Author: Arthur K

Posted on by

Slatwalls for Workshops

slatwall for workshops

Over the past month we have received several enquiries from office fit-out companies wanting to utilise StoreWALL’s slatwalls for workshops or their office environments. Visiting several offices recently I took specific notice of desk areas and in particular the partitions used. Some companies utilise standalone partition walls to separate work areas, whilst others had mini partitions as part of the desk setup.

Slatwalls for Offices

Wall Slats have been a popular option for office desk setups. Notably they can be cut to size and then also allow for a range of accessories to be added. These include large and small shelves as well as boxes and bins. Generally the slatwalls utilise a metallic finish ensuring their durability and ease of cleaning or dusting.

For your added convenience, Slatwalls can be cut to size and come in a great range of colours to compliment the office look/feel. Wooden slatwalls can be easily painted. Slatwalls from StoreWALL are made from thermoplastic with the colour built into the material and running through the panel’s depth.

Slatwalls in the office offer a very clean and professional finish. See the image to the right as an example.

slatwalls for workshops
Source: pinterest

Slatwalls for Workshops

Utilising slatwalls for workshops is also very popular. Consider a mechanic’s workshop or cabinet maker. Slatwalls enable the workshop to store important tools in select sections of the wall storage area. Tools are secured and unlikely to cause a hazard nor be damaged.

Slatwall accessory options include shelves, hooks, brackets, baskets and bags. These are all great options for the workshop environment. If using StoreWALL’s slatwall panels, it would be worth considering the Heavy Duty range which are larger, thicker and harder. This provides for additional durability in a harsh environment.

The hooks can be used for individual screwdrivers or wrenches. Shelves can be used for paints and larger tools. Bins can be used for screws and nails. Baskets can be used for larger items as well as paint and cleaning materials.

Options really are endless. You also have the added advantage that should the workshop owner want to move items around, they can do so within seconds.

Accessory Locking

A key requirement when using Slatwalls for workshops is the ability to secure the accessory to the wall. Many cheaper slatwall options are really simple to clip in and just use a small plated hook to secure themselves. What users regularly find however is that excessive on/off movements loosens the accessory and makes it prone to coming off the wall. In an workshop environment the locking mechanism is super important. Tools are a key to a businesses success and also really expensive to replace. Having tools fall of the wall with light or even heavy use is not ideal.

StoreWALL offers an exclusive locking mechanism in CamLok which with a twist of the locking key, your accessory will never come loose. You are totally in control when you want to loosen it and move it around. StoreWALL offers CamLok on every single accessory it offers (except the bins). Every hook, shelf, bracket and basket carries this exclusive mechanism.

Coloured Slatwalls

Slatwalls can be painted but this really isn’t long lasting in a high use environment. Slatwalls that have the colour running through the content of the wall are a better option. This ensures that even if dents occur they will be barely visible. Secondly, StoreWALL offers a great range of slatwall colours including our regular weathered grey, Brite White, Dover White, Khaki, Graphite Steel, Rustic Cedar and Global Pine.

Garage Slatwall

Garage slatwalls are exactly the same as those used at workshops or the office environment. The only difference is being able to buy in smaller quantities, the durability of the material used to make the slat panels and generally non-commercial pricing.

Posted on by

Maximising Your Garage Walls

maximising your garage walls

Double garages have always been at a premium even when I was young and every home was on its own block. Today, houses are bigger on smaller blocks and the garage sits inside the building. A double garage is still at a premium and maximising your garage walls has become ever more important.

If you are building or have just built your new home, your garage walls (atleast 2 of them) will be shared with the inside of your home. This means you are usually starting out with 2 or 3 empty white plasterboard walls, and one exterior facing wall made from brick or your chosen exterior surface.

The challenge for you now is maximising your garage walls so that you can fit as much as possible whilst keeping it all nice and tidy.

Maximising Your Garage Walls

The typical first step for most households when decking out their garage is to seek out shelving (aluminium shelving). Shelving offers a great way to stack as much as possible into your garage utilising most of your available vertical and horizontal space. Aluminium shelving ranges in price from $150 for a 2m x 2m x 0.5m frame with 4 shelves. These are easy to put together yourself and can hold a max 400kg.

I have three of these shelves in my garage and they do keep everything off the ground and reasonably tidy. What I found with mine is that I ended up stacking lots into each shelf to use up the space which in some sections made it a little hard to pull things out when I needed them. I ended up using containers to store most of the storage which helped but then concealed much of the contents.

A slatwall garage solution is a great compliment to a new or old garage. Unlike garage shelving, slatwalls make it easy to access those garage items that you regularly. Whether it is tools or sporting equipment, having a garage solution that offers easy access is really important. In addition, slatwalls from StoreWALL offer a really nice finish to your garage walls. The weathered grey colour will blend in with your concrete driveway and provide a clean look and feel.

