In the quest for an organised and clutter-free garage, homeowners are turning to innovative storage solutions, and one of the most effective approaches is investing in garage wall storage systems. These systems not only optimize available space but also provide a sleek and efficient way to store tools, equipment, and other essentials. Let’s delve into the benefits and options for garage wall storage solutions.
Maximizing Vertical Space
Garage wall storage solutions capitalize on often underutilized vertical space. Slatwall panels, for instance, transform empty walls into versatile storage hubs. With panels constructed from durable materials like PVC Thermoplastic, they offer strength, durability, and the flexibility to accommodate various accessories.
Versatile Panel Options
Homeowners can choose from a range of panel options tailored to their specific needs and budgets. Basic Duty panels serve as an entry-level option, perfect for home applications, while Standard Duty and Heavy Duty panels cater to more robust storage requirements in garages and workshops. These panels are available in an array of colors, providing both functionality and aesthetics.
Customization and Flexibility
One of the key advantages of garage wall storage solutions is the ability to customize and rearrange accessories easily. Hooks, shelves, baskets, and bins can be effortlessly moved around on the slatwall panels, adapting to changing storage needs. This flexibility ensures that the storage system grows with the user and you maintain an organised and clutter-free garage.
Easy Installation
Installing garage wall storage solutions is a straightforward process. Most systems, like StoreWALL, offer simple DIY installations with the option to add InstallStrips for enhanced strength. These panels can be cut to size using basic tools, allowing for a tailored fit to any garage space.
Organizing with Accessories
To further enhance the storage capabilities of garage wall solutions, a variety of accessories are available. From heavy-duty hooks for tools to versatile shelves and baskets for miscellaneous items, these accessories provide a designated place for every tool or belonging, keeping the garage neat and accessible.
In conclusion, garage wall storage solutions offer an efficient and aesthetically pleasing way to conquer clutter and reclaim valuable floor space. Whether it’s a basic system for light home use or heavy-duty solutions for workshop needs, investing in garage wall storage is a strategic step towards an organized and functional space. Transform your garage into a well-ordered haven, where tools and equipment are not only stored but showcased in a systematic and accessible manner.
As the warmer months emerge and we start to spend more time outdoors, it’s the perfect time to tackle that long-neglected space – the garage. Over the colder months, garages often become a dumping ground for all things seasonal, leaving us with a cluttered and chaotic space. This spring/summer, let’s embark on a journey to reclaim our garages and transform them into organised oases of functionality. Follow these steps to efficiently clean out and transform your garage.
Set a Clear Goal
Before diving headfirst into the cleaning process, set a clear goal for your garage. Determine how you want the space to function and what items are essential to keep. Whether it’s creating a workshop, a storage area, or a home gym, having a vision will guide your decisions throughout the cleaning process.
Empty Everything Out
To effectively clean and organize your garage, start by removing everything from the space. This allows you to see the extent of your possessions and provides a clean slate for reorganization. As you empty the garage, sort items into categories – keep, donate, sell, or discard. Be ruthless in your decision-making to prevent unnecessary items from finding their way back into your newly organized space.
Deep Clean
With the garage emptied, take the opportunity to give it a thorough cleaning. Sweep the floors, dust surfaces, and consider pressure washing if needed. Check for any signs of pest infestations or water damage that may have occurred during the winter months. Addressing these issues early on will contribute to a clean and healthy environment.
Evaluate Storage Solutions
Assess your storage needs based on the categories you’ve established. Invest in shelves, cabinets, and storage bins to keep items off the floor and neatly organized. Utilise vertical space to maximize storage capacity and create a designated area for each category of items. Clear storage bins are particularly useful, allowing you to see the contents without having to open each one.
Organise and Label
As you begin to reintroduce items into the garage, organise them based on frequency of use and functionality. Create zones for specific activities or types of items, such as gardening tools, sports equipment, and seasonal decorations. Labeling bins and shelves will make it easier to locate items when needed and maintain the organization over time.
Create a Maintenance Plan
To ensure your newly organised garage remains clutter-free, establish a maintenance plan. Schedule regular cleanouts and decluttering sessions to prevent items from piling up. Encourage family members to adhere to the organisation system and designate specific places for frequently used items to be returned after use.
Donate, Sell, or Dispose
Dispose of unwanted items responsibly. Donate usable items to local charities, sell items online or at a garage sale, and dispose of non-recyclable or non-donatable items properly. Recycling centers and waste management facilities often have specific guidelines for different materials.
