Arthur K, Author at - Page 12 of 17

Posted on July 27, 2019June 10, 2023 by Arthur K

Shelves for a small garage

Most new homes are designed with a standard garage of 6m x 6m which might look big when its empty but add two cars, a medium ladder, some sports gear and storage containers and all of a sudden the lower area of your garage has become rather cramped. How do you make better usage of your garage walls by using more of the wall? StoreWALL is a wall storage solution which in addition to many other accessories also has a large range of shelves for a small garage.

Shelves for a small garage

Shelving is the first thing most people look to when adding storage to their garage. There are lots of rack style shelving options available on the market. The biggest challenge with shelves for a small garage is finding shelving that can be placed high enough on your wall so that it doesn’t interfere with the vehicle parked next to it.

Your standard rack shelving will in “most” (not all) cases be far too deep for a 6x6m garage with two cars parked in it. Most rack shelving is 600mm deep. If you consider that your vehicle is about 1.8m in width. Then approx 4.5m of your garage will be taken up by two vehicles (leaving some space in between the vehicles). Which leaves you about 750mm – 1m on either side of each car. It’s tight.

Shelving options

Yes there are rack shelving options which are narrower in depth than 600mm. Bunnings sells a Pinnacle 2090 x 1200 x 460mm 6 Tier Adjustable Shelving Unit.

Other options include shelving you install directly to your wall with brackets. This style of shelving will be guided by your size of bracket. The one key limitation is that once the brackets are mounted to your wall, they will need to remain there, there is no way to move the brackets without adding more holes to your wall.

What you need to consider is how to make better use of the wall itself for storage, not just adding additional furniture to the room. Whilst some rack shelving would be practical, there are other options like wall mounted garage storage which can give you access to the entire wall upon which to hang and secure your items.

StoreWALL Shelves

StoreWALL has a great range of shelves for a small garage. Best of all, StoreWALL Storage solutions are designed specifically for making better use of the your wall area, not for eating into the depth of your garage.

StoreWALL garage solutions are built around our range of garage wall panels. Our wall panels are made from a hardened plastic and are water and damp proof so they can be used inside the home and in the garage or shed.

They can be screwed directly to your wall or installed with our InstallStrips which gives them extra support and the ability to hold a lot more weight. Panels come in a range of colours and in two main sizes, 1.2m and 2.4m. The height of each panel is about 30cm.

Once your panels are installed then the range of accessories you can add to your wall is almost endless. We have over 20 hooks and a great range of shelves.

StoreWALL Metal Shelves

StoreWALL offers a solid steel shelf which is easily attached to your wall panels. The Steel Shelf comes in 2 lengths (762mm and 1212mm) and is 393mm in depth.

This is a super durable shelf that can be used for holding any large and bulky items including power tools. It is secured to your wall panels with our Camlok locking mechanism. This shelf can also double as a bench area.

StoreWALL Wire Shelves

StoreWALL also offers toughened wire shelves. The Small and Large Shelves are flat in design and have a depth of 355mm. There is also the Angle shelf which has a depth of 381mm. These shelves also sport the CamLok system.

StoreWALL Plastic Shelves

StoreWALL also have a great range of shelves made from hardened plastic which are either installed with brackets or installed directly onto the wall panel.

The StoreWALL Shelf is 254mm in depth and 812mm in length. It is installed with StoreWALL brackets (254mm) which are locked to the wall panel with the CamLok locking mechanism. This Shelf also comes in a 1.2m version for those that needs some extra length.

Want a deeper shelf? Try our 381mm brackets combined with our 820mm x 400mm floating metal shelf.

The final shelf option is the new Metal Ledge Shelf. This shelf is made from 2mm powder coated steel and is 812mm in length and 200mm in depth. This style of shelf doesn’t need brackets as it has a small lip which hooks itself in the wall panels and stays secure.

Small Garage Shelving Options

If you want to build your own shelves but want the ability to move them around then also consider our range of brackets. They come in 254mm and 381mm sizes. They come with a predrilled hole to secure your own shelf as well as Camlok for securing them to the wall. In addition to the great range of shelves for a small garage, StoreWALL’s system allows you to move your accessories around as often as you need to without impacting the wall in any way.

