How to close a rack in a garage. Garage shelving - high-quality models and storage systems for professionals (95 photos)

Convenient and spacious storage systems help to place in small room tools, car parts, consumables and other important little things cluttering up the space. To make shelves and racks for the garage with your own hands, it is important to decide on the materials, take measurements of the room, develop a design and layout, and think through options. You can take note of ideas with hanging shelves or collapsible racks, which will significantly save space.

Convenient wardrobe rack

Which shelves and shelving structures are suitable for the garage?

The easiest way to arrange a garage ready-made systems, choosing a stylish option with a simple fastening mechanism. But it’s not always possible to guess with the dimensions of the shelves, and besides, not all purchased options will be as functional and reliable as we would like. It’s more convenient, more profitable and more logical to make a shelf or rack yourself. As a result you will get:

  • saving space;
  • eliminating clutter;
  • convenient storage of tools and other things;
  • giving the garage (hangar) a well-groomed, lived-in appearance.

Metal structures are the most practical and durable

The most common materials for the manufacture of garage shelf sections are wood and metal, less often plastic. The most practical are combined structures made of wood and metal. According to assembly options, racks can be:

  • Stationary, designed for a specific place in the room. This rack is assembled once and attached to the wall (ceiling or floor) with brackets.
  • Mobile – with the possibility of rearrangement, which is provided by the mobile base. The rack is mounted on wheels or a trolley, but in this case it is important to control the load without cluttering it with massive equipment.
  • Collapsible - the height and number of shelves in which you can change and rearrange them.
  • Suspended - attached to walls or ceilings in any convenient location.
  • Designs of a more exotic type, for example, rotating. Such shelves in the garage look very stylish, but they are not suitable for storing large tools; they are ideal for screwdrivers and self-tapping screws.

Don’t forget about the principle: the more, the more functional, convenient, and spacious

When planning the size of the racks and the number of shelves in them, it is important to proceed from the dimensions of your garage.

Calculations and ready-made diagrams of racking systems

First of all, it is important to decide on the materials for self-made shelving in the garage, the most suitable ones are wood and metal:

  • The advantages of metal are durability and strength.
  • Wooden systems are lightweight, practical, easy to operate, and have low manufacturing and assembly costs.

Scheme of a simple garage shelving

A tool rack is a massive and quite complex structure, so it is wiser to begin its construction by preparing a diagram or drawing. Even making sketches yourself is not difficult if you take accurate measurements and correctly calculate the dimensions of the shelves and the parameters of the base for them. Correct measurements are a guarantee of functional shelves and order.

Assembly diagram of one of the sections

To make it easier to make a rack with your own hands, study the drawings, diagrams and photos of options tested in practice.

Drawing of a rack made of pipes with wooden shelves

More on preparatory stage It is worth thinking about the method of connecting the shelves to the frame, as well as about attaching the structure itself to the walls or floor. The height of the product plays a role. If the room has low ceilings, then it is advisable to make the rack until ceiling surface without leaving a centimeter of free space.

Usually the rack is placed close to the wall

Before you build shelving in your garage, determine the distance between shelves. Make the bottom ones the most spacious - they are the most suitable for placing large equipment, massive tools and wheels. And the upper shelves should be lower to avoid surface deflection and to ensure the stability of the entire system; small utensils will fit there.

Drawing of a metal stand

Niches that are too narrow will make the storage impractical, and niches that are too deep will make it inconvenient to use. The optimal depth of shelves for racks is 50-60 cm. As for the width of the shelves - the distance between the vertical supports rack design, then it is recommended to make this value equal to 100-120 cm, depending on the dimensions of the items that will be stored on it.

Classic scheme

How to make the simplest wooden rack

Most often, garage owners make a wooden rack with their own hands:

  • the cost of such a structure is lower than that of a metal one;
  • The assembly principle is quick and simple (no need to use welding);
  • convenience, aesthetics, naturalness;
  • relatively long service life, acceptable strength indicators.

Drawing of a wooden shelving unit for a garage

  1. First of all, choose the material for racks and shelves. Oak or other hardwoods are ideal, but pine can also be used.
  2. Vertical racks are made of timber with a section of 10x10 cm or 10x5 cm. A smaller beam or board can also be used as crossbars between the shelves.
  3. The shelves, according to measurements, are cut from a sheet of chipboard. To extend the service life and reduce the risk of board fire, before assembling the structure, it is important to process all wooden parts antiseptic solution.
  4. Mark the racks vertically and mark the places where the shelves will be attached. The rack is assembled using self-tapping screws, tenons, and wood glue. Nai the best option The shelves are secured to the base using metal corners.
  5. After assembly, it is important to paint or varnish the product, carefully treating the ends.

Idea for a corner wooden shelving unit

To make a DIY wooden rack more stable, it is advisable to attach it to the garage wall with metal brackets.

Video: Simple wooden shelving

Wooden rack with metal frame

A steel structure for garage shelving is an ideal option. Although it is more expensive, there are advantages, such as high strength, immunity to moisture, mildew and mold, fire resistance and decades of service. But in order to make such a rack a little cheaper and lighter, it is better to make shelves for it from wood.

A simple version of a combined rack made of wood, a metal base and a corner

Preparing materials and tools for assembly

You can make racks for such a garage rack from rectangular pipes or profiles with a width of one side of no more than 5 cm, and for the crossbars use a 30 mm corner.

