Arthur K, Author at - Page 10 of 17

Posted on July 29, 2020June 10, 2023 by Arthur K

Organizing tools in garage

You learn a lot from your customers. This week I was met with several requests via our online chat service with the message “organizing tools in garage, can you help?”. Then came a long list of tools and items. It quickly dawned on me that sending them to the Hook section of our online store was not great service.

When you visit your local hardware store and you are after a hook to hold a ladder upright, you are usually guided to an aisle with 20+ alternative hooks. For some this can the ideal solution, for others its like “so now what, which do I choose”.

Unfortunately, online stores whilst giving customers control of their journey can also be daunting when customers are discovering what it is they want and need form you. Most don’t ask questions like they would in a store, if they can’t work it out, they move on.

Organizing tools in garage

In one instance this week, the customer sent me a long list of what is stored on their garage floor at the moment and said this is what they needed help with. Please recommend the appropriate way to store these items.

The list looked like this:

Something to hang 8 fishing rods together vertically
Hooks for Maxitrax hung horizontally
Something for fishing gear
Need to hang 1 skateboard
We have a wakeboard (think skinny boogie board)
There is a surfboard
Something to hang 4 x tennis racquets and clear plastic small tray for balls
Hooks for 2 electrical cords
Hooks for 2 hoses
There are 2 flat folded chairs
Hooks for 3 fabric foldable chairs in bags
Fitting for 2 shovels
Fitting for 1 pitchfork
There is a medium sized step ladder
We have a fan rake
Fitting for 2 brooms
There are 2 long garden shears/loppers
2 saws
Multi hook on a rail thing for small garden tools
Fitting for bike pump
We need something for 2 wheelie shopping carts (the granny style soft fabric pull along ones)
There are 4 umbrellas (straight not curved ends)
Fitting to hang earmuffs and safety glasses
We have a sledgehammer and 2 axe/tomahawks
There is a spirit level
Basket type shelves for boots
Hook for dustpan/broom

Later on the same day, I received another enquiry and this time, the list was similar although focused on power related garden equipment:

“Want shed wall Rack for my Gardening Tools Brushcutters, Blower, Hedgers, Chainsaw, Rakes, Shovels”

These are all really great questions and probably represent 80% of what our customers are thinking about when they visit our online store and spend a few minutes browsing around.

So I invested a couple of hours preparing a quote for the first client and an email response for the 2nd. In that time, I reviewed all of the pictures we had on our site demonstrating how our accessories work. I also tested several scenarios in our workshop to ensure I was comfortable with what I was going to recommend.

In doing all of this I realised that we needed to be more helpful and given our store is online, this meant providing more information where you are likely to find it quickly.

StoreWALL Hook Options

Below is how I answered the “organizing tools in garage” question. Mind you, this took a few goes and the client helped with plenty of feedback.

This was my response:

Fishing Rods – I thought the best solution would be the S Hook as it would hold the rod up off the ground. The client in the end preferred the Pole Hook with the rod sitting on the ground.
Maxtracks hung horizontally – I preferred the HD Universal Hooks for this but the client went with the a 63mm Single Hook
Storage of Fishing Gear – I had recommended a basket for this but the client determined that they could an existing plastic bin hung on the wall with 2 x 254mm brackets.
For the skateboard, wakeboard and surfboard – I had recommended 2 x 254mm Angle Brackets with each item stacked side by side. These brackets extend 430mm off the wall. I had also provided the option of the Angled Pole Hook which the client preferred.
Tennis racquets – I had provided the option of the Wide Hook but the client went with a 190mm Single Hook.
The tray for balls – best option was one of our Large Bins
Electrical cords – Utility Hook
Hoses – Utility Hook
Flat fold chairs – Heavy Duty Universal Hook
Fabric foldable chairs in bags = I assumed they had a cord to be hung with and went with the Heavy Duty Universal Hook
Shovels and Pitchfork – Tool Hook
Step ladder – Heavy Duty Cradle Hook
Fan rake & Brooms – Tool Hook
Long garden shears/loppers – Box Hook
Hook for 2 saws – Heavy Duty Universal will carry them.
Multi hook – Six Prong Hook
Bike pump – S Hook
Wheelie shopping carts – Cradle Hook
Umbrellas (straight not curved ends) – I tested and have added some photos below. The S Hook was the best option.
Earmuffs and safety glasses – 190mm Single Hook
Sledgehammer – Heavy Duty Universal Hook (depth is 228mm, may also be able to hold both the axe/tomahawk (below) on the same hook)
Fitting for 2 x axe/tomahawk – Heavy Duty Universal Hook
Spirit level – 63mm Single Hook
1 shelves – 812mm Shelf + 2 x 254mm Brackets
Dustpan/broom – 63mm Single Hook
Shelf for boots – Angle shelf

StoreWALL Hook Matrix

Having done all of this work, I have now added a matrix on our Hooks page so that you can see the recommended Hook for common items. Hopefully this is easy to view and read and customers find it useful when working through our store.

