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About This Project
So you’re finally ready to organize your garage because the clutter is mountainous. But now you’re stumped by how and where to begin. We can help you jump-start your garage storage quest by tackling some big stuff.
In this article, we’ll show you our favorite way to get heavy bicycles, a long extension ladder, a wheelbarrow and small clutter off that garage floor.
Project 1: Suspended Shelving
Tuck medium and lightweight stuff onto shelves suspended from the ceiling. The shelves are designed to fit into that unused space above the garage doors (you need 16 in. of clearance to fit a shelf and standard 12-1/2 in. high plastic bins). However, you can adjust the shelf height and put them anywhere. The only limitation is weight. We designed this 4 x 6-ft. shelf to hold about 160 lbs., a load that typical ceiling framing can safely support. It’s best to save the shelf for “deep storage,” using labeled bins with lids, because you’ll need a stepladder to reach stuff.
First, find which way the joists run, then plan to hang one shelf support from three adjacent joists. Our joists are 24 in. apart; if yours are spaced at 16 in., skip one intermediate joist. We built ours to hold plastic bins, but if you put loose stuff up there, add 1x4 sides to keep things from falling off.
Assemble the 2x4s, using 5-in. corner braces ($2 each; see Buyer’s Guide) and 1/4-in. x 1-in. hex head lag screws (drill pilot holes first).
Now attach the corner braces on both ends of a shelf support to the center of a joist/truss by drilling pilot holes and using 1/4-in. x 2-in. hex head lag screws. The only challenge is finding the center of joists through a drywall ceiling (if your ceiling is finished) to attach the shelf supports. Tap a small nail through the drywall until you locate both edges of the joist. Measure to find the center of the adjacent joists, and measure to keep the three supports in alignment with one another. Finish the shelf unit by attaching a 3/8-in. x 4-ft. x 6-ft. plywood floor.
Project 2: Heavy-Bicycle Lift
Hanging bikes by one or both wheels on bicycle storage hooks is the quickest and cheapest way to get them off the floor and out of the way. But the hooks won’t always work if your bike is too heavy to lift easily. Then the best solution is a convenient pulley system that allows you to quickly and easily raise the bike out of the way.
We couldn’t design a system much cheaper or better than a purchased system like the Hoist Monster from ProStor (about $30; see Buyer’s Guide). It can lift up to 100 lbs. with its quality mechanical system of pulleys and hooks, and its dual safety design (locking mechanism and rope tie-down cleat) keeps the bike secure.
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