shelves or shelves, workbenches or closets, which will optimize the space in the room and make it easier to carry out daily work on car and household care.

The main purpose of the garage is to store cars. However, this does not prevent car owners from using it for other purposes: storage of conservation, tools, household appliances, unnecessary things, car parts. Over time, mountains of various household items accumulate in the room. The garage is slowly turning into a chaotic dump, space is getting smaller. This is a sign - it's time to properly organize the space by installing shelves in the garage. They will allow you to rationally place things, save useful space, and improve the interior of the room.

A garage with a convenient storage system when everything is in place

Do-it-yourself shelving in the garage is quite simple to make. You need to prepare tools, buy some materials, free several hours from work. In this article we will consider detailed instructions, some tips, recommendations for arranging such a structure.

Shelving with storage shelves

Permissible loads on self-made shelves in the garage

Before planning the shelves for the garage, you need to determine a more convenient way to fix them. Today, two methods are most popular: welded, bolted. Welded technology is usually used for metal structures, bolted - for wood. Both technologies serve well. Such shelves in the garage are easy to use and can withstand heavy loads. However, they have some disadvantages.

One of the options for shelving with a frame made of a shaped tube and plywood shelves

Welded shelves are non-separable. When you change the garage plan, its purpose, it will not work just to disassemble the product. It is also inconvenient to transport welded shelves. Their weight can exceed a hundred kilograms. The main advantage of this design is its reliability. Welding seams hold the elements firmly together. Destroying them is not easy at all.

It is better to connect a wooden rack for a garage with nails, and not with self-tapping screws, so they loose less

Bolted racks are less stable. They cannot provide sufficient rigidity. For stability, the structure must be additionally attached to the wall. However, there is a significant plus for this mounting method - mobility. The shelves can be disassembled, assembled, and hinged shelves of various sizes can be made. It is impossible to give an unambiguous answer to the question which of the technologies is better. Each person will have their own parameters important.

Determining the design

Scheme of the simplest shelving in a garage

Making shelving in the garage with your own hands is quite simple. The most important thing is to clearly define own desires, needs, plan in advance the design, type of construction. Such tasks will be within the power of anyone, especially if there is a great desire to do something with their own hands.

Drawing of a pipe rack with wooden shelves

The structure of the shelving has three elements: upright posts, shelves, crossbars. In some cases, lateral tightening is used. They are optional. They are only needed to increase the rigidity of the frame. To determine the exact design of the future rack, follow these recommendations.

• The depth and height of the shelves are arbitrary. These parameters are selected only based on the purpose of the niches. Each shelf can be designed for storage a certain kind of things. It is better to decide all this in advance;
• The distance between the uprights should be chosen based on the stiffness of the material. For very heavy accessories, the distance should be about 1.5 meters. For long racks, intermediate vertical posts must be prepared. They will make the system more resilient;
• Lower shelves should be at some distance from the floor. About 50-70 cm. Heavy objects should be stored on them. The optimal height of the remaining shelves will be 37 cm. This is the most rational height, often used in the manufacture of any furniture structure.

Drawing of a metal rack for a garage

Decide on design features always easy. Garage owners simply take into account the dimensions, features of the things that will be stored in the structure.

Option for a small garage with a workbench

It's a little more difficult to choose a product design. The garage is for practical purposes. However, this does not mean that its interior should be boring and ugly. In the garage, you can easily make an attractive interior for little money. In particular, you can decorate the design of the rack with ordinary paint. Today there are paints designed for all materials. The color for painting should match the overall color scheme of the room. Colored plastic boxes for storing accessories and tools will become a kind of decoration. They are inexpensive and allow you to put things in perfect order.

Transparent and multi-colored plastic boxes for shelves in the garage

Choosing a material

Durable metal shelves in the garage

DIY wooden shelves in the garage

The choice of the base material plays a huge role in the design, stability of the frame, and practicality of the structure. The rack can be made from different raw materials, which have their own advantages and disadvantages. Consider the main types of materials, their features in the table.