Below I have some photos of the umbrellas that were mentioned above. These are your regular umbrellas with a straight handle. At the start, the Angled Pole hook seemed like the appropriate choice but the S Hook proved to be the best choice and I think is a great option for most items that are long.

Organizing tools in garage – S Hook in Action

The S Hook has two arms that wrap around the item, one at the back and one at the front. These arms can be moved up and down but on an angle. Due to this angle, they grip the pole really nicely. You can even move the pole up and down the wall and the grip remains.

If you are wondering about the second “Organizing tools in garage” request that came through, I provided the following response.

Brushcutters – Heavy Duty Cradle Hook, Vertical Tool Hook or the Wide Hook
Blower – Utility Hook or Heavy Duty Cradle Hook (depending on the size)
Hedgers – Heavy Duty Cradle Hook, Vertical Tool Hook or the Wide Hook
Chainsaw – 300mm Power Tool Bracket x 2
Rakes/Shovels – Tool Hook

Note that the Vertical Tool Hook is on its way to Australia. Hoping to have it available in early September.

Posted on July 7, 2020February 13, 2024 by Arthur K

StoreWALL Bunnings

We receive this question regularly. Can you purchase StoreWALL from your local Bunnings, Mitre 10, Home Hardware, or any other hardware store?

StoreWALL Bunnings?

StoreWALL Australia is a local Melbourne business. We are the exclusive distributor of the StoreWALL range of garage storage solutions which has been sold in the US for over 10 years. Our Garage Storage Solutions are sold online only at the moment via our website. You can also find some of the garage wall panels and accessories on eBay.

Free Delivery

We offer a combination of discounted and even free delivery based on your purchase value, what you purchase, and where you live. We ship Australia-wide.

Free Returns

We also offer free returns, should you order an item and then find it not as useful as you thought. You will need to pay to ship the product back to us.

Bunnings StorEase

Bunnings sell its own garage wall storage system called StorEase. We have reviewed it several times on this website comparing the StorEase panel and rail to StoreWALL.

The reviews can be found here and here.

There are several fundamental differences between what StoreWALL offers and that of StorEase. Firstly, we don’t sell a rail, we sell panels that are 304mm in height and either 1219mm or 2438mm in length. Our panels are made from a hardened thermoplastic which is water and mould-resistant. StorEase slat panels are only 150mm in height, 1200mm in length and made from aluminium. These panels are not designed to cover your wall, rather they are placed along your wall at a certain required height.

The second key difference is that our range of accessories is made from steel and then powder coated. They are heavier and more durable than those from StorEase.

StoreWALL CamLok

The locking mechanism used by our accessories is also quite different. StoreWALL uses a unique CamLok system to secure the accessory to the panel. We do not use claws or teeth. This makes StoreWALL significantly more secure when attached to the wall panel. It also makes it easier to remove and then move around. This ensures that your panels are not marked or scratched in the process.

If you like our accessories but already have StorEase rails, then you can actually use our accessories with StorEase. The CamLok system will also secure our accessory to your StorEase rail. THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO THE WALL TRACK SLIMLINE (BLACK RAIL).

StoreWALL Showroom

StoreWALL does not offer a showroom in Melbourne. However, if you are happy to visit our home office we are happy to show you what we offer and how StoreWALL will transform your garage. Call (0411280646) or email us (info@storewall.com.au) to organise a visit.

We can also help you with quotes on how many panels you may need as well as installation.

Posted on June 14, 2020June 10, 2023 by Arthur K

The Organised Garage

2020 is a year many of us will never forget. COVID-19 has locked a lot of us in our homes with plenty of time on our hands to look around and want to mend. The organised garage is something that has been talked about in many households when I consider the amount of enquiries we have received since the lockdown began.

We have covered how to organise your garage in several previous articles on our website, but I thought a top 10 (or 11) list of how to start and what to do would be useful.

The Organised Garage

Whilst there are plenty of extreme garage photos out there, your typical garage will have some order about it. However, what then tends to happen is larger items start to take up space, the shelves you purchased fill up or don’t fit larger items (anymore) and things start to accumulate on the floor. Before you know it, you start to use the floor more and more until it’s impossible to move around and find anything quickly or safely.

Step 1 – Empty it out

The best way to start re-organising your garage is to clean it all out. Everything off the walls, the floor and the ceiling needs to come out. Start in the morning so you have the day ahead of you and begin the clean-out.

Step 2 – Group it

When its all out on the garden lawn or driveway, start to group it. One of the keys to attaining the organised garage is the organising bit.

When I look at what is inside my garage I have the following categories:

Tools
Sports Gear
Bikes
Food (cans/packets and excess food I store)
Xmas tree and decorations
Beach gear (boogie boards)
Party gear (decorations, plastic cups and plates)
Old kids furniture
Bins of books
Old clothes
Keep sake items

Step 3 – Sweep it out

Give your garage a good clean out. This includes sweeping and even hosing it down. Get all of the dust and dirt that has accumulated in the corners out. You will need to remove all the furniture to do this.

You should also look at the walls and ceiling and wipe it all down. Either by hand or with a broom. Get all of the cob webs down.