StoreWALL Slatwalls

StoreWALL slatwalls are complimented with a huge range of accessories to ensure you can maximise your garage walls. Whether it is baskets you need for sporting equipment or paint cans or hooks for tools or wood, StoreWALL offers it all. There are over 25 hooks to choose from catering for all of your small and large items.

Using shelving to store your tools doesn’t work. You can’t effectively hang your tools on a shelf. You can keep them all in a container but that doesn’t cater for all tools nor everything else usually kept in a garage.

I have one wall dedicated to tools and it holds several handsaws, a silicone gun, gardening saws, power cord extensions and several hammers. I also have several smaller shelves with cans used for degreasing as well as putties and several gardening oils.  Storing these items in a big shelf is not really suitable.

Then you have sporting goods. We use tote bags and baskets for the soccer balls, training cones and the roller skates and blades. There is also another basket for all the other balls and racquets that have accumulated over the years.

Hanging Bikes

Bikes are a real challenge no matter the size of garage. I was a a friend’s the other day and saw that his 8m garage wall was used to hold 3 bikes (hung horizontally on hooks). The bikes looked like works of art on the wall. They were high enough not to interfere with anything else, but they really didn’t;’t maximise the garage wall. One wall for three bikes is not a great use of space. StoreWALL’s bike hooks allow you to hang your bikes both horizontally and vertically so that you can maximise your garage walls.

If you are keen on maximising your garage walls, do some research into slatwalls as a compliment to whatever shelving you might also require.

Posted on by

Storage Options for Small Homes

storage options for small homes

With a growing family and a family home which in today’s standards is way too small, finding storage options for small homes has become our everyday challenge. My wife and I have become experts in making the most of every square foot we have in the home to ensure we can fit it all in.

This week’s post has a focus on clever storage ideas for small houses like ours and most likely yours.

Clean Out

The best way to manage your storage challenges is buy less stuff. The second key is to move on all of your old stuff to make way for the new stuff

Sounds reasonable but in reality it isn’t always practical. Somethings just can’t be thrown out nor sold. So we need to be a little creative and research options which are sensible storage options for small homes.

Under bed storage

Source: hgtv

Under bed storage is a really effective way to store clothes, blankets, toys and other key items. Particularly those that you need to access regularly enough but don’t want to see every day. Some beds come with built in drawers, others offer it as an accessory usually on wheels so that you can roll them out easily. Having the design or the colour of the drawer match the bed is usually a good idea.

However if you don’t want what the bed offers or anything on wheels for that matter, then consider baskets or other forms of containers. There are lots of options that are shallow enough to fit but easy enough to grab and pull out from under the bed.

We have used baskets and several forms of containers for years. It has been a great way to collect and hide books and toys. Today as the kids are a little order, it holds some clothing, blankets and bulkier items like roller skates and blades.

Towel Storage

Towels that are used during the week, whether it be for hand drying or for showering can be hung behind your bathroom or laundry door. Instead of  taking up precious wall space this space behind your doors should not be wasted. There are plenty of hooks that can be used for this and with a door stop, you wont have the hooks hit and damage your wall.

The space on your wall that was going to be used to hang your towels can now be used for shelving or something else. If used for shelving, you can store soaps or towels or just display items that pretty the place up. Remember, this article is about storage options for small homes so we need to make the most of every inch we have. This particularly important for heavy use rooms such as the bathroom.

Above The Door Shelving

Shelving options are plentiful at stores such as Ikea and they come in all sorts of styles and budgets. A great shelving idea that is not used enough is adding storage above your door. Its vertical, it has the width of the door and it is never used. You might want to consider storing soaps or even some of your better towels there. The one challenge with this area of the room is dust. Ideally you want to prevent your towels from collecting dust and not being usablev.

It’s a similar space to that above your kitchen cabinets. Never used but a great dust collector. You might want to consider maybe keeping the towels in a nice container which looks well presented and then can hold your nicer towels. This way the container collects the dust should you be a little lax in dusting up there.

Concealed Spice Shelves

Source: pinterest

Managing your collection of spices can be challenging. Like most families you will likely have a collection of glass and plastic bottles or varying sizes. You will also have plastic packets (refills) or varying sizes. Finding one place to hold them all which doesn’t take away from other storage is challenging.

I have however found a few ideas for those with smaller kitchens. The Sticky Clip in Spice Racks can be added to the back of any cupboard door or even your splash-back (although there might be nicer options if you are going to display them).They are simply stuck on and then your spice bottles are clipped in and stay in place ready to be used.

The one challenge is that the size of bottle they hold is fixed or limited, but the idea is certainly worth exploring.

Another option is a 4 tier spice rack which actually fits into the cupboard itself.