Dismountable metal rack with plastic containers

Benefits of DIY

Many people ask a completely logical question: is it better to make shelves in the garage on their own or buy a ready-made version on the market? Consider the main advantages of creating a garage storage system yourself.

Collapsible racks have an aesthetic appearance and are convenient for mounting and dismounting

The ability to develop a unique design. For many car owners, the garage is a real pride. I don't want to put ugly furniture in it. Standard shelves are not attractive either. In this case, you can take on the work yourself, having come up with a unique design. Ideas for implementation can be viewed on the Internet. But it's better to give free rein to your own imagination.

The idea of \u200b\u200barranging a garage from the inside with your own hands

It is not as difficult to make hinged shelves and racks on your own as it seems. Such a task will be within the power of any man who has at least minimal experience with tools.

The manufacturing process will not take long. Lack of free time is the main reason why car owners buy garage furniture from a store. However, making a storage system does not take a huge amount of time. It is enough to set aside a few hours, call a friend for help.

Homemade shelves and racks for the needs of the garage owner

Shelves can be made according to a personal plan. Only the car owner himself knows what size, depth, height he needs shelves. Finding the perfect option in a store is almost impossible. Everything is standard in hypermarkets. Better to put in a little effort, spend time, but create the most practical thing.

Low financial costs. Warehouse furniture is quite expensive. Even the simplest models will cost a lot. Self-production - the best decision in order to save money. Many necessary spare parts can be found on your farm.

Cabinet integrated into the shelving system in the garage

Required tools

Required tools for making shelves

To make the process of making shelves take a minimum of time, you should prepare the tools in advance. Not so much will be needed: a set of wrenches, pliers, hacksaws for wood, metal, a hammer, a screwdriver, a puncher, a jigsaw, a grinder. Almost any good owner has all of these names. The set of basic materials will depend solely on the choice of each individual person. It could be plywood metal pipes, bars, chipboard, plastic, much more.

Popular shelf options for storing tools in the garage

Manufacturing process: step by step instructions

1. Workplace preparation. Rack making is a dusty job. It takes a lot of space. For this, it is better to remove the car from the garage. The foil should be used to cover tools and expensive items. Next, you need to prepare the tools, put them side by side. It is advisable to enlist the help of a friend. Together, the work will be done as quickly as possible.
2. Preparing the plan. For ease of operation, it is better to draw a rack plan in advance on a simple piece of paper. The measurements of each shelf should also be noted there. When preparing a plan, you need to take into account the specific things that will be stored on the shelves. It is not necessary to make a standard design. Several different elements can be combined in one system.

   

   Holders and mesh shelves

   

   Mounting mesh shelves on the side wall of the garage - a quick option for light items

3. Purchase of basic raw materials. It can be wood, metal, plastic. When choosing, it is worth considering the features of the material, its maximum load, practicality. When buying, do not save money by choosing low quality raw materials. It will not last long and will bring a lot of problems during operation.
4. Cutting the elements of the frame. The main elements can be made from a wooden block, a steel corner, a regular pipe. Racks, amplifiers, crossbeams are cut with a jigsaw, circular saw.

   

   We start manufacturing the rack from the base

5. Marking the racks. The vertical elements must be marked. This will help in the further installation of the crossbars.

   

   We make grooves for shelves with a router

6. Drilling holes. Neat holes are made on the markings with a drill. This is typical when using bolted fasteners. When choosing a welded frame, all elements are joined by seams. In the absence of proper experience, the seams can come out ugly. It is also important to observe safety precautions when working with welding. Read more about this in the instructions for the welding machine.

   

   We install a shelf in the grooves and additionally fasten with self-tapping screws

7. Manufacturing of the shelves themselves. For them, plywood, boards, chipboard are usually chosen. It is important to observe the measurements exactly.
8. Assembling the frame, fixing the shelves on the frame. The frame is assembled gradually: first the side racks, then the crossbars, then the amplifiers. Only then the shelves. They are attached with bolts, self-tapping screws. The mount must be strong.