Step 4 – Keep, Dump, Not Sure

Once your sorting is done, you need to go through everything and decide to either keep it because you will use it or it has some sentimental value. Dump it because you will never use it and you know someone else will get better value from it. Or, put it into the “Not sure” list to be decided upon over the coming days.

What you decide to get rid of could go to a Salvation Army store for them to sell (and make a few dollars from). It could also be sold on Ebay or Gumtree if you have the patience. Alternatively, you could give it away to a friend/family. Finally, when hard rubbish comes around you could throw it out then.

The items that you are not sure about, should be put to the side to be looked at over the coming weeks and decided upon. Don’t add them to the Keep list unless you are certain that is where they belong.

Step 5 – Floor Plan

The floor plan is really important because it offers a way to design your layout and use of the space you have. Consider the furniture you have, its size and potential use.

Think about how you use your garage. Is it just for storage or do you do work in there. As an example, I exercise in my garage, so a certain area needs to be dedicated to my training equipment.

What about your car? Do you need to park your car in the garage? If you have bikes, think about where they can be parked or hung.

If you use the space as a workshop, consider what you will use as your bench or table.

You don’t need special software for this, a few pieces of paper will do it. However spend time thinking about the space, the objects and how you want to use it all. Think about your doorways and how you access the garage (main garage door, side door, back door).

Consider the location of the items you will keep but only use a year and those that you want to access regularly. If you have little ones accessing bikes or sporting gear, think about how they can safely move in and out of the garage.

Step 5 – Group it (part 2)

The second part of grouping relates to organising your items in tune with the garage floor plan you have designed. If you read through the many blogs on organising and watch the videos, there are tons of tips on the best approach.

With any space you are working on within your home you need to prioritise based on what you want to use the space for. If part of the space is for working, then making enough room to work is key, so is using the right furniture like a desk or bench.

Bikes, if you are regularly in and out of the garage to get a bike(s), then having these placed in an easy access area even when the car is in the garage is important. You don’t want to have to move the car to get the bikes each time.

Tools, if you are using tools or a regular basis then having your tools visible and accessible is key. This can include your smaller hand tools and all types of power tools.

Items which are regularly used should be easy to access. For you and the rest of your family members. Items which are used once a year (xmas tree) should be out of the way. These items can be stored high and in a harder place to access.

Remember that this step is not a once-off. Organising and re-organising happens all of the time within the house. It should be the same in the garage. The organised garage is not born overnight.

Step 6 – Using Walls

Whether your garage space is small or large using your wall space is important. Most people confuse shelving with maximising use of walls space. Sticking a few shelves on the wall is a start, it’s not the end.

Having open spare wall space in a garage is wasted space. Solutions like StoreWALL give you the ability to use your wall and change its use as needs change. Unlike a shelf which is large and can’t be easily moved around, Garage Wall Storage can change a wall from shelving to holding power tools in a matter of minutes. Accessories are unlocked and moved around as needed.

Use wall storage around shelving, cupboards and other furniture.

Step 7 – Use the height of your room

Use the height of your space to store larger items that you seldom use. It gets them out of the way and the lower easy to access areas are used for more frequent use items. Wall storage allows you to create shelving across the top of your wall.

However there are other garage storage options which create shelving across the ceiling of your garage.

Step 8 – Re-use old furniture

If you have furniture that can be re-used for storage, it makes sense to give it a second life. Why buy another piece of furniture if you can change its look with some paint and move it into the garage. This isn’t always practical but it can work. An old desk in the study can become a useful workbench in the garage.

Step 9 – Labelled Bins & Tubs

We all have them, coloured or clear plastic tubs with lots of stuff in them. They should be organised and clearly labelled. Some clear information on the outside of the tub will save a lot of time sifting through them all looking for that old book.

Ensure your tubs have lids and they are shut tight so that contents don’t collect dust.

Step 10 – By the Door

Keep your frequently used items by the garage door. This is the main garage door you use.

In my garage, the frequently used items are my tools, food and my gym equipment. They are all by the back door to the garage.

Step 11 – It’s not a once off

Just like any other room in your garage, it may take you a few goes to get it right. Over this time you will likely throw more stuff out and learn more about how you want to use the space you have.

Your version of “the organised garage” doesn’t need to look like what is in some of pretty staged pictures of garages. It needs to work for you, your stuff and the room you have.

If in 6 mths your needs or items may change, so should your garage.

Posted on June 7, 2020June 10, 2023 by Arthur K

Power Tool Storage

Garage storage solutions have increasingly become popular over the past few years. StoreWALL in the past 6 months have released its latest range of slatwall accessories focused on power tool storage.

Storing your power tools at home in the shed is not simply about having them sit on a shelf in their original packaging. The key is to have them:

be on display (ie visible) and easily accessible;
be secure in their storage so they will not fall and be damaged; and
be out of the way from kids so they can’t hurt themselves.

It’s easy to buy shelving and have your power tools sit side by side in their packaging waiting for you to pull them out and work with them. Unfortunately what you will find with such a solution (as I did) is that as you accumulate tools, you end up stacking them next to each other but also on top of each other as you run out of space or have to return them to the shelf after use.

