Garage Walls Archives - Page 4 of 8

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

Modular Garage Storage

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

What is Modular Garage Storage

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

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

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

Small Storage Shed

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

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

Gym Room

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

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

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

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

Bikes

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

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

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

Shelves

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

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

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

Laundry

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

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

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

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

Garage Bench and Cupboards

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

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

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

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

Garage Organization Ideas

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

Garage Organization

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

Too Much Stuff

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

Get rid of it

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

Storing what is left

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

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

Garage Organization – Height

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

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

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

Garage Organization – Walls

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

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

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

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

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

Garage Organization – Depth

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

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

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

Cabinets

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

Benches

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

First things first

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

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

Investing in Your Garage

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

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

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

New Home Design

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

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

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

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

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

Home Renovator’s Missing Piece

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

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

Investing in Your garage

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

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

A Garage for Life

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

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

Kayak Storage Racks

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

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

Custom Kayak Racks

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

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

StoreWALL Angle Brackets

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

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

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

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

Using Kayak Storage Racks

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

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

Using Standard Brackets

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

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

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

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

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

Gladiator Vs StoreWALL

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

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

Gladiator Garage Solutions is made by Whirlpool.

GearTrack® Channels

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

GearTrack® Accessories

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gladiator Vs StoreWALL Pricing

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

In terms of pricing this pretty good value.

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

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

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

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

Gladiator Vs StoreWALL Accessory Performance

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

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

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

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

Gladiator Vs StoreWALL Weight Specification

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

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

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

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

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

Gladiator Vs StoreWALL Summary

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

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

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

Sydney Garage Wall Makeover

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

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

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

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

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

Measuring the Wall

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

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

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

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

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

Sydney Garage Wall MakeOver

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

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

Paddleboards and Surfboards

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

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

My initial recommendations were as follows:

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

After a few conversations we settled on the following accessories:

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

Angle Brackets

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

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

The 3 x J Hooks remained for the bikes.

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

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

Posted on July 7, 2020February 13, 2024 by Arthur K

StoreWALL Bunnings

We receive this question regularly. Can you purchase StoreWALL from your local Bunnings, Mitre 10, Home Hardware, or any other hardware store?

StoreWALL Bunnings?

StoreWALL Australia is a local Melbourne business. We are the exclusive distributor of the StoreWALL range of garage storage solutions which has been sold in the US for over 10 years. Our Garage Storage Solutions are sold online only at the moment via our website. You can also find some of the garage wall panels and accessories on eBay.

Free Delivery

We offer a combination of discounted and even free delivery based on your purchase value, what you purchase, and where you live. We ship Australia-wide.

Free Returns

We also offer free returns, should you order an item and then find it not as useful as you thought. You will need to pay to ship the product back to us.

Bunnings StorEase

Bunnings sell its own garage wall storage system called StorEase. We have reviewed it several times on this website comparing the StorEase panel and rail to StoreWALL.

The reviews can be found here and here.

There are several fundamental differences between what StoreWALL offers and that of StorEase. Firstly, we don’t sell a rail, we sell panels that are 304mm in height and either 1219mm or 2438mm in length. Our panels are made from a hardened thermoplastic which is water and mould-resistant. StorEase slat panels are only 150mm in height, 1200mm in length and made from aluminium. These panels are not designed to cover your wall, rather they are placed along your wall at a certain required height.

The second key difference is that our range of accessories is made from steel and then powder coated. They are heavier and more durable than those from StorEase.

StoreWALL CamLok

The locking mechanism used by our accessories is also quite different. StoreWALL uses a unique CamLok system to secure the accessory to the panel. We do not use claws or teeth. This makes StoreWALL significantly more secure when attached to the wall panel. It also makes it easier to remove and then move around. This ensures that your panels are not marked or scratched in the process.

If you like our accessories but already have StorEase rails, then you can actually use our accessories with StorEase. The CamLok system will also secure our accessory to your StorEase rail. THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO THE WALL TRACK SLIMLINE (BLACK RAIL).

StoreWALL Showroom

StoreWALL does not offer a showroom in Melbourne. However, if you are happy to visit our home office we are happy to show you what we offer and how StoreWALL will transform your garage. Call (0411280646) or email us (info@storewall.com.au) to organise a visit.

We can also help you with quotes on how many panels you may need as well as installation.

Posted on May 18, 2020February 10, 2024 by Arthur K

Slatwall Performance

Over the past month, we have seen a significant increase in the number of households looking at upgrading their garage with a garage wall panel installation. Many question the strength ratings of our various panel types and the weight each panel can hold. I thought it would be helpful to compare the Slatwall Performance of StoreWALL with two other alternative solutions readily available focusing on the recommended installation options each offers.

