Arthur K, Author at - Page 11 of 17

Posted on February 28, 2020June 10, 2023 by Arthur K

Clear Storage Box with Lid

Bins are a very popular accessory at StoreWALL. To give our customers even greater choice , this week we introduced a new Clear Storage Box with Lid. This is our first bin which comes with its own lid. The StoreWALL Clear Storage Box with Lid is a unique bin which is only available in Chrystal Clear and is shaped like the Cube Bin but comes with a very useful lid.

The Clear Box was designed for retail stores but it is also very useful at home particularly if you are using your StoreWALL as a work area for storing craft or even sewing materials.

Clear Storage Box with Lid

The dimensions of the new Clear Box are: 230mm (L) x 150mm (W) x 150mm (H). The bin is made from a toughened polycarbonate finish, is very durable and can hold between 10 – 15 KG in weight.

The edges are rounded making it rather elegant in terms of appearance. This is why it is particularly suited for retail stores.

Chrystal Clear Bin for Retail

We originally came across this bin when a client who was opening a retail store in Alice Springs contacted us about bin options. Initially he had ordered 2 types of open bins, but following some additional enquiries we were able to access the Clear Box with Lid for him which was ideal for his retail store. He ordered 40 of these bins so they could hold party accessories and balloons.

The Chrystal Clear Bin comes with a lid so it securely holds all types of merchandise. From lollies to craft items to haberdashery. The Clear Box with Lid is the ideal accessory to your slatwall.

Slatwall Bins

The Bin has been designed for all types of slatwall not specifically for StoreWALL. Therefore, if you already have your wall covered at home or in a store, the Clear Bin can still work perfectly for you.

Whilst our latest order was specifically for this client, we are keen on your feedback and will stock the Bin as a regular item if we find customers need and want it.

StoreWALL offers a diverse range of bins for your slatwall panels. They come in various sizes and colours. In terms of price, our smallest and most popular bin is around $3. StoreWALL Bins are super easy to install and can be moved around as required.

Heavy Duty Storage Recycle Totes

This last month we also introduced a new range of Storage Totes. These are Heavy Duty Storage Recycle Totes and are great for storing large items in the garage. This item is perfect for recycling uses and can be hung with StoreWALL Heavy Duty 380mm Brackets (sold separately) or rested on any shelf.

The Heavy Duty Storage and Recycle Tote comes with a ventilated base is ideal for storing files and any valuables including food items.

Comes with an internal hanging rail designed for storage of hanging files
Ventilated base protects contents against sweating
Large 68 Litre Storage Capacity Security Crate
Weight capacity 70KG
Food Grade PP (Polypropylene) that has a very high melting point of approx 160 degrees which is very high compared to many other plastics,
Hot water used when washing will not cause container to warp
Strong and Durable Metal Rods hold hinging lids
Lid Lockable with Large Padlock or Security / Cable Ties Etc.
Also comes in a smaller 34L model.

We are experimenting with these new Storage Bins to see demand from customers. The wait on them is about 10 days but this is reduce as we get more orders and store a greater local quantity.

You can find all of our Storage Bin options in the StoreWALL online store.

Posted on February 20, 2020June 10, 2023 by Arthur K

Garage Wall Hanging Hooks

Earlier this month I received a call from a client (Peter) in Melbourne looking for garage wall hanging hooks that could hold some serious weight. He had invested in a wall panel system recommended by his architect which turned out to be rather inferior. It looked great, but in terms of storage options it was really limited.

The range of garage wall hanging hooks offered by the system was limited to what is usually offered in a retail setup, basically long thin hooks and some baskets. The client tried ordering hooks from other garage wall systems including StorEase sold by Bunnings. Nothing really worked or didn’t lock in solidly in order to hold reasonable weight. The alternative hook options also had a very limited range of accessories.

Discovering StoreWALL

Around a month ago, Peter called StoreWALL and we talked through what our garage wall panel solution offers. I explained how our wall panels are installed with InstallStrips for added strength. We also talked through our range of accessories including hooks.

We actually dropped off a StoreWALL hook to try with his existing panels just in case it could be secured. Unfortunately it didn’t work. The end result was that Peter decided to remove some of the wall panels from the previous supplier (not all) and replace them with StoreWALL garage panels. He also wanted panels installed on 3 additional walls.