Kick-board Storage

Now, the disclaimer behind this idea is that you probably need to own the home. This idea is also best implemented when the kitchen is being designed from scratch. That space below your kitchen cabinets is never used and totally wasted. Kick-board drawers are a great and really practical idea. They add heaps of volume to your kitchen. A 10mm or so drawer around most of the perimeter of your kitchen can’t be underestimated. Whilst the drawers will not be big in depth they can be as wide as the cabinet itself. A great idea for storing towels and even platters plus anything else that you want hide away.

Over-The-Cabinet Door Hooks

Source: Pinterest

My wife started to use these hooks for towels and whilst I admit I didn’t love the idea at first they are very useful. Instead of just holding towels, you can also hold baskets and other items. Best of all there is no need for additional hardware. There is a great range of hooks on the market and they allow you to hang anything from towels to clothing and baskets. It is really simple to use as well. Just place the hooks over door and hang the basket on the inside or outside of the door. The basket can be used for waste in the bathroom or laundry or as extra storage in the kitchen

Corner Shelving

Take a quick look around your home and you will notice that you have corners that aren’t put to best use. Why not consider installing floating shelves to create extra storage space. Depending on the style of shelving, you could create a really visually appealing spot for books, vases and photographs.

Posted on by

Tips for organising your children’s sports gear

organising your children’s sports gear

Everyone agrees that having your kids spend less time in front of a screen stuck inside the house and more time outside playing sport is a good thing. The challenge in an age where we want everything nice and tidy is keeping it all organised. Having the right kind of storage system for organising your children’s sports gear is more than half the battle. Below we have provided some simple rules and tips which you can use for better management of your family’s sporting equipment.

Cricket & Baseball Bats, Hockey Sticks and Tennis Racquets

Most people stick the bats in the corner leaning up against the wall. Over time more and more gets piled on top of them and when you want to pull the bat out, its impossible to grab without knocking everything over. You can avoid this hassle and mess by keeping bats, sticks and racquets pegged onto a slatwall or pegboard. Today’s slatwall solutions come with a great range of hooks allowing for bats, sticks and racquets to be securely attached but easily accessed. Most hooks are usually long enough to hold more than one item.

Balls

Whether they are larger balls like basketballs or soccer balls, or smaller tennis or cricket balls, they can easily be kept in buckets or tote bags. StoreWALL offers a great range of Tote Bags which cater for balls of all sizes. If you don’t want a bag, consider a deep basket or a bin for organising your Children’s sports gear. What you want to avoid is finding all the balls on the ground because the kids where looking for the tennis ball which was at the bottom of the basket. Consider a container for smaller balls and one for larger ones.

Protective Gear and Clothing

A great way to organise uniforms is to either colour cod them or to arrange them by sport or family member. This makes it easy for everyone to identify whose clothing it is or which sport it belongs to. For items like gloves or cricket pads, I suggest you keep them all together with the related clothing. This ensures they don’t get misplaced or moved away.

As an example, your cricket clothing, pads and gloves could be kept in one specific basket or tote bag. Once the kids are done with using them, putting them away is as simple as placing them all back into the ONE basket.

Sports Shoes

storewall large tote bag

The ideal way to protect your soccer and football boots is to clean them after use (both training and matches). Regular cleaning with a wet rag protects the synthetic surface from scratching and staining. It also ensures whatever dirt (soccer and football being winter sports) accumulates under the shoe is not transferred to all of the other shoes or the floor.

Most sports stores sell tote bags designed for shoes. They keep the shoes aired so that they can dry out but also in a protected bag so that pairs aren’t split up. Some suggest to use peg boards to hang your shoes but I don’t find this really practical. Dirty shoes are not the nicest accessory to have on show. Use a larger tote bag or deep basket to keep your sports shoes together. If you follow the concept of having a basket for each key sport played by your kids, then you can add sports shoes to that basket as well. Preferably once cleaned.

Organising your Children’s Sports Gear

We all want our kids to spend more time outdoors than they do today. Organising your children’s sporting gear needs to be a shared responsibility. Easier to say than do, but with some discipline it can be achieved. It’s important that children learn from an early age that we don’t do everything for them. Organising their sports gear independently is one of the many things they can learn early on.

Tips on grouping sports gear

When deciding where the sports gear will live, consider:

  • Size and numbers – how much space is it taking up and how many do you have
  • Seasonality – is the gear used throughout the year, or can it be moved to a different place when not used
  • Shape – some things take up a lot of space due to their shape (e.g. balls).
  • Ventilation – it’s better to keep shoes in a well-ventilated container and room.
  • Accessibility – make sure the children can access their gear without your help.
  • Dirtiness – how dirty is the equipment.

Get the Kids into the Routine

An important key to achieving some success with organising children’s sports gear is having a routine before and after sport activities. Kids should know what they need to take with them for training and matches. Clothing, drink bottle, boots, towel, hat etc. Help them get into the habit of gathering these items before each session. The routine applies equally after the session is done ie returning everything to where they found it.