It isn’t ideal, and the original packaging doesn’t last forever. In some cases it can take up more room than the actual power tool itself.

StoreWALL’s latest power tool range adds to our already extensive range of accessories. However, this new range of hooks and shelves are designed specifically for power tool storage (they can also be used for other purposes).

Power Tool Storage

Let’s take a look at the new range of accessories that have been launched and is now also available in Australia.

Vertical Tool Hook

Vertical Tool Hook has a wide and round opening which is just the right size for your leaf blower or edger. Due to the main motor of these tools being large, they can be hard to hang. Now with the Vertical Tool Hook, they can be easily hung on your StoreWALL Garage Wall Panel.

This is now available in Australia and has quickly become one of our most popular hooks.

Hand Held Power Tool Hook

Hand Held Power Tool Hook is ideal for your power drill or other hand held power tools. It is designed to grab and hold the horizontal motor part of your power tool. Now also available in Australia.

Interestingly the StoreWALL Wide Hook is just as useful when it comes to certain sized power tools and is also available in Australia.

300mm Power Tool Bracket

The 300mm Power Tool Bracket has plenty of depth in order to hold your bigger power tools. It is also strong enough to support a weight capacity of 68kgs.

You will require more than one of these to hold your larger power tools.

300mm Shelf with Cord Holder

The 300mm Shelf with Cord Holder is ideal for your larger power tools with sharp blades such as the circular saw. This unique shelf allows you to display your saw, protect its blade and protect you and the family form being hurt by it.

The wire shelf is 300mm wide and 190mm deep and allows you to display your saw safely with the blade sitting beneath the shelf. There is even a convenient hook attached to keep the cord tidy.

150mm Shelf with Cord Holder

The 150mm shelf is the smaller sibling of the 300mm Shelf and is ideal for your smaller power tools such as jigsaws and sanders. Dimensions are 150mm x 150mm.

Magnetic Tool Bar

Your power tools aren’t your only tools that need to be stored correctly, protected and visible. The StoreWALL 609mm Magnetic Bar is a great addon for any workshop or garage and can store multiple items for you. It secures to your wall panels with our CamLok locking mechanism making it easy to move around as required.

The Magnetic Bar is currently available through our shopping cart.

Tool Organiser Shelf

Our Tool Organiser has been around for some time and has proven to be very popular. Used for your screw drivers and other smaller tools, it enables you to quickly organise them, have them securely stored and easy to access when needed. Find it on our shopping cart today.

Power Tool Storage Rack

Our latest Power Tool Storage Rack allows you to store up to 4 power tools on the one rack. It easily fits into your StoreWALL panels (including most slatwall panels on the market). Available today in our store under Shelves.

Posted on May 18, 2020February 10, 2024 by Arthur K

Slatwall Performance

Over the past month, we have seen a significant increase in the number of households looking at upgrading their garage with a garage wall panel installation. Many question the strength ratings of our various panel types and the weight each panel can hold. I thought it would be helpful to compare the Slatwall Performance of StoreWALL with two other alternative solutions readily available focusing on the recommended installation options each offers.

Slatwall Performance

A key question that has come with the many enquiries, is the benefits of installing with InstallStrips over just screws straight through the panel.

InstallStrips are not unique to StoreWALL, but the majority of garage wall panel systems on the market today will have you install your panels with screws directly through the panel. They do this because it makes the wall solution cheaper to buy and easier to explain. However it is not necessarily quicker and certainly does not result in a stronger wall storage solution.

Below I have reviewed three garage storage solutions including StoreWALL and compared recommended installation options as well as the overall strength of the wall storage system. I hope it provides a good guide as to what is on offer in terms of slatwall performance.

Bunnings StorEase

StorEase offers a couple of Metal Track/Rail Options upon which you can hang an extensive range of hooks and other accessories.

StorEase Smart Rail — Source: Bunnings.com.au

The StorEase solution only offers one install method and that is using screws directly through the panel and onto your wall. The StorEase panel comes with pre-drilled screw holes to make it easier for you.

The 1.2m panel offers 6 pre-drilled holes to use on your wall. Installing on a plastered wall means you need to drill a hole through the stud and into the wall surface first. You then need to line up the predrilled hole in the StorEase rail with the hole in your wall.

Ensuring your panel is level, you then screw directly through both holes with your screws.

If your wall is made from brick or another masonry surface, the same process applies however you will need to fill the hole with a plug so that you can then screw into this plug.

The StorEase 1.2m panel provides you with 6 holes (3 sets of two) at 600mm intervals (ie 0, 600mm, 1200mm).

The rated weight for the StorEase panel is: 150kg (as stated by their website).

You can read our review of StorEase here.

Gladiator GearWall Panels

Gladiator Garageworks offers 2 styles of garage wall panels. One is a rail similar to the StorEase panel. The second is a PVC based wall panel measuring 1230mm x 320mm.

The Garageworks GearWall PVC panel comes in White and is also installed with screws directly through the panel.