The panel wall sizes were:

1st wall – 3170W x 2300H
2nd wall – 2880W x 2300H
3rd wall – 2520W x 2000H
4th wall – 1900W x 2000H

Installing on Different Types of Walls

The interesting thing about this installation was the types of walls we had to work with. The home had been recently renovated (or should I say redeveloped). The walls where all in the basement/garage of the home and included a combination of Wooden studded walls and plastered brick walls with metallic battens.

We spent the first hour of the day working out was actually behind each wall so that we could install on it. Once this was completed, we worked out the spacing of the battens (which differed by wall) and then prepared each wall for the InstallStrips.

Some of the wall were brick combined with wooden studs or metallic battens. Drilling into the Metallic Battens did not create any problems. It was as secure as drilling into the wooden studs.

One of the walls had plaster and the metallic batten which was supported in sections by a wooden stud. Some sections however had no supporting stud so we had to use longer screws for the InstallStrips in order to grip the plaster, batten and the stud which sat several cm further back (basically supporting the other side of the wall).

I have included some pictures of the work we completed at this home. The panels in the picture above were removed and replaced with StoreWALL. You can see the difference below.

One thing to note is that when making the cuts, we found it much easier to joint to cut pieces on an InstallStrip. This way both ends share half an InstallStrip rather than one or the other. It adds stability to both panels and made the wall look much nicer. You can see the example above.

Garage Wall Hanging Hooks

Most importantly however the client was able to purchase shelves and garage wall hanging hooks which worked on his wall and allowed him to store his belongings safely. This included our Heavy Duty Cradle Hooks, Tool Hook and some smaller single hooks.

They also added a 1.2m metal shelf pictured below. This is the bigger brother to the 80cm metal shelf.

The video below shows the process of preparing the wall, installing the InstallStrips and then adding multiple rows of wall panels in order to complete the installation.

Posted on February 20, 2020June 10, 2023 by Arthur K

Metal Shed Wall Panels

At StoreWALL this week we received a call from a client who lives in the outer suburbs of Melbourne. Most of the homes in his neighbourhood were built 40+ years ago and have a standalone garage. The garage that this gentleman has is basically a metal shed with a brick facade (my garage is very similar). In terms of size if fitted at least 2 cars and so offered plenty of room. Being a metal shed however, he was limited in how he could use his walls for better garage wall storage. He was wondering if we had any ideas for installing Metal Shed Wall Panels.

The construction of the shed was a metal frame and metal sheeting covering the outer layer. This structure had stood the test of time. It was strong and sturdy and hadn’t rusted. However, due to the external body being metal, he had been very restricted in adding any hanging storage using any form of metal shed wall panel.

Metal Shed Wall Panels

The gentlemen was kind enough to send through an image of the garage shed or at least how the frame had been constructed. You can see that whilst there is plenty of frame supporting the garage, the vertical and horizontal posts were quite far apart. This made it rather hard to install any type of Metal Shed Wall Panel.

This scenario is not ideal for garage wall panels of any nature but it is not an impossible task for a solution like StoreWALL.

Take the picture of this shed below. I found this picture on the internet at (theshedcompany). You can see the frame in this image and you can also see the large gaps between the vertical posts. The gaps are well over 1 metre apart. There is nothing wrong with the frame in terms of supporting the shed. It however doesn’t assist our objective of adding wall panels to your metal shed.

Metal Shed Wall Panels — Shed A wide studs Source: Pinterest

Perfect Shed Frame

This second image (below) is from the same shed supplier (theshedcompany). Notice that the frame used in this case has many vertical studs that are narrowly spaced. This is a much better setup for supporting metal shed wall panels. Note that these are both great sheds just making the point about how they can support internal wall panels.

If you took your typical garage hanging storage solution like StorEase from Bunnings and tried to install it on Shed A it would not work. Not if you were just wanting to install it directly onto the frame. The StorEase panel is only 1.2m in length and these studs are too wide apart. One option would be to install some plywood panels onto the frame and then screw your garage wall panels onto this. You would in this case still be required to support the plywood via the metal frame.

Installing on Shed B would be a lot easier with the additional studs supporting the panel. You may still want to install the plywood first.

Extending Your Shed Frame

I have a similar shed at home to that of the customer. It also doubles as my garage. It has a similar frame except that mine is metal but also supported by hardwood rails running horizontally along the length of the wall. There are 3 of these. One at the top, middle, and the bottom. With my setup, I could overcome the problem by adding additional studs between the horizontal rails. As I have a partly wooden frame, these vertical studs would be screwed onto the wooden rails. Once these rails are installed, then I have much more frame to work with. I could then use these studs to support my StoreWALL installstrips.

