Arthur K, Author at - Page 9 of 17

Posted on February 16, 2021June 10, 2023 by Arthur K

Modular Garage Storage

Defined as “consisting of separate parts that, when combined, form a complete whole” by Dictionary Cambridge.org. Modular Garage Storage offers you the ability to kit out your garage with a combination of storage options including shelving, hooks, baskets, bins, bags, brackets, cabinets, drawers and benches. These are then hung on your garage wall or assembled around your garage.

What is Modular Garage Storage

Our need for storage varies by household but also from different part os the home. You may be looking for some storage options for a small shed or for something within your laundry. Later on it might be for a small gym space in a spare room or you may have a large double garage.

StoreWALL is modular not only in its range of accessories but because it can be used on walls as small as 600mm or as long as 10m or more.

What makes it modular and a great fit for small and large spaces is that the wall panels can be custom cut to your wall needs and our large range of accessories added and removed from your wall as your needs change.

Small Storage Shed

If you live in the inner suburbs of Melbourne or Sydney street parking is all you may have for your vehicle. In terms of shed storage space you may be limited to a small shed in the back or side of the home.

Many StoreWALL customers limit their purchase to 1 or 2, 1.2m panels specifically for a small wall area in their shed. It helps them store their main gardening tools. Most will purchase a couple of hooks (ie Heavy Duty Tool Hook) and maybe a shelf and a basket. We actually sell these as gardening bundles in our online store.

Gym Room

2020 was a big year for setting up home gyms. With so many gyms being shut (due to lockdowns) many turned to working out at home.

Many StoreWALL customers have combined a range of shelves and hooks to create their own gym room. From holding medicine balls and weights and ropes, StoreWALL’s range of accessories has something from almost every gym need. Even a Bosu Ball.

Best of all, if you decide you want to add new equipment into your gym room, you can easily move or even remove our accessories.

StoreWALL has been used to manage large walls of workout equipment as well as small home workout rooms. It’s modular approach and the fact that it is sold as single 1.2m panels, enables you to buy and use what you need.

Bikes

Storing bikes is hard. No matter where you store them, they always take up a lot of space. The advantage of modular garage storage is that a wall that was once shelving dedicated to kids toys can be instantly transformed into a wall of bike hanging hooks.

StoreWALL’s range of bike hooks allows you to add your hooks anywhere on your garage wall and hang your bikes perpendicular to that wall. Our Rotating Bike Hook goes one better by allowing you to then swing that bike close to the wall reducing the amount of room the bikes consumes.

If down the track you want to reclaim that storage space for shelving, baskets or even tools, it’s a simple un-clip of the bike hooks and the clip-on of the new accessories.

Shelves

Whether you make it yourself or buy it, having shelving in your garage area is important. Using StoreWALL’s 254mm and 381mm brackets, you can easily create your own shelving and customise its width to your wall. StoreWALL sells a pre-cut floating shelf which works with our brackets. You can also use your own floating shelf cut to the size you need.

Using a wall panel garage storage system allows you to move your shelves anywhere on your wall (adding or removing at the same time). It doesn’t get any more modular than that.

StoreWALL also sells a large range of pre-made shelves in both metal and plastic form which can be added to your wall. Most of these items also come with CamLok locks securing them and your items.

Laundry

Most laundries are multi-functional. You may automatically think washer, dryer, the dirty clothes basket. They also store the clean clothes as they transit to drawers or cupboards. What about washing/cleaning chemicals, toilet paper, beach clothing and towels? In my home, it also stores the internet router, home phone and drive for our external cameras.

As these storage needs change over time and some takeover others, it is helpful to be able to adjust how your items are stored.

We recently helped a customer in Melbourne with our Shelf and Basket Kit which was used for their laundry. Surprise, surprise it comes with a combination of shelves and baskets, ideal for much of what goes on in the laundry. Another customer recently called and was wanting ideas on how to store Beach Towels. I ended up recommending a range of baskets of various sizes and as well as the Large Tote Bag.

The great thing about wall storage is that all accessories can be added and removed without having to drill new holes in your walls. Once the panels are installed, your wall is setup for everything.

Garage Bench and Cupboards

The advantage of “modular garage storage” is also evident when it comes to furniture such a work benches and cupboards. Having benches with wheels allows you to freely move them around.

Today you can purchase drawer units and small and large cabinets which can be combined to create a complete garage solution. Some cabinetry is also designed to be mounted on your wall. They can then be added to over time as your needs require.

There are so many options available to households these days which can make their storage headaches go away.

Posted on January 31, 2021June 10, 2023 by Arthur K

Campervan Storage Ideas

Following a year of restricted movement around Australia and very limited travel overseas, it is no wonder Caravan and Campervan use has gone through the roof. Trying to pack as much as you can into that one moving room can be challenging. Earlier this year StoreWALL was challenged with how to help a customer with Campervan Storage Ideas.

Campervan Storage Ideas

Wade who is based in Perth, phoned us mid-way through 2020 with a range of questions regarding using StoreWALL wall panels in a storage box that is attached to his campervan.