The frame is made from a corner with the expectation that the thickness of the shelf will be 1.5-3 cm. The crossbars from the corner can be welded to the vertical guides, but it is more rational to bolt them. This option will come in handy if you want to change the height.

Shelves can be made from sheets of chipboard or plywood according to pre-calibrated dimensions, but their width must be at least 1.5 cm - this will ensure strength. In addition, you will need the following tools:

  • drill or screwdriver;
  • Bulgarian;
  • hacksaw;
  • corner, level.

Option for small garage with a workbench

Manufacturing technique and assembly of the rack

The system is assembled in free space, and when the frame is ready, it is screwed to the wall. The manufacturing scheme for a metal garage rack looks like this:

  1. The prepared components for the structure are cut with a grinder in accordance with the measurements taken.
  2. The vertical placement of shelves is marked on the racks.
  3. The corners are welded or bolted to the racks, while strictly observing the angles so that the structure does not come out crooked.

Shelf made of chipboard on a frame made of metal corner

  1. The metal frame is coated with an anti-corrosion compound.
  2. Shelves are cut from chipboard or plywood, after which it is important to try them on to the finished frame, placing them across.
  3. The finished shelves are sanded, painted, attached to the metal frame with self-tapping screws, fitting closely to each other.

The finished rack is attached to the garage wall with steel brackets

Video: Master class on building a metal shelving

Manufacturing of a stationary storage system

Sometimes it is more practical to make a permanent shelving unit for the garage, that is, an option that is mounted on site, attached to the wall. Let's take a closer look at the assembly diagram of this design:

  1. Markings are made on the wall for fasteners, holes are drilled and dowels are driven in.
  2. Metal profile or wooden beams cut according to the diagram.
  3. The far racks are fixed to the wall, each measured strictly according to its level.

Each rack must be parallel to adjacent slats

  1. The frame is connected by horizontal binders from corners along the width (according to the height of future shelves).
  2. The front pillars are installed and connected to the side strips on which the shelves will lie.
  3. The front verticals are fastened, after which they form flooring from boards or lay plywood shelves in the prepared grooves.

Metal and wood wall shelves

A shelf is the most convenient and practical option for storing tools in the garage. The main requirement is that it should not sag under the weight of the load that you place on it.

Simple system storage along the walls

Simple and practical wooden shelves

To make functional shelves for storing tools in the garage, follow these recommendations:

  • width – 1-1.5 m;
  • depth – up to 50 cm;
  • height, if we are talking about a multi-tier shelf, is 30-60 cm.

Multi-tiered wooden shelf for the garage

To make a wooden shelf for a garage with your own hands, take all measurements in advance and prepare a sketch. Next, vertical posts and a frame are made, suitable for this standard timber With square section, for example, 10 cm by 10 cm.

For the shelf itself, a planed board or plywood is suitable. You can attach the board to the base using self-tapping screws, and to the racks using a metal corner. Ready product varnished or painted.

Metal frame for wall shelves

Durable metal structures

Metal garage shelves are designed for storing bulky and heavy equipment, so it is better to use welding to connect their components:

  1. The first step is to create a sketch that contains dimensions and reflects the design features.
  2. You need to take care of the frame elements in advance - corner blanks.
  3. The racks and frame are welded; an alternative is to bolt the frame to the racks.
  4. The shelves can be cut out of perforated steel or, by analogy with shelving, from plywood or chipboard, 2-2.5 cm thick.
  5. Wooden elements if available, they are coated with a fire retardant.
  6. The entire structure is assembled using self-tapping screws and coated with a fire-resistant compound.

You can attach such a shelf with dowels if the wall is not cinder block.

Hanging tool shelves

With all the variety of hanging models of shelves for garages, they are conventionally divided into wall and ceiling. The former can be open or closed, have a back wall or be attached directly to the wall of the building. For fastening, a corner is most often used, wooden base and hung on anchors. Depending on the type of fastening, wall shelves can be either stationary or removable.

Hanging wall shelf

Ceiling shelves are located under the ceiling and attached directly to it. They can be hung by hooks welded into beams on the ceiling, or by special studs. If necessary, they can be quickly dismantled. For all their mobility and practicality, such shelves are quite shaky and do not allow for placement of heavy tools or fragile things.

Video: How to make a simple garage shelf yourself

Self-made racks and shelves will decorate your garage, becoming not only a practical accessory for storing tools, but also a stylish addition to the interior. If you approach the issue of manufacturing rationally, you will not only save money spent on arranging the premises for the car, but also restore order by placing all things in their places.

Over time, a lot of things and “important” little things accumulate in the garage, which need to be found somewhere so that they are easy to find and quickly take. Proper organization of space will help with this, essential element which - shelves. Today it is not just a complex of horizontal and vertical crossbars. The most convenient designs have been developed, height-adjustable, safe and durable, which you can make with your own hands.

Shelves in the garage are needed to systematize internal “wealth”

For Russians, the garage has long become a multifunctional space. This is no longer just a place for storing and servicing a car, but also a workshop, as well as a warehouse for a variety of things, including:

  • car spare parts;
  • wheels;
  • electric and pneumatic tools;
  • oils and gasoline;
  • fishing rods and other fishing, hunting and tourist equipment;
  • wearables and other things;
  • food preparations;
  • detergents to maintain cleanliness.

All this must be organized, kept dry and in good condition. For this purpose, there are only two designs: and shelves. The first differ from the second in that I can be mobile. Shelves are always stationary and mounted on a wall or partition.