If your frame was only metal you would need to do something similar. You could either use more metal to build vertical studs or add wooden studs to your frame. It really depends on the composition of your frame and how sturdy you think it is to support some vertical studs.

If your shed is new enough, you could look at whether the manufacturer sells additional frame parts that you can add. Alternatively, you might also want to consider TopHat battens such as the one pictured below. These TopHat Battens can be used to add additional vertical frame elements to your shed wall so that the Installstrips can be attached. TopHats are available from all major hardware stores.

Adding Plywood across your frame is also an option worth considering. If it is thick enough it could act as a suitable frame for the installation of the Installstrips.

StoreWALL InstallStrips

How much more frame do you need? For Metal Shed Wall Panels we would recommend a vertical stud every 400-500mm. This allows you to install your InstallStrip and provide 3 points of support to every 1.2m StoreWALL panel. Better still if the StoreWALL panels are 2.4m in length you would have 6 points of connection for each panel.

Your StoreWALL InstallStrip can be screwed or bolted onto your additional vertical frame. Once this step is complete it’s as easy as hanging the garage wall panels and attaching your new StoreWALL accessories to hang your storage items.

Metal Shed Installation

In early July a lady from Ghin Ghin in regional Victoria called me and wanted to see our panels. During her visit, she explained that she had a metal shed filled with gardening tools stored on the floor. Her goal was to have them all hanging on the wall using a garage wall storage system like StoreWALL.

The below picture is of the wall inside the shed. This will be covered with garage wall panels.

This is a picture of the other side of the same wall. You can see the limited studs. The client added additional studs and plywood sheets across the entire wall so that it could support the installation of the StoreWALL panels. Studs were added every 400mm.

The result is fantastic and a great addition to this home. Now all of the gardening tools have been hung on the wall including the wheelbarrow.

Posted on February 20, 2020June 10, 2023 by Arthur K

Magnetic Garage Shelf

One of the many latest editions to the StoreWALL range is the Magnetic Garage Shelf. Well its actually a Magnetic Bar but with its CamLok locking system. Once securely attached to your StoreWALL panels it in fact becomes a very handy shelf for you many tools.

How is it made?

The 609mm Magnetic Garage Shelf is secured with 2 CamLok equipped backplates which once attached to your StoreWALL Garage Panels ensure it will never move or fall. The outer metal bars are made from durable nickel and inside the plates there are several magnets about 20mm in depth. The outside of the bar is powder coated a stone grey colour to match all other StoreWALL accessories.

Using Nickel bars to secure the magnets, the Magnetic Garage Shelf will resist chipping, dings and dents.

Being all metal and magnets, its actually a rather heavy accessory for its size weighing about 2KG.

Unique StoreWALL Magnetic Garage Shelf

Having invested some time searching the market for something similar, I am confident that there are not many other Magnetic Garage Shelfs or bars available today. I think you will struggle to find something similar from your local Bunnings, Mitre 10 or similar hardware store. It is quite a unique accessory. With the StoreWALL CamLok backplates, it is also one of the most secure on the market as well.

The last you would want is for the shelf to securely hold your tools using its strong magnets, but for the shelf itself to fall from the wall panel. StoreWALL’s CamLok prevents this and as you can see from the below video, there is no way it will come loose from the wall panels.

Storage Options

StoreWALL’s Magnetic Garage Shelf can hold anything with metal in it. In the demonstration below, I have secured screw drivers, spanners, a hammer, measuring tape and a knife. They all sat securely on the magnetic bar and showed no signs of falling off.

The Shelf not only works on StoreWALL panels but will work on many other garage wall panel systems as well. You will even get CamLok working on your alternative wall.

Garage, WorkShop, Tool Shed

Garage, Workshop and Tool Shed are what immediately come to mind when I think about who will benefit from the Magnetic Bar. However it doesn’t need to be heavy tools that you attach to it. Think about smaller items that usually float around your benchtop. Items like Allen Keys, drill bits and tools, smaller spanners that are easy to misplace.

StoreWALL sells a great range of Garage Wall Panels

The Magnetic Garage Shelf will work on all StoreWALL panels, including our Heavy Duty, Standard Duty and Basic Duty.

We have prepared a short video below showing it being secure to the wall and several tools being added to it. I also show you all around the Shelf so you get a clear picture of our it is made and how durable it is.