The Storage box or container is external to the campervan and is used to store a range of tools and necessary items taken with each trip.

I have very little experience with Campervans, let alone Campervan Storage Ideas but after our chat, Wade sent through some photos of his Storage Container and I could see what he was trying to achieve.

The container has the following dimensions

1800mm (W) x 750mm(H)

The water tight container sits outside on the back of the campervan and is enclosed with a lift door at the front allowing for access from the outside only.

You can see from the photos that Wade has already packed as much as he can inside the container but everything seems to sit on top of each other. With the bouncing around when they travel off-road it could rather messy.

Installation Options

The biggest challenge we were going to face with this project was how to secure the InstallStrips to the back of the container. Wade looked at both welding and adhesives options. He settled on an adhesive and had some help from a local workshop he was in touch with. The adhesive need to be able to bind steel on steel.

We used Sikaflex-118 Extreme Grab. We let it cure for couple more days than recommended before loading it up and has been great so far.
Wade’s feedback

Campervan Storage – Wall Panels

Given the size of the container, there were a few ways to solve the storage challenge for Wade. The easiest and most effective was to cut two 2438mm panels to the 1800mm width he needed. They would sit on top of each other and together offer dimensions of 1800mm x 610mm. This is slightly shorter than the 750mm that was available, but it also didn’t require cutting additional panels.

The client chose the Weathered Grey colour.

Storage Accessories

Whilst the actual storage space was limited, Wade had a good idea of what he needed to have hung on the back wall of the container. He chose several Utility Hooks, some smaller Universal Hooks and a Large Tote Bag. Wade wasn’t planning on using all of the accessories at the same time but wanted options depending on where he was traveling and what he need to take with him.

Customer Feedback

Happy New Year, Arthur.
Here are couple pics of one of the configurations of StoreWall in the back of our campervan. This one enables everything we need for short trips to be lifted in and out without moving anything else. Very satisfying and always tidy. The great benefit we’ve seen is that we can easily adapt and reconfigure to suit different loads. This really is a useful and flexible system. Feel free to use this as a recommendation if you would like to. Cheers Wade and Robyn.

Campervan Storage Solutions

This was quite a unique project for us at StoreWALL. However more recently we have had several customers order wall panels for cupboards that they own.

Wade was really happy with the outcome as you can read from his feedback.

Posted on January 20, 2021June 10, 2023 by Arthur K

Garage Organization Ideas

A local Victorian town house builder was telling me this week the Victorian Building Association is requiring him to include bike storage in a new set of two town houses he is building. It seems the Victorian Building Association is ensuring some form of garage organization enter all new Victorian homes.

Garage Organization

If the average Australian family home owns two vehicles, then new homes should be built with three car garages not two. Two spaces for the vehicles and one for storage. Walk past most new homes today and you will see one car parked in the garage taking up half the space. The other half will be filled with storage items laying on the floor and up against the walls.

Too Much Stuff

The problem for young families is that between all of the furniture that you are expected to buy and all of the toys you accumulate there is just not enough room to store it. Effectively storing everything is a lose lose predicament.

Get rid of it

Having 3 young children of my own, I have experienced the buying, using and storing that we all go through. I still have a kid’s bed in my garage that turns into a couch/bench which my partner expects to one day use in a bigger home we may own. It isn’t easy to move stuff on. Throwing it out is painful, giving to someone for a small price or free is much easier. Atleast you know it might get a second or third use. Gumtree, eBay and Facebook’s marketplace are ideal for this. You will be surprised how quickly some stuff goes particularly if you have looked after it.

Storing what is left

My work with StoreWALL has allowed me to share time with hundreds of customers who have purchased or considered purchasing StoreWALL. The key to effective garage organization is prioritising space for the things you use regularly. This is a task no one can really help you with.

If your family enjoys bike riding then, this is a priority. Same applies to ball sports or kraft activities. It may also include tools for your work around the home or garden or even your car(s). Prioritising also includes considering the actual cost of some of your “stuff” and looking after it. Keeping a $300 drill in bucket or just lying on a bench/table is not safe nor a great way to protect your investment.

Garage Organization – Height

Consider using the full height of your garage space. If you have a 2.4m height, then look to make the most of this. Look at storage options that allow you to store the least used items in locations that you may only need to access once a year. Shelving is ideal for this. So is overhead storage.

Garage slatwall panels can make this easy by allowing you to panel the height of your wall and then offer versatility in how you use it. Add brackets to your slatwalls and create your own shelving. These shelves can then be moved lower as your needs change.

Overhead storage is also very popular today and can be placed in most locations on the roof of your garage. Once installed they can be difficult to move, so you need to get the location right.

Garage Organization – Walls

I mentioned garage slatwalls above and this is obviously our specialty. Wall panels are great because they give you options. Once the wall is panelled it can be used for Hooks, Baskets, Shelving, Bins and Bags. Best of all, you can move it around over time as your needs change.