Embarking on a spring/summer cleaning journey for your garage may seem like a daunting task, but the rewards of an organised and functional space are well worth the effort. With a clear vision, strategic planning, and a commitment to maintaining order, you can transform your garage into an oasis of efficiency and accessibility. This spring/summer, reclaim your space and enjoy the benefits of a tidy and well-organised garage.
StoreWALL’s garage wall panels are designed to be installed with Installstrips. Installstrips are what we use to effectively secure your slatwall panels.
I was told earlier this week, that another local supplier of PVC slatwall panels (no affiliation with StorewALL) recommends that they be secured to the wall using Liquid Nails or a similar professional adhesive. Maybe I had misunderstood. I hope so.
Securing Your Slatwalls with Adhesive
Let’s assume it is correct, what is wrong with this approach?
If all I was hanging on my slatwall panels were lightweight screwdrivers, paper rolls, and maybe some clothing, it would probably be OK. However, you must consider what you are securing your Slatwall panels to. If your wall is plastered which most are, then the adhesive is secured to the paper face of the plaster, nothing more. You might add a few screws here and there but all you still have is the paper holding onto the PVC slatwall panel. Not good.
What about securing your slatwall panels using adhesive to a brick wall? This is better, but still not great. At least the brick wall surface is the actual brick wall, not an outer layer that can peel away.
What about the holding capacity of the slatwall panel? The adhesive might hold the panel to the wall but does it do anything to help hold the weight, 12 months from now, 3 years from now?
I would also add that any specifications listed by the supplier for wall panel strength and storage capacity needs to be retested for this novel installation method.
What makes installstrips better?
Installstrips are made from steel. Each one holds a minimum of 12 screw holes. You screw through the installstrip and onto the stud behind the plasterboard. Or you screw into the actual brickwork. Therefore not only do you have the strength of the installstrip supporting the slatwall panel, you also have the fastener and its grip on the wooden stud or brick.
Installstrips on a brick wall
Installstrips on a plastered wall
Removing Your Slatwalls
Should you ever need to remove your slatwall panels, installstrips allow you to do this with very little effort. You don’t even need a screwdriver. When installed with Installstrips, the panels hang on the installstrips, so they can be lifted and removed. You won’t damage the panels and they can be returned when your work is done.
Let’s assume you used adhesive to secure your slatwall panels, and at some stage you needed to remove one panel? If that panel was at the bottom, the whole wall would need to be ripped off the plasterboard or brickwork. A disaster!
Check Before You Buy
A garage renovation just like any enhancement to your home requires an investment. Before you order your slatwall panels or agree to have a company install them for you, check how they will be installing them.
If the supplier doesn’t use Installstrips, then ensure that they will still fasten the slatwalls to your wall using screws or brick fasteners.
Slatwall is the ideal garage system if you are looking at storing tools over a bench in your garage or storage area.
Cleaning out your garage and introducing a garage system to organise your items is a popular project for many Australian families during the summer. Spending more time outdoors sends us into our garages more often and the need to organise becomes more apparent.
Over the past few weeks, I have helped several customers with a small storage solution to sit over an existing or new bench they are building.
This is a very simple tool storage system with just a few panels for a small area. In most cases, it will simply be used for smaller lightweight tools that are regularly accessed.
Storing Tools Over a Bench – Garage System
When I was growing up, my father used to have hundreds of tools. Unfortunately, he stored them in drawers and buckets. It was a compact solution but never helped him when he was actually looking for the ones he needed. Over time he graduated to hang the most popular and useful tools on his wall or on a smaller plate on his bench. It kept them close at hand when he needed them.
Brite White over benchTool Storage SystemBrite White Over Bench
If you have a small bench space in your garage then the last thing you want to do is to fill the bench with tools. The freer you can keep the bench, the more useful it will be for you. Using the wall space adjacent to your bench is the ideal space for those more popular smaller hand tools.
SlatWalls for Storing Tools
StoreWALL’s slatwalls are ideal for small and large projects and the best garage system for that over-bench area in your garage. Why? Rather than just having 1 rack of tools, or screwing tools holders into your wall, why not have the wall lined with a garage system which allows you to hang your tools anywhere on that wall area. Slatwall will line your wall with grooves which can then be fitted with hooks or shelving so you can store your items.
Designing Your Bench Space
A customer I spoke to this week, was designing a new cupboard and bench area in her garage. It was being made by a kitchen cabinet company. The length of her bench was 1.8m and the proposed wall area above the bench 500mm. I offered her two options for using StoreWALL. We could hang two panels one on top of the other giving her a height of 610mm (305.8mmx2). She could either cut the top panel down to make her 500mm height or raise her wall area to 610mm to fit the full panels. Given it was only in the design stages, she was leaning towards raising the height of her wall area.