Posted on February 20, 2020June 10, 2023 by Arthur K

Waterproof Garage Wall Panels

If you are as old as I am you will remember a Castrol GTX Oil advertisement from the 80s where the main tag line was “Oils ain’t Oils”. Well “Slatwalls” also “ain’t Slatwalls” either. Today we are talking about Waterproof garage wall panels and why you should consider these over other types of panels.

Waterproof Garage Wall Panels

The real test is in the longevity of the panels and the fact that customers will return to StoreWALL for garage storage solutions for the 2nd and even 3rd home. We have had several customers in 2019 comes to us with a story of installing StoreWALL several years ago in their home, then selling their home and wanting it for their next home.

There are lots of reasons why StoreWALL customers remain loyal. The durability of the panels is a key reason. StoreWALL’s panels are made from a hardened composite plastic. I have listed the product specifications below for you:

Physical properties PVC StoreWALL

Density – Average 16 / cu ft
Decorative surface thickness .687″ (11/16′)
Modulus of rupture 27 mpa
Modulus of Elasticity – Average 29 mpa
Internal bond 100 psi
Water absorption – 0%
Linear expansion 0%
Thickness swell 0%
Moisture content – as shipped 0%
Groove dimensions
Groove .20″
Lip .25″
Back .25″
Opening .375″
Formaldehyde emission 0.00 ppm
Flame spread 45
Fire classification IIB
100% Recyclable – Class 3 recyclable

Waterproof Garage Wall Panels

Note the water absorption is 0%. It stays this way forever. This means your StoreWALL wall can be washed down with a hose if necessary. So if you are likely to be giving your garage a regular wash down to clean the floor, your StoreWALL wall can be cleaned with it.

Even if water gets to the back of the wall and touches your InstallStrips you will not have any issues. Our InstallStrips are made from rolled steel plated with 18 gauge Zinc for rust resistance. I have had two InstallStrips screwed to a wall outside for the past 12mths. They are exposed to the weather 24/7 and have not changed shape nor rusted. StoreWALL offers 100% Waterproof Garage Wall Panels.

What about the Accessories?

All StoreWALL accessories are made from steel. They are then powder coated to prevent them from rusting. Some elements of each accessory are also covered by a rubber coating for better grip and additional protection. This means that some water that is dried away will not affect your panels nor accessories.

The powder coated finish is grade STW 10 Powder Coat Finish. The extra heavy coating is there to resist dings and protect against rust. The steel we use is industrial grade, engineered strong to hold your most valuable equipment.

Slatwalls Ain’t Slatwalls

Take a look at the image below which shows the relative weight capacity in pounds (2.2 pounds = 1KG) of StoreWALL’s panels to that of an MDF based wall panel.

Our Standard Duty Wall Panels offer double the weight capacity of a standard MDF panel which is simply screwed to the wall.

However its not just being PVC which makes StoreWALL standout. There are other PVC solutions on the market. Most of them require that you install directly onto the wall with screws. StoreWALL also offers the Basic Duty Panel which has this feature.

When it comes to the Panels what distinguishes StoreWALL is the hook system which secures the panel to the InstallStrip. With the InstallStrip secure to your wall, your panels are then secured to the InstallStrips by the moulded hooks on the back. See image below.

Posted on October 13, 2019June 10, 2023 by Arthur K

Compare Garage Wall Panels

StoreWALL provides the most extensive range of garage wall panels in Australia. All StoreWALL garage wall panels are made from a hardened thermoplastic and come in a range of sizes, grades and colours. We compare garage wall panels to help you pick the right wall panel for your garage.

Compare Garage Wall Panels

Below is a simple comparison table providing a detailed overview of each of the garage wall panel grades offered through StoreWALL. Each core features is listed down the far left column with details for each grade on the right.

Most measures in the table are in US Imperial (ie inches and feet). To help you convert this to Metric (what we use in Australia), I have the following tips.

A 12” panel height is 300mm. A 15″ panel height is 380mm.
The equivalent of 8 square feet is .74 square meters. Similarly 10 square feet is .92 square meters.
32′ (square feet) = 2.97 square meters and 40′ = 3.71 square meters.

StoreWALL Australia gives you access to everything from StoreWALL in the US. To help you better understand what is on offer in Australia, and compare garage wall panels I have provided a more in-depth review of each grade of wall panel. StoreWALL offers three grades: Heavy Duty, Standard Duty and Basic Duty.