For things with different geometric parameters, you need storage space of the appropriate size. In this regard, there are several types of shelves:

  • for tools, with crossbars to prevent this expensive equipment from falling;
  • for storing long items: building material such as boards and metal corners, as well as fishing rods, shovels, spare parts;
  • for large-sized products: machine tools, heat guns, auto parts;
  • for small hand tools, keys, insulating and other materials.

Therefore, the design of the shelves must be selected based on several parameters:

  • the dimensions of the items that will be stored on them;
  • frequency of their use;
  • weight.

Using the same criteria, the location of the shelf is determined and the material for its manufacture is selected.

Types of shelves and possible materials for manufacturing

Hanging shelves are great for things you don't use often

There are several types of garage shelves:

  1. Prefabricated. These structures can fully be called racks, since they can be moved to any place convenient for the owner. They can also be stationary, the frame of which is attached to the wall.
  2. Suspended, fixed in the ceiling space. They are optimal for storing rarely used items and materials. When designing and manufacturing such structures Special attention pay attention to the strength of fasteners and the ability of materials to withstand significant weight loads. A ceiling shelf that collapses along with heavy objects can not only damage the car, but also cause serious injuries to people and animals in the room.
  3. Mounted. Structurally they resemble wall cabinets without doors.
  4. Rotating. Ideal for storing small items and frequently used tools.
  5. As flat shield with many pins for hanging small items.
  6. With solid (monolithic) horizontal surfaces or made of crossbars located at a certain distance from each other.

Materials for production:

  • wooden blocks;
  • boards;
  • sheet metal;
  • metal corners;
  • round, rectangular or square pipes;
  • brackets;
  • metal studs.

This design will be very convenient for storing large items.

Also, for the manufacture of shelves and drawers, objects suitable for this purpose are used: empty plastic canisters, flower pots and other durable and light-weight containers.

Corner shelves are highly stable

Metal cornerreliable material, suitable for constructing structures that can withstand significant weight loads. You can use it to make a rigid hanging frame for storing wheels. Moreover, the metal must be painted or coated with an anti-corrosion primer. The rules for storing wheels require that they be installed in a vertical position, and they can be placed at any height, even under the ceiling.

If you are planning a multi-tiered corner shelf, leave the bottom part for the heaviest items

A corner shelf can be made in the form of a stable multi-tiered structure, on which it is convenient to store heavy and large items. To do this, first of all, they determine what exactly will be located here. The most bulky and heaviest things are usually placed on the bottom shelf, so the distance from it to the next upper horizontal surface should be significant.

Design + drawing

Drawing of shelves from a corner

A corner shelf is a simple design consisting of several elements:

  • vertical racks;
  • horizontal frame crossbars;
  • steel or wooden sheets laid on them.

The design process consists of several stages:

  • decide what will be on the shelves;
  • find the optimal distance between them;
  • choose the number of shelves;
  • are determined with other geometric design parameters: the width and depth of the horizontal panels, the height of the racks.

Advice! The most convenient to use shelves are 40-60 cm deep and 100-120 cm long.

Metal corners are ready to become shelves

To make shelves you will need the following materials:

  • metal corner 20x20x3 mm;
  • sheet metal 1.5-2 mm thick (can be replaced with plywood or OSB 9-12 mm thick);
  • anchor bolts №8;
  • bolts M6x30 DIN 933;
  • metal studs with external thread M6x40;
  • M6 washers;
  • M6 nuts.

Listed fasteners(studs, bolts, nuts and washers) are necessary if they are mounted metal carcass collapsible type. The structure can be made in another way - connecting its elements to each other using welding.

To complete the work you will need the following tools:

  • drill and metal drills;
  • spanners;
  • roulette;
  • bubble level;
  • marker or simple pencil;
  • grinder with a disc for metal.

Manufacturing instructions

Now you can force

Step 1. Using a grinder, cut the metal corner into sections equal to the height of the vertical posts. For standard design 4 supports will be required.

Step 2. Markings are made on the wall in the selected location: mark the location of two vertical supports, spaced from each other at a distance equal to the length of the shelves.

Step 3. Prepare pieces of metal corner for constructing frames of horizontal shelves.

Step 4. From sheet metal or OSB/plywood is cut directly into the shelves themselves. If the frame dimensions are 30x1200 or 60x1200 mm, fabrics of 288x1188 or 588x1188 mm are prepared, respectively.

Step 5. The frames are assembled using the chosen method: by welding or using bolts with nuts and washers.

Step 6. In accordance with the design, install the upper and lower shelves using welding or bolted connections.

Step 7. Place the structure against the wall in accordance with the previously made markings.

Step 8. Attach the vertical posts to the wall using M8 anchor bolts.

Step 9. Install the frames of the intermediate shelves.

Step 10. Place prepared sheets of metal or wood on the horizontal protrusions of the metal corner.

Important! All metal elements Before starting work, they are coated with an anti-corrosion primer.

Wood shelf

Wood is more environmentally friendly and economical compared to metal

The most common solution for arranging a garage is the installation of wooden shelves. The choice of this option is due to the availability and low price of wood: bars and boards. In order for the structure to be aesthetically attractive and safe to use, all its elements are pre-treated: leveled, sanded, coated with a fire-retardant composition.

Advice! A surface planer is used to calibrate lumber. With its help, you can make all identical structural elements identical in size.