I have included a photo below from their installation guide. It is pretty comprehensive. To ensure the strength of the installation, screws need to be placed in each groove (of which there are 4 per panel) along the length of the panel and on each wall stud (or every 40cm – 45cm). Therefore, a typical panel will have approx 16 screws.

The most effective and cleanest way to install using screws through your panel is to pre-drill the holes in your panel. This ensures you don’t damage your panels when finally screwing into them. Pre-drilling however means you need to measure up correctly.

The max weight they reference per square foot is 50 lbs. Based on the dimensions of the 1.2m panel (1230mm x 320mm = 4.24 sq ft), the max weight per panel is 200 lbs or 90 kg.

StoreWALL Installation Options

Installing garage wall panels with screws is quite common. StoreWALL also gives you this option should you choose it. The process works much the same way as the Gladiator GearWall in that screws are placed in the slots across the length of the panel.

In StoreWALL’s case, the Basic and Standard Duty panels have 3 slots (Heavy Duty has a 4^th slot).

Step 1: Make a level line at the top or bottom of the desired location. (Use a laser, level or string for accuracy).
Step 2: Secure the first panel by driving the screws through the slots of the panel’s front face, directly into the centre of the wall studs, or blocking.

StoreWALL also offers the option of colour-matching screws. No pre-drilling or countersinking is necessary. The screw head will flush up with the slot surface.

We recommend approximately 20 screws per 1.2m panel.

Weight Specifications

StoreWALL specifications state that the maximum weight that you can hang on a StoreWALL wall panel when installed directly with screws is 34 kg for a 2.4m length (at 10cm from surface wall). Performance is higher at the surface.

This is about half of that stated by GarageWorks. It’s also a lot less than StorEase. I would suggest the testing undertaken by either organisation might be different.

99% of StoreWALL customers, however, install using InstallStrips. It is the best method and delivers the best slatwall performance for your wall both in terms of strength but also the final finish.

InstallStrips Deliver Best Slatwall Performance

There are two key reasons to install with InstallStrips – Strength and Finish.

Strength
Using InstallStrips will significantly increase the weight your 1.2m or 2.4m panel can hold.

The maximum weight that the 2.4m Standard Duty Panel will hold is 113 kg at panel surface and 52 kg at 10cm from panel surface.
The maximum weight that the 2.4m Heavy Duty Panel will hold is 136 kg at panel surface and 74 kg at 10cm from panel surface.

The reason for the added weight capacity is the InstallStrip itself. It is made from Rolled steel. It also has an 18 gauge zinc plating for rust resistance. I have had 2 InstallStrips exposed to the elements for 4 years and they still have not rusted.

The InstallStrip has 4 hooks which latch themselves onto the back of your panel. See photo. Made of steel, these hooks provide the support for carrying the specified weight. The number of screws per InstallStrip is 12. Each of the 3 sections which make up an InstallStrip has a screw hole which allows you to adjust the height and position of your InstallStrip to assist with lining up your panels.

Heavy Duty InstallStrip has 3 additional hooks (1 per section) 15 in total. They are also slightly wider.

Finish
InstallStrips enable you to secure your garage wall panels without screwing holes into your panels. There is no risk of making a mistake with your drilling. Your wall panels will have a nice clean finish allowing you to also take them away with you at a time in the future.

Furthermore, it also makes for a much quicker installation. You are not having to screw blindly into your wall with the panel in front of you. The InstallStrips are lean and easy to work with. Once your InstallStrips are screwed onto your brick wall or studs, there is no more screwing. Cut your panels and start hanging them.

Posted on May 12, 2020June 10, 2023 by Arthur K

GarageTek Storage System

Several weeks ago I had an enquiry by a customer in Melbourne who had the GarageTek Storage System installed in their garage but wanted to use the StoreWALL hooks on his new walls.

GarageTek is part of the Attic Group who obviously also install Attics in your home. They provide a garage wall storage system with wall panels and accessories. You can visit their website to learn more. I have no doubt that their storage solution is of good quality.

However this one customer must have seen something on the StoreWALL website relating to our accessories which he liked. It may have been the range of hooks, baskets, brackets, shelves, bins, totes.

It most probably was the CamLok locking mechanism which is unique and the best way of securing your accessories to your wall without damaging it or having your goods fall of it.

We have reviewed CamLok many times. I have added the video below for you. CamLok is a real winner. It’s a great design and makes a lot of sense. Most storage system accessories use a form of claw to secure the accessory on to the wall panel, grabbing it from the top and the bottom and usually from the front and inside the slot.

Anyhow this week this customer called me up again asking about the measurements of our accessories and if they could be used on his new walls. We have had this before. I have also reviewed storage solutions such as StorEase demonstrating how StoreWALL accessories can work on a StorEase panel (not the other way around).

I took some measurements and sent him some photos of the panel and the accessory locking system. They seemed to be within the range he was looking for so he came out to see me.

We don’t have a showroom, but if you are in Melbourne, a look and feel visit can be organised.