Standard Duty Wall Panels

StoreWALL’s Standard Duty is the leading product in Australia and the ideal product for your home. The Standard Duty Wall Panels are designed for your home, retail store or workshop. They are designed with a patented profile to accept the exclusive InstallStrip (sold separately) for easy installation and a beautiful fastener free appearance. Standard Duty panels are moulded, solid core, so the colour and finish goes throughout the panel.

The Standard Duty profile shown above is used to lock in the panel to the InstallStrip. This ensures a secure panel as well as the strength to store and hang heavy items to your garage wall.

StoreWALL Standard Duty Panels are sold in 1.2m lengths as separate panels or in a carton of 6. In Australia we currently stock the Weathered Grey colour in the 1.2m range. However if you are interested in other colours, these can be custom ordered for you.

The more popular panel in the Standard Duty range is the 2.4m length. These are sold in cartons of 4 panels. Panels are available in your choice of 3 designer colours (Weathered Grey, Brite White and Dover White). Additional colours are available as a custom order.

Each panel is 300mm in height and 16mm in thickness. These dimensions apply to both the 1.2m and the 2.4m option.

Installation is via the StoreWALL InstallStrip (fastener free look) or using screws directly to the panel.

Basic Duty Panels

Launched in early 2019, this is the most recent addition to the range. The Basic Duty Panels are designed primarily for home and come in a narrower range of colours.

Basic Duty panels are only available in 1.2m lengths as single panels or in a carton of 4. The other key dimensions are a thickness of 16mm and a height of 300mm.

The Basic Duty colour range includes White and Grey. Both of these colours are stocked and available for order.

Installation of the Basic Duty Panel is via direct screws to the panel using the grooved section. We recommend approx 20 screws per panel. Screws can be colour matched to disguise them.

Heavy Duty Wall Panels

The Heavy Duty Wall Panel range is the original StoreWALL panel designed for your home, retail store or workshop. They are also designed with a patented profile to accept the exclusive InstallStrip (sold separately) for easy installation and a beautiful fastener free appearance. Note that the Heavy Duty InstallStrip is not interchangeable with the Standard Duty InstallStrip (profiles are not the same). HeavyDuty panels are also moulded, solid core, so the colour and finish goes throughout the panel.

StoreWALL HeavyDuty Panels are sold in both 1.2m and 2.4m lengths in cartons of 6 and 4 panels respectively. Panels are available in your choice of 7 designer colours and wood grains. Each panel is 380mm in height and 16mm in thickness.

Heavy Duty Wall Panels are currently only available as a custom order in Australia. Please give us a call if you are interested in this panel range.

StoreWALL Australia can help you decide which panel grade is best for your storage project. We can help you add to your existing StoreWALL installation and start a new one. Give us a call if you have any questions.

Posted on October 5, 2019July 23, 2023 by Arthur K

StorEase Smart Rail

Over the past fortnight, I have been receiving calls from customers looking for accessories for their StorEase Slimline Smart Rail. The StorEase Slimline Smart Rail Wall Bracket is sold by Bunnings and allows you to clip on a broad range of accessories for your garage, sporting gear or workshop.

StoreWALL is not StorEase

StoreWALL is not StorEase. Whilst most of our accessories might work on the StorEase range of Wall Brackets, it is not the same product nor quality. I’d like to think StoreWALL is a much better solution, but I will let you be the judge of that.

About a year ago, I did an in-depth review of the StoreEase Aluminium Smart Wall Panel and one of its more popular accessories. The review includes several videos and has proven to be rather popular. The Smart Wall Panel is very similar to the StorEase Slimline Smart Rail but it is a slightly wider wall panel and raw aluminium in colour. The StorEase Slimline Smart Rail is painted Black.

StorEase Smart Wall Panel

StorEase Slimline Smart Rail

StorEase Slimline Smart Rail Compared

Some of the key difference between the two StorEase panels is that the Wall Track Slimline is a different Colour, a different Width and has a different groove for locking the accessory. In fact, several of the calls I have received have actually been specifically about the StorEase Slimline Smart Rail locking mechanism.

The price of the StorEase Slimline Smart Rail is about $30.82 and its dimensions are: W:105 H:10 L:1200. The Smart Wall panel is priced similarly but its dimensions are: W:158 H:5 L:1200. About 50mm wider. In fact, it now seems (2023) that the Wall Panel can only be purchased directly from StorEase as it is no longer featured on the Bunnings website.

StorEase Slimline Smart Rail Review

So I ventured down to my local Bunnings Store to see for myself what the StorEase Slimline Smart Rail looked like and how it worked. I had the opportunity to test it with one of the StorEase hooks and I have included some photos and video below.