Here’s an example

  • Soccer boots get returned to the garage.
  • Put them in the soccer basket.
  • Drinking bottle is returned to the kitchen sink.
  • Put sports bag away in the laundry (where it lives).
  • Get undressed and throw everything in the laundry bin or return it to the garage with the rest of the sporting gear.

Whilst I would love to say that my kids follow all of these rules, they don’t but I have found that keeping items organised and in specific locations helps everyone find them before the game or training. It also ensures we aren’t running around looking for them for half the morning.

Posted on by

Heavy Duty Garage Shelving

shelves for a small garage

Garage storage is a super popular topic these days and no wonder, our garages are full and most people are looking at how they can maximise the space they have. One of the really popular accessories within the StoreWALL range is the Heavy Duty Garage Shelving.

The range is not your typical standalone garage shelving found at Bunnings or other Shelving stores. StoreWALL’s shelving can be created from our range of addon brackets or through our great range of heavy metal shelves. These shelves are a clip and lock accessory connected to your StoreWALL slatwall garage panels.

Heavy Duty Garage Shelving
Heavy Duty Garage Shelving and Brackets

Our Heavy Duty Garage Shelving has proven rather popular since we launched StoreWALL in Australia. In addition to heavy duty metal shelving, we now also stock an expanded range of wire shelving as well as our new new light weight metal shelving.

Heavy Duty Garage Shelving

The StoreWALL’s range of heavy duty garage shelving options can be custom built using our slatwall garage storage system. Once your panels are installed, creating shelving is a simple process. We offer a great range of brackets and metal shelves which just clip and lock into your wall using our exclusive CamLok.

Brackets

By using our heavy duty brackets which come in a 254mm or 380mm depth, you can build your own shelves anywhere you need to on your wall. Our brackets are made from solid steel and come with CamLok to secure your storage.

Once the brackets are clipped onto your wall panels, just add a StoreWALL plastic or metal shelf or build your own from wood, chipboard or any other surface you prefer.

garage storage shelving
Easy shelving options from StoreWALL
Heavy Duty Garage Shelving
Customised shelving

There is no limit to how long you can make your shelves. Extend the length of your shelves by adding an additional bracket or two. With your StoreWALL panels, you can even run it along the whole length of your wall.

Metal Shelves

StoreWALL offers several heavy duty shelving options which are pre-built and can be easily added to your slatwall.

Our Heavy Metal Shelves come in two widths, the 762mm and a 1219mm. The dimensions are as follows:

762mm Metal Shelf

  • 762mm long x 393mm deep x 254mm high
  • weight it can hold is 90kgs
  • material is solid steel, powder coated
  • the actual shelving space that can be used (top area) is 380mm x 760mm

1219mm Metal Shelf

  • 1219mm long x 393mm deep x 254mm high
  • weight it can hold is 90kgs
  • material is solid steel, powder coated
  • the actual shelving space that can be used (top area) is 393mm x 1219mm

Shelf Flexibility

Some of the key advantages of the StoreWALL range is its portability. Each StoreWALL shelf and any accessory for that matter can be added to your wall and moved around as and when required. If you need to move the shelf half a meter to the left or right, you can unlock it and slide it along. Should you need to move it from one end of the wall to the other you can remove it altogether and completely change its location or size. Using our slatwall panels, our heavy duty garage shelving can also be moved up and down your wall.

Heavy Duty Wire Shelving
StoreWALL Metal Wire Shelves

The difference with standalone shelving is that its usually one large piece of furniture 1m+ in width and 1m+ in height. Heavy duty garage storage racks are very useful in a garage and can be used in conjunction with the StoreWALL range. The challenge with it however is that moving it around can be difficult. Firstly you need to find the space to move it to. Secondly everything that is stored on it also needs to be removed and then added back on. This isn’t a small exercise.

Lightweight Slatwall Shelving

Smaller shelving such as our Heavy Duty Garage Shelving will easily compliment anything else you are setting up within your garage. With the option of a 762mm or 1219mm shelf you are well covered for all your garage needs.

It doesn’t end there. StoreWALL also offers a much bigger range of smaller lighter weight shelves which are just as easily added and removed from your slatwall panels.

Slatwall shelves
Easy to install slatwall shelving

We also have a full range of wire shelves which come in a range of lengths and depths to suit your needs. These shelves also come with our exclusive CamLok locking mechanism which secures all your accessories to your garage wall panels.

Posted on by

Heavy Duty Slatwall Panel

Heavy Duty Slatwall Panel

The popularity and application of slatwall panels has grown significantly over the past decade. From use in retail stores to office partitions, the application of slatwall panels is endless. StoreWALL offers 2 types of slatwall panels, its Standard Duty and the Heavy Duty Panel. Today’s article is a review of the Heavy Duty Slatwall Panel.

