Garage Ideas Archives - Page 5 of 6

Posted on November 26, 2018June 10, 2023 by Arthur K

Build Your Own StoreWALL Bundle

We operate Google analytics on the StoreWALL Australia website and it provides us with valuable information on which pages clients visit. StoreWALL bundles seem to be a very popular section of our StoreWALL online store. In this week’s post we take a look at how to build your own StoreWALL bundle.

Getting Started With StoreWALL

StoreWALL is a wall panel solution built for homes, workshops and garages which is equally suitable for heavy duty applications in industrial environments. The key premise with StoreWALL is that you have a wall and wall panels.

If you are starting with a bare wall then you are in luck as we will work through the process helping you to build your own StoreWALL bundle.

Even if you already have StoreWALL or wall panels from another supplier, you can read on as we will cover how to use our accessories on your walls.

StoreWALL Slatwal Panels

Most people come to our website looking for hooks, brackets, shelves or baskets. They have identified they need one or more of the accessories and begin to look at who supplies them, the range on offer and for how much they cost.

StoreWALL accessories need a slatwall supporting them. As I mentioned earlier, this can be StoreWALL’s or someone else’s.

Let’s assume at this stage that your wall is bare, made from plaster board or brick or comprised of exposed wooden studs.

Slatwall Colour – Grey or Grey?

Grey or Grey isn’t exactly correct as StoreWALL does offer up to 7 colours but our standard colour is Weathered Grey. Other colours are available but as a special order.

Having picked Weathered Grey, the next question is what are you looking to do with your wall and considering you need slatwall panels, how much of the wall you need covered.

Wall Size

StoreWALL offers two sizes of wall panel – 1.2m or 2.4m. If your wall space is small, the 1.2m panels will probably work best. Made from thermoplastic not only are they water proof and highly durable, they can also be cut to size. If your work area is medium or larger then the 2.4m panels will be more economical.

1.2m panels can be purchased individually or in a carton of 6 panels. Each panel covers: 0.371 sq meters.
2.4m panels can be purchased in a carton of 4 panels. Each panel covers: 0.74 sq meters.

Once you have measured your wall area, simply divide it by either 0.371 or 0.74 and work out how many panels you need and whether the 1.2m or 2.4m panels will suite you best. Outside of the length, both panels are exactly the same in thickness, height and composition.

To InstallStrip or Not?

We recommend using InstallStrips as it makes your wall sturdier and able to handle more weight. However they are not compulsory.

If you are using InstallStrips, they will be fitted to your wall first using screws. Once fitted, the wall panels are added to them.

If you are using 1.2m panels you require: 1 InstallStrip per panel
If you are using 2.4m panels you require: 2 InstallStrips per panel

What do I do if I don’t want InstallStrips? No problem, simply screw your wall panels directly to your wall. I suggest buying coloured screw so that they don’t show up against the panel. You can find grey coloured screws (primer coloured) at your local hardware store.

Build Your Own StoreWALL Bundle

Now that your wall has been taken care of, its time to Build Your Own StoreWALL Bundle.

What is really obvious with StoreWALL customers is that they begin with the key accessories they need today and then add and remove accessories a couple of years later.

Therefore don’t stress looking for every accessory just in case you might need it. Focus on what you need today and in the next 12 months. If and when those needs change you can adjust your wall accordingly.

Most people need hooks, whether they be for bikes or other garage items. Hooks are a great way to get items off the ground and onto the wall so they can be accessed easily but also protected. Consider some smaller and larger hooks as a bundle.

If you are interested in shelving, consider our brackets which allow you to build your own shelves. We also offer a 760 mm metal shelf which is 390 mm deep and super heavy duty.

Over the next few months we hope to expand our shelves menu with some new options recently launched in the US.

We also offer a great range of baskets in deep and shallow form. Baskets are a great way to store small and bulky items.

The simplicity of StoreWALL means you can combine a range of accessories and lock them in so they are secure or move them around when you want to adjust your settings.

Posted on October 29, 2018June 10, 2023 by Arthur K

Measuring your Garage Storage Solution

In this week’s blog post we focus away from ideas and to the practical side of pricing and measuring your garage storage solution. The internet is filled with ideas on what you could eventually make your garage look like, but Instagram and Pinterest don’t really tell you how to get from A to B.