It didn’t take long to work out where the confusion and calls were coming from. I honestly didn’t find the StorEase Slimline Smart Rail very intuitive. As you can see from the video, trying to secure the hook to the rail was not easy and I wouldn’t be confident hanging heavy items from it.

This is in contrast to what I found with the Smart Wall Panel in my review. It secured the hook a lot better (probably a little too well). The StorEase Slimline Smart Rail looks nicer with its powder-coated black colour. It is also slimmer which makes it less visible on the wall. It just didn’t quite do the job when it comes to holding the accessories. This is supported by some of the reviews on the Bunnings website.

Comparing StoreWALL

StoreWALL’s wall panel system is in many ways similar to what is offered by StorEase but also quite different. For one, StoreWALL is not a rail, it is a wall panel, designed to cover your wall area. You can cover as much as you need to. Also, each wall panel is double the width of the StorEase product. The width of the panel is about 300mm (30cm) as opposed to the StorEase panel being 150mm (15cm). Being wider it has room for two rows of grooves and can therefore fit more accessories. You would need to join two StorEase panels together to get the same result.

Price wise the 1.2m StoreWALL panel is $69.99 sold separately and slightly cheaper purchased in a carton of 4. The cost of two StorEase Slimline Smart Rails is about $61.64.

Another key difference is the accessory range. StoreWALL’s accessories are designed to be attached to the panel and then locked in. There is no threat of the accessory falling off the panel. The CamLok locking mechanism eliminates this. See the below video on how it works.

StoreWALL Accessories

StoreWALL’s accessories are priced a little higher than the equivalent from StorEase but as noted the quality and locking mechanism are different. The panels are also not aluminium but hardened thermoplastic which will not change shape, or attract rust or mold. They also come in several colours so you can match them to your wall colour or other cabinetry in the garage.

Having tested the StorEase Smart Wall Panel (wider panel), I can confirm that you can use the StoreWALL accessories on your StorEase Smart Wall Panel.

THIS HOWEVER DOES NOT APPLY TO THE STOREASE SLIMLINE SMART RAIL. OUR ACCESSORIES WILL FIT BUT THE GROOVE IS NOT DEEP ENOUGH TO SECURE THE CAMLOK.

Below is an example of what one client did in Melbourne. They had a StorEase rail in the garage and added 2 StoreWALL U Hooks to hang this dart board.

Give us a call should you want to know more about the differences.

Posted on September 11, 2019October 8, 2023 by Arthur K

Carport Storage Solutions

Today we are talking about Carport Storage Solutions. Having recently spent a few weekends driving around Melbourne’s eastern suburbs I quickly realised that many (say 20%) of homes had very limited access to an enclosed lockup garage. In most cases they had room at the front of the home for a carport and one or two parking spaces.

Storage solutions for these homes is a little more complex. Carport storage solutions are not the most popular of topics on the internet but there are several options worth considering which make good sense.

Carport Storage Sheds

A Lockable Storage Shed is by far the most practical carport storage solution. It is both affordable and easy to build and install yourself. Furthermore it can be placed inside the carport should you need it at the front of the home or in the back yard (if you have one).

The location of the lockable shed really depends on how secure you think your front or backyard is. In either case, these sheds are lockable and therefore secure regardless of location.

Having it located inside the carport might reduce your space for parking the car, but it might give you more room in the backyard for the family and entertaining.

Locally I have seen them used in the front yard of many townhouses where the garage space is just enough for one car. With a limited backyard, the front of the home was the only logical location.

Sheds like the one above come in all sizes, from a few metres in length and height to 1m in depth. They can can be larger if you have the room or shorter in width if you don’t. They can also come with more than one door for easier access and a flat or sloped roof line.

Pricing can vary from about $300 – $800 depending on the size and quality (inc finish) you are after.

They can be sourced from your local hardware store like Bunnings or Mitre10 or from the many shed building companies also offering affordable shed options.

Carport Storage

If you had the opportunity to design and build your carport from scratch you might want to build storage room into your carport structure.

Not only does it make the structure more aesthetic, it will also gives you greater confidence in the security of your carport storage solution.

The actual storage area can be set on either side (left, right or back) of the carport depending on your home design. In actual storage space it would not be much different to a separate shed but it looks more in line with the carport design. From a security perspective, there would not be much difference between a built in shed a free standing shed.