Slatwall Performance

A key question that has come with the many enquiries, is the benefits of installing with InstallStrips over just screws straight through the panel.

InstallStrips are not unique to StoreWALL, but the majority of garage wall panel systems on the market today will have you install your panels with screws directly through the panel. They do this because it makes the wall solution cheaper to buy and easier to explain. However it is not necessarily quicker and certainly does not result in a stronger wall storage solution.

Below I have reviewed three garage storage solutions including StoreWALL and compared recommended installation options as well as the overall strength of the wall storage system. I hope it provides a good guide as to what is on offer in terms of slatwall performance.

Bunnings StorEase

StorEase offers a couple of Metal Track/Rail Options upon which you can hang an extensive range of hooks and other accessories.

StorEase Smart Rail — Source: Bunnings.com.au

The StorEase solution only offers one install method and that is using screws directly through the panel and onto your wall. The StorEase panel comes with pre-drilled screw holes to make it easier for you.

The 1.2m panel offers 6 pre-drilled holes to use on your wall. Installing on a plastered wall means you need to drill a hole through the stud and into the wall surface first. You then need to line up the predrilled hole in the StorEase rail with the hole in your wall.

Ensuring your panel is level, you then screw directly through both holes with your screws.

If your wall is made from brick or another masonry surface, the same process applies however you will need to fill the hole with a plug so that you can then screw into this plug.

The StorEase 1.2m panel provides you with 6 holes (3 sets of two) at 600mm intervals (ie 0, 600mm, 1200mm).

The rated weight for the StorEase panel is: 150kg (as stated by their website).

You can read our review of StorEase here.

Gladiator GearWall Panels

Gladiator Garageworks offers 2 styles of garage wall panels. One is a rail similar to the StorEase panel. The second is a PVC based wall panel measuring 1230mm x 320mm.

The Garageworks GearWall PVC panel comes in White and is also installed with screws directly through the panel.

I have included a photo below from their installation guide. It is pretty comprehensive. To ensure the strength of the installation, screws need to be placed in each groove (of which there are 4 per panel) along the length of the panel and on each wall stud (or every 40cm – 45cm). Therefore, a typical panel will have approx 16 screws.

The most effective and cleanest way to install using screws through your panel is to pre-drill the holes in your panel. This ensures you don’t damage your panels when finally screwing into them. Pre-drilling however means you need to measure up correctly.

The max weight they reference per square foot is 50 lbs. Based on the dimensions of the 1.2m panel (1230mm x 320mm = 4.24 sq ft), the max weight per panel is 200 lbs or 90 kg.

StoreWALL Installation Options

Installing garage wall panels with screws is quite common. StoreWALL also gives you this option should you choose it. The process works much the same way as the Gladiator GearWall in that screws are placed in the slots across the length of the panel.

In StoreWALL’s case, the Basic and Standard Duty panels have 3 slots (Heavy Duty has a 4^th slot).

Step 1: Make a level line at the top or bottom of the desired location. (Use a laser, level or string for accuracy).
Step 2: Secure the first panel by driving the screws through the slots of the panel’s front face, directly into the centre of the wall studs, or blocking.

StoreWALL also offers the option of colour-matching screws. No pre-drilling or countersinking is necessary. The screw head will flush up with the slot surface.

We recommend approximately 20 screws per 1.2m panel.

Weight Specifications

StoreWALL specifications state that the maximum weight that you can hang on a StoreWALL wall panel when installed directly with screws is 34 kg for a 2.4m length (at 10cm from surface wall). Performance is higher at the surface.

This is about half of that stated by GarageWorks. It’s also a lot less than StorEase. I would suggest the testing undertaken by either organisation might be different.

99% of StoreWALL customers, however, install using InstallStrips. It is the best method and delivers the best slatwall performance for your wall both in terms of strength but also the final finish.

InstallStrips Deliver Best Slatwall Performance

There are two key reasons to install with InstallStrips – Strength and Finish.

Strength
Using InstallStrips will significantly increase the weight your 1.2m or 2.4m panel can hold.

The maximum weight that the 2.4m Standard Duty Panel will hold is 113 kg at panel surface and 52 kg at 10cm from panel surface.
The maximum weight that the 2.4m Heavy Duty Panel will hold is 136 kg at panel surface and 74 kg at 10cm from panel surface.

