How to DIY a Ceiling Garage Storage System

Build this unproblematic, slide-in storage arrangement for your garage.

Time

A full 24-hour interval

Complication

Beginner

Toll

$101–250

Introduction

If your garage is running out of space, try edifice this overhead storage organisation. The construction is unproblematic and fast, and the whole organisation is made with standard materials.

Tools Required

Materials Required

  • 1/2 1x2 x 8' pine stop strip (1)
  • 1/4" x
  • 2" forest screws (1 box)
  • 23-i/two" x 19-ane/2" 10 13" plastic totes (six)
  • 2x4 x 8" (2)
  • iii-i/ii" lag screws and washers (16)
  • three" forest screws (one box)
  • four' x 8' sheet of 3/4" plywood
  • Carpenter'due south glue (i pint)

Are all those cardboard boxes in the corner of your garage driving you crazy? Holiday decorations, camping gear, seasonal wear and extra bedding take up valuable garage storage space. And who can tell one brown box from another?Nosotros've designed this system to get all that stuff up and out of the way and into unclaimed storage infinite near your garage ceiling. We built this handy overhead garage storage system around special reinforced plastic totes that hang from carriages made from 2x4s and plywood strips. In this article, we'll show y'all how to gather these simple carriages, align them perpendicular to the ceiling joists, then anchor them into place with lag screws. It's that like shooting fish in a barrel. Add labels to the sides of the totes and you can tell at a glance where to find that long-term storage item. You tin build and install the carriages in an afternoon and kickoff organizing right away!

ⓘ

Projection step-by-step (12)

Pace 1

Measure

measure totes

Measure the top of the tote to determine the width of the tote rims (3/iv in.) and the size of the lesser flanges of the carriages (in our example, 3 in.).

Step 2

Bottom flanges

bottom flange for storage

Cutting 3-in.-wide strips of 3/iv-in. plywood for the bottom flange. Center them on 4-ft.-long 2x4s, and so glue and screw them. Apply 2-in. screws every 10 in.

Stride 3

Consummate the Overhead Garage Storage Carriages

overhead door storage

Flip the carriage assemblies over. Centre the 5-in.- wide plywood top flanges and glue and screw them to complete the carriage assemblies.

Step 4

Marker Garage Ceiling Joists

mark joists for installing shelves

Locate the ceiling joists with a stud finder and snap chalk lines to marker them. Probe with a stop blast to brand sure the lines fall on joist centers.

Footstep 5

Spiral Ceiling Garage Storage System in Place

screwing sliding brackets

Mark each carriage 12 in. from the end and align the mark with the joist location. Screw the carriage temporarily to each joist on one side of the flange with three-in. screws.

Footstep 6

Mark the carriage locations

Cutting a 2x4 template from your tote dimensions and mark the location of the top edge of the side by side wagon. Mark the rear side besides, so screw it and the other carriages in place on i side only.

Step vii

Test the Fit of Your Overhead Garage Storage

Check the fit of the totes and make sure the rims take maximum bearing on the lower flanges. Make whatsoever necessary adjustments.

Step 8

Drive lags at joists

driving lags

Drill iii/xvi-in. airplane pilot holes in the height flanges. So drive pairs of three-1/two-in. lag screws into each joist, removing the temporary screws as you get. Use a minimum of 4 lag screws per carriage.

Pace nine

Install stops

Marking the centers of the carriages and screw a 1x2 stop forth the marks. The stop volition keep the totes from sliding too far into the overhead garage storage system.

Pace 11

Different sizes

The special reinforced totes nosotros used (available from internet suppliers like usplastic.com, simplastics.com and others) are a bit stronger than those yous'll find at dwelling centers or section stores. The reinforced rims on these containers will support weights of 35 lbs. or more, which is perfect for lightweight overhead garage storage.

Step 12

Easy access

And the totes will be easy enough to elevator into place while y'all're standing on a ladder. To be on the rubber side, the full weight of all the totes shouldn't exceed 210 lbs., so find a different identify to store books and heavy hardware. Custom plastic lids are also available for grit-costless storage.

If you use other types of containers, measure the rims carefully and adapt the lesser flange width to assure total support. And no matter what joist spacing you find (24 in. or xvi in.), be sure to fasten the carriages with at to the lowest degree iv lag screws.

Before you order your totes, measure the superlative above your garage door and find totes that'll work. Our thirteen-in.-deep totes required 18 in. of clearance, including the carriages. For lower clearances, you can purchase totes that are 8 and 10 in. deep but with the aforementioned top size.

Boosted Information

Garage Ceiling Storage Cutting List

Garage Ceiling Storage Materials List

Originally Published: October 08, 2018