Measuring your Garage Storage Solution

Let me be frank, there is no best garage wall storage solution. There are lots of ideas and ideally you can pick a little or a lot from many of them. The end result should be something which will cater for most of what you need to store today and the next few years. Expect to have to review and adjust your design a few times over the life of your garage.

When you are looking for ideas, spend just as much time in your garage as you do on the internet or the hardware store. Its super important that don’t lose focus from the goal of managing your items. Knowing what is in your garage is important when solving how to store it. Sometimes we can get carried away with the desire to make it look like what is in the photo.

Cleaning up the garage

I have covered this lots of times in previous articles but your first step in a garage makeover is to clean up your garage. Do your best to throw (better still give it away if its in good condition) out enough without causing a family WW3. The clean-out is import because it will free up space for more stuff. It’s also important because in order to install any new garage storage solution, you will need room to work.

The clean out should be carried out over a few weekends. Repeating it is important because your are likely to throw out more the more you review what is stored and never used. As I mentioned earlier, spend time in your garage to understand what you have.

Walls or the Whole Garage

Working on the garage of a new home (which is empty) is different and much easier compared to working on an existing garage with its pre-existing mess (even if it has been cleaned out).

If it’s an existing garage you might consider starting with one wall and then extending the design gradually to the rest of the garage.

Most garages make-overs will require a combination of the follow features:

Shelving – whether you need more of it or need to replace what you have, shelving is super important. DIY shelving comes in various lengths, depths and heights. Think about how many shelves you will require. Consider what you have to store and the space you have to store it. My garage shelving is used to hold luggage, plastic storage containers and food items. DIY shelving is accessible from all major hardware stores as well as online. DIY shelving is affordable and very easy to setup. The aluminium frames are very strong and can hold hundreds of KGs.
Bench space – it could be 1 metre or several, but no matter how much, you need some. Most hardware stores can assist with varying ways to build bench space into your garage. There are several portable benches which come complete with drawers and cupboards built in. Alternatively you can also just build your own and there are lots of youtube videos showing you how.
Cupboards and drawers – if this is important to you then you will need to look at some professional storage solutions which can be built and installed for you. If it’s just drawers that you are after, a pre-made set that is portable (on wheels) might also be worth considering.
Wall Hanging Storage – slatwalls, and pegboards are a great way of hanging tools and everyday garage items via hooks. StoreWALL’s range of hooks will hang anything from bikes to ladders. Slatwall options like StoreWALL also cater for baskets, bags and shelves all hanging from the wall.

Measuring Your Garage

Prior to selecting what to add to your garage or storage area, you need to measure up. If you are renovating just one wall then measure the whole wall (ceiling to floor and corner to corner). Note these measurements. You will also need to measure the areas you want to dedicate to Shelving, Bench, Cupboards, Drawers and Slatwall.

If you are combining storage, draw up a plan and design. Add your measurements and visualise the end result.

In a recent example, a client called me looking to add hanging bike storage to his garage. We worked through the actual wall space he had to use. This included looking at how much of the actual wall he wanted covered by the StoreWALL slatwall surface. With 4 bikes and each bike taking up about 500mm each, he required about 2m of wall surface. In addition to hanging bikes he also wanted baskets for the helmets and hooks for other items in his garage.

The benefits of StoreWALL’s slatwall finish is that all accessories can be added and moved around or removed altogether depending on your need at the time. You aren’t locked in.

Measuring your Garage Storage Solution – Client Example

Measuring your area (and re-measuring it) will provide a clear understanding of the space required by each garage storage idea. As per the previous paragraph measuring your Garage Storage Solution will help you design it.

In the case of the client with the bike hooks, his garage was 4m in length. He decided to buy four 1.2m StoreWALL panels (each 1.2m panel is .3m in height with a surface area of .36m) making two rows of 2.4m of StoreWALL slatwall. The total surface area covered by the two rows of panels is 1.4m squared (calculated as two rows of .7m). Each panel comes with 4 slatwall grooves which allow for the hooks to be added and moved around.