Design + drawing

Drawing of a wooden shelf

Designing a shelf made of wood is no different from a similar process in the manufacture of metal structures. The dimensions of the parts are chosen at your discretion. The most convenient are shelves whose length corresponds to the distance of an outstretched arm. The height can be any, up to the ceiling. The easiest way to design and manufacture a stationary wall structure. It is installed in a corner or on a plane.

Required tools and materials

Before starting work, the tree must be planed

To work with wood you will need:

  • drill or screwdriver;
  • drill;
  • hacksaw or jigsaw;
  • sander;
  • bubble level;
  • construction square;
  • ruler and tape measure;
  • simple pencil.

Materials for making simple wall shelf length 110 cm, height 30 cm and depth (width) 25 cm:

  • planed boards 16 mm thick;
  • wood screws;
  • dowels for fastening to the wall;
  • brackets
  • fire-retardant composition.

Advice! If the shelves are made of chipboard, it is advisable to laminate the ends with special adhesive tape. This will prevent moisture from penetrating and swelling of the particle board.

Manufacturing instructions

Surface preparation in full swing

Step 1. Using a jigsaw or hacksaw, prepare two blades for the side walls. Between them there will be two horizontal shelves. The distance between them is equal to the height of the end ones.

Step 2. Prepare canvas for horizontal shelves.

Step 3. Process the parts with a grinder.

Step 4. Cover the workpieces with a fire-retardant composition and allow drying time recommended by the manufacturer.

Step 5. Start assembling the structure and lay the bottom sheet on a flat horizontal surface. Take a ruler and a simple pencil, measure 8 mm on the right and left, draw two parallel lines.

Step 6. On each line from above and below towards the middle of the canvas, measure 5 mm and put marks.

Step 7. Drill 4 holes at the found points.

Step 8. In a similar way, mark the surface of the top shelf and drill 4 holes in it.

Step 9. Install the left end shelf on the bottom shelf. Connect the parts with self-tapping screws.

Step 10. The right end board is attached in a similar way.

Step 11. Place the top shelf on the resulting structure and attach it through the previously drilled holes.

Step 12. Brackets are attached to the upper part of the back surface of the end boards.

Step 13. Try the shelf against the wall, make markings for the dowels.

Step 14. Drill holes in the wall.

Step 15. Screw in the dowels.

Step 16. Hang the shelf.

Based on the proposed step by step instructions you can make a structure from several shelves, strengthening it with vertically installed bars with a section of 40x50 mm or 50x50 mm. In order to give the shelf stability, it is attached to the wall with anchors or dowels.

Other options

A variety of materials are suitable for making shelves. The main requirement for them is strength, the ability to withstand the expected load.. Craftsmen find original and practical solutions for organizing garage space.

Cable racks make very durable shelves

Cable racks, trays, profiles – products necessary for the implementation electrical installation work. From these parts you can assemble a strong and reliable design from several shelves and sections. Also, these products are suitable for constructing a frame on which wooden, glass or plastic shelves.

In assortment auxiliary materials full range for electrical installation work fastening elements for assembling structures from cable racks. All these products are affordable and sold in the hardware or electrical materials departments of any construction hypermarket and shopping center.

From canisters

Shelf made of canisters - option for originals

A plastic canister is a real find for those who love original solutions for installing storage systems in the garage. Entire racks are built from these containers. Canisters act as drawers, one of the side walls of which is neatly cut off. This way you get a hollow box with a handle.

Installation of such racks is simple. In production, it is recommended to focus on the instructions for installing wooden shelves suggested above. First of all, a multi-sectional frame is constructed from boards, in each opening of which a canister laid on its side is installed. Get comfortable, deep, drawer with a handle.

Attention! Used canisters for solvents, oils, and chemical solutions must be thoroughly rinsed. This will eliminate the odor and eliminate the risk of fire.

How to arrange shelves in the garage

Try to use shelves as much as possible

The installation of simple devices will help to significantly increase the ease of use of storage systems. Thus, horizontal crossbars installed along the shelves will prevent accidental falling and damage to objects, or injury to legs or arms from heavy tools. Often, shelving in garages is overloaded, and when you take out one part, you have to move many others. Horizontal bars will keep objects within a given space.

The owner’s task is to make the most of the small garage area, using all available surfaces. For this purpose, corner multi-tiered shelves are installed, ideal for storing a variety of small items: containers with screws and self-tapping screws, fasteners.

It is important to place the shelves so that they do not interfere with free passage, and there is no risk of accidentally hitting your head or hands on them. An excellent solution is to install shelves along the perimeter of the walls at a height exceeding the owner’s height by 20-30 cm. On these surfaces you can store everything that is rarely used, but should always be at hand.

Magnetic holder is a real godsend for the garage owner

Another option for arranging shelves is to fasten a wooden block on the wall with magnetic holder. It is convenient to fix any metal products that are small in weight and size: bits, drills, wrenches, screwdrivers. This is very convenient way storage, appreciated by all garage owners who used this method of organizing space.

A high multi-tier shelf can act as a partition for zoning a room. To prevent things from falling from the rack located in the walk-through area, install sliding doors like a wardrobe, or install horizontal retaining bars.

Video: DIY garage shelves

Without shelves, it is impossible to properly organize the garage space and operate it in the most convenient way. There are many options for arranging storage spaces, and you can always find the most suitable one for a specific situation. Any shelves, metal or wooden, are easy to make with your own hands. Detailed step-by-step instructions will help you with this.