Using your walls is also great because it allows you to use the length and height for those odd, shaped items like ladders.

Compared to just buying a shelfing unit from your local hardware store, garage wall panels might seem expensive. Over time you will come to appreciate the flexibility your choice offers you that a basic shelf will never deliver.

Here is an example of what I mean. If bike storage is a priority for you, slatwall panels allow you to add a bike hook anywhere on your wall. You will then be able to easily access your bike as well as your car. If your priorities change over time and you no longer need the bike, you could remove the bike hook and replace it with a Tote Bag for sporting balls or some shelving. If you ever needed that bike hook again, you could easily move the shelving higher (making it bigger or smaller) on that wall or in another location and re-introduce the bike hook.

Garage slatwall panels need to be seen as an investment not just a garage storage option. If you eventually decide to sell your home, they will add to its value and will give your prospective owners a new ready to use garage. Alternatively, they can also be taken with you to your next home.

Garage Organization – Depth

I don’t want to underscore the value of shelving units because not only are they affordable they also give you depth. If you garage space is long and narrow, you can add a shelving unit at the back of it allowing you to maximise the space between your vehicle and the back wall. Depending on the height of your garage, shelving units can also allow you to use the full height of your garage.

The one challenge with a deep shelf is accessing everything stored on it. This is where some forward thinking of what you need occasionally and what you need regularly comes into play. Ideally you don’t want to have to sort through stuff each time you want to use the vacuum cleaner.

Fixed shelving units can be found at most hardware stores plus many online retailers.

Cabinets

Cabinets are another very useful option if you have the space. A lockable cabinet can be a great way to secure those expensive tools or that equipment which you don’t want others looking at each time they enter the garage. Cabinets come in lots of shapes and sizes and combinations including bench space and drawers.

Benches

Bench space is important if you have the real-estate. You can accomplish this with a moveable bench (on wheels) or something that is fixed to your wall. It can also be something that you build yourself (YouTube is great for this).

First things first

Clean out your garage and get rid of the stuff you know someone else may be able to get more use from.

Posted on December 30, 2020December 6, 2023 by Arthur K

Investing in Your Garage

Consider the improvement to your home’s value if your garage was more functional offering easy to use storage options from the first day the new buyer moves in. Investing in your garage is like investing in your garden, it is something you can enjoy whilst living at the home but can make a huge impression on any new prospective buyer.

The garage is usually the last room you turn your attention to when you are building a new home or renovating an existing home to live in or even flip. Even so, investing in your garage may be that point of difference you are looking for that could deliver a higher final sale price.

Consider that a higher proportion of customers who call StoreWALL looking for ideas and pricing to improve their garage are women. A tidy and organised garage doesn’t just appeal to the male buyer. It can motivate both parties to see your home as a worthwhile purchase.

New Home Design

Home design in Australia has moved the garage from the back of the property to the front. For many, it is also their main point of entry into the main living quarters of the home. However walk past most new homes and you will notice that their double garage usually only fits one vehicle, with the remaining free space taken up by stuff usually parked on the ground or on shelves against the wall.

Unfortunately it does not make for the prettiest site and confirms that garages still don’t get enough attention and that garage sizing by many home builders is not meeting people’s needs.

If you are prepared to invest in your garden so that it improves the overall look and value of your home, why wouldn’t you also invest in the garage? Consider how you will feel each time you enter and can easily find that tool or that beach chair or piece of sporting equipment. Whilst we don’t build our homes for our neighbours, they too will compliment you on the complete package you now have.

We recently completed some work on a lovely new home (about 18mths old) in a Melbourne beach side suburb which had a combination of brick and plastered garage walls that were not really helping this owner.

Following their investment in StoreWALL, the owners now had a lot more options on how to tidy up their garage (they also did some work on the covering the concrete floor). The owner started hanging items on the wall before we could collect our tools to leave.

Home Renovator’s Missing Piece

If you are in the game of renovating old homes to rent or sell, I doubt the garage would receive any attention outside of a quick sweep prior to inspections or auction day.

If prospective buyers see value in a well designed garden that is easy to maintain, what would they think of a kitted up garage with an easy to use storage solution that is ready and waiting for them?

Investing in Your garage

If you are looking to landscape part of your home including new lawn and plants, a budget of $2000 would be the minimum (that is probably just for the lawn) you would need to start with.

A garage wall area of about 5-6m in width and 2m in height with wall panels and a bunch of accessories like looks and baskets would require an investment of about $2500. With this investment, the garage and storage options offered would be complete and ready to use. To a prospective buyer, your $2500 may be worth a lot more.

A Garage for Life

You might not be planning on staying in the same home for the rest of your life but a garage kitted up with StoreWALL is an investment for the life of the home. It will outlast many generations of owners and they will all be thanking you for it.

Posted on December 6, 2020June 10, 2023 by Arthur K

Rendered Brick Garage Wall

A few months ago, I received the below email from Andrew who lives in Sydney “Looking at the StoreWALL system, and am wondering if you’ve come across a Sydney based installer who can install on a rendered brick garage wall? It looks more complex than a standard install, so would rather go to someone who has previously done this”. Shortly after I received a call from him as well and we chatted in more detail about his project.