All StoreWALL accessories come with the CamLok mechanism which secure the hook, basket or shelf to the wall. When its time to move the accessory, CamLok allows you to unlock it and move it to the new location. There is no uninstalling of brackets and leaving holes in walls.

Whether you have a single, double or even 4 car garage, StoreWALL has a great solution to help you make the most out of your garage walls. The StoreWALL system is versatile and a great way to store all of your belongings.

Posted on June 30, 2019June 10, 2023 by Arthur K

Great Value Garage Wall Panels

This week we launched our latest Garage Wall Panel range – Basic Duty. The StoreWALL Basic Duty Wall Panel is a great value wall panel built from the same durable and water proof material used for our popular Standard Duty and Heavy Duty panels.

The Basic Duty Panel has been designed to be installed directly onto your wall surface with no InstallStrips. The installation of these panels is with screws directly to your wall. The backing of the panel is flat with no hooks for the InstallStrips.

The Basic Duty Garage Wall Panel range was launched to provide a more price competitive offer for our customers. A wall panel with very similar traits to the Standard Duty, with similar strength to hold weight and all of your garage items but at a slightly lower price.

Garage Wall Panel Dimensions

Basic Duty Wall panels are the exact same dimensions as the Standard Duty 1.2m panels. Each panel is 1219mm (length) x 304.8mm (height) x 16.7mm (thickness). 1 panel will cover .371 sq meters. This is exactly the same as the Standard Duty 1.2m panel.

Garage Wall Panel Colour Range

The Basic Duty colour range includes Grey and White and is installed with approx 20 screws from the exterior of the panel. We have several images below as well as video showing the differences in the panels as well as the colour variations between the two models.

Basic Duty Vs Standard Duty

Let’s take a look at the key differences between the two panel types to help you understand how you can use each panel. At StoreWALL we would consider both to be a great value wall panel.

Basic Duty Panel Strength
– 34KGs at 120cm from the surface of the wall.

Basic Duty Panel Screw Installation
– Use colour matching screws for the best match to wall panels.

Basic Duty Panel Accessories
• All storeWALL accessories are compatible with Basic Duty!

Standard Duty Panel Strength
– 110KGs at the panel surface
– 50KGs at 120cm from the surface of the wall.

Standard Duty Panel Installation
In order to enjoy the additional weight listed above, installation must be with InstallStrips. Alternatively for a similar weight holding strength to the Basic Duty panel you can install directly with screws.

Standard Duty Accessories
• All StoreWALL accessories are compatible with Standard Duty panels.

Comparing Panels

Below I have images of both the front and the back of the panels and a comparison of the white and grey colours compared to the Weathered Grey and Brite White from the Standard range.

The above image features both the Basic Grey and the Standard Duty Weathered Grey sitting on top of each other. The Basic Duty has the first 2 rows with the bottom two being the Standard Duty. You can see a difference in the Grey tone of the top panel. The lower panel is a smoother grey.

The above image compares the White Basic Duty (below row) with the Brite White from Standard Duty (top row). The Basic Duty White is a lot whiter.

The Basic Duty Panels are on sale now via our online store. They can be purchased as individual panels or in a pack of 4.

Posted on June 22, 2019June 10, 2023 by Arthur K

I need a Garage Organiser

I was speaking to a group of friends recently who both recently completed a major home renovation. One had just completed building a brand new home and had just moved in. The other had completed an extension to their home and had been living in the house for over a year. The common discussion point for both of them was the state of their garage and needing a garage organiser.

It is not uncommon that the garage is the last space in the home to receive any attention. It will usually take place 12 or more months after the owners have resettled. I happened to be at the home of one of the couples talking about the need for a garage organiser. We inspected their garage to take a look at what they had accumulated during and since the renovation. As expected everything was on the ground. It was a two car garage, one side had the stuff, the other the car.

I talked them through their garage organiser options and explained that there are several options depending on what type of help their thought they needed and how much they wanted to spend on the garage.