Storage Cabinet for your Carport

Storage Space in apartment buildings and many townhouses built these days is limited. A solution like the Storage Box is another option worth considering. The design and size is ideal for small carports with limited room for additional storage.

The Storage Box is an over bonnet storage cabinet, and uses the wasted space that sits above the bonnet of your car. Because it is a raised cabinet, you don’t lose any parking space. It is also a secure cabinet so it can be used for all sorts of storage needs from power tools to bikes.

The cabinet is free standing, and can be adjusted for height which should suit most vehicle sizes.
Whether you are looking to use it in a flat or un-levelled area, the cabinet comes with adjustable threaded feet. This is ideal for both indoor locations but also for carports which might have a gravel surface.
These storage cabinets have been designed to fit within the allocated car space, so they will not interfere with vehicles parking near you. This applies to dual carports as well.
Holds upwards of 600kg.
Galvanised steel and powder coat finish.
3 Point Lockable door system for security of your storage items.

There are several suppliers of the Storage Cabinet in Australia. Try Steelspan and Space Commander. Pricing starts at around $1400 ex installation.

StoreWALL in your Carport

One of the many advantages of StoreWALL is it is weatherproof. Our InstallStrips are made from rolled steel plated with 18 gauge Zinc for rust resistance. Our panels are hardened PVC. Rain water will not rust or damage your StoreWALL.

Whilst I wouldn’t be hanging your power tools in the carport, items such as garden hoses and cheaper gardening tools such as brooms or rakes could certainly be hung outside. Having them hang neatly in your carport would ensure they are easy to find and not lying around against the home or on the ground easily stepped on and damaged.

StoreWALL can be a great addition to any shed you add to your carport. Whether it is a metal shed that you add later or a structure that is built into your carport from the beginning. Having a place to hang your tools and shelves to place your cans of WD40 is what having storage is all about.

If you are using a metal shed, StoreWALL panels will need to be secured to the frame structure that comes with the shed or one that you add later. StoreWALL can be installed with or without Installstrips. In a small shed you only need 2 or 3 x 1.2m panels to make the wall effective.

A common question we receive regarding carports and sheds is how to install wall panels on a the metal frame. Typically your shed will come with a frame but the distance between vertical and horizontal frame sections might be a couple of metres. This isn’t ideal for hanging wall panels, so you will need to add additional frame to provide the support needed. This can be done through the use of TopHat battens such as the one pictured below. These Top Hat Battens can be used to add additional vertical frame elements to your shed wall so that the Installstrips can be attached.

Once installed, these battens should mirror a wooden studded frame similar to what you would find in wall of your home. On this you then screw the StoreWALL Installstrips and then hang your StoreWALL panels.

StoreWALL 1.2m panels are sold in both cartons of 4 or 6 pieces or individually. There are plenty of options for you to choose from. StoreWALL can be a great addon for any Carport Storage Solutions.

Posted on August 26, 2019June 10, 2023 by Arthur K

Garage Ladder Storage

They are super handy but they are big and usually stored in your garage standing vertically against the wall or lying horizontally on the ground. Garage ladder storage is challenging at the best of times and the bigger the ladder the harder storing securely seems to be.

I have 4 ladders at home. Two are your 1.2m aluminium one sided step ladder. One is a larger 1.8m single sided step ladder and the fourth is a 6.5m aluminium extension ladder.

I have stored them all sorts of ways in the garage and outside. The larger two ladders are the hardest to manage. Due to their size they need to be secure and accessible but not in the way of everything else including the car. More on these ladders at the end.

The two 1.2m step ladders can easily be accommodated within my garage and so that is where I store them. My garage ladder storage solution is to have them up against the wall but secured so they can’t be knocked over and damage anything.

StoreWALL offer several ideas for garage ladder storage whether you are storing your ladders vertically of horizontally.

Vertical Garage Ladder Storage

Both my 1.2m ladders are stored vertically and are tied to the wall with a StoreWALL Bungee Hook set. This includes two closed hooks at either side of the ladder and an elastic cable with clips across the middle which is what holds the ladder in place.

These Bungee Hook sets come in several sizes. The small size has a cable which starts at 38cm in length and can extend to double this length (clip to clip). There is also the Medium size Bungee Hook set which works the same way but its cable starts at 58cm and extends to over 1m (clip to clip fully extended).

Finally we have the Large Bungee Hook set which has an extension cable which can stretch from 95cm to approx 2m.