With any slatwall installation you also need to consider what surface you will be installing on ie what the garage wall is made from. Slatwalls will need to be fastened to the wall. If the wall is plastered then you will be able to install them using the studs under the plasterboard (usually spaced 450mm apart). If the wall is bricked, you will be able to drill into the mortar or brick and fasten to this. The only challenging wall surface will be a tin/aluminium wall. These walls will usually also have a wooden or metallic frame. In this case you might need to add additional frame in order to support the slatwalls.

Posted on October 21, 2018June 10, 2023 by Arthur K

StoreWALL Garage Installation Ideas

cincinnati-garage-bike-rack-with-gardeners-and-lawn-care-services-shed-traditional-extreme-storewall

When you are investigating options for reorganising your garage storage area its important to see working examples others have completed. This week I have searched the web and found several examples of StoreWALL garage installation ideas.

Two Wall StoreWALL Garage Installation

This is a busy garage on the left has much of the wall area installed with StoreWALL. They have implemented a large range of hooks as well as shelves to manage their many tools, brooms and other gardening equipment. Notice the use of StoreWALL’s specialist pole hanging hooks. They are both secure and can hang multiple poles from the one hook. This approach saves space on your limited wall.

StoreWALL Stairwell Installation

This is a much smaller fit out of StoreWALL. It’s also not in the garage but inside the home. Making better use of your smaller storage areas is ideal use of StoreWALL accessories. In this small area they have lined the wall with StoreWALL panels. The use of accessories has enabled this family to hang and store all sorts of cleaning tools. Each item has its rightful space and so can be returned once used. This eliminates that cluttered cupboard which most of us end up with.

StoreWALL Sporting Garage Installations

This StoreWALL garage installation has been built on only one side of the garage. To the far left we have brackets for storing the bikes horizontally. As you can see this method of storing and hanging bikes is effective but takes up one third of the space. This garage has also combined a range of hooks for helmets and other sporting gear. They have kept all of their sporting balls within tote bags which enables them to see what is held in the bag and easily grab it. In addition you also have box hooks for gardening scissors as well as hooks for smaller ladders and electrical cables.

StoreWALL Fitness Room Installation

Whilst this isn’t your typical garage, many people (including myself) have converted part of their garage area or an internal room into a workout area. This example is rather large but it shows how you can hold weights whether in dumbell form or as free weights using StoreWALL accessories. Baskets and shelves can also be used to hold much of the smaller equipment like skipping ropes, grips and weight gloves. Hooks are then used to hold your boxing gloves, belts and weight balls.

Part Wall StoreWALL Garage Installation

This example shows how you can use StoreWALL for only part of your garage wall and still allow for what is hanging to be removed from the floor. Floor space can be used for heavier items that need to be accessed frequenlty. This garage has installed StoreWALL on the rear wall but has only used StoreWALL on half of it. StoreWALL is installed about 600mm from the ceiling and about 1000mm from the floor. In total you have about 3 panels of StoreWALL running horizontally across the wall. Interestingly this garage wall also has smaller cupboards at one end. StoreWALL has been cut to size around this cupboard to create a clean and professional wall and garage setup.

Complex StoreWALL Garage Installation

If you are looking for a great custom build for your garage then this example will provide you with some inspiration. The owners of this garage have combined 6 sets of mid sized cupboards, two sets of drawers, bench space, built in shelving and a full wall of hanging accessories. This is a very busy wall.

StoreWALL is used end to end on the wall and in-between each of the pieces of furniture, including in between cupboards. The main tool section is above the bench space and in-between the two cupboards. One end of the wall has been lined with hooks to hang a range of garage items from sporting to gardening equipment. They have also added additional StoreWALL shelving to hold baskets and some bags.

Wall to Wall StoreWALL Garage Installation

This is a great example of having StoreWALL from floor to ceiling across the entire garage. Two walls are shown in this example. The garage floor is nicely tiled. StoreWALL’s slatwalls then butt up against the lower tile to create a really clean finish for the wall.

This garage combines tall cupboards, bench space with cupboards as well as hanging cupboards. The range of accessories is minimal at this stage but they combine brackets for the biles and baskets for the larger items.