Heavy Duty Slatwall Panel – Specifications

StoreWALL’s Heavy Duty Panels are built incredibly strong, rugged and waterproof. They are ideal for the most demanding applications. Installation is also easy on any surface includingheavy duty slatwall panel wooden studs, plaster board, direct concrete as well as metal studs. The Slatwalls install using the StoreWALL InstallStrip hidden fastener system for fast and easy installation.

Each Heavy Duty Slatwall Panel comes in the following dimensions: 2438.4mm x 381mm x 17.7mm and weighs 7.43KG. Colour range on offer includes Brite White, Graphite Steel, Global Pine, Rustic Cedar and Weathered Grey.

Heavy Duty Thermoplastic

StoreWALL panels are manufactured with Heavy Duty Thermoplastic. This ensures they are highly durability and the colour and quality are consistent throughout the panel.

Manufactured with a solid core ensures panels are 100% waterproof, mould, mildew, and stain resistant. They are also easy to clean and can be used for both indoor or outside applications. Each panel is also 100% Class 3 Recyclable.

Heavy Duty Slatwall Panel - StoreWALL
Heavy Duty Slatwall Panel

In Australia we are only stocking the Weathered Grey colour. The other colours including Brite White, Graphite Steel, Global Pine, Rustic Cedar are available as a special order. Minimum order quantities will apply, please call us to discuss.

Installation

We recommend the use of InstallStrips for installation. Custom InstallsStrips have been developed for the Heavy Duty range. Heady Duty InstallStrips are not interchangeable with the Standard Duty InstallStrips.

Featured below is a short video comparing the Heavy Duty panels (profile/thickness) with that of the Standard Duty Panel. You can see that the additional 1mm in thickness makes a difference.

Each panel is also taller when compared to the Standard Duty Panel. The dimensions for the Standard Duty Panel are: 2438.4mm x 304.8mm x 16.7mm. The height difference in the panel is 381mm (HD) Vs 304.8mm (SD). 

Where should it be used?

Standard Duty slatwall panels are ideal for domestic use. Use them in your laundry or inside a pantry. Similarly if its a home garage and you want to either panel all or part of the exposed wall, the Standard Duty panels are your choice.

For commercial applications such as industrial garages, workshops and retail stores, the Heavy Duty slatwall panel and heavy duty slatwall hooks should be selected. The panel’s added thickness and its solid core, make it a lot more durable from knocks that will likely happen with heavy traffic.

Solid Core

The challenge in a commercial environment is the likely frequency and weight of the knocks on the panels. Having a thicker finish will ensure they have little impact on the panel itself. Even if they do however, the colour is developed into the core of the panel, so they will not show.

The added advantage of the Heavy Duty Slatwall panel is its taller profile. At 381mm each panel covers more space which in turn means less panels are required and less labour to install them.

When you compare the thickness of these panels to both a wooden slatwall finish or even a metallic one, you can appreciate the difference in quality and added durability.

Posted on by

Storage Lessons

storage lessons

The internet is littered with information about storage options and ideas on organizing small spaces. Reading through much of this information myself on a daily basis I have accumulated a few key Storage Lessons that are worth considering as you review how to take on your next storage challenge.

Storage Lessons 1 – Make Better Use of Overhead Space

Look around your neighbourhood and you can’t miss the number of new homes being built. Not only are they popping up everywhere they are also much bigger than your average home (square feet) but they are also being built with higher ceilings. Higher ceilings makes your rooms look bigger, adds more light into each room but also gives you greater options for overhead storage. By thinking vertically, you can make much better use of this storage area. Think about your kitchen and laundry where storage is at a premium. Extend it to your garage. There are plenty of storage options built specifically for the garage ceiling.

Storage Lessons 2 – Bigger Storage Bins are Not Always Better

Picking the right range of storage containers can be challenging. Size, colour, shape and quality need to be considered. You would naturally think that bigger is better but this is not always the case. Bigger bins can sometimes cause more problems than they solve. Two medium bins can be carried by one person, while a huge bin requires two people. You need to keep weight in mind.  The last thing you need is to struggle and potentially spill the bin or worse still hurt yourself trying to access it.

Storage Lessons 3 – The less you use it, the less you should see it

Professional organisers talk about systems when it comes to working through your mess. A key principle they all abide by is “the less you use it, the less you should see it”. Items that you are likely to only use once a year or even less should be placed in rooms or locations that are harder to access. They should not be the first things you see when you enter your storage area. If you are using shelves, place them on the top shelf at the back. The flip side to this is regularly used items need to be close at hand and easy to grab. This applies equally to your garage storage and even kitchen. If your family likes to make smoothies for breakfast, why have the blender in the back of the cupboard.

Storage Lessons 4 – More on Setting Up Systems

Australian homes are typically high pitched with some storage capacity available in the roof. Most people however avoid the roof and simply don’t like going up there. When I look at the roof in my home I can easily stand in the middle section but I have never made any use of this area. Make better use of this area is not difficult nor should it be expensive. Yes it does get dusty but storage bags and containers of various sizes are available which can protect your items.

