If you are a car owner and you own a garage you should be sure to park your car in it. Obviously, your car will be safer but you will get a cheaper insurance premium as it is kept in a locked and secure area.

Your garage is also an area that you could use to store those items that you cannot find a home for inside your house. It could be large garden furniture, bikes, tools, a BBQ, children’s toys, decorating equipment or tables and chairs. There could also be smaller items such as smaller tools, paint pots and car washing equipment.

When you are trying to store a number of items as well as your car you need a suitable storage system. This means you can fit all of your belongings in and keep them organised so that they are easy to find when needed.

If you have larger items to store, there are storage racks that are designed and treated especially to withstand the potentially cold and damp conditions of the garage so that they do not rust or corrode. The shelves that are on the storage racks can be adjusted to heights to suit your requirements.

If you have smaller items then there are single shelves that can be attached to the wall at a suitable height. With the correct fixings they can be hung above the car so that they do not restrict the space that you need to park your vehicle.

When spring arrives, however late, it is a good time to have a look around the garden and the exterior of the house to tackle any repair jobs that might need doing. Garage racks and shelving may also be due for a spot of spring cleaning as well.

In the garden, the fence – quite often a close board fence – may have suffered a battering from the winter weather. Not to worry, they are not usually all that difficult to fix. A single board that has been broken could be replaced. You will need to remove the damaged board first. Lever it out and remove nails that have been pulled out with it. If they prove difficult to remove then hammer them flat with the horizontal triangular rail. Slip a replacement board in, making certain that the overlap is straight, then fix in place.

When metal gates and railings for the fence get rusty, they can start to look a bit shabby. The other problem, of course, is that they will begin to deteriorate. Restoring them is relatively easy. Begin by stripping away loose flakes of paint with sandpaper. You may decide to use a wire brush for this operation, in which case, don’t forget to wear goggles for safety from flying particles.

Dip a cloth in white spirit next and wipe them down before coating them with paint especially formulated to inhibit rust. Usually one coating should be sufficient, but it is always a good idea to check the instructions.

The vast majority of homes in the UK come with built-in garages, and whilst these extensions to our homes were designed to store cars and other vehicles, they are often more useful for the average homeowner as a storage space for all manner of items.

From tool kits and workbenches to seasonal games and garden furniture, garages can easily and quickly become full of clutter. Finding anything in this building can be a task in itself, which is why it pays to have some sort of organisational system in place.

One of the most effective and simple storage solutions available is shelving. Expense for storage shelves is often minimal, and they are available in a range of different materials to ensure that however heavy the item, there are durable shelves to suit.

Plastic shelves are the cheapest option, and are ideal for storing lightweight items. Metal shelves, on the other hand, are more suitable if the garage is being used primarily to store heavy tools, as they won’t bend or break like plastic shelves as they are more hard-wearing.

Shelves are ideal storage solutions in any area of the home, as they can be easily installed and fixed onto walls, thus optimising the space available in even the smallest of rooms. This makes it much easier for certain rooms to be organised, and makes good use of floor space.

Keeping track of certain items and ensuring ease of use is also a benefit to be gained from something as simple as shelves, as they will help the user to save time looking through endless clutter to actually fidn what they are looking for.

A small commercial garage, especially in these tough economic times, is a very difficult enterprise to run successfully. There are several factors key to the survival of a business such as this.

The quality of service is important. The word of mouth factor is a powerful aspect and information about a good repair job that is reasonably priced will soon spread around the local area. MOT tests are a fact of life that have been with us for a good many years now and small garages benefit from offering their expertise in making sure a vehicle is roadworthy and if there are any repairs or fine tunings needed to offer these as well.

In order to keep up to date with the plethora of paperwork, from receipts for sales to invoices for items purchased, an efficient storage system is vital. The average small garage will probably have an office with a personal computer using a variety of software packages to keep on top of the stock-ordering, accounts’ balancing and word-processing tasks needed. Effective document storage and file storage should be ensured both as hard copy and stored electronically on removable media as well as the computer’s hard-drive.

The garage shelving and storage shelves should be robust and hard-wearing to cope with the rigours of their environment. Mechanics’ tools, engine parts and so on will be stored here. If possible, it would be advisable to store these expensive items in a lockable area of the garage.  A cage with a heavy-duty padlock is one idea.

You have it in mind, the next project that will improve your home and give you more storage room. Whether it is shelving in the kitchen or garage storage, whatever your plans are, there are always tips and tricks to help make the job run smoother.

Before you start, check your tools are in good working order. Tidying out the tool box is not such a bad idea. Have a magnet handy to pick up dropped small screws and pins that might be otherwise very difficult to see, especially on a carpeted surface.

If taking measurements is going to be part of the job, keep a small pad of sticky back notes, write the measurement on the note then stick it to the matching section of wood or door frame.

Talking of measurements, if you think a room is square but you are not certain, think back to those good days at school. Rather than measuring along all four walls just measure the two at right angles to each other. Make a note of the figures, then measure from one corner to the other. If, for example, you took measurements of three feet and four feet along the adjacent walls, the diagonal line across the room should measure five feet. If it does not then you will need to mark some points in a square before carrying on.

If you have decided to put up tiling in the kitchen or the bathroom, never tile over wallpaper, always remove the paper first.

Converting a garage to make, for example, a spare room or to give the owner more garage storage space is relatively simple – you can use things as basic as shelves to achieve more space. Most garages will have enough room to be able to partition off the back, quite inexpensive, especially if a side door, either into the house or to the outside, is already installed.