For car enthusiasts, the garage often becomes a second home. In addition to its main purpose - storing a car, a garage is also used for car repairs, and for repairing tools and household appliances, and for other purposes. This is where unnecessary things are usually taken, old furniture, which is a pity to throw away, some Appliances, in need of repair, old bicycles and even inflatable boats for fishing enthusiasts. Everyone has their own list of rubbish stored in the garage, however, over time, its quantity usually increases and makes our life very difficult.

Why do you need garage shelving?

Among the main reasons to install shelving in the garage, we note the following:

  • Firstly, difficulties arise when entering and leaving the car.
  • Secondly, in the accumulation of old things it can be difficult to find necessary tools, get to what you need in this moment details.
  • Thirdly, the aesthetic appearance of such a garage leaves much to be desired, in addition, such chaos in the room gets on your nerves and takes up a lot of time.
  • Fourthly, in a cluttered garage the risk of fire increases, and it will be much more difficult to cope with the resulting ignition, because flammable substances are usually stored in the garage: gasoline, oils.

Of course, there are exceptions. Some garage owners manage to keep them in perfect order, where everything is laid out on shelves, hung on hooks, sorted by purpose. If you have noticed, in such rooms there are usually shelves along the walls on which all the contents of the garage are laid out.

Advice ! A garage is not a museum or an exhibition, and absolute order on the shelves does not always correspond to the state of a person’s soul. The main advantage of shelving in the garage is the convenience and comfort of work; it allows you to perfectly navigate your stocks and folded items. In addition, you definitely need a tire storage rack in your garage.

As practice shows, a rack remains the best option for storing tools, spare parts and other garage equipment. It has sufficient capacity, does not take up much space, and open access to the shelves allows you to quickly find the item you need. The rack will be convenient for storing both large-sized parts and fairly heavy objects.

If you decide to organize the contents of your garage, a shelving unit will make it much easier for you to get organized. And to figure out what is most suitable for your garage, you need to familiarize yourself with the possible options.

Conventionally, the available types of racks are distinguished:

  • stationary;
  • prefabricated;
  • mobile;
  • rotating.

The stationary structure is installed in the garage on permanent place, for greater stability can be fixed to the wall, usually made non-removable. The advantages of this scheme include high strength and the ability to accommodate the heaviest parts and tools. It is made from durable, wear-resistant materials and will easily withstand use for several decades.

Most often, prefabricated metal garage shelving is available for sale. They are made of perforated metal racks to which horizontal shelves are attached. They are usually sold unassembled, with a set necessary fastenings. The assembly of this option is quite accessible to everyone, even those who do not have special repair skills. The advantage is that you can change the height of the shelves depending on your needs. This way, you can store both a set of spare tires and large tools.

Mobile options have small wheels, thanks to which you can move the entire set of tools around the garage, and, if necessary, even roll it outside. The advantage of this design is its mobility, the ability to easily rearrange the garage from one point of the garage to another without unloading its contents, and also to roll everything up at once necessary tools to the place of repair. But its carrying capacity is inferior to the non-collapsible version. This rack is also sold disassembled and assembled with a screwdriver directly in the garage, like a construction kit.

A rotating rack can be purchased to store light, small-sized tools and parts, as well as nails, bolts, screws and other small items. It is small in size, but you can easily find the part you need by turning the rack around the axis of rotation. At the same time, you can free up space on a large rack for massive items.

If you wish, you can not buy a ready-made shelving for the garage, but make it yourself.

Before you buy or make a shelving unit, you need to decide what space in the garage you can allocate for it. It is best to place it along one of the walls, or along the entire length of the wall. The height is limited by the height of the garage ceiling, and the width is determined by your needs. It is advisable to leave a distance between the rack and the car of at least 80 cm in order to have free access to the shelves, as well as to protect the car from possible heavy objects falling from the shelves.

In addition to the dimensions, decide on the expected load on the structure, think about what you will put on it. Perhaps, for the convenience of placing tools, you will need not one, but two racks on opposite walls, or one solid stationary one and one mobile one. All this is determined from the point of view of convenience, it depends on the type of work performed in the garage, and for what additional purposes you use it.

It's easy to make a garage rack with your own hands. If you haven't done this kind of thing before, this will be good practice.

How to make a garage rack with your own hands

Before construction, it is necessary to determine the dimensions of the product and make a drawing indicating the dimensions. The length of the shelving depends on the length of the wall or your needs. The height is limited by the height of the ceiling in the garage.

The width of the shelves, that is, the distance between the vertical posts, is usually about 1 meter; if necessary, it can be increased to 1.5 meters, no more, as this will reduce the strength of the shelves.

The depth of the shelves usually varies from 30 to 60cm, depending on your individual preferences. The height of the shelves can be different, for example, the top shelf can be made up to about 30cm for storing small and light items. The middle shelves are up to 60cm high, and the height of the lower shelf is increased to 1 meter to accommodate large items and heavy spare parts.

To build a rack, it is better to use durable and reliable materials that can withstand heavy mechanical loads so that they last for a maximum of years.

Tools for making a metal rack with wooden shelves:

  • ruler, level, tape measure;
  • Bulgarian;
  • welding machine;
  • construction pencil;
  • hand saw;
  • paint brush;
  • drill, hammer, screwdriver, pliers.