Peter arrived within 30 mins with an off-cut of his GarageTek Storage System wall panel to try the StoreWALL J Hook also known as the StoreWALL Bike Hook. We tested it and it fitted perfectly on the GarageTek wall panel. Given this I also assume the GarageTek accessories would fit on the StoreWALL panels as well.

Below are some shots of the accessory on the panel. He purchased a few of them.

StoreWALL’s Bike Hook is very popular. However later this year (2020) we will be bringing to Australia two new Bike Hooks. One will be the swivel form of the J or Bike Hook. The second will be a StoreWALL plate for installing the popular SteadyRack which you will be able to buy from us but other popular bikes stores such as 99Bikes.

Stay tuned for more on these new accessories.

Posted on April 27, 2020June 10, 2023 by Arthur K

White Wall Panels

StoreWALL offers a great range of coloured slatwall panels. In Australia its White Wall Panels are fast becoming the most popular colour. There must be something about the white walls and how big and clean it makes a garage look.

This week we finally received our long awaited wall panel delivery and contacted a client who we had spoken too just prior to Christmas about the installation of StoreWALL in their garage.

Eliza lives in inner Melbourne in a relatively new home which has a double garage. One wall is made from plaster and the other is a brick wall. I have a picture below. The brick wall was the one that needed the attention. Whilst it has a nice ledge to sit things on, it was rather useless in everything else when it comes to storage. With a growing family Eliza was going to need storage.

White Wall Panels

The measurements of the 4 wall sections seen above are:

1300w x 1840h
1300w x 1840h
1180w x 1840h
1470w x 1840h

The wall was made from solid brick (more on this below). I am quite sure most of it red brick.

Eliza wanted to install slatwalls on all 4 sections covering all of the wall (or as much as possible). This would enable her to have significantly more storage capacity which could be used to hang things using hooks as well baskets and shelves.

With a white wall, the Brite White StoreWALL panels where a great colour match. The end result justifies the selection. Although I also think that some contrast with a Weathered Grey would also have worked well.

InstallStrips

The most effective way to install StoreWALL panels on a brick wall is to use our InstallStrips. It not only strengthens the installation to allow you to hang more on your wall but also makes installation a lot quicker and easier.

These white rendered walls were made from solid red bricks. Not the grey brick blocks many modern homes are made from these days. Being solid meant that drilling right through required a hammer drill with the correct drill bits.

I actually needed reinforcements when trying to drill through these bricks and had my brother-in-law (Electrician) drop off his hammer drill because mine wasn’t cutting through the brick.

Levelling

We placed the installStrips about 10cm in from the outer edge of each wall section and then added a 3rd installstrip in the middle of the section. Starting with my first InstallStrip, I checked it to ensure it was Vertically level. I then used a Mushroom Nail Anchor to fix it to the wall (see image below). These are hammered in. Once the first one is in you can complete the rest ensuring the InstallStrip remains (Vertically) level.

I then moved onto my 2nd InstallStrip (within the same section). I repeated the same process checking for Vertical Level, but this time I also checked for Horizontal Level. I used a standard Spirit level for this placing it across the two InstallStrips. Depending on the length of your wall, you can also check the Horizontal level using a White Wall Panel.

Cutting White SlatWall Panels

In the first three wall sections I used 3 InstallStrips at the bottom and 3 at the top for each section (total of 6). Once these were done, I then moved onto to cutting my panels.

We cut the panels for the first 2 sections at 1300mm. Once we had our first three panels on we then moved up to the top half of the section.

The gap between the bottom InstallStrip and the top one needs to be about 2mm. The process I use to get to the right spacing is to add my the 4th panel onto of the 3rd and to then loosely slip the InstallStrip behind it. (Ensure the panels are sitting on top of each other correctly.) I then adjust the tension until I know the 4th panel and its InstallStrip are firmly gripping each other. Once in place I use an anchor to fasten the InstallStrip to the wall.

This process is repeated for the remaining InstallStrips on the 2nd level. In this case there are 3 on the 1st level and 3 on the 2nd.

Trimming InstallStrips

You will notice above that the InstallStrips are touching the roof of the brick wall. Looks OK? Not really. With this wall we ran into trouble trying to fit the top panel. We had no clearance at the top nor from either side due to the brick piers. Notice below that the InstallStrips have been cut. We trimmed the top section of the InstallStrip with a grinder (you can also use metal cutting scissors).

With a shorter top InstallStrip we were also required ti trimmed our top panel. We decided to cut them horizontally using a circular saw and a guide. In this case we trimmed the top groove off allowing for 8mm clearance to the top of the wall. If the piers were not there we could have reduced the amount we cut and slid the top panel in from the side.

Finishing Off

The first three sections where very similar in size and so we were able to work through these pretty efficiently .

When we arrived at the final section which was the largest it got a little more complicated. In order to save the client some money and reduce wastage, we used the off cuts from the first 2 sections to complete the final wall.

Each of the first two sections had 6 panels each. Which resulted in 12 offcuts at 1100mm. The final section had a width of 1470mm. We installed a total of 8 installstrips (4 at the bottom and 4 at the top, see below) and two white wall panels for each row at about 735mm each.