If the garage is attached or integral then only basic regulations are required to be satisfied. A door or window to escape through, although if the room is only being used as a kitchen, ancillary room or other non-habited space even this is not needed. Ventilation, insulation and structure will still need to meet set standards however.

Garage conversions do not normally require planning permission but it is advisable to consult the local planning authority to make sure of this.
If the owner’s car takes up most of the available garage storage floor space, another way of creating space is to build another level inside the garage. The level need not be large, but will be able to hold a shelving unit or for instance, or a chest freezer.

Finding a reliable builder is essential and the Federation of Master Builders has a website that provides information about the Federation members in the local area. The Federation sets exacting standards for its members and the FMB website is easy to use.  Another way of finding a reliable builder is via word of mouth. If a neighbour or a friend has recently used a builder asking them for information would be a good idea.

The garage, as well as being a secure place to leave your car, has the potential to be used for storage as well.

Garage storage can be optimised by the use of several items. For example, an overhead storage hook will create more storage space. The hook will mount to ceiling beams or rafters. Normally, it is recommended that a storage hook is fixed into solid wood using a screw which is at least one inch in length. The versatility of the overhead storage hook is easily appreciated since it can also be used in the shed or the cellar.

A storage system that makes use of the wall space above, for instance, a work table or work benches would also be beneficial. A support structure for the storage bins or drawers is needed. Ideally, the support structure should be simple to attach by bolting it to the work table and fixing to the wall for complete safety. Storage units may then be attached to or hung on to the frame. A typical support frame may have the approximate dimensions, 165w x 4d x 235h cm. However, this type of durable steel frame will probably cost around £80 or more.

An inexpensive way of storing tools would be to purchase a tool racking kit. The storage rack kit would typically have a peg wall panel, which would be secured to the wall. Once this is done, tool hooks would be attached to the panel wherever they make best use of the space.  So storage solutions for your garage are out there for you to access as required.

Installing a plastic storage rack in a child’s bedroom offers many possible benefits. They are versatile and the shelves easy to wipe down. The storage rack will usually come in kit form and have a boltless, easy assembly.  The rack will be sturdy enough to be free standing which will be useful in a closet. However, if the rack is going to stand in the bedroom, it is advisable to secure it to a wall.

Children will be able to store their toys on the shelves, school stationery such as ring-binder folders, pencil cases and text books, CD and DVD collections, all of which could be stored in containers to keep them tidy.

Since the racks will come in varying sizes and are also constructed from steel as well as plastic, they will be handy to use in the greenhouse. Plants, bags of compost, seedling trays and gardening implements could be stored on their shelves.

In the shed or garage, where space is sometimes particularly limited, the storage racks will be useful for holding tins of paint, paint brushes and rollers, tool boxes. Having racks bolted to the wall of the shed or garage is a definite ‘must’ to reduce the possibility of accidents occurring.

The versatility of the storage rack is easy to appreciate when one considers that it can also be used in shop or office stockrooms. In the commercial environment, documents or products could be stored in lidded boxes that might be nested or stackable.

Garage storage racks are a great way to organise a garage and keep it from becoming overrun with junk that accumulates over time. It seems that instead of being a place to keep the household car, it has become a junk shop where unwanted items are discarded, or even important objects just cast aside in a corner.

Keep in mind a few basic steps when installing those garage racks.

Step One – Start with a plan

This stage is where the storage solutions for the garage are decided. There may be new storage racks being added to an existing system. It may be a case of starting the whole thing from scratch.

There is no end to the variety of garage storage racks. Some include small tool racks, garden tool racks, bike racks (single or multiple), ball cages, golf bag racks, ski racks, and fishing pole racks, just to name a few of the possibilities.

Decide what to use and where it is needed before buying anything.

Step Two – Locate the wall studs

The framing studs in the wall will have to be located in order to install any storage racks. If the studs are not spaced correctly, then firing strips may need to be attached to the studs and install the racks onto the firing strips.

Step Three – Product installation

Move all other items out of the work area. Install the storage carefully, and rearrange garage to take advantage of the new racks.

Following these steps is just the beginning of getting to grips with a messy garage.

The bulk of any garage storage will most probably be shelving, so it’s important to make sure the right ones are chosen for the specific needs. Buying shelving that is too weak to support the weight of the items to be stored will only defeat any organisational efforts.

It is paramount that adequate support for the stored materials is used in the construction of shelves. For example, if the shelving is made from 3/4-inch-thick particleboard, it should not span more than 19 inches without support. Medium-density fibreboard shelves of the same thickness need support every 21 inches. Plywood or pine boards can span up to 34 inches.

If sturdier, more robust shelves are required, choose metal systems with two rows of holes in the vertical standards—they support about twice as much weight as single-track racks, and brackets mount to them more securely. Although manufacturers sometimes suggest installing the top rail and then hanging the standards from it, a shelving system will support more weight if the standards are attached to wall studs. Doing so can increase the system’s weight tolerance up to 600 lbs. per standard.

Overhead shelves are great for storing lightweight items that would otherwise take up a lot of space, such as sleeping bags. With ladder brackets installed for extra support, the shelving itself can be very lightweight.

A well-built tool chest is an effectual means to store tools and yet keep them handy. Clearly label the storage place of each tool to keep the garage organized for months to come.