Getting Your Garage in Gear

Last Updated on January 6, 2020

If you’ve been parking on the street all year because there is no room in the garage, it’s time to start getting organized. The most important elements to think about when organizing your garage are storage and safety. Tools, chemicals, and supplies should all have designated spaces in your garage to avoid accidents and maintain a neat and clean look. Here are a few ideas on how to maximize storage and safety for a more efficient garage.

Building Storage Cabinets

The trick to keeping your garage in good shape is to make sure everything in it has a place. Building storage cabinets will give you the extra space you need to stash your garage supplies.

You first need to determine how large you want your cabinet to be, and how many cabinets you would like to have. Cut ¾” plywood to form the pieces of the cabinet (2 sides, top and bottom, back, shelves). Paint the pieces and let dry completely before assembling. Use wood glue to form the pieces together and then secure them using a nailer. Set the structure on its face to nail the back wood panel in place. Use a measuring tape when installing shelves to ensure that they remain level. Slide in the shelves and secure with nails. To install the doors, cut two equal pieces of wood to create double doors. Sand them down and paint them before attaching hinges. Once you move the cabinet into place, secure it to the wall studs.

Installing Lock-Tile Flooring

Lock-tile flooring is great for the garage. Not only is it durable and resistant to most solvents and chemicals, but it’s quick and easy to install. Lock-tile flooring will stand up to garage projects and keep you safe while doing them because it’s anti-slip.

Before you install the tiles, make sure you leave the tiles in the garage for at least 24 hours. The temperature of the garage should be maintained at 70°F (+/-5°). This is not a project to work on in the middle of summer or the dead of winter. Once the tiles have adjusted, sweep the floor to remove any dust and debris. Start installing the tiles from the center of the room, working outwards to the walls. Use a rubber mallet to ensure a tight fit between the tiles. When you get close to the perimeter, tiles can be cut to size using a utility knife or jigsaw. Be sure to leave ¼ in expansion gap at the walls.

Adding Pegboard Storage

Keeping your garage organized is easy when you have enough storage space. Make use of empty walls by hanging pegboard for additional storage. Pegboard allows you to hang tools or supplies from hooks that slip into the board. Keeping supplies here allows easy access to all of the supplies you need without having to search through boxes, cabinets or shelves.

The first thing you’ll want to do is measure the space where you want to be covered by the board so you know how much you need to purchase. Sometimes you can find boards that are pre-framed, if not taking the time to frame your board will give you a much cleaner looking finish. If you want to paint the board, the frame, or both it’s a good idea to do so before you assemble it. Attach the frame to the board using an air nailer. Find and the studs on the wall using a stud finder and mark the location before you go to hang the board. The board can be attached to the wall using four screws, two on top and two on the bottom.

This article was written by Erie Construction. Follow Erie Construction on Twitter for more updates on home improvement.