Organising Expects

Search the net and you will quickly find the multitude of organising expects offering their design services. Most of them focus on design alone and then recommendations on how to un-clutter the area, prioritise what to keep and what to let go. From here there are recommendations on what type of storage the owners can invest in. Be it Shelving, Storage Containers, Wall Hooks, Cupboards, or Overhead Storage. The key service offered is the consultancy around advice and design.

Garage Organisers

In a similar vain, garage organisers also offer the consultancy piece but they have a focus on implementation of select storage options. By this I mean they will usually sell a range of storage equipment which is either their own or that of one or more other suppliers.

This type of garage organiser will review the space that is available and much like a kitchen designer will deliver a design and the cost to build and install.

In terms of price, the Organisers Organising Experts would tend to be more flexible with what services they can offer and therefore can cater for a lower budget easier. It’s not that the Garage Organiser is more expensive, its more that they usually offer the full deal of design, build and install.

Garage Solutions

The final category are services like StoreWALL, StorEase from Bunnings and many others. These services offer a more Do It Yourself option. The solutions range from full garage solutions, to basic shelving options, to wall storage solutions like that from StoreWALL. Home owners can pick and choose combining solutions to fit their space and budget. Much of the responsibility around design and even installation mainly sits with the home owner. Note that several of these solutions (including StoreWALL can also organise installation for the home owner).

Whilst it’s unfortunate that the garage is so often left as the final room of the house to be renovated, it’s important to view the garage like the kitchen. It might not warrant the same budget but it does require some design and investment. If you need a garage organiser, hopefully this article will guide you as to where you need to invest your time seeking advise on possible solutions.

Posted on June 15, 2019June 10, 2023 by Arthur K

Surfboard Wall Rack

Earlier this year, we introduced several new products to the Australian StoreWALL range, one of these being the Angle Brackets. Speaking to a client this week, we had an enquiry about a Surfboard Wall Rack or Surfboard Wall Mount. What this person was essentially looking to do was hang their surfboard on the wall so that it was out of the way and not likely to be damaged in the garage.

Surfboard Sizes

Surfboards can vary in size based on your skill level, size/weight and generally what you prefer. Asking a few questions from this client, I came to understand that you can start with a board around the 5 foot mark (150cm) and extend all the way through to 9.5 foot (280cm+). In between you get a whole heap of variations. You can also add to this your typical kid style boogie boards which most Australian homes have several of.

Surfboard Wall Rack Options

Having a look online, there are plenty of surfboard wall rack options to choose from including single surfboard mounts through to mounts that can hold up to 4 boards. One actually allows you to start with 2 mounts and then add an additional two. Pricing varies significantly from $50 all the way through to $200. Much of this is based on the material that the mount is made from.

StoreWALL Surfboard Wall Racks

StoreWALL offers two Surfboard mounting options. The first is our Angle Rack Hook and the second is our popular Angle Bracket.

The Angle Rack Hook, is a simple pole set at an upright angle which fits to your StoreWALL wall panels and allows you to easily hang your Surfboards, Boogie Boards and even Skateboards. Each of these hooks can hold about 10kgs, so a set will support 20kgs.

The hook is secured to your StoreWALL panels with our unique CamLok locking mechanism.

The second rack mount option offered by StoreWALL is the Angle Bracket. This is also an ideal option for any wide item like a surfboard or even kayak that needs to be removed from the floor and hung on the wall.

The Angle Bracket range comes in two sizes: The 245cm Bracket and the 381cm Bracket.

Dimensions for the 254cm bracket are: 430mm (off the wall) x 50mm (width) x 300mm (height)
Dimensions for the 381cm bracket are: 660mm (off the wall) x 50mm (width) x 450mm (height)

StoreWALL Angle Bracket

The great advantage of the StoreWALL Angle Bracket is that it can be used for so many different items around the home from lengths of wood, to skate boards, to surfboards and even Kayaks. StoreWALL can even handle weights of around 60KGs when installed with InstallStrips.

Not only do you get a very suitable solution with StoreWALL, you also get one that is versatile as your needs around sport, surfing and the home change.

StoreWALL Angle Brackets are made from solid steel are powder coated and also come with soft padding to protect your surfboards.

With StoreWALL and the CamLok locking mechanism, your Angle Brackets can be moved around your garage as required. Unlike your traditional Surfboard Wall Mount which is permanently installed on your wall and can’t be adjusted once it’s on there.

