According to the American Housing Survey, 80% of homeowners (including condos) in the U.S. have a garage or carport. We all need steel garages for various reasons, ranging from parking to storage and working at home. Not forgetting, steel structures are sturdy, lightweight, durable, and affordable.
Yet, even when we have a garage, we often find ourselves facing storage issues, either due to poor planning or crowdedness. 50% of homeowners think their garage is the most disorganized part of their home. And, one in four Americans can’t even store their car in the garage. Sounds familiar? Here’s what you can do to free up some space in your garage or plan effectively before going shopping for a prefab steel garage.
Define Your Storage Needs!
First divide the items you have into several categories depending on where they need to go. For instance, you could have groups such as keep, sell, donate, and trash.
If you are looking to buy a steel garage, you must also plan ahead. What are your future needs? For instance, do you see yourself getting another car soon or exchanging the one you have for a different-sized vehicle? Then, you also want to consider your storage preferences. Do you prefer open shelves, closed doors, wall storage, or a mixture of several techniques?
When estimating the amount of space you’ll need, remember to account for the swing of your car doors, including the boot. You also want to have room for exiting and entering the house.
Scenarios to Consider, Regardless of What You are Storing
Of course, your storage problems might not align with all of the following four common scenarios. However, keeping them in mind enables you to tackle the problems that you might encounter in the future. Perhaps you don’t do gardening or sports, but you could still have something that needs to be stored in a similar fashion. Leave no stone unturned!
For DIYers
Most people have a workbench or at least tools in their garage. If you fall under this category, you might need a slat wall, pegboard, or wire gird for the tools that you want in plain sight. Moreover, cabinets are great for things that you need to stow or keep away from children.
If you maintain your own car, consider tool cabinets that have wheels so you can move them around. A workbench that is height-adjustable is not a bad idea either. And, it’s a plus if the surface is plastic, laminate, or sealed, so you don’t get stain problems down the line.
For the Gardener
Are you the type that must have a home garden or mow their own lawn? You’ll need wall storage for hand tools. For instance, a pegboard for your trowels, bulb planters, and clippers. Also, shelves are great for your potting soil, fertilizer, peat moss, and so on. The heavy stuff, such as lawnmowers and pots, will have to take the floor.
For the Sports Enthusiast
If you’ll be storing sports equipment such as balls, rackets, skateboards, skis, mitts, backpacks, and bikes, this one is for you. A track, slat wall, or grid system that’s fitted with hooks and specialized holders will serve you well.
On the other hand, you could mount the hooks directly on the wall. Another great storage option would be wall-mounted wire baskets and mesh bags or clear open bins. A floor bike rack is not a bad idea either.
However, if you don’t have enough space on the floor, consider a manual or motorized bike lift for suspending them on the ceiling. Lastly, don’t forget a hoist for your kayak or canoe if you have one.
For Rarely Used Items and Bulky Things
How strong is your ceiling? Because they are great for overhead storage of the things you don’t use often. A ceiling-mounted shelf, for instance, is ideal for your holiday decorations. The shelf could also be on the wall but high up. Paper records and old business records go here too. You could also use clear plastic bins for various items, so you have an easy time finding them.
Opt for Smart Storage Solutions in Your Steel Garage
Now that you have considered the type of things you might need to store, it is time to think about smart solutions. And “smart” here doesn’t mean Alexa-style assistants that know how to store and retrieve your tools. Although that would be awesome! Anyways, these are simply storage solutions that help you stay neatly organized by utilizing the available space in the best way possible.
Wall Storage
Capitalize on your space with slat wall panels. There are dozens of such accessories to choose from. You don’t have to get all of them. But rest assured they provide a lot of configuration options. They are the best way to turn your vertical wall into storage space for tools, clothes, spare parts, and anything else that could go there.
Cabinets
Garage cabinetry systems go a long way towards helping you get organized. They are ideal for storing tools and any compact items. Even if you don’t have time to organize, having things behind closed doors will still make your space look elegant. You’ll have peace of mind whenever you step into your garage. They also add a stylish modern touch to your storage space.
Storage Racks
Consider tier racks and overhead storage racks. They are great with heavy-duty as well as light storage needs. Conveniently, there are various options depending on style and strength. Racks save space, enhance convenience, and improve accessibility to your items. Also, they create a safer environment. Having tools lying around on the floor could cause injury, especially at night.
Slat Walls
Garage slat walls bring out the storage efficiency of your walls. They can store most things, including light hand tools and bulky equipment such as ladders. Slat wall panels are easy to cut and arrange along the wall in a manner befitting your space. They also come in several colors to match your taste. Moreover, you could take a pick from various materials, including aluminum, PVC, steel, resin, or the traditional melamine.
Wire Grids
These usually come in metal with an epoxy or vinyl coating. However, some are made of a strong polymer resembling brushed chrome. They come in various sizes, can be mounted in any direction, and you get to choose the strength.
Garage owners like wire grids because you can see through the panels, and they are properly ventilated. Their price tag is not so bad either because they use less material than solid sheets.
Lean-to
A lean-to is a steel building with a sloping roof and three walls, with the fourth wall being that of another steel structure or your traditional house. You could get one to use as a garage, expansion, or storage room. Lean-to-spaces are loved for their affordability.
More so, the pre-existing wall can form the anchorage, thus reducing the need for high gauge metal. Also, it makes more sense to attach the shed to your house if you are working with limited space. Another upside is that their simplicity makes them very easy to install. If you are looking for a straightforward storage solution that involves getting a whole room or expanding one, this is exactly what you need. Consider getting your LEAN-TOs from Steel Carports, the number one dealer of prefab steel garages in the U.S.
Final Word
If you have storage problems, you are not alone. In fact, you are among the majority population. The good news is that when an issue is common, there are always numerous solutions. Now you know them – like defining your storage needs, categorizing your clutter, planning for future storage, and leveraging smart storage solutions.
If you are looking for a steel garage or an expansion, think Steel Carports. Our steel garages are spacious and fully customizable (which is quite useful when you’re looking for a specific taste or working on a tight budget).
We are America’s top dealer of metal buildings, offering our customers fast deliveries at no charge, high-quality materials, exceptional warranties, and flexible payment options. Our dedicated and experienced team of building specialists works round the clock to streamline every operation, come up with new and interesting ideas, and offer the best customer service. Contact us now at (833) 647-8335 to get a quote or talk to our building specialist.