To build a set of shelving, you will need to purchase metal for racks (a metal rod or pipe), metal corners, boards for shelves or thick plywood (chipboard), from the heels of electrodes for electric welding, a primer for metal and paint, dowels and brackets (if you plan to attach the rack to wall).

Let's get started

Oddly enough, the most difficult thing in making shelving for a garage is planning and detailed thinking - where and how tools, spare parts, paints and varnishes, old junk, so that everything is at hand and does not interfere with work.

To make shelving for the garage, we will follow the approximate order of work:

  1. Use a grinder to cut the metal into the required lengths indicated in the drawing.
  2. On the vertical racks, mark the places where the shelves are attached.
  3. On vertical supports weld the metal corners using welding. Before welding the corners, you need to make sure that their location on adjacent racks is symmetrical so that the shelves do not turn out to be inclined.
  4. After it is cooked metal base, it is necessary to prime it well and then paint it to protect it from rust.
  5. Cut to size of shelves wooden boards, you can make shelves from boards, plywood or OSB.
  6. To make the rack more stable, the vertical posts are attached to the garage wall with brackets.

Important ! When making shelving, leave as much room for alteration and modification of the design as possible. Probably, tomorrow, or in the near future, you will have new ideas, and it will be a pity to cut the tightly welded or concreted frame and shelves of the rack.

Wooden shelving in the garage is even easier to assemble. To install them, it is necessary to concrete the corners No. 50 and 10-15 cm high into the floor and wall. Samu load-bearing structure made from 75-100mm timber. If the bottom shelf is selected to be 70% of the car tire diameter, this design can be used in the garage as a rack for wheels.

Probably, each of the men who acquired a garage was faced with the problem of storing necessary things and tools. They are always dangling underfoot, and some are even impossible to find. In order to save space in a small room and thereby systematize and put all the tools and more in their place, we came up with shelves and racks for the garage. You can make them the way you want, and how it’s convenient for you, even on the entire wall, on two walls, or you can attach one shelf. There are even ceiling shelf options.

However, such shelves are not safe, but sometimes they are the only ones suitable for the type of garage. It is best, of course, to stop at classic versions. In addition, shelves in the garage with your own hands will last much longer; looking at and using them will be doubly pleasant.

The material for the shelving is either wood or metal. Wooden racks cannot be partially disassembled; they are secured using bolts, screws and nails. Such racks are attached to the wall and cannot be moved. The second type of racks is welded. They are completely non-separable due to the fact that all metal parts are welded together. Collapsible racks can also be made from metal. They are fastened with special bolts, but such structures can hardly be called stable, because during assembly a so-called backlash is formed. To achieve greater stability and rigidity, they are fixed to the walls. This is done very simply. A plate with metal holes is attached to the outer racks with bolts or welded, and a so-called “crutch” is inserted into it. Before installing the crutch, you need to drill a hole at the level of the plate in the wall itself with a diameter smaller than the hole in the plate.

Both types of rack structures have good statistics on service life, but for some reason the main choice falls on welded racks. Collapsible racks are selected for certain cases, there are several of them. In the first, the possibility of moving to another garage cannot be ruled out, but moving a huge non-demountable structure to another garage, and if it is far away, is very difficult, since such racks can weigh several tons. Partial removal will make the task of transporting the rack much easier. The second case involves the absence of a welding machine, unless, of course, the rack is made manually at home. But in general, almost everyone chooses welded racks, especially if the assembler has experience in working with a welding machine, because then the work will move much faster, and welded racks are particularly stable and strong.

The trading market presents its own version of shelving. A certain type of rack is sold, which is made of corners and grooves. They are quite stable and easy to use, and besides the fact that they can be disassembled, there is also a small function for rearranging the shelves. This way you can arrange the shelves at the desired height. It would seem that the racks are ideal, what could be even better. However, their price is very disappointing. Because they cost exorbitantly.

The design of the racks itself is not complicated. There are several main parts of the rack design:

  • Racks;
  • Crossbars;
  • Shelves.

There are cases when transverse steel posts are welded diagonally on the rear wall of the rack along the outer posts. Such measures are used to achieve increased durability by compensating for lateral loads.

The size and height of the rack and shelves is determined by the estimated things that will be stored on it. The main thing is to maintain the required distance between the racks, which are located in the same section. This distance directly depends on the stability and rigidity of the material from which the rack is constructed. In any case, the shelves should never bend under the load you plan to give it. If you are not going to load your rack too much, then the distance between spans can be made no more than 2 meters, but for heavy loads it is best to leave up to 1.5 meters and no more. If you planned to make a rack along the entire length of the wall and it is really mediocre in size, then when assembling the rack you must weld the intermediate posts and the distance between the spans should also not reach more than 2 meters.

It is imperative to say something about the shelves of the rack, or more precisely about their height. The first shelf from the bottom should be at a height of 50-70 centimeters from the floor and, as a rule, this shelf is filled with the heaviest things. Subsequent shelves are made at any convenient height, but for example, a shelf height of 30 centimeters will not be practical and not entirely convenient, but 35-37 centimeters is much better, by the way, this is the height that is considered standard. You can check the desired height using a 1.5 liter plastic bottle. It should easily fit between the shelves and be removed in the same way. Just in centimeters, this is how it turns out, and it is this height that is standard and convenient for use.

Look at the DIY garage shelves photo.