   

   Installing the rack on the base

9. Giving attractive appearance... The finished rack can be painted, decorated with author's forging, pasted over with foil. The choice of designer accessories is highly individual. In this case, one should only not forget about practicality.

Video: DIY garage racks. Dismountable / Demountable Garage Storage Shelves. DIY.

The orderly placement of tools, spare parts, building materials and other items is provided by racks made of. Such metal structures are installed in garages, home and repair shops, utility rooms, cellars. The simplest option is to purchase a prefab rack kit.

It contains: a corner (aluminum or galvanized steel), a covering for shelves, treated with special antiseptic compounds (for wood materials), fasteners. The shelves can be installed at different heights. Such kits are convenient and functional, but, as a rule, they are not designed for heavy loads. In addition, these metal structures have low rigidity due to backlash in the joints. Therefore, craftsmen who have the skills of locksmith and welding work prefer to make racks with a metal frame from a corner with their own hands. The advantages of this option: the ability to build a structure optimal size and lifting capacity and saving finance.

What materials and tools will you need to make a rack?

For storage of sufficiently heavy items, racks are made of steel equal or unequal angle, 30x50 mm with a wall thickness of 3-5 mm. Usually, hot-rolled angles are used for these purposes, which are primed and painted to increase corrosion resistance. For this purpose, it is convenient to use 2 in 1 primer-enamels, which serve as both a primer and a topcoat. If a second-hand corner is used for the manufacture of the structure and has had time to get covered with rust, then it is better to purchase a 3-in-1 metal paint. It acts as a converter of rust, soil and decorative enamel.

Plywood, OSB, chipboard are used for flooring, less often sheet metal. For storing large items, the covering of the shelves is made of bars located with gaps, for storing small items and installing cans with conservation - from plywood, fiberboard, chipboard, OSB, boards. Metal flooring is made in cases where it is planned to store heavy items. The big disadvantage of wood is its low resistance to aggressive biofactors. The tree rots quickly, becomes covered with mold, and is damaged by insects. To extend the service life, the wooden covering is treated with antiseptic compounds. To increase the resistance to fire - fire retardants.

To create a welded rack, you need a welding machine. The most popular now are welding inverters. For welding ferrous metal up to 10 mm thick, machines can be used that provide a welding current of 160-180 A. The diameter of the electrodes is 3-4 mm.

You will also need:

• angle grinder (angle grinder, "grinder") with a cut-off wheel designed for metal work - cutting workpieces to size;
• cleaning wheel - for processing welded seams;
• drill or screwdriver, self-tapping screws with a drill end, washers with rubber pads for securing the shelf cover;
• electrodes;
• building level;
• saw on wood or electric jigsaw for cutting boards or plywood to size;
• measuring instruments;
• primer and enamel.

For the procurement and assembly work, you will need personal protective equipment - gloves and glasses.

Design options

The structure of the rack includes racks, a frame for shelves, flooring. To increase the stability of a heavily loaded structure, diagonal braces are mounted on its rear side - steel strips that are welded or screwed to the posts. The braces compensate for lateral forces and increase the reliability and stability of the structure.

Before making a rack from a metal corner, determine its dimensions and draw up a drawing. When determining the geometry of the welded structure, the following points are taken into account:

• If you want to make a rack for the whole wall, then determine its length 100-150 mm shorter than the length of the wall. If this condition is not met, then it will be impossible or very difficult to install the metal structure.
• The height is determined, depending on the height of the room and the possibility of bringing the welded structure inside.
• The traditional depth of the universal shelves is 400-600 mm, the height is 300-500 mm. When making a metal rack from a corner for a garage with your own hands, the distance between the shelves is usually 450-500 mm, for storing conservation in the cellar - 300-350 mm. To arrange plastic bottles with a volume of 1.5-2.0 liters, the distance between the tiers is 400 mm. The distance from the floor to the lower tier is 500-700 mm or more. Usually the heaviest items are placed on the bottom shelf.

