Garage Ideas Archives - Page 4 of 6

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

Metal Shed Wall Panels

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

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

Metal Shed Wall Panels

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

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

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

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

Perfect Shed Frame

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

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

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

Extending Your Shed Frame

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

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

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

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

StoreWALL InstallStrips

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

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

Metal Shed Installation

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

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

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

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

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

Waterproof Garage Wall Panels

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

Waterproof Garage Wall Panels

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

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

Physical properties PVC StoreWALL

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

Waterproof Garage Wall Panels

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

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

What about the Accessories?

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

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

Slatwalls Ain’t Slatwalls

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

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

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

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

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

Carport Storage Solutions

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

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

Carport Storage Sheds

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Carport Storage

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

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

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

Storage Cabinet for your Carport

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

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

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

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

StoreWALL in your Carport

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Garage Ladder Storage

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

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

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

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

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

Vertical Garage Ladder Storage

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

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

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

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

garage ladder storage - closed loop hook

Horizontal Garage Ladder Storage

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shelves for a small garage

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

Shelves for a small garage

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

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

Shelving options

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

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

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

StoreWALL Shelves

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

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

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

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

StoreWALL Metal Shelves

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

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

StoreWALL Wire Shelves

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

StoreWALL Plastic Shelves

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

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

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

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

Small Garage Shelving Options

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

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

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

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

Great Value Garage Wall Panels

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

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

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

Garage Wall Panel Dimensions

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

Garage Wall Panel Colour Range

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

Basic Duty Vs Standard Duty

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Comparing Panels

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

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

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

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

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

I need a Garage Organiser

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

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

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

Organising Expects

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

Garage Organisers

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

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

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

Garage Solutions

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

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

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

Ball Storage Rack

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

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

Ball Storage Rack

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

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

Sports Tote Bags

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

Tote Bag Sizes

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

The sizes of the Tote Bags are

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

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

Easy Access

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

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

Compatibility with Slatwall Systems

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

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

How to organise your garage and bikes

Whilst garage spaces are similar from one home to another, how you use your space and what you keep in it can vary significantly. That is why tips on how to organise your garage and bikes can be useful but they can’t really delivery the full recipe for each and every person.

The benefits of being organised inside the home are exactly the same outside it. An organised garage can not only make it easier for you to find things, but it can also reduce the chance of damaging items kept in your garage like cars and the bikes themselves.

Today’s article has a focus on bikes because bike riding is becoming a whole lot more popular in Australia. Many people not only ride on the weekends, they now also ride to work. Bikes can be a much bigger investment than what they used to be, and people take that investment quite seriously.

Greater popularity also means more bikes in homes and a bigger challenge on how to how to organise your garage and bikes without compromising the bike or the rest of the garage.

The Bike Plan

The tips for your bike plan are to consider what amount of space you need for storing your bikes, ie look at the size of each bike and the space you will need around it. The last thing you want is damaging the bikes as they are taken form storage and then returned.

You will need to consider where in the garage you want them to be stored and how they will be accessed. This includes taking the bikes off and stand or hook and then returning them. Consider that you might need access to all bikes at the same time, particularly if you are riding to work on weekdays and with the family on weekends.

Storing bikes is not just about the bikes themselves, its also about the accessories. Think about helmets, pumps, shoes and other clothing. These items also take up space and can actually be quite awkward to store.

How to organise your garage and bikes

There are lots of different ways to store your bikes. Vertical storage is by far the most popular and where you will find the most storage ideas and options.

If you’re opting for indoor storage, you need to accept that any effective solution will require you to drill holes in your walls. The only other alternative is to run poles from floor to ceiling, or to consider free standing solutions which are effective but take up lots of valuable space.

We did some research and found several stores selling a variety of bike storage options. In terms of vertical storage ideas consider:

Wall mount bike storage

The most common types of indoor bike storage is a simple set of hooks screwed into your wall. One hook allows you to hang your big vertically (on its side). Two hooks allow you to hang your bike horizontally.

A hook designed for bikes allows you to hang your bike vertically with the tyres facing the wall. This saves you space along the wall.

Hanging your bike horizontally on the wall requires that you either have two hooks or brackets. Alternatively there are also options like the one below which combines a bracket and two hooks. This type of hooks has the bike sitting off the wall and easy to view and admire.

Below is a more modern hook which needs to be screwed into the wall but allows for the bike to face the wall.

An alternative hook solution is the one below which has one for the top and one for the bottom. This solution enables the tyres to rest without touching the wall. In this case however two hooks also means more holes in your wall.

StoreWALL Bike Hooks

StoreWALL bikes hooks are also a great alternative for hanging your bikes vertically on your wall. The StoreWALL solution utilises a wall panel which is installed on your wall. The Bike hook is then attached to the panel.

Use of a wall panel allows the Bike Hook to be moved around as required. Additional hooks can be added for your helmets and other bike accessories.

Freestanding storage stands

If you own more than one bike or you live in a house of cyclists, then buying bike storage specific furniture may be worth investigating.

Pulley & winch systems

A pulley system is directly attached to the ceiling or on the wall high up. Having your bike high up has it out of the way. The Pulley and Winch system uses a harness and hook to lift the bike up towards the ceiling.

A secondary attachment is used to secure the bike from movement making it safe dangling above your head.

Using the ceiling in your garage can be useful as long as it doesn’t interfere with any garage door systems. It looks like a pretty effective way to organise your garage and bikes

Bike Storage Sheds

If the challenge to organise your garage and bikes is getting too hard, consider a separate bike storage shed. It does require more space and quite a bit more in cost but it also get the bikes out of the garage and securely stored.

Posted on December 14, 2018June 10, 2023 by Arthur K

Craft Wall

We talk a lot about garage walls on our StoreWALL blog but slatwalls can be a great addition to any class room and its Craft Wall.

Art teachers are always keen to show off their pupil’s achievements and hanging art and craft is a great way to do this.

A recent order from a client in Melbourne included a range of wall panels (1.2m and 2.4m sizes) and a large number of bins. No hooks, shelves, bags or brackets. The order got me thinking about the use of small and large bins in a home, garage or workshop.

Craft WALL

With school just about to end for the year in Australia and school teachers will begin preparing for 2019 and improvements that can be introduced.

Following a recent visit to my 8 year old’s class room, I noticed how craft bits and pieces where kept. The class room had a large chest of drawers which housed much of the craft materials plus a large selection of tubs. The school has a dedicated art room but the kids also do craft activities in their class room. The chest looked effective but messy with some drawers closed, others half or fully open.

I couldn’t help thinking if a craft wall wouldn’t be more effective. The advantage of a craft wall is that materials are on display and easy to access. Tubs stacked on top of each other would be eliminated. The StoreWALL range of bins is extensive and easily replaces the messy tubs.

It’s not just bins sizes that StoreWALL offers, it’s also a range of shapes and colours. We have what are called Slot Bins, Cube Bins and Large Bins of various sizing. In terms of colour we carry Clear, Crystal Clear, White, Black and even Grey.

A Craft Wall isn’t just for your class room, its a great option for your garage or even inside your home if craft is a hobby or business. By combining bin sizes, shapes and colours, your craft wall can be effective and well organised. This applies equally for workshops and garages.

Below I have added a short video on the StoreWALL bin range so you can see its extent and how practical it can be for a Craft Wall.