Our Garage Shelving Project

[nrpeace17]

I have received some requests for detailed directions for this project. A project like this is a great way to get organized for the new year at very little cost.

Garage Shelving Project

Shelf dimensions and characteristics:
Overall height: is 92” (7-2/3ft).
Overall length: 16 feet
Shelf depth is 16 inches-this measurement is taken from inside the upright studs.
Vertical stud spacing: 4 ft on center-5 in the front and 5 for the rear wall.
Shelf height spacing: 18” separation (measured from top of each shelf to bottom of the next horizontal brace).
Total storage area for each shelf=20.8 sq ft x 5 shelves=104 sq ft of storage.
This design produces 20 shelf sections, each section should support approx. 200lbs.
Approximate build time: 4 hours and the approximate cost for materials is $175.00.

Materials needed:
1) 4- 4ft x 8ft x ½” CDX Plywood sheets (can also use ½” thick OSD board)
2) 10- 2” x 4”x 10ft studs for upright braces. (once the initial uprights are cut to length, the remaining 2ft long blocks left over from each will be used for outside bracing).
3) 20- 2” x 4” x 8ft long studs for horizontal braces.
4) 5- 2” x 4” x 8ft studs for the remaining block braces.
5) 3lbs. of 10D galvanized common nails for attaching the framing together.
6) Optional: 2lbs. of 2 1/2 “ wood screws for toe-nailing the bracing blocks to studs.
7) 2-boxes of 15 TAPCON 3 inch masonry anchors to attach back studs to the wall.
8) 1-5/32” masonry bit to pre-drill cement block wall for rear studs.

Directions for building shelf project:
1)Cut each 4ft x 8ft plywood sheet into 3 equal sections-each measuring 16”L x 48”W in size.
2) Cut the 10-10ft long studs down to 92” each (waste will be used for bracing later).
3) Drill and nail, using the TAPCON connectors, 5 of the upright studs cut earlier to the wall. These will be the vertical bracing (the 2 outside uprights should be 16’ apart measured outside to outside and the 3 interior studs should be separated equally at 4ft apart “on center”).
4) Nail 2 of the 8ft horizontal studs to the 5 vertical studs in position at ground level laying them end to end.
5) Repeat with 2nd row of 2 8 ft horizontal studs measuring up 18 ½” and nail to the uprights.
6) Continue with mounting the 3rd thru 5th set of horizontal braces to the wall. This completes the rear framework.
7) Duplicate the rear framework materials and dimensions on the floor. This will be used as the front framework. Stand the front frame upright with horizontal braces facing inward and lean against the wall.
8) Lay into place the plywood sections and nail them to the horizontal supports between the front and back frames starting with the top and working down. Use 3-16” x 48” sheets for each shelf.
9) Use the 10 remaining block braces and trim each one to a length of 19 ½”. These will be used for outside blocking brackets to be used on each end.
10) Cut the 5 remaining 2” x 4” studs to size and use for block braces between plywood seams and screw or toe-nail into place. These braces will help to increase the shelf support capacity.
11) You can paint it white or stain it depending on the desired color you will want.

Don't forget that you can use Home Depot and Lowes coupons and buy the materials in groups to maximize your savings. Both stores take each other's coupons as competitor as well, in case you didn't know.

Garage Shelving Project pictures by nrpeace17 - Photobucket

[Kristen.C]

I missed this the first time around-- Nice! What a sweet handy-man you have!

[nrpeace17]

Bumping this up for the new year. I have an updated slide show in the OP, with directions for a do it yourself garage shelving project.

[mommy2twocuties]

Awesome....I showed my husband and the first thing he said was.....looks like he has a mustang in the garage...LOL

Then he said where do you want yours built :)

[mrsc611]

WOW!! Thats awesome!!!!! Im jealous of your stockpile!!! lol

[nrpeace17]

Awesome....I showed my husband and the first thing he said was.....looks like he has a mustang in the garage...LOL

Then he said where do you want yours built :)

Yes, it's a Mustang Cobra SVT :) (DS's)

[nrpeace17]

WOW!! Thats awesome!!!!! Im jealous of your stockpile!!! lol

Thanks, it's jam packed now after a year of shopping. I'm working on getting DH to continue along to the other side of the garage. We have the metal shelving units on that side now with DH's "stuff." Slowly but surely the stockpile is taking over, although we do still park two cars in the garage.

[meems]

NICE!

We have a great garage size, but with freezing in the winter it's limited on what can be stored out there.

[nrpeace17]

Since I am in FL, my challenge is the heat :)

[meems]

Those same instructions could be used for basement shelving, no? Since it's being secured to cement block...