In my case I have used the small Bungee Hook set to secure each ladder. With the CamLok locking mechanism you can adjust the tension yourself by moving the hooks closer or further away from each other and the item you are securing. In fact, the extendability of these cables actually allows you to secure more than one item with the one cable.

garage ladder storage - closed loop hook

Horizontal Garage Ladder Storage

The alternative to storing your garage ladder vertically is to secure it horizontally ie hanging off your wall. StoreWALL has 5 or 6 different hooks which can be used to secure your small, medium or large step ladder on your wall.

The StoreWALL Heavy Duty Cradle Hook is ideal in this situation as it is a deep hook with a curved form giving you added security that your ladder will not fall off the wall and hit someone or the car.

Other StoreWALL hooks which are just as the effective are the Universal Hook, the Wide Hook and the range of 12 inch Universal or Long Hooks.

Back to the two larger ladders I have stored outside the garage. In their case, I have secured two brackets to my backyard fence and have them hanging from these brackets horizontally. The brackets are permanently attached and would need to be unscrewed and moved unlike your StoreWALL alternatives which are easily moved around. The StoreWALL hooks as per the video would be a better choice but I had already invested in these brackets many years ago and they work.

Whether you want to secure your garage ladder horizontally or vertically to your wall, StoreWALL allows you to do both with minimal cost and effort. Best of all, once you want to make a change, you can simply swap your hooks around and adjust how you use your garage wall storage.

All of the Garage Ladder Storage options listed in this article can be found on the StoreWALL website and online store.

Posted on August 10, 2019July 8, 2023 by Arthur K

Mud Room Shelf

One of the popular additions to the layouts of new homes being built in Australia are mud rooms. These are small closet styles rooms or areas you encounter when you enter your home via the garage or side entrance. They allow you to quickly take off you dirty shoes, jacket or school or work bag. A mud room sounds like a great idea, but without some storage accessories, it very quickly become a messy closet. A mud room shelf is a great way to clean up your mud room, getting all your heavy and bulky items off the floor and up high out of the way.

Mud Room Shelf

Kitting out your mud room is key to getting the most out of this space in your home. Otherwise the school bags and shoes will simply be thrown in all together without some order to get them out. Typically the size of these rooms or areas are small and designed to only hold one person at a time.

Many mud room designs you will find online use custom built cabinetry for shelving, hooks for jackets and some baskets or ledges for your shoes. If you don’t have the budget for this, another way to kit out your mud room is with a couple of 1.2m StoreWALL panels. Two panels will cover 1.2m in width and 600mm in height. This will be enough to hold a Mud Room Shelf across the top and several hooks below.

You can also make it taller with a few more panels and add a couple of angle shelves down below for shoes and boots.

Shelving Options

StoreWALL offer a great range of shelving options for your mud room. We have heavy duty metal shelves in two sizes, wire shelves which can be straight or angled plus deep, narrow, short and long plastic shelves.

The plastic shelves can be installed directly onto the Slatwall or they can be used along with StoreWALL brackets.

Pricing for the shelves varies based on the size and material they are made from but they start from about $42.

Build Your Own Mud Room Shelf

StoreWALL enables you to build your own shelves by bringing your own custom shelf and using the brackets from StoreWALL. All StoreWALL brackets come with CamLok to secure the bracket to the wall. They also come with non-slip stickers which will hold your shelf in place.

Each bracket has two pre-drilled holes and two plugs which allow you to secure your shelf in place. The plugs are 20mm in length allowing you to have a shelf of about 15mm.

Using your own shelf means you can paint it a colour which suits your wall. You can also use stained wood or any other surface that suits your home or Mud Room.

The non slip stickers and the plugs come complimentary with each 254mm and 381mm StoreWALL bracket.

Mud room shelf

Mud Room Designs

Below is a mud room designs I found online. For some reason most of them are also painted white which I don’t think is very practical given most of the items stored in this area are supposed to be outdoors and likely dirty.

Using Slatwall Panels

There are several advantages for using Slatwalls in the mud room. Firstly the panels allow you to add a great range of accessories from shelves to baskets and even bins for keys. You can also move these accessories around as you need to.

Slatwalls also come in a great range of colours. StoreWALL has both a Brite White and a Dover White colour (as well as our Weathered Grey).

If you prefer a wooden slatwall, then they can be painted any colour you want.

A plastic slatwall like that from StoreWALL has its coloured running right through the panel, so even if it gets scratched or dented you will need seeing a different colour. Being plastic StoreWALL panels are much easier to clean that painted panels and are water proof.