As you may have already read above, there are not so many materials for shelving - wooden and metal. Of course, it is easier to work with wood, and they are not very heavy in weight, but the main disadvantage of wooden racks is their inability to withstand a large mass. As for the metal ones, they weigh tons, but they are also capable of holding even a hippopotamus, if, of course, all the steps of assembling and welding the racks were carried out correctly and according to the instructions.

Undoubtedly, the main aspect is also the price. If you buy metal material for shelving in retail chains, the cost will be almost the same as if you bought a ready-made shelving. But there is an option to purchase material at metal warehouses. They sell metal whips ranging in size from 6 to 12 meters. The next step will be cutting the metal rods into the required sections along the specified length. This can be done directly at the metal depot, but you will have to pay extra for such a service, but the price for it is not too high. This way, you can save almost 20 to 30 percent of your expenses.

Wood materials differ significantly in cost from metal. But don’t think that you can save a lot by making a wooden one instead of a metal one. As a rule, racks are made from elite and premium wood, and they are, to put it mildly, not cheap.

As you know, garage conditions are not the best, especially for wooden structures. Constant temperature changes, humidity, dampness, frost, heat - all this has a very detrimental effect on wood material. If you want your wooden shelving to serve you for at least a couple of years, you must treat the material with special protective, antibacterial agents. Wood treatment compounds are best purchased for outdoor use, as the conditions indicated are very similar to those in a garage that does not have heating. If desired, compositions can be selected that will tint the wood so that it will not require painting later. You can work with the treated material only after final drying.

Let's see how to make shelves in the garage with your own hands from wood:

All pieces of wood shelving are joined using the quarter-foot or half-foot method, which is a common practice for carpenters. If this method is not within your power, then you can nail the bars end to end. But with such a connection it is necessary to use corners and metal plates to increase stability. The rack elements are fastened with nails, but when using corners and overhead plates, fastening with self-tapping screws is also possible.

The standard dimensions of the racks are 50 by 50 millimeters. The crossbars can be made from exactly the same block, only slightly smaller in size - 50 by 30 millimeters. For flooring you need:

  • Planks with a thickness of at least 21 millimeters;
  • Moisture-resistant plywood in a thickness of 10 millimeters;
  • Laminated chipboard;
  • Oriented Strand Board (OSB).

Planks and plywood are cheaper in cost. It seems to be made from more expensive material laminated chipboard, but its huge advantage is that it does not need systematic or even painting at all. In order not to shell out large amounts of money, you can buy materials at sawmill bases, where they are sold in packs and their cost is much different from new ones. The only disadvantage of such a purchase is that the materials may be scratched.

There is one more small nuance. Shelves made of chipboard material have a side cut and when moisture gets on them they can swell and crumble. To avoid this disaster, you need to treat the sections with silicone.

DIY wooden shelves in the garage photo options.

If your choice fell on metallic look shelving, there are so many materials to choose from. There are two versions from which you can make both shelves and rack stands; there are also standard materials with which “warehouses” are created. Those intended for other purposes can also be used. metal materials, For example, cable channels and stand cable, which are originally used in communications.

What materials are needed to create a metal frame:

  • Metal corner 3-4 millimeters thick. Corner shelves should be 25-40 centimeters wide, but you need to take into account the volume of loads that will be carried out in the future;
  • You can also take profile pipes. They are less susceptible to deformation and are very difficult to twist or bend. And in comparison with corners, profile pipes are more elastic. The required pipe sizes for racks are approximately from 40 by 40 millimeters and up to 50 by 50 millimeters, for crossbars from 40 by 25 millimeters and up to 50 by 25 millimeters;
  • Profile pipes are designed for racks, but crossbars are made from corners. The thickness of the metal should be 2-3 millimeters, the width of the shelves starts from 25 millimeters and above. The corners should be turned out by laying the flooring, something like a nest;

After constructing the frame, flooring is needed. It is made from exactly the same materials as when forming wooden racks. Chipboard, OSB, plywood, board are taken and cut to the required size. Some people make flooring not only from wood, but also resort to very non-standard way– sheet metal. In wooden structures, this method is not supported due to the high mass of this material, but laying it on a metal frame is very possible.

The most standard and basic flooring material is still the good old plank. The most reliable and also inexpensive flooring. For such purposes, take floorboards (they have minimal amount hangnails) their thickness should be from 21 millimeters. Be sure to be treated with antiseptic and protective equipment to prevent wood from swelling from moisture and other external influences. If desired, you can paint the wooden shelves.

The advantage of metal shelves is that they can withstand heavy loads, although they have a fairly low thickness, there are also disadvantages and this is a very loud sound during operation, the shelves can rust and because of this they need to be sanded and painted very often. By the way, the metal frame also needs to be treated and painted so that rust does not appear.

Several features during the assembly of metal shelving

Metal racks have two assembly options. The first is to weld the required parts using a welding machine, and the second is to connect each part with bolts. As for the welding method, as for me, there are no questions, but with bolts it’s a little more complicated. When welding where corners are used, they are welded with an overlap of 5 millimeters. After laying out the shelves, such a small difference will not be noticed at all. There is an option of welding after cutting off the excess part of the corner and making a butt joint, but in this case it will take a lot of time to trim the excess parts of the corner.

But with bolts everything is different. First you need to connect the side parts with the shelves, and only then attach them to the rest of the frame. To connect, you need to screw in two bolts, this will help achieve greater stability.

There is a classic, or rather factory version of a shelf (stand) for tools. A perforated metal sheet is purchased, on which all the necessary tools are hung. The only drawback of such a stand is the cost.