The reason for the added weight capacity is the InstallStrip itself. It is made from Rolled steel. It also has an 18 gauge zinc plating for rust resistance. I have had 2 InstallStrips exposed to the elements for 4 years and they still have not rusted.

The InstallStrip has 4 hooks which latch themselves onto the back of your panel. See photo. Made of steel, these hooks provide the support for carrying the specified weight. The number of screws per InstallStrip is 12. Each of the 3 sections which make up an InstallStrip has a screw hole which allows you to adjust the height and position of your InstallStrip to assist with lining up your panels.

Heavy Duty InstallStrip has 3 additional hooks (1 per section) 15 in total. They are also slightly wider.

Finish
InstallStrips enable you to secure your garage wall panels without screwing holes into your panels. There is no risk of making a mistake with your drilling. Your wall panels will have a nice clean finish allowing you to also take them away with you at a time in the future.

Furthermore, it also makes for a much quicker installation. You are not having to screw blindly into your wall with the panel in front of you. The InstallStrips are lean and easy to work with. Once your InstallStrips are screwed onto your brick wall or studs, there is no more screwing. Cut your panels and start hanging them.

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

White Wall Panels

StoreWALL offers a great range of coloured slatwall panels. In Australia its White Wall Panels are fast becoming the most popular colour. There must be something about the white walls and how big and clean it makes a garage look.

This week we finally received our long awaited wall panel delivery and contacted a client who we had spoken too just prior to Christmas about the installation of StoreWALL in their garage.

Eliza lives in inner Melbourne in a relatively new home which has a double garage. One wall is made from plaster and the other is a brick wall. I have a picture below. The brick wall was the one that needed the attention. Whilst it has a nice ledge to sit things on, it was rather useless in everything else when it comes to storage. With a growing family Eliza was going to need storage.

White Wall Panels

The measurements of the 4 wall sections seen above are:

1300w x 1840h
1300w x 1840h
1180w x 1840h
1470w x 1840h

The wall was made from solid brick (more on this below). I am quite sure most of it red brick.

Eliza wanted to install slatwalls on all 4 sections covering all of the wall (or as much as possible). This would enable her to have significantly more storage capacity which could be used to hang things using hooks as well baskets and shelves.

With a white wall, the Brite White StoreWALL panels where a great colour match. The end result justifies the selection. Although I also think that some contrast with a Weathered Grey would also have worked well.

InstallStrips

The most effective way to install StoreWALL panels on a brick wall is to use our InstallStrips. It not only strengthens the installation to allow you to hang more on your wall but also makes installation a lot quicker and easier.

These white rendered walls were made from solid red bricks. Not the grey brick blocks many modern homes are made from these days. Being solid meant that drilling right through required a hammer drill with the correct drill bits.

I actually needed reinforcements when trying to drill through these bricks and had my brother-in-law (Electrician) drop off his hammer drill because mine wasn’t cutting through the brick.

Levelling

We placed the installStrips about 10cm in from the outer edge of each wall section and then added a 3rd installstrip in the middle of the section. Starting with my first InstallStrip, I checked it to ensure it was Vertically level. I then used a Mushroom Nail Anchor to fix it to the wall (see image below). These are hammered in. Once the first one is in you can complete the rest ensuring the InstallStrip remains (Vertically) level.

I then moved onto my 2nd InstallStrip (within the same section). I repeated the same process checking for Vertical Level, but this time I also checked for Horizontal Level. I used a standard Spirit level for this placing it across the two InstallStrips. Depending on the length of your wall, you can also check the Horizontal level using a White Wall Panel.

Cutting White SlatWall Panels

In the first three wall sections I used 3 InstallStrips at the bottom and 3 at the top for each section (total of 6). Once these were done, I then moved onto to cutting my panels.

We cut the panels for the first 2 sections at 1300mm. Once we had our first three panels on we then moved up to the top half of the section.

The gap between the bottom InstallStrip and the top one needs to be about 2mm. The process I use to get to the right spacing is to add my the 4th panel onto of the 3rd and to then loosely slip the InstallStrip behind it. (Ensure the panels are sitting on top of each other correctly.) I then adjust the tension until I know the 4th panel and its InstallStrip are firmly gripping each other. Once in place I use an anchor to fasten the InstallStrip to the wall.

This process is repeated for the remaining InstallStrips on the 2nd level. In this case there are 3 on the 1st level and 3 on the 2nd.