Storewall installation on brick wall — Storewall i

Alternative Approach

An alternative way to have managed this installation was to have used 1200mm panels in each of the sections and just centred them. It would have meant a gap around the outer edge of each section but no cuts. In terms of cost, it would have also been slightly cheaper.

Personally I think what we went with worked the best and you have a fully covered wall with no gaps which can be used in many ways.

Final Outcome

The final result looks like this, which we were all very happy with.

The client has already started adding accessories to the wall and begun removing some of the “stuff” off the garage floor.

Being a garage so close to the road and left open for part of the day, I advised the client that dust would build up and with white slatwall panels the occasional hose down might be required and would be perfectly fine.

Posted on April 9, 2020June 10, 2023 by Arthur K

Afterpay

To help our customers access the StoreWALL garage storage solution we have launched a new payment option through Afterpay.

Afterpay offers a very flexible payment plan service over 4 equal payments. Best of all, once you have ordered your StoreWALL equipment, it is sent to you straight away, unlike your traditional layby service.

Afterpay Payment Option

StoreWALL offers a great range of payment options, from your traditional credit card, to direct bank payment (attracts a 1% discount) and even Paypal. There is no additional cost for using any of these services and as noted above, we offer a small discount if you pay via a direct bank deposit.

Afterpay is no different. There is no additional cost in choosing to pay via this new payment option as long as you complete your payments as per your agreement.

How to Buy

The purchase process is very simple. Once you have filled your online shopping trolley with everything you need, Afterpay will appear as one of your payment options. It will also show you what the 4 equal payments will be. The 4 equal payments add up to the same value as your shopping trolley. There are no additional charges included.

Should you choose to use Afterpay, you will be directed to the their payment portal. This portal is hosted and managed by Afterpay. It will ask you to complete a short form requesting details from you. Once this is completed, our online store will be notified that the transaction has been finalised and we will process your order.

Afterpay actually pay us straight away (as quickly as a credit card payment). Therefore there will not be any delay in having your order packed and ready to be couriered to you. All discounts regarding shipping will still apply.

Notes on Afterpay

The key thing to remember however, is that you need to complete your payments as per the agreement. This will ensure you are not charged any penalties.

Note that StoreWALL does not receive any commission or incentive should you choose to use the service. It is not compulsory in any way. It is just another payment option in addition to the others we already offer making it easier for you to access our equipment when you need it.

Also note that any personal details you share with Afterpay are not shared with StoreWALL in any way.

Posted on March 23, 2020June 10, 2023 by Arthur K

Old Slatwall System

Slatwalls have been around for years. StoreWALL itself has been around for over 10 years in the US and over 5yrs in Australia. All Slatwall systems evolve, both in terms of the panels they offer as well as their accessories. Some have evolved so much that newer accessories are no longer compatible with older wall panels. The material they are made from has changed along with the shape and style of the accessories. Maintaining an old slatwall system can be challenging.

Old Slatwall Systems

The other day I received a call from a client who had purchased a StorEase system from Bunnings several years ago (must have been 3-5 years ago). The panels were made from a plastic material which today are no longer offered by StorEase nor from Bunnings. His problem however was not the panel itself but the accessories he had purchased.

His StorEase accessories where made from plastic and used to hang brooms in his garage. The accessories had performed well for many years but one of them had recently cracked and couldn’t be used. When trying to remove one of the remaining hooks in order to examine it, he found that it fell apart when he took it off the panel. It actually disintegrated. This unfortunately left him with no working hooks for his brooms. His old slatwall system was no longer usable.

StorEase from Bunnings

He visited Bunnings to find new accessories and whilst Bunnings still sell StorEase, the accessories available and the panel to suit them have all changed. The entire StorEase system has moved on. Panels are now leaner aluminium rails and accessories are metallic. None of what was available was compatible with his old slatwall system.

The predicament for this client is to either find accessories which fit his existing panels or to replace the panels and start all over again.

L Shaped Lip

StoreWALL’s panels are very standard in their sizing. By this I mean the panels are designed for accessories with an L shaped lip. See the image below which shows how the accessories are fitted to the panel and how they are secured.

Each panel is about 300mm in height and has 4 slots. The number of grooves on each panel is 5 when you count the top of the panel. See image below.

Each accessory secures itself to a panel at two points – the top and the bottom. The L at the top of each accessory is used to secure to the top of each slot and the CamLok is used for the bottom groove of each slot.

Below are the slot specifications for each Standard Duty panel. StoreWALL’s L-shape slots accept slat wall compatible accessories.

Slatwall Slots

Slot Specifications:

spacing: 76.2mm on center
groove height: 10mm
lip height: 10mm
opening: 10mm
CamLok position: sits 90mm from top of accessory

Whilst the dimensions of the panels, their slots and grooves are important, so are the dimensions of each accessory, specifically the backing plate with the L Shaped lip and locking mechanism.