New Home New Garage

Andrew had done quite a bit of work to his home and he had now turned his attention to his garage. His garage was quite big in terms of height. Both side walls where made from brick and rendered. He also had pillars between sections. Andrew wanted a garage storage system which allowed him to make use of his new garage walls.

After researching storage wall panels, he came across StoreWALL and discussed the installation process with his carpenter. His carpenter recommended installing battens to the walls first and then installing the StoreWALL InstallStrips to these battens. There was a fear that some screws may not hit mortar and not brick and so the installation would not be as secure as it could be.

His Carpenter had a valid point, however StoreWALL’s InstallStrips (one 900mm pieces with 3 sections) have 12 screw holes each. Therefore, it was unlikely that if they used all 12 screw holes that they would not secure the wall well enough.

Rendered Brick Garage Wall

Following our phone call, I sent Andrew an email with some photos of a previous installation we had done which was also on a rendered brick garage wall. To assist him I also provided Andrew with contact details of a carpenter I knew in the Sydney area who had installed StoreWALL in the past.

“Thanks for the chat Andrew. This is a picture of what the Installstrips look like on a brick wall. I know this carpenter has done installations on brick walls before, however I am not sure on his rates.
As I explained I don’t think you need the battens.
Please send through your measurements and I can quote the materials for you.”

InstallStrips on a rendered brick garage wall

Andrew replied with detailed pictures of how he envisaged his wall looking and the size of panels he would require.

“I have a couple of rows of large shelves going up above (600mm deep), therefore I’m going to use a height of 1830 for StoreWALL which I based on 6 panels.
I’m thinking if I get the 2.4m panels, I can fit some of the leftover cuts in the smaller space under the window that you can see.”

Rendered Brick Garage Wall Sydney — Sydney Brick Wall Installation

Brick walls are challenging for most home owners. This is because screwing into the walls seems harder and most people think that a brick wall gives them less storage options. To be perfectly clear, brackets with shelving is what most people focus on.

My recommendation to Andrew was the following:

Garage Storage Solution Design

Garage Wall 1

6 pieces cut to 1680mm (comes in 10mm on each side)
This will leave you with 6 x 758mm left over. (These can be used under the window).
In terms of Installstrips I would have 4 columns (each 2 installstrips high). Total of 8 Installstrips.
Panels cut to size. No charge.

Garage Wall 2

6 pieces cut to 1730mm (comes in 10mm on each side).
In terms of Installstrips I would have 4 columns (each 2 installstrips high). Total of 8 Installstrips.
You will need to also cut around the power outlet on the left. This needs to be done on site.
You will have 6 x 708mm pieces left over. These can be used elsewhere in your garage.
Panels cut to size. No charge.

Garage Wall 3 (under window)

You can use 4 x 758mm leftovers for this. 4 Panels will give you a height of 1219mm.
You will need 1 column of InstallStrips on either side (4 sections high). Total of 3 InstallStrips.

StoreWALL Required Materials

In total you need 12 x 2438 pieces (3 cartons). You also need a minimum of 19 Installstrips. You will still have left over panels and depending on what you do with these you may require additional InstallStrips.

It turns out that Andrew had an additional wall area which could also be covered with the remaining off-cut panels. In the end there was no waste at all and Andrew had covered as much of his wall as was possible.

Once the order was received I got started cutting the panels and packaging them all up for Andrew. They were couriered to Sydney within a few days along with a small accessories list.

If you check out the end result, you will see he also had the shelving installed above the panels which enabled his to make great use of the height of the garage wall. I don’t have the exact measurements, but Andrew’s garage is super tall.

Garage Storage Accessories

In terms of accessories, Andrew started with a small quantity to manage some key items in his garage and once this was ready would re-evaluate.

He had some foldout chairs he wanted hung, some bikes and a ladder. To start with the accessories list looked like this:

4 x HD Universal Hook
4 x Rotating Bike Hook Mountain Set
1 x 190mm Single hook
2 x 300mm Universal Hook
1 x Large Tote Bag

StoreWALL on a Rendered Brick Garage Wall

Posted on November 22, 2020June 10, 2023 by Arthur K

Kayak Storage Racks

Are you looking for Kayak Storage Racks? Taking a quick look on the internet and Kayak’s come in several sizes and weights. An Adult Kayak can have dimensions of 266cm (length) x 66cm (width) x 25cm (height) and weigh about 17-20kg. There are also smaller “youth” size Kayaks with dimensions of 183cm (length) x 61cm (width) x 26cm (height), weighing at around 8kg. StoreWALL’s Angle Brackets have been specifically design to solve the problem of finding the right size Kayak Storage Rack.

StoreWALL garage storage solutions are an ideal solution for helping you protect your Kayak by keeping it off the garage floor and up high on your wall. Better still, our solutions also provide for easy access when you are ready to load your kayak onto your vehicle for your next excursion.