Another gentleman based in Perth used 4 Heady Duty 1219mm panels for his over-bench area. He requested 2 of the 4 panels be cut in half so that he could join them to make 1.8m in length. The height using the Heavy Duty panels reached was 762mm.
StoreWALL panels are super customisable when it comes to size and shape. They can be joined to make the length you need. They can also be stacked to make the height you need. You can then cut them both vertically and horizontally to fit the exact space you need. Furthermore, if your wall has powerpoints or other items pocking out, StoreWALL panels can be cut to fit them and provide a clean finish to your wall.
Cleaning up your garage with a garage wall storage solution doesn’t necessarily mean you need to renovate your entire garage lining each wall from top to bottom with wall panels. Easy garage storage can be as simple as 2 Slatwall panels on your wall taking care of a handful of annoying items that are lying around.
Garage Gallery
If you look through our Garage Gallery you will notice the breadth of StoreWALL installations we have in Australia. Most of these have been sent in directly by our customers and are rather large with at least one main wall covered.
You will also see a handful of Easy Garage Storage installations that only contain 1 or even 2 panels on a garage wall. Some of them are focused on gardening gear, others on gym equipment.
Easy Garage Storage
Installing a couple of panels is super easy. At StoreWALL, we sell our 1219mm panels in small bundled packages which include the panels and some basic accessories. We also sell them as single individual panels so that you can design your own easy garage storage solution.
Take as an example the below picture which was sent in over the weekend. Cynthia in Balmain NSW purchased:
2 x Standard 1219mm Brite White panels
2 x Standard Duty Installstrips
1 pack of screws (plastered wall)
The installation of this pack would have taken her less than an hour. Installstrips were added on either end of each panel and one in the middle. 24 screws in total would have been used.
Easy Garage Storage – Accessories
The accessories selected by Cynthia included:
White Ledge Shelf
Two small bungee hooks – one is holding the ironing board, the second the gardening lopper.
Two Heavy Duty tool Hooks – holding about 6 gardening tools from forks to spades.
Vertical Tool Hook – holding the vacuum cleaner.
Easy Garage Storage – Single Panel
The second example is from Perth where the client used several single panels each installed separately on sections of his brick wall.
In the above example, the client in Perth used 2 Heavy Duty Cradle Hooks to hold his two Whipper Snippers. He also had a Heavy Duty Utility Hook to hold is blower and several foldable chairs.
Easy Garage Storage – Gym
Our final example is also from Sydney. This client used two 1219mm Brite White panels to store his gym equipment. This included 2 shelves to hold a range of mats. Alongside this he had several hooks to hold handheld weights and a Heavy Duty Utility hook to hold a medicine ball.
I recently went through a house move and as many have written before, the exercise was long and tedious. Cleaning out the home was part 1, the garage clean up was part 2.
An important part of this clean out was identifying what was to be taken with us and what could be either thrown out, given away or sold.
Once we had done this, we also had to put a value on each item we thought could be sold and work out how and where to sell it. This was not easy.
Facebook Marketplace
Of the few things I have sold in the past, they have all been via Ebay. I have generally found the sales process very long with very few bites. In all honesty, Ebay is such a huge marketplace and if your item isn’t from an in-demand category, getting attention is difficult.
A friend of mine who also went through the same home and garage clean up process, told me that he had used Facebook Marketplace and that it worked quickly and easily.
I gave it a go and listed bookshelves, bedheads, wooden shelving, plates, a fridge, statues, gym equipment, lights and even the kitchen. Over a 3 month period I have sold pretty much all of it. The same items were also listed on Ebay and Gumtree. The Kitchen was the only item I successfully sold via Ebay. Everything else went via Facebook Marketplace. Most of the interest was via Facebook.
Giving Things Away
I generally found that if you want to give things away, it worked a treat. I gave our 20 year old fridge away within 24hrs. With everything else, you need to work on a price that has flexibility. People will ask you to half it, so ensuring you factor some of this in allows you to reach a reasonable price that also moves it on.
Another thing to look out for is that you will get plenty of enquiries. Some of these people will not be serious and will waste your time. I had one guy promise to pickup a bookshelf in 2 days and never arrived. When I tried to contact him, his Messenger was off and I couldn’t. In that time I had several others asking to collect it and I had told them it was sold. Very frustrating.
From what I understand, unlike Ebay they also don’t take a commission on these items which helps a little.
Large Furniture
The fridge I mentioned earlier was from our garage. I also managed to give away some old work out equipment and an old bed head that was in our garage. It all went within a few days of it being listed.