Do not despair! Of course, there are many ideas that you can do at home with your own hands and here are some of them:

  • You need to take a board, chipboard, or plywood, mark in the right color on it under each tool that will hang there, and fill it with nails or screw in self-tapping screws. Not a bad option, besides, it’s done quickly, but it’s not exactly beautiful and elegant, but it’s convenient and I did it myself;
  • If you have nowhere to put heavier tools, for example large keys or knobs, you can take a mesh, screw it to the wall and weld hooks of the required size from wire. A simple and easy option and a way to quickly get out of a difficult situation;

There are a lot of such examples that can be given, and all of them are taken from life. Everyone gets out and comes up with their own original ideas, which a lot of people are soon starting to use. Such tool stands can be made from almost any material that is at hand. Turn on your imagination and create, because any thing made with your own hands is the fruit of creativity.

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

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

Types of racks

First, you need to decide what kind of rack to make in the garage so that it is convenient, functional and takes up minimal space; let’s look at the main types:

  1. Stationary rack designed for a specific location, 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 rack It is assembled like a designer with bolts. It is good because you can change the location, height, width of the shelves, as well as move it, add or reduce the number of sections.

  1. The design is similar to the collapsible one, but is placed on wheels or a trolley. The disadvantage of this type is the limitation of the load, it is 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, this design is usually made in conjunction with a regular rack and occupies a small part of the garage wall. It consists of racks on which brackets are attached.

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

Garage Shelving Materials

Wooden or metal shelving is especially popular in garages; there is also plastic, but it is less durable and quickly deteriorates. Alternatively, you can combine materials, e.g. wooden frame and plastic shelves, but again such shelves cannot withstand heavy loads, and this factor is most important in the garage, since most storage items have considerable weight.

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

Wooden shelving

The most affordable wood in terms of cost and availability is pine; a rack made from it will last a considerable time, but it is quite fragile and can quickly be destroyed.

In order not to build a new rack every five years, for reliability and greater durability it is still better to choose a more durum varieties wood, such as oak or larch.

  • Manufacturing wooden shelving Doing it yourself is cheaper and easier.
  • No specialists required and additional tools, just have on hand standard set carpenter - hacksaw, hammer, axe.
  • It is easy to make a wooden rack of 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 stationary nature. It is good if you do not need to rearrange or move it, since moving the structure will lead to its loosening or even breakage. This type is usually installed “permanently” and is permanently attached to the walls or floor.

It should also be said about the increased fire hazard of wooden shelving. And in combination with oil and other flammable compounds that wood absorbs well, the risk of fire increases.

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

Features of manufacturing 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 rotting and fire retardant impregnation, which reduces the risk of fire. Special attention You need to pay attention to the ends of the boards, because they require repeated application of protective agents.

  • It is better to make the height of the rack match the ceiling to increase functionality, and the length to fit the size of the wall.
  • At each end, a gap of 50–100 mm is left between the wall and the rack for ease of installation.
  • Assembly is carried out using 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 entirely convenient to use.
  • For the racks, a 100x100 mm beam is taken, the crossbars are made from a beam of a smaller cross-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 not have rot, wormholes, knots, cracks, or blue stains, which are especially susceptible to rotting over time.
  • The shelves are covered with boards 100x50 or 100x40 mm, or with chipboard sheets.
  • For round parts, some shelves have a side to prevent them from falling.
  • Wood homemade rack for a garage, for structural rigidity, it is reinforced at the back and at the ends with stringers (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 smaller ones in the middle and at the top for lighter items.

A properly built wooden garage rack with your own hands will serve you for many years, but it will have to be periodically coated with protective compounds and painted with wear-resistant paint.

Metal shelving

Steel shelves are more labor-intensive to assemble, their price is quite high, but metal is much stronger than wood, and its service life is many times longer. Of course you can order ready set prefabricated shelving, detailed instructions will help you quickly and efficiently install it, but it will be more expensive.

It will be cheaper to assemble garage shelving yourself, especially since in this case you can use used metal. You will need to remove rust from it with a special compound, prime it with anti-corrosion impregnation and paint it with durable metal paint.

Metal shelving for garage

Advantages of metal shelving:

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

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

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

Features of manufacturing and assembly of metal shelving

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

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

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

So:

  • For the external vertical posts of the frame, you can take round or profile pipe, channel, large corner, we must remember that the main load will be distributed on them, so it is not recommended to save on the cross-sectional dimensions of products.
  • It is desirable that all the racks are solid, but if you have to join them, then special attention must be paid to the joints; for strength it is better to weld them together.

  • On the racks you need to mark the locations for installing horizontal connections 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.
  • You can leave space on top for a high shelf to store bulky, lightweight items.
  • It is best to assemble the frame by welding, constantly checking with a level and a construction angle the verticality and horizontality of the parts, as well as the angles of 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 against things falling or rolling away.
  • The diagonals of the finished frame must be checked, and intersecting stringers made of reinforcement must be installed at the back for additional structural rigidity.
  • Under the shelves where you plan to place massive objects, it is recommended to weld 1-2 additional stiffeners.

Important! It is advisable to make the lower shelves, on which heavy objects will be stored, from metal, preferably corrugated; for the upper shelves, boards or chipboards are used.

  • Since the board does not bend well, 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 coated with durable, wear-resistant paint.

The photos and videos in this article provide tips and tricks on this topic; we hope that we have helped you understand the structure of garage shelving.