garage organization Archives - Page 2 of 3

Tidy Tool Storage

September 6, 2011 by Rick Scully

3 hook tool rack — Often, people hang tools sharp side out. Hang sharp side towards the wall to prevent personal injury to family members.

So many tools, so little space. Even in the biggest garages, tools and gardening equipment often start to take over. And why does that rake always seem to threaten to fall on you every time you open the car door?

Start by sorting your tools into groups. Put all the gardening equipment together in one area of the garage. Hang rakes and shovels on lockable hooks with the sharp side towards the wall. That way you’ll know they’re secure.

Don’t hang tools on nails hammered into boards – it’s an accident waiting to happen. A slatwall system is a great solution because hooks and baskets can be safely locked into place.

Electric tools, such as lawnmowers and weed whackers can also be hung on locking hooks with their extension cords wrapped and stored neatly on hooks beside them.

Smaller tools with holes in the handle are easily stored on hooks. That way you’ll always be able to find what you need when you need it.

Tools for woodworking or home maintenance, such as drills and saws, can also be neatly stored in the garage. Any tool with a handle can be hung safely and securely and easy to find.

Smaller items (especially tools for a car enthusiast) should be stored in a cabinet with shallow drawers. Place the tools in one layer so you can see them easily. Line the bottom of the drawer with a rubber membrane mat to prevent the tools from sliding around.

Next time we’ll discuss making room for a workbench in the garage, so you can store and use your tools in one place.

In the meantime, give us a call. We’ll help you find a solution to all your garage storage needs.

Making Use of Overhead Space

August 9, 2011 by Rick Scully

Think you’re making the most of the space in your garage? Look up…. there’s probably another level of storage you’ve not considered.

Tiered storage can make the most of empty space above the car. It works best in garages with minimum 10-foot ceilings because you want to make sure shelving can be out of the way of your minivan or SUV as well as your head.

There are two types of tiered storage:

The end walls where a tier can be as low as 4 feet, so the nose of the car can tuck underneath
Side walls where the storage needs to be high enough to clear the top of your head

We build the storage using sturdy 2×6 or 2×4 wood construction and finish it with ¾-inch plywood. It can easily support hundreds of pounds. It can be finished and painted to suit your design. And you don’t need to worry about running into poles or posts because everything is held securely into the ceiling with airplane cable.

The structure can be as simple as a single shelf. Or it can be as elaborate as shown in the photo here with pot-lights installed underneath to create a workspace. And you can even check out some moderately priced options for tiered storage for an extra vehicle.

What sort of things can you store overhead?

large seasonal decorations
pool chemicals so they are out of children’s reach
tires
larger sports equipment
out of season items

Let Garage Tailors Garage help you make the most of the space in your garage. Give us a call.

Keep your garage smelling clean

July 5, 2011 by Rick Scully

Does your garage smell like a garage? Summertime is the ideal opportunity to clear the air and start fresh.

As I’ve mentioned before, if you have a slatwall system and polyaspartic flooring, cleaning the garage is a breeze. But regardless of what kinds of walls or flooring you have, there are a few things you need to do to minimize dirt and odours:

Keep rodents away:

Seal up any spaces where animals can enter. Have a good look at the walls and the ceiling. Mice can get in through the tiniest holes.
If you must keep garbage in your garage, make sure the bins are well sealed and you wash the containers regularly to get rid of any “come to dinner” smells.

Eliminate mould:

Look for white spots on the walls, which indicate dampness. Mildew and mould can form and cause odours and health problems.
Check the roof on a garage that is separate from the house. Mould can also form from water coming in through the shingles

Prevent chemicals odours

Sort through any hazardous products in the garage and dispose of anything you don’t need.
Make sure lids are secure on gas containers or smelly solvents. It’s best to keep this sort of thing behind doors in a cabinet.

Another important thing to note is if you have a room above your garage, make sure your garage is properly drywalled and sealed. Dangerous (and odourless) carbon monoxide gas can escape into your room.

Need help? Give us a call.

Taming the Garden Hose

June 21, 2011 by Rick Scully

garden hose - garage storage — Garden Hose Storage

The problematic hose. That snake of a thing always seems to be in the way and just doesn’t look pretty in the garden.

