Overhead shelving in the garage not only provides handy storage space, but it will free up valuable floor space as well. Garage shelving typically needs to be sturdier than other shelving to accommodate the range of items that may be stored on it, from machinery to power tools and gardening equipment. Plywood is an ideal, sturdy and economical material to use for building garage shelves.
Instructions
1. Measure down from the ceiling to the desired height of the overhead shelves. Mark a level line across the wall at this height, the length you want the shelves to be; they can extend across the whole wall if desired.
2. Locate the garage studs in the wall along the line and mark their position, using a stud finder.
3. Cut lengths of 1-by-2-inch lumber long enough to cover the whole wall line. These will be shelf cleats, or supports. Cut lengths of 1-by-2-inch lumber to 6 inches long, as many as there are stud points along the line. These are the mounting anchors for the shelf brackets.
4. Cut shelves out of plywood, no more than around 14 inches wide. Trim the ends of the shelves to 45-degree angles, so that when they are installed in the garage, the ends will mate and create a stable overhead shelf.
5. Paint all the lumber and plywood for the shelves and leave to dry. Painting before installation is much easier, and less messy than painting the shelves once they have been installed.
6. Position the cleats on the wall line and secure them in place with two drywall screws driven through the cleats into each of the stud points. Place a bracket anchor perpendicular to the cleats at point and secure them with drywall screws driven through each corner of the anchor.
7. Place a bracket on each stud point, with the top of the bracket level with the top of the cleat and the one arm extending down over the bracket anchor. Secure the bracket with drywall screws through the screw holes in the bracket arm.
8. Place the plywood shelves over the top of the brackets and cleats, mating the angled ends to make continuous shelving on the wall. Secure the shelves to the cleats with 1 1/4-inch screws driven every 5 to 6 inches through the top of the shelf into the cleat, to the horizontal bracket arm as well.
Tags: with drywall screws, drywall screws, each stud, screws driven, with drywall