Posted on May 25, 2019June 10, 2023 by Arthur K

StoreWALL on a Brick Wall

We recently completed the make-over of a garage wall in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. Whilst we have been selling StoreWALL for just on a year now, we don’t typically do installs. Rather we refer clients to carpenters or garage organisers to complete the installation. However given the size of project, the opportunity to install StoreWALL on a brick wall of 9m was very appealing.

The home is in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs and the client was keen to cover 2 of the 3 walls with StoreWALL Brite White panels. The length of the main wall is 9.45m, with a 2.4m height.

The result as you can see below was a huge transformation of a boring brick wall which didn’t offer any storage capability. It has now become a very functional storage area which can cater for all tools, electrical accessories, gardening utensils, ladders and clothing.

StoreWALL on a Brick Wall

It took two of us a full day to complete the installation of the Brite White panels. In total the whole area was some 22 square metres. The total number of panels used was approx 32.

Installing StoreWALL on a brick was is a much harder task compared to your typical plasterboard wall.

Firstly the drilling took much longer as each hole needed to be drilled using a Hammer drill.
Secondly the wall was not straight vertically, ie some bricks pocked out whilst others were indented. This meant we had to put extra effort into the placement and levelling of our InstallStrips to ensure they connected properly to each panel.
Thirdly, the installation was end to end both across the wall and from top to bottom, so we had to cut panels both vertically and horizontally.

Tools to Install StoreWALL on a Brick Wall

Detailed below are the tools we used for the project.

Hammer Drill – definitely need this for a brick wall.
5mm x 150mm (length) Masonry Drill Bits.
Hammer
Brick Nylon Anchors. The size you will need is 5mm X 40mm.
Packers or pieces of cardboard to help level the InstallStrips installed on the wall.
Spirit level
Ladder depending on the height you are working towards
Second person to help you

InstallStrip Claws

Whilst the size of the wall was challenging, the hardest part of this project was actually the brickwork itself. The wall was not level and so we had to pay extra attention to how we placed each InstallStrip so that the claws grabbed the panels and created a sturdy fit.

It meant checking each Installstrip one at a time to ensure the claws grabbed the panel. In all it would have taken 2x as long as a plasterboard wall.

The below photo shows the final panels being added. In this case we had to cut panels both vertically but also horizontally (ie along the length of the panel).

The final piece of panel as about 195mm (just over half of the panel).

The final result was really impressive and the white colour of the wall added some light and practicality to what was a rather dark garage.

Posted on May 11, 2019June 10, 2023 by Arthur K

Slatwall Garage Storage

StoreWALL has recently launched its latest Wall Panel range – StoreWALL Basic Duty. StoreWALL Basic Duty will launch as our entry level slatwall garage storage solution designed to be more affordable and accessible for home and garage owners.

Slatwall Garage Storage

StoreWALL Basic Duty Wall Panel will be reaching Australia in mid to late June 2019 and will join our already popular StoreWALL Standard Duty range. The Basic Duty Slatwall Garage Storage Panel comes in two colours, Grey and White and both will be available in Australia.

The new range continues to be provide a hard plastic wall panel finish ideal of your garage or home. It is easy to clean, hard wearing and weather proof. Installation is made even easier than before. InstallStrips are NOT AN OPTION with the Basic Duty Panel, it can only be installed via screws from the face of the panel directly into the wall.

Many Australians are looking for new ways to tidy up their garage and have admired the simplicity of StoreWALL. Unfortunately for some, the Standard Duty Slatwall Garage Storage Panel has been outside of their budget. The Basic Duty Panel gives Australians a new option which is affordable, easy to use and install.

Tidy up your Garage

StoreWALL’s Basic Duty Wall Panel is compatible with all StoreWALL accessories including all Hooks, Brackets, Shelves, Baskets and Bags. CamLok is just as effective with the Basic Panel.

We are launching the Basic Duty Panel in a 1.2m size with both Grey and White colours. They will be sold in packs of 4 (1 carton) and as individual panels. A 2.4m option is available in the US and we may consider this down the track as we get feedback from home owners.