The dimensions are as follows:

Size of the back plate: 103mm
Size of the lip: 12mm

If you are in a similar predicament to this client and are looking for new accessories for your older slatwall systems, I would suggest you compare your panels and accessories to the dimensions listed above. If they look about right, I encourage you to send us an email with some pictures so that we can conform the sizes and shapes with you.

You can then decide to order a single accessory to try. We are happy for you to return it if it doesn’t fit.

Posted on March 8, 2020February 12, 2024 by Arthur K

Cheap Pegboards

Pegboards have long been a popular, budget-friendly solution for organizing tools and accessories in the garage, utilizing hooks inserted into pre-drilled holes for versatile storage. However, the market now offers a plethora of modern and stylish alternatives that elevate the traditional pegboard concept.

The appeal of pegboards lies in their simplicity: typically made from composite wood, they feature a grid of holes to accommodate hooks, which can be repositioned as needed for customizable storage.

The versatility of pegboards has expanded far beyond mere hooks. Today, they can be outfitted with a variety of accessories, including shelves, paper holders, storage bins, bags, and even roll holders, enhancing their functionality.

In our roundup, we’ve evaluated a selection of pegboards, ranging from economical options to more premium choices, all worthy of consideration for those seeking efficient garage organization solutions.

Ikea Skadi Pegboard

Ikea stocks the Skadis Pegboard and Accessories. The boards come in 2 colours, Wooden and White. The size of the board is 76cm x 56cm.

This is how Ikea describe the Skadis Pegboard:

You can store things on both sides of the pegboard if you use it as a divider on a desk or in a freestanding ALGOT storage combination. Choose the accessories in the SKÅDIS series which suit your needs and create a personal storage combination.

ikea cheap pegboards — Ikea Cheap Pegboards

Peggie Cheap Pegboards

The Peggie System seems to be a lot more upmarket in terms of presentation.

“She is made of the good stuff with honest geometry and a material palette to match. Solid wood. Baked-on lacquer. A touch of brass. Peggie’s perforated grid system and dependable kit of parts create a framework for your ideas. You can count on Peggie to securely lock into place.”

The boards from the Peggie range come in a broad range of sizes. A couple of examples include:

1190mm x 558mm
890mm x 558mm

The boards are made from either Laminate or Wood. The colour range includes Natural Oak, White, Black and Ply. The range of accessories includes a hanging rail, prong, hook, cup, mirror, noteboard and clip.

Bunnings Cheap Pegboards

At the other end of the scale, you have the Bunnings Pegboard. In its most basic form, Bunnings sells its Masonite Cheap Pegboards for about $28 measuring 1220mm x 915mm x 4.8mm.

Bunnings also sells the Pinnacle range of Pegboards. These are made of metal and come in both White and Black colours.

Both types of Pegboard include a good range of hook accessories which can be used for your garage items.

bunnings cheap pegboards — Bunnings Cheap Pegboards

Garage Slatwall Alternatives

The alternative to Cheap Pegboards is affordable but a lot more durable and versatile in what it can be used for.

Slatwall Garage Wall panels are a much better alternative than cheap pegboards. They look a lot nicer and cover your wall with a durable and water-resistant surface. They also come with a great range of accessories that no cheap pegboard supplier can match.

StoreWALL Garage Slatwalls are made from hardened PVC and come in a very broad range of colours. These include Brite White, Weathered Grey, Pine, Cedar, Graphite Steel, Barnwood, and Whitewood. Importantly, these colours are not a layer of paint on the outside of a board. The colour is blended into the PVC and runs through the depth of the panel.

StoreWALL’s panels can be used to cover all or part of an entire wall. All StoreWALL accessories come with the super secure CamLok locking mechanism which prevents your accessories from falling off the wall whenever you decide to use them. Watch the video below and compare the locking mechanism on your Pegboard’s accessories to that offered by StoreWALL.

Having experienced cheap pegboards myself in my garage, all I ever found was pegboard hooks lying on the ground. Most of my accessories were on the floor with the hooks. My masonite pegboard also warped in shape over time and was not water or moisture-proof.

Is StoreWALL cheap? What I can tell you is that it will last a lifetime and so will the accessories that support your stored items.

Below is a comparison of a standard sheet of pegboard from each of the suppliers this review has covered (pricing as of 11/2021).

IKEA Skadis Pegboard

76cm x 56cm (.42sqm) – $25 each (other sizes are also available)

Peggie

89cm x 56cm (.49sqm) – $185 each

Bunnings MDF/Steel Pegboard

Masonite 122cm x 91cm (1.1sqm) – $34
Pinnacle 90cm x 45cmm Garage (.40sqm) – $39

StoreWALL Standard Duty Panel

120cm x 30cm (.36sqm) – $69.99 + Optional Installstrips (2 for $38)
Access several rows upon which you can store multiple items. You can easily add to it to expand your storage. Check out our Garage Gallery for ideas on how many Australian garages have used StoreWALL.

StoreWALL Basic Duty Panel

120cm x 30cm (.36sqm) – $62.99
Access several rows upon which you can store multiple items. You can easily add to it to expand your storage. Check out our Garage Gallery for ideas on how many Australian garages have used StoreWALL.