One of the challenges with larger furniture is how it is collected. In one case, the person paid me an extra $50 to deliver the book case them.
Council Drop Off
Monash Council offers an ability to drop off items such as used paint cans, car batteries and even empty gas bottles free of charge. You can also leave mattresses (for a small fee). I plan to take advantage of this to finish off my garage clean up.
So with a little research and preparation the home and garage clean up process can be made much a lot easier and successful.
Today’s post is about Dale and his 21 gardening tools which he managed to squeeze on one 1.2m x 1.8m wall. I think its quite an achievement and worthy of an article.
Email Exchange
I received this email from Dale about a month ago
Hi Sales,
Do you have a display centre or likes in Melbourne where your products can be looked at? We want to refurbish our garage storage however would really like to view what you offer before ordering.
I replied with
Hi Dale and thanks for your email. We primarily sell via our online store but I do welcome customers to visit me directly (my home) and I can show them the wall panels and accessories as well as answer questions.
You are more than welcome to do the same. I am home most days so can be flexible with times.
We are located in Ashwood (near Chadstone).
I can also help you with a quote of our solution once you have measurements of the wall area you want to cover.
My contact details are below if you would like to call me.
After a few more emails over a couple of weeks, we managed to organise a time for Dale to visit. Whilst he had the Brite White panels in mind, he wanted to ensure that the panel colour was not overly white.
The dimensions of his wall are 1.2m x 1.8m. Six of the 1219mm Brite White panels would be just perfect. Given the wall was a rendered brick wall, he also needed the mushroom nails for installation plus 6 Installstrips.
In terms of accessories, he started with a couple of hooks and then returned a few days later to buy some more. In fact he actually brought some of the tools with him so that we could test them out across a range of StoreWALL accessories.
21 Gardening Tools
This is how we matched them:
Rakes and Spades – Heavy Duty Tool Hook
Brushcutter – Vertical Tool Hook
Blower – Vertical Tool Hook
Brooms – Heavy Duty Tool Hook
Large Hammers – Heavy Duty Tool Hook
Branch Lopper – 300mm Power Tool Bracket
Axe and Picks – Heavy Duty Utility Hook
Power Cord – Cradle Hook
In total Dale was able to fit 21 Gardening tools on his small wall. I think this is quite an achievement. Most importantly it also meant that every gardening tool which was previously on the ground, was now up on the wall and out of the way.
The latest coloured wall panel to become super popular in the US is Whitewood. Whitewood Wall Panels by StoreWALL were introduced close to two years ago and have become super popular for garages all over the US.
StoreWALL Australia introduced the Whitewood colour about 12 months ago. When we first saw it we thought it would really appeal to people looking to build a new home office in their garage or a workshop.
The Whitewood colour is a very light in colour, similar to the BriteWhite. It also has a light grey wooden grain look running through it which makes it look as through it has a textured finish. The Whitewood Wall Panels are in fact smooth and come with all of the advantages enjoyed by wall StoreWALL PVC Slatwalls.
Whitewood Panel Features
Our Whitewood Standard Duty Panels are:
Made from hardened PVC.
100% Waterproof.
Can we washed down.
16.7mm in thickness.
Manufactured with the Whitewood colouring right through the thickness of the panel. If you dent the panel, you will see this colour.
Easily cut with a circular saw and drilled through.
Whitewood was introduced at the same time as the Barnwood Grey Wall Panel colour. Barnwood Grey is similar to the Whitewood but the wooden grain effect is a darker grey and which makes the wall a little darker and greyer.
Whitewood on the other hand is closer to the BriteWhite colour with a lighter grey wood grain running through it. It breaks the Whiteness of the wall but doesn’t darken it because the wooden effect is a light grey not a heavy grey like the Barnwood Grey panel.
How popular has it been?
It started off a little slow to be honest, but in no time we had sold out of the small supply we introduced to test the market. Our latest shipment included more stock and again this is now nearly finished.
In the US they offer it in both the Standard Duty and the Heavy Duty. At this stage we have opted only for the Standard Duty. However special orders can be placed in you are keen on the Heavy Duty version of the Whitewood Wall Panel.
Whitewood in Action
Below is a picture from a home on the Peninsula in Melbourne. This is in fact the second customer in the area which has purchased this garage wall panel colour. The homeowner installed it himself and gladly shared some photos. The garage walls are painted in White. He didn’t want more White and thought the lighter grey offered by the Whitewood was a nice contrast. I think the overall effect is great. It has not darkened the room at all.
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)
Campervan Storage Ideas
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.
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 Ideas
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.
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
Garage organization ideas
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
Source Just Pro Tools
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.