Custom Kayak Racks

The key challenge in terms of storing a Kayak is managing its bulky size both in terms of length but also depth and height. When you look at the typical size of a Kayak, 66cm width and 25cm in height require a special hook designed specifically for a Kayak.

Over the past 6mths I have helped several customers with a Kayak Storage Racks and we have used a couple of different options.

StoreWALL Angle Brackets

StoreWALL offer two Angle Bracket options which are ideal for solving your Kayak Storage Solution. The available sizes include:

254mm Angle Bracket – This bracket (padded with foam) extends to 430mm (off the wall). Note that the flat part of the brackets extends to 254mm off the wall. Each bracket has a width of 50mm and the height (lowest to highest point) of 300mm.
381mm Angle Bracket – This bracket (padded with foam) extends to 647mm (off the wall). Note that the flat part of the brackets extends to 381mm off the wall. Each bracket has a width of 50mm and the height (lowest to highest point) of 450mm.

If you were going to use an Angle Bracket to store your Kayak, the Kayak could either be laid flat on its bottom or on its side. The 381mm Angle Bracket is the only option which could support lying the kayak on its bottom. With a flat width of 381mm, it will need to sit on an angle. The 647mm total width of the bracket will support this.

The best solution however is to have the Kayak sit on its side. Based on the Kayak measurements above, at about 25-26cm both Angle Brackets would work with the 381mm Angle Bracket being the best option due to its depth.

Using Kayak Storage Racks

One thing to note when using either of the Angle Brackets is that as the name indicates, they are on an angle. Therefore, in order to remove the Kayak, it will need to be lifted slightly over the brackets. When deciding where to place your Kayak on the wall, you will need to take into consideration how high the kayak will need to be lifted and the height of the person lifting it. Note the height of the bracket options: 300mm and 450mm respectively.

Placing the Kayak high on the wall might seem practical until you are actually trying to access it. Most people keep them in the middle of the wall.

Using Standard Brackets

In one instance a client opted for 2 x standard 381mm Brackets over the Angle Brackets because they didn’t have enough room in their garage to support the 647mm Angle Bracket depth. In addition to the standard 381mm brackets they also used a Small Bungee Hook to tie the Kayak to the wall.

I have included some examples of Kayak Storage Solutions using StoreWALL’s accessories throughout the article.

StoreWALL is not the only supplier of Kayak Storage Racks. I have found some alternatives at BCF and on Amazon. The BCF is a solution built for your wall. It retails for under $100. Some of the Kayak specialty stores also sell similar kayak storage rack solutions. Amazon sell a free standing rack by Rad Sportz. This stand will hold 2 Kayak’s and retails for A$500+. Another on Ebay is a “4 Pcs Kayak Holder Canoe Storage Rack Carrier” which is wall mounted and retails for about A$75.

StoreWALL’S Kayak storage solution will require that you invest in StoreWALL’s wall panels first. The Angle Brackets start at $67 each. You will need 2 of them.

Posted on November 1, 2020June 11, 2023 by Arthur K

Gladiator Vs StoreWALL

I am always keen to explore how StoreWALL compares to other Garage Storage Solutions available in the market. This week, as part of this post Gladiator Vs StoreWALL, I decided to take a look at Gladiator® Garage Storage Solutions. Specifically the Gladiator® Gear Track Channel.

Originally, I wanted to purchase and review the GearWall® Panel which I think is most similar to StoreWALL and which I had featured in a Slatwall comparison I had completed some months ago. However, I found that this panel is no longer available on their website and when I called them, they advised that they didn’t have plans on more coming into Australia (any time soon).

Gladiator Garage Solutions is made by Whirlpool.

GearTrack® Channels

The GearTrack® Channel is made from a thick hardened plastic. The dimensions of each channel are 1212mm(w) x 152mm(h). I purchased the 2 Pack Kit which just came with the Channels. The screws and the end covers are optional extras.

In terms of storage approach, these channels share many similarities with the StorEase Panel and Rail (sold by Bunnings). You have a Track/Channel (152mm) with 2 grooves which fit custom designed accessories. They are designed to be placed along the length of your garage but NOT to actually cover your garage wall. Although you can stack them on top of each (with some spacing in between).

The Channels I received where very thick and sturdy. They each weigh 1.7kg. The thickness of the channel is 18mm. One thing I noted however is that the Channel does not come predrilled with holes. Compared to the StorEase Channels/Rails this is a much stronger and sturdier unit.

Whilst the thickness of the Channel or Panel does not mean it can handle more weight it does mean that it can handle knocks better.

As part of this Gladiator Vs StoreWALL review I had also included a comparison with StorEase.

Below I have included the dimensions of the Gladiator product as well as the two options from StorEase and StoreWALL’s entry level Basic Duty panel.