Trimming InstallStrips

You will notice above that the InstallStrips are touching the roof of the brick wall. Looks OK? Not really. With this wall we ran into trouble trying to fit the top panel. We had no clearance at the top nor from either side due to the brick piers. Notice below that the InstallStrips have been cut. We trimmed the top section of the InstallStrip with a grinder (you can also use metal cutting scissors).

With a shorter top InstallStrip we were also required ti trimmed our top panel. We decided to cut them horizontally using a circular saw and a guide. In this case we trimmed the top groove off allowing for 8mm clearance to the top of the wall. If the piers were not there we could have reduced the amount we cut and slid the top panel in from the side.

Finishing Off

The first three sections where very similar in size and so we were able to work through these pretty efficiently .

When we arrived at the final section which was the largest it got a little more complicated. In order to save the client some money and reduce wastage, we used the off cuts from the first 2 sections to complete the final wall.

Each of the first two sections had 6 panels each. Which resulted in 12 offcuts at 1100mm. The final section had a width of 1470mm. We installed a total of 8 installstrips (4 at the bottom and 4 at the top, see below) and two white wall panels for each row at about 735mm each.

Storewall installation on brick wall — Storewall i

Alternative Approach

An alternative way to have managed this installation was to have used 1200mm panels in each of the sections and just centred them. It would have meant a gap around the outer edge of each section but no cuts. In terms of cost, it would have also been slightly cheaper.

Personally I think what we went with worked the best and you have a fully covered wall with no gaps which can be used in many ways.

Final Outcome

The final result looks like this, which we were all very happy with.

The client has already started adding accessories to the wall and begun removing some of the “stuff” off the garage floor.

Being a garage so close to the road and left open for part of the day, I advised the client that dust would build up and with white slatwall panels the occasional hose down might be required and would be perfectly fine.

Posted on March 23, 2020June 10, 2023 by Arthur K

Old Slatwall System

Slatwalls have been around for years. StoreWALL itself has been around for over 10 years in the US and over 5yrs in Australia. All Slatwall systems evolve, both in terms of the panels they offer as well as their accessories. Some have evolved so much that newer accessories are no longer compatible with older wall panels. The material they are made from has changed along with the shape and style of the accessories. Maintaining an old slatwall system can be challenging.

Old Slatwall Systems

The other day I received a call from a client who had purchased a StorEase system from Bunnings several years ago (must have been 3-5 years ago). The panels were made from a plastic material which today are no longer offered by StorEase nor from Bunnings. His problem however was not the panel itself but the accessories he had purchased.

His StorEase accessories where made from plastic and used to hang brooms in his garage. The accessories had performed well for many years but one of them had recently cracked and couldn’t be used. When trying to remove one of the remaining hooks in order to examine it, he found that it fell apart when he took it off the panel. It actually disintegrated. This unfortunately left him with no working hooks for his brooms. His old slatwall system was no longer usable.

StorEase from Bunnings

He visited Bunnings to find new accessories and whilst Bunnings still sell StorEase, the accessories available and the panel to suit them have all changed. The entire StorEase system has moved on. Panels are now leaner aluminium rails and accessories are metallic. None of what was available was compatible with his old slatwall system.

The predicament for this client is to either find accessories which fit his existing panels or to replace the panels and start all over again.

L Shaped Lip

StoreWALL’s panels are very standard in their sizing. By this I mean the panels are designed for accessories with an L shaped lip. See the image below which shows how the accessories are fitted to the panel and how they are secured.

Each panel is about 300mm in height and has 4 slots. The number of grooves on each panel is 5 when you count the top of the panel. See image below.

Each accessory secures itself to a panel at two points – the top and the bottom. The L at the top of each accessory is used to secure to the top of each slot and the CamLok is used for the bottom groove of each slot.

Below are the slot specifications for each Standard Duty panel. StoreWALL’s L-shape slots accept slat wall compatible accessories.

Slatwall Slots

Slot Specifications:

spacing: 76.2mm on center
groove height: 10mm
lip height: 10mm
opening: 10mm
CamLok position: sits 90mm from top of accessory

Whilst the dimensions of the panels, their slots and grooves are important, so are the dimensions of each accessory, specifically the backing plate with the L Shaped lip and locking mechanism.

The dimensions are as follows:

Size of the back plate: 103mm
Size of the lip: 12mm

If you are in a similar predicament to this client and are looking for new accessories for your older slatwall systems, I would suggest you compare your panels and accessories to the dimensions listed above. If they look about right, I encourage you to send us an email with some pictures so that we can conform the sizes and shapes with you.

You can then decide to order a single accessory to try. We are happy for you to return it if it doesn’t fit.