Advice! If you plan to store items of different sizes on the shelves, then it is recommended to make the design universal. For this, a welded frame is made, and several holes are drilled in the racks to install the shelves. This device allows you to change the number of shelves and the distance between them.

When calculating the dimensions of a metal rack, take into account the fact that the corner on metal bases is usually released by 6 m. It is desirable that the length of the metal structure be a multiple of the length of the corner bar in order to avoid waste. The traditional option is metal structures with a length of 2 m.For storing heavy items, the spans between the support posts are reduced to 1.5 m.

Attention! Long whips of the corner are usually not 12 m long, but 11.7 m, which must be taken into account when calculating.

The corner can be cut to size by yourself, or you can order this service at a metal warehouse, usually the surcharge for cutting is small.

How to weld a corner rack with plywood flooring: stages of work

The work is carried out in free space:

To ensure a stable position of the metal structure, it is attached to the wall using brackets.

None of the car owners will refuse to install comfortable shelves in their garage, it is simply impossible to do without them, since there is a great variety of necessary things that should always be at hand.

In this article, we will tell you what materials are used to make racks in the garage, how to make them yourself, according to the size of your room, how it is more convenient to arrange so that tools and spare parts are neatly stored, and there is space and order in the garage.

Shelving types

First you need to decide what kind of rack to make in the garage so that it is comfortable, functional and takes up a minimum of space, consider the main types:

1. Stationary shelving it is designed for a specific place, its design does not imply movement or disassembly, for strength and stability it is attached to the wall, ceiling or floor with dowels, brackets or anchors. The shelves on such a rack are made non-removable.
2. Collapsible shelving assembled on bolts as a constructor. It is good because on it you can change the location, height, width of the shelves, as well as move it, add or reduce the number of sections.

1. similar in design to collapsible, but put on wheels or a cart. The disadvantage of this type is the limitation of the load, it usually small size, it can be rolled out onto the street or, if necessary, moved around the garage.
2. designed for storing long materials, tires, wheels in a suspended state, such a structure is usually made complete with a regular rack and takes up a small part of the garage wall. It represents the racks on which the brackets are fixed.

If you have decided what kind of rack to make in the garage, then let's look at the materials for its manufacture.

Materials for garage shelving

In garages, wooden or metal racks are especially popular, there is also plastic, but it is less durable and quickly deteriorates. Alternatively, you can combine materials, for example, wooden frame and plastic shelves, but again such shelves do not withstand a heavy load, and this factor is most important in the garage, since most storage items have a considerable mass.

Let's talk about the advantages, disadvantages and the manufacture of shelving from each material.

Wooden shelving

The most affordable wood in terms of cost and availability is pine, a rack made of it will last a long time, but it is rather fragile and quickly destructible.

In order not to build a new rack every five years, for reliability and greater durability, it is still better to choose harder types of wood, for example, oak or larch.

• Manufacturing wooden shelving do it yourself cheaper and easier.
• No specialist involvement required and additional tools, it is enough to have a standard carpenter's set at hand - a hacksaw, a hammer, an ax.
• A wooden rack is easy to make the desired size and configuration.
• A failed section or shelf can always be replaced with a new one without laborious disassembly of the entire structure.

The disadvantages of a wooden rack include its stationarity. It is good if you do not need to rearrange or move it, since moving the structure will lead to it loosening or even breaking. This type is usually set "permanently" and dead-fastened to the walls or floor.

I must also say about the increased fire hazard of wooden shelving. And in combination with oil and other combustible compounds, which the wood perfectly absorbs, the risk of fire increases.

Important! Before making racks in the garage, you need to decide on the dimensions, the safe passage between the car and the rack shelves should be at least 1 meter in order to avoid accidental mechanical damage to the car and ease of movement.