GearTrack – 1212mm (w) x 152mm (h) x 18mm (d) (1.7kg)
StorEase Rail – 1200mm (w) x 100mm(h) x 10mm (d) (.95kg)
StorEase Panel – 1200mm (w) x 150mm(h) x 10mm (d) (1.05kg)
StoreWALL Panel – 1219mm (w) x 304.8mm(h) x 16.7mm(d) (1.9kg)

GearTrack® Accessories

GearTrack® has a huge range of accessories that fit the Channel but also veer into cupboards and many other garage needs. I decided to just purchase one accessory the Cradle Hook.

GearTrack® Hooks have a 3 part locking mechanism. (See picture below) There is lip which fits into the upper groove of the channel, then a shoulder which also fits into the upper groove and finally a lip at the bottom which fits into the lower groove. It seems to fit the track well enough. However, I do find that any a medium to heavy knock upwards does dislodge the accessory from the channel.

To be clear, if the accessory has weight hanging off it, this weight naturally pushes it downwards and makes it harder to move or dislodge.

I am biased in saying that the StoreWALL CamLok system is the best I have seen. It prevents any slight movement of the accessory with or without the weight hanging off it.

The other comment around the accessory is the quality of the accessory itself. I only purchased the one accessory. In this case it’s the Cradle Hook. When you compare the metal/alloy used to make this accessory to that of either StorEase or StoreWALL it looks a lot lighter. Again, you can’t directly correlate thickness to strength but it does feel a lot less sturdier.

All three accessories come with rubber padding to prevent damage to the items you are storing.

I have photos of all three items below so that you can see for yourself.

Gladiator Vs StoreWALL Pricing

The Geartrack Channel 1.2m 2 Pack costs $49.95 but excludes the coloured matched screws and the end caps. Combined they are another $16.90. The accessory I purchased is the Cradle Hook and this costs $9.95.

In terms of pricing this pretty good value.

Compared to StorEase, the StorEase Aluminium Smart Wall Panel is $25.97 for a single panel. If you purchased two of these then the overall difference is a couple of dollars. The equivalent Cradle Hook from StorEase is $9.47.

With StoreWALL you would need just the one panel. As both Gladiator and StorEase are screwed directly onto the wall, you could use the StoreWALL Basic Duty Panel which has the dimensions of 1219mm width and 304.8mm height. This is equivalent to 2 x Gladiator or StorEase channels/panels. A Basic Duty Panel costs $48.99.

A couple of key difference to note. With the StoreWALL Panel you automatically have the two sets of grooves setup one on top of the other. Whereas with both Gladiator and StorEase you can stack them on top of each other or you can have them side by side horizontally. To have them side by side horizontally with StoreWALL, you would need to purchase 2 panels (you would also then have double the grooves).

When it comes to the StoreWALL Cradle Hook, our pricing is triple at $30.99. However, you also get the CamLok locking mechanism and a much heavier duty accessory compared to both Gladiator and StorEase.

Gladiator Vs StoreWALL Accessory Performance

In the below video I have compared all 4 Garage Storage solutions. I show you how each channel or panel and its complimenting accessory work together to delivery a storage option for your shed of garage.

They all seem to work well. Probably the weaker of the four solutions is the StorEase slimline Rail (not the panel). I found that the StorEase accessory fell off this rail really easily as it isn’t given enough to grip onto. The StorEase panel performs a lot better.

I also have a video comparing StoreWALL to StorEase and it also shows how StoreWALL’s accessories will work on the StorEase panel.

StoreWALL’s accessories are the only ones which can be used on an alternative panel. You can’t use the Gladiator accessory on StorEase nor StoreWALL. You can’t use StoreWALL on Gladiator either.

Gladiator Vs StoreWALL Weight Specification

So far, we have talked about the weight of the actual panel. The key weight however that we are all interested in is how much weight the panel and combined accessory can hold on your wall.

With Gladiator, based on its specifications (Maximum weight limit is 75 lbs (34 kg) per linear ft (30.48 cm) it can theoretically hold 120kg of weight. Installation requires 2 screws per stud and a total of 6 per channel.

StorEase states that each 1.2m Panel (wider of the two) can hold 150kg. The Smart Rail on the other hand can hold 100kg. Installation for both of these is 6 screws per panel or rail.

With StoreWALL’s Basic Duty Panels our specified weight capacity is 34kg per panel. Installation is 20 screws per panel. Note that our panel is made up of 2 rows. If you upgraded to the Standard Duty Panel however and installed with InstallStrips, weight capacity is more in line with the Gladiator system. You can read more about this here where we explain the different weight capacity of our range.

My feeling is that 150kg being held by 6 screws is not realistic. I am sure Gladiator has tested this thoroughly, however it is a lot of weight to be hanging over your car and hoping the hook and the channel does not give way. Given the design of these channel systems, two screws per stud is all you can actually do.

Gladiator Vs StoreWALL Summary

As a consumer you are spoilt for choice when it comes to garage storage options. More Australian’s are investing in cleaning up their garages which is great. Just in my own neighbourhood many of my neighbours seem to have a StorEase solution on their wall holding up gardening tools (shows they all shop at the local Bunnings).