Notice they also have power points on the wall which they have cut around. Similarly they have trimmed StoreWALL around the windows.

StoreWALL Bike Installation

This basic bike installation was included because we have been inundated with calls regarding bike hooks for the garage. You can see the StoreWALL bike hook in this example holds the bike vertically from the tyre. The rear tyre is either touching the floor or also suspended. If it is not touching the floor then it is likely to be touching the wall.

This garage has combined a range of hooks and baskets to cater for helmets and other bike related gear.

Posted on September 27, 2018June 10, 2023 by Arthur K

Maximising Your Garage Walls

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

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

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

Maximising Your Garage Walls

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

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

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

StoreWALL Slatwalls

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

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

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

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

Hanging Bikes

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

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

Posted on September 7, 2018June 10, 2023 by Arthur K

Tips for organising your children’s sports gear

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

Cricket & Baseball Bats, Hockey Sticks and Tennis Racquets

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

Balls

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

Protective Gear and Clothing

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

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

Sports Shoes

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

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

Organising your Children’s Sports Gear

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

Tips on grouping sports gear

When deciding where the sports gear will live, consider:

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

Get the Kids into the Routine

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

Here’s an example

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

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

Posted on August 5, 2018June 10, 2023 by Arthur K

Storage Lessons

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

Storage Lessons 1 – Make Better Use of Overhead Space

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

Storage Lessons 2 – Bigger Storage Bins are Not Always Better

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

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

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

Storage Lessons 4 – More on Setting Up Systems

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

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

Storage Lessons 5 – Space Saving Ideas

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

Storage Lessons 6 – Storing Food

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

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

Storage Lessons 7 – Store less stuff

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

Posted on July 14, 2018February 12, 2024 by Arthur K

StorEase Vs StoreWALL

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

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

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

StorEase Vs StoreWALL

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

StorEase Key Features

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

StoreWALL Key Features

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

StorEase Vs StoreWALL Hooks side by side

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

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

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

Cost Comparison

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

Key Differences StorEase Vs StoreWALL

Here is a summary of what I found:

Durability

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

Locking Mechanism

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

Coverage

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

Accessories

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

Where to Buy

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

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

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

StoreWALL accessories on StorEase Panels

Posted on July 10, 2018January 24, 2024 by Arthur K

StorEase Storage Solutions

StoreWALL accessories on StorEase

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

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

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

StorEase Storage Solutions

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

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

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

Alternate Wall Panels

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

StoreWALL CamLok

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

Posted on June 9, 2018June 11, 2023 by Arthur K

Garage Organisation Starter Kit

As part of our year rate payment, our local Council also runs its yearly hard rubbish collection. This annual ritual (which is bi-annual for some suburbs) sets a range of household activities linked to better garage organisation. A few weeks prior to the annual collection, households receive a reminder that it is approaching and then week after week, surrounding suburbs begin to place their hard rubbish out for collection.

Garage Organisation

Whilst hard rubbish collection is not just about your garage and garage organisation, it seems to set off a string of spring cleaning activities within my household. Most of these activities have to do with inside the home but we eventually also end up outside in the garage, re-organising, cleaning up, and throwing out.

Garage shelves are emptied, tubs are opened, benches are cleared so that we can see exactly what we have stored since the previous clearance and what we no longer need nor want. As the family grows up its a lot easier to determine what needs to be kept for the kids. Certain furniture and toys are just no longer needed and better off with others. Seeing it all once again makes it easy to simply remove it and place it out for collection.

Easy Access

Much of our garage storage is made up of garage racks and shelves. They work a treat by holding lots and allowing lots to be buried away (out of site and mind). This is a problem in itself however. When you store tools and work related equipment on shelves, seeing what you have and finding it becomes really difficult. It uses up precious time and generates frustration. Having your tools hanging or stored via a slatwall rack can be a lot more practical.

Slatwall panels are a wall panel with grooves that allow accessories to securely hook into them. You can then use the accessories to hang and store your equipment on. What I like about slatwall panels is that they allow your tools to stay visible and most importantly accessible. This is unlike a racking or deep shelving system.