These areas can be set aside for very specific storage purposes that maybe you won’t need for several years. Placing them in the roof means you know exactly where they are when you need them. An example could be your wedding dress or specific clothing items you have set aside for your children. It might be years between visits but having a specific place for these items makes it easy to remember where they have been placed.

Storage Lessons 5 – Space Saving Ideas

Every inch counts and so when you are looking at storage solutions you need to place and measure your area carefully. If you are using shelves, ensure they are placed close together. Having adjustable shelves also allows you to ensure that all space is used up. If you have 40 or 50mm above the tallest item on each of your shelves, then that is wasted space. Multiply this by 3 or 4 shelves and that is 120 to 160mm of unused space.

Storage Lessons 6 – Storing Food

Whilst Australians don’t generally purchase food in bulk it can make sense with regular items that you don’t want to have to visit your local supermarket for mid week. If our regular breakfast cereals are on sale I will usually purchase 4 or 5 of them and store them in the garage so they are available. Same applies to pasta, flour, canned and bottled sauces, laundry detergent and other cleaning items.

The biggest challenge with storing food however is ensuring you are eating the older items first. It’s important to rotate older food to the front if you’re buying and storing in bulk. Get into the habit of sorting your food by expiration dates.

Storage Lessons 7 – Store less stuff

Your yearly hard rubbish collection is a great time to review your storage options and what you have stored. If there are items you have kept specifically in the hope that the kids might play with it again, it might be time to give them away. Another tip is if you have forgotten that you even had one of “those” that is another trigger to probably consider giving it away. If you don’t even want to remember you have it in your home, it’s probably time to re-home it.

Posted on by

StorEase Vs StoreWALL

storease vs storewall

In this week’s post, I spent some time investigating if StoreWALL accessories can be used on alternate slatwall panels. The verdict when checked with the StorEase panels (sold by Bunnings) was YES. Today’s post focuses on StorEase Vs StoreWALL accessories to demonstrate the differences in specifications and price.

For some background, StorEase is a garage storage system sold exclusively by Bunnings. StoreWALL is sold exclusively by StoreWALL Australia.

Rather than compare every accessory offered by both StorEase and StoreWALL what I have decided to do is compare one key and popular accessory as well as the standard wall panel from both systems. The comparison focuses on specifications and total cost, with detailed images of both as well as some video.

StorEase Vs StoreWALL

I have selected a hook that both systems offer. In the case of StorEase it is the Double Hook (photo on the right). For StorewALL, it is the Heavy Duty Universal Hook, photo on the left.

Storewall heavy duty universal hook
storease vs storewall

StorEase Key Features

  • Name: StorEase 20cm Double Hook
  • Material: Powder-Coated Steel with Rubber Coating
  • Dimensions: W:75mm H:130mm L:220mm
  • Weight .200 kg
  • Holding weight: NA
  • Price: $15.92
  • Locking mechanism: main body case comes with two teeth on the front lower side and one larger one in the rear. The rear tooth fits into the slat groove whilst the two front teeth hug the outside of the groove to create tension and prevent the hook from moving around. Watch the below video on how it works.
  • Wall panel: StorEase wall panels are made from aluminium with dimensions being: W:1200mm H:150mm L:30mm. One panel covers 0.18 square meters. Each panel allows for one row of accessories. Assume you can comfortably fit 4 hook-style accessories per panel. The cost of the panel is $38. Combined with the hook the total cost is $53.92.

StoreWALL Key Features

  • Name: StoreWALL Heavy Duty Universal Hook
  • Material: Powder-Coated Steel with Rubber Coating
  • Dimensions: W: 63 mm H: 114 mm L: 228 mm
  • Weight .450kg
  • Holding weight: 68KG
  • Price: $33.99
  • Locking mechanism: CamLok provides a secure locking mechanism that is controlled from the front of the hook and moves a hook inside the groove to lock it in place. CamLok is best demonstrated in the below video.
  • Wall panel: StoreWALL wall panels come in 1.2m and 2.4m lengths. They can be installed by screws directly onto the wall or with InstallStrips to provide a clean and secure connection to the wall. StoreWALL wall panels are made from dense PVC and are mold resistant. The colour range includes Weathered Grey, Brite White, and many others.
  • The Dimensions of a 1.2m panel are W: 1219mm x H: 304.8mm x L: 16.7mm (thickness). One panel covers .371 square meters. Each panel has 4 grooves and can comfortably handle two rows of accessories. The cost of a single panel is about $69.99. Combined with the hook the total cost is $100.98.

StorEase Vs StoreWALL Hooks side by side

There is very little difference between the two hooks in terms of their size and look/feel. They are both rather heavy-duty looking and sturdy enough. I have two shots below showing you the front and back of both.

storease vs storewall rear
DIY Garage Hooks

Also included (top of page) is a photo of the two panels and their profiles side by side. Again you can clearly see the differences between them.