If you only need to store a few gardening tools then a Gladiator or StorEase product will work fine for you. It also ends up being a cheaper investment when you account for the accessories. However, when you have a large amount to store and a garage wall which is not really doing much, StoreWALL is a better investment. It will provide you with unlimited options on how to use that entire wall using hooks, baskets, bins or shelves. You can have them all and move them around as you need to. Plus your entire wall is covered so you are using 100% of it.

Posted on October 1, 2020June 10, 2023 by Arthur K

Rotating Bike Hook

Ever heard of a Rotating Bike Hook?

Bike riding has become really popular during the many COVID19 lockdowns we have had to endure. So much so that many bike suppliers have had issues keeping up with demand. Bike Hooks have therefore also become popular as people start to wonder where they will safely store their bike.

StoreWALL’s slatwall system offers over 20 different types of hooks for managing the many items stored in your garage or shed. One of the more popular hooks is the Bike Hook (see image below)

Storewall bike hook — StoreWALL Regular Bike or J Hook

The StoreWALL Bike or J Hook grabs hold of the bike’s front tyre and stores the bike hanging perpendicular to the wall. See image below. There are many similar bike hooks on the market. The key difference with the StoreWALL Bike Hook is the CamLok locking mechanism which is super secure. This locking mechanism also allows for the relocation of the bike anywhere on the slatwall system.

Hanging Bike Challenge

The challenge with hanging a bike perpendicular off the wall is that it takes up a lot of room in the garage or shed. A typical bike is up to 1m tall. When it stands perpendicular tyre to wall, it also takes up a lot of room on the garage floor. For many people this limits how many bikes they can store.

What if you could swing that bike around so that it stood flat up against the wall rather than poking out and taking up so much room? Enter the Rotating Bike Hook.

Rotating Bike Hook

StoreWALL offers not one but two Rotating Bike Hooks. It has enhanced its regular Bike Hook and developed a special bracket for the popular SteadyRack Bike Hook.

The new Rotating Bike Hook or Rotating J-Hook is similar to our original J Hook but with the added flexibility of rotation. This new feature allows you to swivel the bike to store it up against the slatwall rather than wheels-to-the wall perpendicular storage. This option opens up your storage space plus allows for multiple bikes to be stored.

Below image is of an installation in Melbourne. The first customer to order the Rotating Bike Hook.

Steady Rack Rotating Bike Hook

Steadyrack bike racks are easy for anyone to use, save heaps of space, engineered and built to the highest quality standards and get your bikes up and out of the way safely, with no lifting required.
Our unique loading and pivoting design enables you to store your bikes in locations that simply wouldn’t be possible with any other product on the market.
Whether you’re looking to tidy up the garage at home, save space in an apartment or fit out your office or workplace, our patented Steadyracks are the versatile bike parking solution that you’ve been searching for.

steadyrack bike hook — Steadyrack Bike Rack

Ok, Steadyrack sounds pretty good too, right. Well, if you have StoreWALL installed at your home, you now can install Steadyrack directly onto your StoreWALL panels. Best of all, you can move it around on your wall like any other StoreWALL accessory.

Rather than having your Steadyrack fixed to your wall (ie screwed into your wall), with StoreWALL you have the flexibility of being able to move it around (left and right, up and down). The StoreWALL Steadyrack bracket is sold in pairs and has two 2 x CamLok’s so that it is ultra secure.

steady rack brackets for storewall slatwall panels

Honestly, it doesn’t really get any better than this at the moment when it comes to storing your bikes to your wall. Rotating bike hooks are secure and they save you lots of space. Hang one bike or many!

Hanging Bike Flat On Wall

Just when you thought your were done, we have one more hanging bike storage solution for you to consider. This uses the HD Universal Hook and allows you to hang your bike flat on your wall, so that it doesn’t stick out at all.

Consider using two HD Universal Hooks to hang your bike particularly when you have a large wall space.

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

New Slatwall Shelving Solutions

Over the coming month we will be launching a new range of StoreWALL Slatwall Shelving Solutions which have been designed specifically for our local Australian market.

Our New Slatwall Shelving Solutions will be made from metal and will be compatible with all StoreWALL Slatwall Panels. This includes our StoreWALL Basic, Standard and Heavy Duty panel range.

Garage Tool Organiser

Our existing plastic Garage Tool Organiser has been super popular since we introduced it over 18mths ago. We thought we could however make some simple improvements which would make it extra useful for our customers. The latest version of the Garage Tool Organiser will:

be made from metal (2mm thickness).
have the ability to be added and removed easily from your wall panel.
come with pre-cut holes for your tools.
be powder coated.
be quite a bit larger than the existing model at 200mm (depth) x 600mm (length) x 20mm (height).

Additionally, this shelf will be compatible with many other Slatwall panels on the market at the moment including StorEase sold by Bunnings.