Garage Organisation Starter Kit

Hard rubbish collection in my neighbourhood isn’t until August but I have already begun to review what can and can’t go this year. To help you with the garage reorganisation part of your clean up project, StoreWALL has launched its StoreWALL Starter Kit. The idea behind the kit is to bundle a selection of accessories that inspire you to see what you can achieve with your garage as well as how StoreWALL can help you get organised.

To help you get started, StoreWALL offers a simple bundle of accessories which can be added to your StoreWALL slatwall panels.

The Starter Kit comes with these accessories:

1 x StoreWALL Square Shallow Basket
2 x StoreWALL Heavy Duty Universal Hook
1 x StoreWALL Crade Hook
1 x StoreWALL Heavy Duty Utility Hook

You will obviously also need the slatwall panels and we make these available as single sheets as well as in packs of 6 or 4. The packs of 6 are 1.2m in length and the pack of 4 are 2.4m.

When you are ready to get started with your next garage organisation project, give us a call so we can help you with ideas and pricing on how our garage solutions can solve your storage problems.

Posted on June 5, 2018June 11, 2023 by Arthur K

Simple Bike Rack for your Garage Wall

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Space is a premium in most homes and garages so finding an effective way to store your bike(s) is really important for most households. Add to this that leaving your bike outside is not a great option if you want it to last a few years (the rust will build up real soon). Finding a simple bike rack for your garage wall shouldn’t be that difficult and thankfully these days there are plenty of options to choose from. StoreWALL gives you 2 easy to setup options which ensure your bikes are no longer lying on the floor or up against the car.

We have 5 bikes in our household and they take up far too much room in the garage given the amount of use they receive. My kids love bike riding but getting them motivated to start the ride can be a challenge. Once its done they are quick to dump the bikes on the garage floor and run inside for a refreshment. It’s then up to me to set them all up again and get them out of the way.

Simple Bike Rack for your Garage Wall

StoreWALL has two easy to setup options enabling you to either hang your bike vertically from the wall or to have it hang horizontally. Both options are safe and secure and the choice is determined by the amount of room you have.

StoreWALL Bike Hook

The first method utilises the StoreWALL J Hook (also known as the Bike Hook). The StoreWALL Bike Hook needs to be added to your wall via the use of a slatwall panel. The slatwall panel needs to be placed at a height which allows the bike to stand on its back wheel. Ideally allow the bike to hang a foot or so off the floor. To lock the bike onto the hook all you need to do is place the rim or wheel inside the hook. Using the spokes to support your bike, it will be locked in. By hanging the bike vertically, you can actually hang several bikes in a very small area.

StoreWALL Bike Brackets

The second method has the bike hanging horizontally. Combining a StoreWALL slatwall panel and two Heavy Duty 381mm Bike Brackets, the bike frame is placed over the brackets so that it is held in position. An effective way of positioning the brackets is to place them one slat groove apart. The bracket on the left can be the higher of the two.

On each bracket add some anti-slip padding so that the brackets don’t scratch the frame of the bike. Coming 381mm off the wall, there is plenty of room for the bike frame to be rested on the brackets.

The advantage of this option is that the bikes only hang a maximum 381mm off the wall (the size of the brackets). This will allow you to fit several bikes (smaller bikes sitting higher) and allows plenty of room for the actual vehicle.

Slatwall Panels

The added advantage of slatwall panels is that the panelled wall can also be used to store other items which are bike related. This includes tyre pumps, spare tyres, sporting clothes and helmets. Even if you don’t have a huge amount of room our smaller 1.2m panel can do an effective job for you. See our bundle below as an example.

StoreWALL Bike Bundle

To get you started with a simple bike rack for your garage wall we have prepared two combination StoreWALL packages that incorporate either bike hanging method mentioned above plus much more. Note this is not just a one bike solution, it will cover pretty much everything you need related to bike.

What’s included:

3 – 1.2m Standard Duty wall panels
3 – InstallStrips
2 – 381mm Bike Brackets (with non skid padding) or 2 x J Hooks
1 – S Hook
1 – Disc Hook
2 – 63mm Single Hooks
1 – Small Angle Basket

Total cost of the bundle is around $300 depending on the hanging options you select.

Installed Dimensions: 1143mm in height and 1219 in width.