Pricing for the new range is almost half of the Standard Duty Panel at $170 for 4 panels. Each panel is 1219mm (length) x 304.8mm (height) x 16.7mm (thickness). Four panels per carton covers 1.48 sq meters.

In terms of Installation, we recommend you use approx 20 screws per panel. Get more details from our online store.

Posted on April 18, 2019June 10, 2023 by Arthur K

DIY Garage Hooks

Visit your local hardware store and you will find an extensive range of DIY garage hooks. From small to large, and hooks for heavy and light objects. Many of these hooks are designed for you to attach directly to your garage wall with a screw or bolt. There are also hooks designed which are specifically designed for a pegboard or a slatwall.

DIY Garage Hooks

This week, I looked through my own garage and found a variety of wall hooks that I have collected over the years. I spent some time reviewing and comparing them to the StoreWALL range. The review which is pretty detailed focuses on the thickness of the metal used, the use of backing plates, the quality of the finish, the style of hook and the installation options.

Most slatwall designed hooks are not build for direct installation without the slatwall. StoreWALL’s range gets a Yes and No answer here. Whilst not designed specifically for this, its backing plate has a pre-drilled hole to allow for direct installation. What complicates the installation is the CamLok mechanism which protrudes at the rear of the back plate. This stops the backing plate from sitting flush on the wall.

Therefore it is a more versatile option than StorEase which also has a protruding backplate but doesn’t have a predrilled hole.

StorEase & Sure Hook

My review is included in the video I have added below. It runs for about 10mins and compares a range of hooks I have purchased from my local store. I have pegboard hooks, StorEase hooks, as well as Surehook.

The video reviews each DIY garage hook so you can get a better understanding about the strength and practicality of each hook and hook system it belongs to.

Slatboard or slatwall systems whilst requiring an upfront investment eliminate the need to drill holes into your walls. Each hook or bracket or shelf can be moved around as required. They can also be removed altogether if no longer needed. Given the amount of storage found in our homes today, it is certainly worth considering when designing your new home.

Posted on April 12, 2019June 22, 2023 by Arthur K

Ball Storage Rack

My son and I really enjoy playing soccer. Over the past 4 years since he started playing we have accumulated about 6 soccer balls. Some of these we purchased ourselves and some have been received as birthday presents. Finding an effective way to store these balls in some ball storage rack of sorts has really been challenging.

My son plays for a local soccer team and trains twice a week. We also train together once per week. So our collection of soccer balls are always scattered between the garage floor, boot of the car (multiple) and the back yard.

Ball Storage Rack

Inside the garage we have used a ball storage rack of sorts which is essentially a storage bin. Now storage bins are great, but not really the ideal solution for balls.

The local soccer club that my son plays for uses Tote Bags to store the soccer balls that the teams can share. In fact each coach has their own tote bag for training balls.

Sports Tote Bags

StoreWALL offers its own range of canvas tote bags, but best of all they also offer hooks long enough to enable you to easily hang the tote bags from your garage wall. This is a much more effective ball storage rack than using a bin.

Tote Bag Sizes

The Tote bags offered through StoreWALL come in 4 sizes, small, medium, large and extra large. They are made from a tick heavy duty mesh canvas material with draw strings which can be spread across 2 hooks. The hooks which are attached to the wall with CamLok, are called 300mm Universal Hooks (you will require two of them which can be shared across bags).

The sizes of the Tote Bags are

Small – 279mm (d) x 304mm (h) x 457mm (w)
Medium – 279mm (d) x 457mm (h) x 457mm (w)
Large – 279mm (d) x 457mm (h) x 609mm (w)
Extra Large – 279mm (d) x 609mm (h) x 863mm (w)

These dimensions refer to the actual width, depth and height of each bag.

Easy Access

What is actually great about these bags is that once they are removed from the wall (essentially slip off the hooks), the draw strings can be used to close them and they can be taken with you to your sports activity.

Take a look at our wall storage options here. You can combine a Basic or Standard Duty Wall Panel with a StoreWALL Tote Bag and still have room on your panel for a few more hooks to cater for other garage or gardening storage needs.