812mm Metal Shelf

We are also introducing a new metal shelf which has a similar design to the Garage Tool Organiser minus the holes. This shelf has been designed so that it can be easily added and removed from your slatwall panel. There will no longer be the need to install it from the exposed side of the panel.

The 812mm Metal Shelf will have a thickness of 2mm making it quite strong and able to carry a reasonable amount of weight. Note however that this shelf does not come with the StoreWALL CamLok locking mechanism. Therefore you will need to be careful with the amount of weight held on it.

The dimensions of this new shelf are: 200mm (depth) x 812mm (length) x 20mm (height).

Slatwall Shelving Solutions -Metal Shelf

This shelf will also be compatible with most Slatwall panels on the market.

Slatwall Shelving Solutions – Floating Shelf

The last of the three new shelves is a 812mm Floating Shelf which has been designed to work with our range of StoreWALL Brackets (254mm and 381mm).

This new shelf has been designed in line with our existing 1219mm Shelf. It is a fully enclosed shelf which can be added to your existing StoreWALL brackets or any brackets you have purchased from your local hardware store.

The Metal Shelf is also made from metal (1mm thickness). Its dimensions are 254mm (depth) x 812mm (length) x 20mm (height).

These shelves are in the process of making their way to Australia and we hope to have them available over the coming 4 weeks (mid October). We will however let you know when they become available and their pricing via our newsletter once they have arrived.

You can sign up to our newsletter here for all new product news.

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

Sydney Garage Wall Makeover

Several months ago, I received a call from a customer (Cindy) who explained they lived in the Sydney area and were looking at a garage wall makeover. Cindy wanted help to understand how our panels would assist with an impractical wall she had in her garage which was also her real only source of storage space.

I have provided a photo of the wall below. The wall is of a decent size but as you can see it also has several dimensions along with a power outlet and a large pipe. You really couldn’t just stick wall panels on this wall to make it practical. It actually needs a makeover.

Having reviewed the photos, I was a little hesitant at getting involved but I thought I would offer my opinion on how I thought Cindy and her partner could fix this wall.

What they needed to do was to build another layer of wall over the existing walls so that they would eventually have a flat surface to work off. This new wall could be framed out by a carpenter, who would add enough frame and at the required spacing in order to also hold the StoreWALL panels.

The client advised that they had access to a local carpenter who could assist them with this work.

Measuring the Wall

Following some email exchanges and a phone call we had measured all of the walls that need to be built out and covered with StoreWALL panels. The project had 2 walls. One main wall facing into the garage and a smaller wall close to the garage door.

The size of the main wall was 2800mm W x 2390mm H. In order to meet their 2390m height requirement, I recommended that they consider 7 full panels to get to a height of 2133mm or 8 panels with the top panel cut to length ways to meet 2390mm.

StoreWALL panels are 2438mm in length. To reach the width of 2800mm, we would use a full length panel plus a smaller panel of say 400mm.

For the main wall, a total of 10 x 2438mm panels was required. This would cater for the full length panels (8 of the these) and the smaller panels to reach the 2800mm width. This section of wall also required 20 Installstrips.

The smaller wall beside the door was approx. 300mm in width and the same height as the main wall at 2800mm. For this I recommended 1 additional full 2438mm panel plus 1 smaller 1219mm panel. Instead of using installstrips on this wall we opted to use colour matched screws.

Sydney Garage Wall MakeOver

The result of the wall post the frame being built is:

I unfortunately don’t have pictures of the frame but they did build it out as I had recommended. You can also see from the picture that they have added some trim across the top and bottom of the walls framing it nicely. Picture below shows the wall following some touch up paint being added to the trims.

Paddleboards and Surfboards

The purpose of the wall was to support the following garage items.

Paddleboard – horizontally at the top
3 x bikes – vertically on the back wheel
Surfboards, boogie boards – vertically

My initial recommendations were as follows:

Paddle board – for this I suggested a 254mm or 381mm Angle Bracket. The 254mm bracket extends out from the wall by 430mm, the 381mm extends by 647mm.
3 x bikes – this would be accommodated by 3 x J Hooks.
Surfboards, boogie boards – the best option is the Angle Rack Hook. This hook can be used between each of the boards to hold them upright.

After a few conversations we settled on the following accessories:

2 x 381mm Bracket + Padding
1 x Angle Rack Hook
3 x J Hook
1 x Medium Bungee Hook Set

Angle Brackets

The Angle Brackets were replaced with standard brackets as they allowed the Paddleboard to sit lower making it easier to lift off and take away. There was enough width in the standard bracket to hold the paddle board securely. For added protection however, we also added the Medium Bungee Hook which could be used to tie the paddle board to the wall.

For the Surf Boards, the client decided to start with one Angle Rack Hook and have the Surfboards lean on this.

The 3 x J Hooks remained for the bikes.

Ultimately this Garage Wall Makeover delivered a brand new wall which is totally usable. I think their carpenter has done a great job.

They now also have a garage storage solution which holds all of the key items they want to store. Best of all it also offers lots of additional options for storing smaller items around the wall as the family’s needs change over time.