The StoreWALL panel is much ticker in structure and because of its width (twice the size of StorEase) it offers a much better option if you are looking to cover a larger section of your wall area.

Cost Comparison

StorEase seems to be about 50% cheaper than StoreWALL, however, you need to also factor in that the StoreWALL panel covers twice the amount of wall space compared to the StorEase panel. Therefore when we add all of this together we end up with StorEase at $91.92 and StoreWALL at $100.98. The StoreWALL pricing assumes that you are installing directly onto the wall with screws and not using IntallStrips.

Key Differences StorEase Vs StoreWALL

Here is a summary of what I found:

Durability

  • In terms of durability, both the Aluminium finish of StorEase and the Dense PVC from StoreWALL ensures your wall panels will not warp or attract mold. Both are hard-wearing and water-resistant.
  • In terms of hooks, the StoreWALL HD Universal Hook weighs twice that of the StorEase equivalent. This shows the amount of steel used to make the hook and justifies that it will likely hold a lot more weight as well.
  • When installed with InstallStrips, the Standard Duty StoreWALL panel can hold 52kgs at 10cm from the panel surface & 113kg at panel surface.

Locking Mechanism

  • The locking mechanism from StorEase is very sturdy but it also makes it really difficult to remove the accessories and move them around. Having added and removed the hook a few times as part of the video, it had already marked the panel with both paint and scratches. It might have come down to the hook I selected because in last week’s video which I completed at the Bunnings store, the hook came off a lot quicker and easier. Too easy in fact.
  • The locking mechanism of both systems is different. When installed correctly both will be just as secure. The real difference comes down to being able to move the accessories around. StoreWALL is really simple, with no damage done to the panel. StorEase on the other hand was really difficult and the pressure required to unhook the “hook” quickly scratched the panel surface.
  • You might also be interested in this video sent in by a client on some of the challenges he found with StorEase. 

Coverage

  • If you wanted to cover a whole wall or most of it, using StoreWALL will be a lot easier and probably cheaper as panels come in both 1.2m and 2.4m lengths. The 2.4m carton comes with 4 pieces, whilst the 1.2m carton comes with 4 panels. The look will also be nicer with the panels as they are designed to cover larger areas whereas the StorEase system is focused on smaller areas with a single panel.
  • StoreWALL also offers a broader range of colours including Weathered Grey, Brite White, Black, and several others.

Accessories

  • Both systems offer a broad range of accessories, but StoreWALL has over 25 hooks alone. The range of baskets and brackets is also a lot larger.

Where to Buy

  • Distributed via Bunnings, StorEase is available in stores all over Australia. It is now also available directly online.
  • StoreWALL can only be ordered from our website. Pickup and delivery options are available. Give us a call on 0411280646 to find out more or email us at info@storewall.com.au

In conclusion, my StorEase Vs StoreWALL review shows that both systems are good but if you want greater flexibility and a more useable and durable panel, then StoreWALL delivers on this.

My focus is on ensuring every customer that visits our website can make an informed decision as to whether our equipment suits them and offers them value for money. We already know how great our garage solutions are, but we also want to ensure that you feel the same way when you decide to invest your money with us.

StoreWALL accessories on StorEase Panels
Posted on by

StorEase Storage Solutions

storease storage solutions
StoreWALL accessories on StorEase

Bunnings, Australia’s leading home hardware retailer, offers an exclusive range of home storage solutions, including the StorEase brand. With its extensive reach, StorEase storage solutions are readily accessible to countless Australian households.

A common query we get is whether StoreWALL’s versatile accessories, such as hooks, baskets, brackets, shelves, bins, bags, and totes, are compatible with other slatwall systems. It’s clear why this is a top concern—many Australians already have a wall panel system in place and recognize the benefits of StoreWALL’s superior accessories. For those looking to enhance their current setup without the need for a complete overhaul, integrating StoreWALL accessories offers a convenient and cost-effective solution.

Yes, StoreWALL accessories are indeed compatible with other panels, and we’ve put this to the test with an experiment at a local Bunnings store. We explored the StorEase range to confirm that StoreWALL’s range of accessories can be seamlessly integrated with StorEase wall panels.

StorEase Storage Solutions

StorEase panels, featuring an aluminum finish, measure 1200mm in width, 150mm in height, and 30mm in length. To utilize an array of hooks or baskets, you’ll need to stack multiple panels vertically. In our hands-on experiment, we tested the compatibility using our standard StoreWALL Cradle Hook, each equipped with our proprietary CamLok secure locking system.

We examined how StorEase hooks engage with their panels, noting the locking mechanism comprises two front teeth and a larger rear tooth. Our video demonstration reveals that while hooks secure firmly, insufficient depth during installation can result in looseness. Our testing indicated variability, with some hooks fitting tightly and others less so.

