Have you finally had it with the mess in your garage? Do you need additional room to keep your tools and supplies in order? Putting up shelves on the garage wall is a terrific idea. In this article, we’ll show you how to construct reliable, useful shelves in the drywall of your garage. Whether you’re an experienced DIYer or just starting, you’ll be able to make the most of your garage space by following our advice. Well, so let’s begin!
How To Build Shelves In Garage Wall?
Adding shelves to the walls of your garage is a fantastic method to expand the available storage and to better arrange your various pieces of machinery and equipment. If you want to install shelves on a wall in your garage, follow these instructions and click here:
Measure And Plan
First things first when constructing garage wall shelves is measuring and planning. Taking accurate measurements of the space where the shelves will go is essential, as is deciding how many shelves and how much space will separate them. This is an important step because it helps you figure out how many shelves you need, how big they should be, and how to best arrange them in your garage.
Take careful measurements of the width, height, and depth of the area where the shelves will go. Think about what you intend to store on the shelves, as this will dictate the size and strength of the wooden boards you use.
After taking measurements, plan out how many and how far apart the shelves will be. The number of shelves you’ll need to store your items safely will be determined by their combined height. Make sure there is adequate space between the shelves and the objects you plan to store there.
Gather Materials
You will need wooden boards, screws, a drill, a level, a saw, and a stud finder. If you plan to paint or stain the shelves, you’ll also need the appropriate supplies for that. The second step in building shelves in your garage wall is to gather materials. Once you have measured and planned the size and layout of your shelves, you’ll need to gather the necessary materials to build them.
Here are the materials you’ll need:
Wooden Boards
You’ll need wooden boards for the shelves. Choose boards that are strong enough to hold the weight of the items you’ll store on them. Common wood choices for shelves include pine, plywood, and MDF (medium-density fiberboard).
Screws
You’ll need screws to attach the brackets and shelves to the wall. Choose screws that are long enough to go through the bracket and into the wooden boards, but not too long that they poke through the other side.
Metal Brackets
Metal brackets will be attached to the wall and provide support for the shelves. Choose brackets that are the appropriate size and weight capacity for your shelves.
Drill
A drill is necessary for drilling holes and driving screws.
Level
A level will help ensure that the brackets and shelves are levels and even.
Saw
You’ll need a saw to cut the wooden boards to the desired length of your shelves.
Stud Finder
A stud finder will help you locate the studs in the wall where you want to install the shelves. It’s important to attach the shelves to the studs to ensure they are sturdy and can hold the weight of your items.
Paint Or Stain (optional)
If you plan to paint or stain the shelves, you’ll need the appropriate supplies for that.
Locate The Studs
Use a stud finder to locate the studs in the wall where you want to install the shelves. You’ll want to attach the shelves to the studs to ensure they are sturdy and can hold the weight of your items. The third step in building shelves in your garage wall is to locate the studs. It’s important to attach the shelves to the studs to ensure they are sturdy and can hold the weight of your items.
Here’s how to locate the studs in your garage wall:
- Use a stud finder: A stud finder is a tool that can detect the location of the studs behind the drywall. Move the stud finder along the wall until it beeps or lights up, indicating the location of the stud.
- Look for electrical outlets and switches: Electrical outlets and switches are usually attached to a stud, so looking for them can give you an idea of where the studs are located.
- Tap the wall: You can also locate the studs by tapping the wall with a hammer or a screwdriver. When you tap on the wall, you’ll hear a hollow sound if there’s no stud behind it, and a solid sound if there
Cut The Shelves
Cut the wooden boards to the desired length of your shelves using a saw. Be sure to measure twice and cut once to ensure accuracy. The fourth step in building shelves in your garage wall is to cut the shelves to the appropriate size. Here’s how to do it:
- Measure the length of the wall where the shelves will be installed. Take accurate measurements of the width and depth of the shelves.
- Use a saw to cut the wooden boards to the desired length of the shelves. Make sure to cut the boards straight and even.
- Sand the edges of the boards to smooth out any rough spots or splinters.
- If you plan to paint or stain the shelves, do so before installing them. Allow the paint or stain to dry completely before proceeding.
Remember to measure twice and cut once to ensure that your shelves fit perfectly and look professional. It’s also a good idea to double-check the measurements before cutting to avoid any mistakes.
Install Brackets
Install metal brackets on the wall, using screws to attach them to the studs. Make sure the brackets are level and evenly spaced. The fifth step in building shelves in your garage wall is to install the brackets that will support the shelves. Here’s how to do it:
- Hold the bracket up against the wall at the desired height, making sure it’s level. Mark the location of the screw holes with a pencil.
- Use a drill bit that’s slightly smaller than the screw diameter to drill pilot holes for the screws. This will make it easier to drive the screws into the wall and prevent the wood from splitting.
- Hold the bracket back up to the wall and attach it using screws. Make sure the bracket is level and secure.
- Repeat the process for the remaining brackets, spacing them evenly along the length of the wall.
- Once all the brackets are attached to the wall, place the shelves on top of them. Make sure the shelves are level and flush against the wall.
- Use screws to attach the shelves to the brackets from underneath. Make sure the screws are long enough to go through the bracket and into the wooden board, but not too long that they poke through the other side.
- Check that the shelves are level and secure before placing any items on them.
That’s it! With the brackets installed, you’re well on your way to having sturdy and functional shelves in your garage.
Attach The Shelves
Place the shelves on top of the brackets and secure them in place using screws. Be sure to use screws long enough to go through the bracket and into the shelf, but not so long that they poke through the other side. The sixth and final step in building shelves in your garage wall is to attach the shelves to the brackets. Here’s how to do it:
- Place the shelf on top of the brackets, making sure it’s level and flush against the wall.
- Drill pilot holes into the wooden board through the bracket screw holes, using a drill bit that’s slightly smaller than the screw diameter.
- Insert screws through the pilot holes and into the bracket to attach the shelf to the bracket. Make sure to tighten the screws securely.
- Repeat the process for each bracket and shelf.
- Check that the shelves are level and secure before placing any items on them.
Congratulations! You have successfully built shelves in your garage wall. Now you have a place to store your tools, equipment, and other items. With a little bit of planning and effort, you can make the most of your garage space and keep everything organized.
Finishing Touches
While the shelves are now fully installed and functional, you may want to add some finishing touches to make them more visually appealing and customized to your garage space. Here are a few ideas:
- Paint or stain the shelves: You can add a coat of paint or stain to the shelves to match the colour scheme of your garage or give them a unique look.
- Add edge banding: Edge banding is a thin strip of wood or plastic that is attached to the edges of the shelves to cover the exposed edges and give them a finished look.
- Install lighting: You can install LED strip lights underneath the shelves to make them more visible and provide additional lighting in your garage.
- Label the shelves: To keep your garage organized, consider labelling the shelves with the type of items that should be stored on each shelf.
- Add storage bins or baskets: If you have small items that you want to keep organized, you can add storage bins or baskets to the shelves to keep them contained.
These finishing touches can enhance the functionality and aesthetics of your garage shelves, making them a valuable addition to your space.
Conclusion
Adding shelves to the walls of your garage is a great way to make more room for storage and maintain order. If you follow the instructions in this article, you should be able to construct shelves that meet your needs and last for years. It’s important to take your time measuring, finding studs, gathering supplies, making cuts, mounting brackets, and finally, installing the shelves.
Finally, think about putting the finishing touches on the shelves to make them more visually appealing and tailored to your garage. You can make your garage more organised and useful with just a little bit of forethought and work.