A messy garage not only makes it difficult to find what you are looking for, it can also be downright dangerous, especially if you are storing toxic or inflammable household chemicals alongside heavy sports equipment, sharp tools and vehicle maintenance products such as deicer, oil and windscreen wash. If your garage is cluttered and lacks proper storage then it’s effectively an accident waiting to happen. Get organised now and safely store your garage contents with the best shelving for garages. Here’s our guide to fitting your garage with the right shelves.
Best Types of Garage Shelving
Garage shelving is not something most people tend to focus on, meaning you may be at a bit of a loss as to how to choose the best type of shelving for your needs. Here is a quick rundown of the main different types of garage shelving that you’ll find.
Mount Type
There are two main types of garage shelves: mounted and freestanding. Which one should you choose?
Freestanding Garage Shelves
- As the name implies, free-standing garage shelves are not attached to the walls of your garage, meaning they can be moved as required.
- Some lightweight (and often low-priced) freestanding garage shelves are not designed to take heavyweights, so double-check the maximum capacity per shelf and per unit.
- As they can require no installation, simply assemble and you’re good to go, you may want to start off your garage organization project with a freestanding shelf that you can move at a later date as you add to your garage shelving.
Mounted Garage Shelves
- Most mounted garage shelves are secured directly to the studs in your garage walls. You may, however, also come across some ceiling-mounted garage shelves.
- As they are secured to your garage walls, mounted garage shelves provide a maximum of security and strength – you won’t have to worry them tipping over and causing a serious injury or severely denting your car.
- Ceiling-mounted shelves tend to have a lower total weight capacity than wall-mounted shelves but are an excellent choice for storing seasonal items out of the way without reducing your floorspace or total working area.
Garage Shelving Material
Garage shelving is typically available in wood, metal or plastic, or you may find some models that are made with two of these materials.
Wood
Sturdy and sustainable, wood is a popular choice for garage shelving, especially if you are looking to build your own either from scratch or with a kit. To save on space, you may choose to purchase a garage wooden shelving unit with a metal frame.
Metal
Easy to clean and heavy-duty, metal shelving for garage is a popular choice for storing heavy items. One of its main advantages over wood is that it should resist chemical spills thanks to its non-porous construction. Most types will come with a powder-coated finish to ensure resistance to moisture and a long-lasting finish. You can find solid metal shelving as well as metal wire shelves that weigh less and are ideal for holding boxes and small storage containers.
Plastic
While plastic garage shelving is typically not designed for heavyweights, if you are looking for a low-cost garage shelving unit, a plastic one could be your best option. Easy to move, assemble and clean, lightweight plastic garage shelves are a good option if you don’t have a lot of wavy items and are looking for a rapid storage solution that can get your bits and pieces off the floor and neatly organized.
Dimensions
Obviously, you will need to carefully measure your available space to make sure that you optimize the number of shelving units that you can install. Garage shelving is available in various widths and heights, but you should also pay close attention to the depth.
If your garage shelves don’t protrude far enough, you may struggle to store bulky items. On the other hand, if you have limited space inside your garage, if your shelves are too deep, you may not be able to access your items when your vehicle is parked inside. Garage shelving units tend to be around 40cm deep, although you’ll have no difficulty sourcing units with a depth between 30-60cm.
Features
For a truly unique, multi-purpose garage storage solution, you should consider the entire layout along your wall and customise your shelving units with extra features. Consider adding some of the following to allow better access, easier storage and enhanced security:
- Hooks – whether it’s for your overalls when you change your oil or for your gardening tools, hooks are a great way to secure long items, keeping them visible and neatly stored.
- Bins – use a selection of labelled storage bins to keep small items grouped and secure. Screws, nuts, miscellaneous tools, nozzles, whatever you have lying around that is small and likely to go missing.
- Cabinets – if you have children or pets a locked cabinet is a must for hazardous chemicals. You should also consider a locked cabinet for any possessions that you store in your garage that could easily go missing and would likely be targeted by any opportunists when you have your garage door open.
Installation
Most garage shelves are very easy to install. However, if DIY is not your thing and you do not want to drill into your walls, freestanding garage shelves will be your best option.
How Much Does it Cost to Put Shelving in a Garage?
It all depends on your requirements and budget. If you don’t have a lot to store, you can pick up a couple of budget priced garage shelves for around $100 or even less if you opt for plastic ones. Alternatively, if you are looking for a full wall of modular garage shelving you can spend considerably more.
One word of advice, we recommend spending more on quality over quantity. After all, you don’t want to have to replace your garage shelving every couple of years or risk it collapsing and causing an injury, damaging your vehicle or other possessions. Choose a good, sturdy model and always pay close attention to the maximum weight capacity.
Summary
Looking for the best garage shelving in Australia? Make sure you check out our huge selection over at Wholesale Superstore. We have a huge range of garage shelves to choose from and our dedicated, experienced team is on hand to answer all of your queries.