Attaching the StoreWALL Cradle Hook to the StorEase panel is straightforward, although some play is noted, which varies by hook as demonstrated in our video. Unlike StorEase hooks, which can come loose, the StoreWALL CamLok system ensures the hook remains attached despite any slack. This means that while the fit may not be perfect, it’s functional. Therefore, if you have StorEase installed at home, rest assured that integrating StoreWALL accessories will be compatible and efficient.

Alternate Wall Panels

StoreWALL accessories, with their CamLok system, are designed for slatwall grooves spaced at 74mm apart, ensuring a secure fit even if there is some slack. While we cannot guarantee compatibility with every panel on the market, it’s likely that many slatwalls with similar groove spacing will accommodate StoreWALL products effectively. If your slatwall features wider groove spacing, such as 100mm, you can still use StoreWALL’s accessories by simply removing the CamLok mechanism. This adaptability makes StoreWALL a versatile choice for enhancing your storage system.

StoreWALL CamLok

The CamLok system is a standout feature for any slatwall accessory, be it hooks, baskets, shelves, or bags, especially for enhancing existing slatwall setups. Demonstrated effectively with the StorEase Storage Solutions panel, CamLok securely locks in the accessory, ensuring it stays firmly in place even under pressure. This level of security is not commonly found in most slatwall systems, setting StoreWALL accessories apart as a reliable and robust choice for your storage needs.

Posted on by

Tool Shelf Ideas

power tool shelves1

My father spent his life as a handy man. Whether it was doing work at home, for friends or the occasional customer he built up a large collection of tools to help him get the job done. What I also noticed he did over the years was create lots and lots of effective and sometimes curious tool shelf ideas. He would chop and change them all of the time as he tested them out or over-used and wore them out.

Storing My Tools

I have inherited some of my father’s handyman traits as well as the challenge of how to effectively store my tools. The biggest challenge I find with organising tools in my garage is that when you start a project you need all of your tools handy and accessible. This means you want them out. Once out, you use them until the job is done but they remain out during this time making it easy to misplace them. Being out they are also prone to being stepped on or kicked as well as touched by others in the family.

Having done some research there is no shortage of tool shelf ideas that will help you to protect your tools. Some can be purchased from your local hardware store but also easily made to your own requirements. I have added plenty of pictures below of great ideas. You can combine shelving, tool racks, drawers, as well as magnetic tool bars.

Your garage might not be on top of your list of spaces that need immediate attention, but when you consider the value of your tools you might want to re-prioritise.

Tool Shelf Ideas

About 2 years ago I built myself a backboard with accompanying shelf from some scrap chipboard I had collected. This allowed me to hang some of my tools and then keep others on display. The problem with the display is that the shelf ended up quite shallow. Its probably 150mm in depth which holds two spray cans worth. It works but isn’t great.

Tool Shelf Ideas
Tool Shelf Ideas – Metal Shelf 1.2m long

When I came across StoreWALL I was impressed by the range of brackets and shelfs they make available. The standard metal shelf is 762mm long and 393mm deep. They also offer a longer shelf at 1.2m in width (same depth). Using the CamLok system once added to your wall they are locked in and will stay in place. However they can also be moved around once you need to change your layout.

Having more shelves with a greater depth can assist you to keep more of your tools at arm’s reach rather than having to always carry them around with you around the house as you work.

DIY Tool Shelf

StoreWALL also offer the ability to build your own shelves. By combining the range of StoreWALL brackets you can add your own shelf top made of timber or any other material you prefer. You can also adjust the depth to your own requirements.

Tool Shelf Ideas Brackets
Tool Shelf Ideas – Brackets
Tool Shelf Ideas

Wired Tool Shelf

Tool Shelf Ideas - wired shelf
Tool Shelf Ideas – wired shelf

Another option made available by StoreWALL are the popular wire shelves. There are three available and they come with a 760mm width and a range of depths. These start at around 250mm and expand to 380mm. These shelves are either straight or angled.

Power Tool Shelf

StoreWALL recently launched the below shelf. It has been designed to be fitted to your StoreWALL slatwall panel as well as most other Slatwall systems available in Australia. Combine it with our 812 Metal Ledge Shelf to hold your batteries and other power tools accessories. Learn more.

Power Tool Storage Rack
Power Tool Storage Rack

Wooden Shelves

When it comes to power tools, some manufacturers like Milwaukee provide you with an easy to use case to store your power drills. These cases are self contained and are easy to store. There are other however like Ryobi who provide a material case or bag to store the equipment in. These containers are less practical. Others at the cheaper end just provide the box.

Below are some tools shelf ideas for power tools that allow you to safely hang the tool and store the batteries and the charges in full view. If you look at the design it’s not complicated at all and can be easily built over a weekend.

tool shelf ideas

Then there are designs that will hold much more than your power drills. You can add sanders and power saws plus much more.

Some of the images on this post are sourced from Pinterest.