Features of the manufacture of wooden shelving

When installing a wooden structure, experts advise adhering to the following recommendations:

• All elements of the rack must be treated with an antiseptic against decay and fire-retardant impregnation, which reduces the risk of fire. Particular attention should be paid to the ends of the boards, because they require repeated application of protective equipment.

• It is better to make the height of the rack to the ceiling to increase functionality, and the length to fit the wall.
• At each end, a gap of 50–100 mm is left between the wall and the rack for ease of installation.
• The assembly is carried out on self-tapping screws; to increase the strength of the structure, metal corners are installed at the joints under the shelves.
• The width of the shelves is determined independently, but it is not recommended to make it more than 50-60 cm, shelves that are too deep are not very convenient to use.
• For racks, a beam of 100x100 mm is taken, the crossbars are made of a bar of a smaller section, for example, 50x70 or 50x50 mm.
• It is recommended to make the distance between the racks no more than 1 m, boards on long shelves can sag and break under heavy spare parts, and short ones will not accommodate everything you need.

• The wood should be free from rot, wormholes, twigs, cracks, and blue, which is especially prone to rotting over time.
• The shelves are covered with a 100x50 or 100x40 mm board, or with chipboard sheets.
• For round parts, in order to avoid falling, a side is made on some shelves.
• A wooden homemade garage rack for the rigidity of the structure on the back and at the ends is reinforced with kosoura (diagonal braces).
• For safety and stability, it is recommended to place large shelves at the bottom of the rack for bulky and heavy items, and in the middle and at the top - smaller ones for lighter items.

A properly built rack in a garage made of wood with your own hands will serve you for more than one year, but it will have to be periodically covered with protective compounds and painted with wear-resistant paint.

Metal shelving

Steel shelves are more laborious to assemble, their price is quite high, but in terms of strength, metal is much superior to wood, and its service life is many times longer. You can, of course, order a ready-made set of collapsible racks, detailed instructions will help to quickly and efficiently mount it, but it will be more expensive.

It will be cheaper to assemble garage racks with your own hands, especially since in this case you can use used metal. It will be necessary to remove rust from it with a special compound, prime it with anti-corrosion impregnation and paint it with resistant paint for metal.

Metal shelving for garage

Advantages of metal shelving:

• Strength and durability.
• High resistance to gasoline, oil, aggressive chemical environment.
• Moisture resistance.
• Resistant to mold, mildew and other microorganisms.
• Fire safety.
• Insensitive to seasonal temperature changes.

In other words, you get an almost eternal steel structure, it will serve as long as it is needed without replacement, or until it gets bored.

Important! It is better to assemble racks for welding, this method will give the structure rigidity and additional strength. If this option is not suitable, then bolts are used.

Features of the manufacture and assembly of metal shelving

As already mentioned, shelving shelves in the garage can be made of used metal, but a number of measures will have to be taken to enable its further service.

If you decide to purchase a new material, then it is best to take galvanized, it does not require additional surface treatment. Chrome or nickel-plated elements are perfect for shelving, but the cost of such a structure will be much higher.

How to make a rack in a garage? If you adhere to the following recommendations, you can get an excellent, strong and durable design.

So:

• For external vertical racks of the frame, you can take a round or shaped tube, channel, large corner, it must be remembered that the main load will be distributed on them, therefore, it is not recommended to save on the dimensions of the section of products.
• It is desirable that all the racks are solid, but if you have to dock, then the connection points must be given special attention, for their strength it is better to weld them together.

• On the racks, you need to outline the locations for installing horizontal ties under the shelves. It is important that they are in the same plane.
• The distance between the racks is 80–100 cm, the height of the shelves decreases from the bottom to the top.
• From above, you can leave space for a high shelf for storing bulky light items.
• It is best to assemble the frame for welding, constantly checking with the level and building angle the verticality and horizontalness of the parts, as well as the corners of the connection of the shelves with the racks.
• For the frame crossbars, a 50x50 or 50x70 mm corner is perfect, the shelf of which will serve as a side to protect things from falling or rolling off.
• For the finished frame, it is necessary to check the diagonals, and at the back, install intersecting braids from reinforcement for additional structural rigidity.
• It is recommended to weld 1–2 additional stiffeners under the shelves on which it is planned to place massive objects.