Compatibility with Slatwall Systems

If you are already an owner of a StorEase panel (wider silver panel) sold by Bunnings or slatwall panels from GarageTek or GarageSmart, you can also combine StoreWALL Hooks and Totes to your panel(s).

Posted on March 20, 2019June 10, 2023 by Arthur K

Home Garage Storage

Every day I pass new homes and catch a glimpse of their garages only to see a mixture of home garage storage made up of shelves, hooks with hanging items from the wall and lots and lots of items sitting on the ground by both walls.

I suppose once you have invested so much money onto a new home and garden, the last thing you want is to invest more money into your garage? It’s already built, the four walls are there.

Just like a kitchen however, it needs cupboards, bench space, cooking appliances, washing accessories and so on.

Home Garage Storage Options

Your garage is much the same. It needs furniture to make it work. Furthermore, garages in most modern homes sit at the front of the home and are usually the first room you see when you arrive.

Pass any new home with a packed and messy garage and you don’t get a great first impression. Unlike the older homes with the garage at the end of the driveway, new homes make a statement with their garages. They are also another entry point into the house.

Home garage storage is best done over time but with a combination of furniture which will help you manage both large and small items. Items which are used regularly and those that aren’t. Items that are long and short as well as awkward. Garages also need to store everything else the home doesn’t want.

Home Garage Shelving

Every garage definitely needs shelving, but going end to end with shelving will also take up a lot of room because it is usually 500mm deep. This is space you no longer have if your garage is made of mostly shelving.

Wall panel storage options are a great option because not only can you utilise the full height and length of your wall, you can use it to store garage items of all sizes. This includes the awkward ladders and wheel barrows. It also includes the brooms, rakes and other pole based equipment usually forced into the corner so they remain upright.

Wall based home garage storage can also cater for your bikes hanging either vertically or horizontally. The great range of hooks will also cater for all of your power tools. Then there are the great range of smaller shelves. These come in wire, plastic of heavy duty metal. Some are about 800mm on length and others 1.2m.

There is actually very little a wall based storage solution can’t handle. Best of all, hanging items directly on your wall means they are off the floor. An additional advantage is that the depth of your storage is linked to the depth of your stored items (unlike the fixed depth of a shelf).

Posted on March 16, 2019June 10, 2023 by Arthur K

Garage Storage Shelving Systems

StoreWALL offers a great range of Garage storage shelving systems which can be attached to our StoreWALL Wall Panels and easily moved around. The range comprises plastic and metal garage wall shelves of 800mm or 1.2m lengths.

Metal Garage Wall Shelves

StoreWALL Metal garage wall shelves come in 1219mm and 760mm sizes and are made from solid industrial grade steel, with a steel reinforcement bar on the underside. Our Metal Shelves will keep all your items safely stored. All of our Metal Shelves also come with CamLok backplates and are coated with a heavy duty powder finish.

Light Plastic Shelves

Compliment your StoreWALL panels with our new light weight plastic shelves. The 812mm & 1219mm shelves are made from a sturdy plastic and are supported by StoreWALL brackets (sold separately). One side has no edges, flip it over and it is a tray with a lip edge all the way around. The shelves have a maximum weight capacity of about 45kg.

Garage storage shelving systems – Ledge Shelves

The 1219mm Ledge Shelf fits directly onto your StoreWALL wall panels (no brackets required). Shelves are moulded of strong, lightweight thermoplastic, do not require paint or finishing and are simple to keep clean. The Ledge Shelf can easily be converted into a custom display shelf or tool organiser.

Metal Wire Shelves

StoreWALL offers two Wire Shelves (Small and Large). The Large Wire Shelf (760mm) provides more space for storing a wide variety of supplies and is perfect for places where brackets cannot be used. A great place to store muddy boots and boxes off the floor.
The Small Wire Shelf (760mm) is designed for storing items such as a tackle box, small cooler or a tool box.

Wire shelves are equiped with our CamLok locking mechanism.

Tool Organiser

Our garage workshop storage solutions now extend to our tool organiser. Made of extruded, lightweight thermoplastic, pre-drilled and ready to use. The 406mm Tool Organiser is incredibly strong, easy to clean and does not require paint or finishing.
It also attaches easily to StoreWALL without additional brackets.

All of our shelving options can be found here.