Important! Bottom shelves where items will be stored heavy weight, it is desirable to make of metal, better than corrugated, boards or chipboard are used for the upper shelves.

• Since the board does not work well for bending, it is better to install it in the frame across the rack.
• Welded joints are treated with an anti-corrosion agent, the entire rack is primed and covered with durable wear-resistant paint.

The photos and videos in this article provide tips and tricks on this topic, we hope that we helped you figure out how to arrange garage shelving.

It is well known that in a modern garage building, in addition to the car itself, it is customary to store a large number of special tools, auxiliary equipment and other materials.

To accommodate all these items necessary for car maintenance, special racks or shelves should be provided, the manufacture of which should be worried about in advance. In our review, we will try to talk about how to properly make shelving in the garage from various materials, and also consider some of the nuances of organizing work on the manufacture and collection of shelves.

Types of structures

Various options for the manufacture of shelving for a garage involve the use of structures of the following type for their arrangement;

• metal;
• structures made of wood materials;
• combined (metal frame plus wooden shelves).

In addition, there is a difference in the way they are installed and, accordingly, the following versions are available:

1. Prefabricated metal structures, which are fixed at an arbitrary height convenient for you and fixed to the walls using special fixing angles (using bolts and nuts). Caracas for shelves of this type can serve as racks from a perforated metal profile.
2. Stationary structures, the frame of which is assembled from one-piece horizontal racks attached to four vertical racks. Structures of this type are capable of withstanding a large load, which, with this version, is completely transferred to the floor. As a rule, metal blanks serve as the starting material for such racks, but if the load on the shelves is low, you can use wooden materials for their arrangement.
3. It is possible to use mobile structures equipped with special rollers, thanks to which they can be moved to any place convenient for you. Unfortunately, structures of this type have certain load limits.
4. And finally, you can equip hinged shelves hanging directly from the ceiling at a height convenient for the garage owner. To equip such a structure, it will be necessary to prepare special fasteners, which are freely sold in any building materials store.

We make shelves ourselves

Similar to working with structures of any other type, the independent production of shelves in the garage should begin with a sketch, in which their location should be noted and all characteristic dimensions are indicated. The best option is to place shelves along one of the walls, freed from all unnecessary items and things.

The depth of the shelves and the distance between the horizontals are selected based on the maximum size of the items that are supposed to be stored on them. The distance between the two lower shelves should be chosen to calculate the possibility of storing car tires and canisters on them.

Before arranging metal shelves in the garage, you will have to prepare a reliable frame for them, made from standard corner blanks. It is fastened to the racks by welding or by means of a conventional bolted connection.

In the second case, you will have to prepare a whole system of holes, calculated in such a way that in the future you can adjust the shelves in height. All metal components of the structure (racks and frame) will need to be primed to provide them with reliable corrosion protection. As a material, laid in a frame structure, both ordinary board and chipboard or multilayer plywood can be used. To fix them on a metal frame, it is best to use ordinary self-tapping screws.

To increase the strength of the structure, the frame can be additionally fixed on the wall (or ceiling) of the garage using special brackets.

Wood shelves

If you want to save on material, you can make a rack structure entirely from wooden blanks. As racks, you can choose a standard beam with a cross section of at least 10 × 10 cm, and for the shelves use a board or plywood sheets with a thickness of 1.5-2.5 cm. The fixation of the shelves on the frame base is carried out using bolted joints using special metal corners.

You should always remember that the carrying capacity of a timber structure is noticeably lower than that of its metal counterpart. In addition, such racks are much more dangerous in operation, since they are made of fire hazardous materials.

Video

This video shows you making wooden shelves at an accelerated pace.