How many hose reels have you tried, only to find they work for a little while and then either break or the hose gets stuck inside? It’s nice to have the hose handy for using in the garden, but personally I think most hose caddies out there are more trouble than time-saving.

Universal Hook - Great for Garden Hoses — Universal Slatwall Hooks for Garage Storage

The best way I’ve found to store a garden hose is in the garage on a Universal Hook. It’s large enough to accommodate a 100-ft hose and when combined with slatwall, it can easily bear the weight. If you use a hose connector, attaching the hose to the outside faucet is a simple task.

Tip: When you’re finished with the hose, take the extra few minutes to coil it up neatly on the hook to avoid tripping on it or running over it with the car, which could puncture the hose or flatten the nozzle or end.

Need to make space to store your hose in the garage? Give us a call.

Easy bicycle storage

June 8, 2011 by Rick Scully

With the rising prices at the gas pumps these days, there’s even more reason to pump up the bicycle tires and get out for a ride. But what’s the best way to store the family bikes in the garage?

You’ll want to make sure even the kids have easy access to their bikes without worrying about them scratching the car or the bike – two wheels don’t come cheap these days either.

Overhead storage makes use of unused space higher up in the garage without using that precious floor space. These systems use pulleys or motors that are easy enough for even a child to operate.

Wall-mounted bike storage racks are another option that also saves some floor space. They are easy to install and some come with shelves to store helmets and other bike-related stuff.

There are also floor stands that make it easy to just roll and lock your bike into place after your ride.

Before you make your decision on bike storage, get advice your local bicycle shop about the best way to store your particular model of bike. Some high performance bikes don’t like being hung by the wheel or at certain points on the frame.

Still competing with the car for space in the garage? Give us a call.

The joys and benefits of a slatwall system

May 19, 2011 by Rick Scully

We’ve talked a lot about garage organizing using the slatwall system. What’s so special about the storeWALL™ brand that we use at Garage Tailors Garage?

Unlike traditional slatwall, storeWALL is made with pvc, which is rugged, waterproof and mildew-proof — Important for garage use.

We install the slatwall over existing framed drywall, using existing studs. It comes in a variety of colours and wood-grain finishes.

And it’s cost-effective as well as attractive. There’s no need to cover all the garage walls. We can install it along just one side wall to give you storage options, but still have ample clearance on the driver’s side of your car. We can also install it along the back wall of the garage with a variety of hooks and baskets to keep you organized.

The best part of having a slatwall in your garage is that you can easily rearrange hooks, shelves and baskets to accommodate tools and equipment for whatever season you’re in.

Ready to transform your garage? Give us a call

Spring ahead – a place for everything and everything in its place

April 19, 2011 by Rick Scully

In keeping with the spring clean theme, let’s move from floors and talk about wall organizers and shelves. Spring is here, and you need your garage to be functional.

First, purge. Go through the contents of your garage and if you haven’t used it in three years – get rid of it. Have a garage sale, or donate items to a local charity. Make sure you take items such as paints or chemicals to the hazardous waste disposal facility in your area.

Spring forward – Move the winter shovels, toboggans and bags of de-icer to allow everyone in the family easy access to garden tools and supplies, bicycles, golfing equipment and other summer items. Have a look at our specialty storage solutions to make sure even the kids can easily grab their bikes and sports equipment.

Organize items in zones, putting like items together in one easy-to-reach area. That’s the beauty of the slat wall system. It’s easy to add baskets and hooks to keep gardening tools and supplies, sports equipment, etc. in their place. One basket can hold windshield wiper fluid and other car needs, and another can hold potting soil and fertilizer, while yet another can neatly organize golf shoes. Keep visual clutter to a minimum with one of our cabinet storage systems.

Next month, we’ll talk more in depth about these effective storage solutions.

Make Way for Spring in Your Garage

March 22, 2011 by Rick Scully

In our last post we talked about pre-planning for the season ahead. In keeping with that theme, let’s give some thought to your garage. It’s finally time (or almost time) to lay snow shovels and snow blowers to rest for another nine months, along with ice scrapers, bags of salt, skis and snowboards. Where are you going to store them? Your garage, of course, but let’s not close the subject there.

If you thoughtlessly dump winter items onto the floor of your garage, you’ll not only have a harder time manoeuvring your way around your vehicle; you may also risk damaging this valuable possession. (Skis and shovels stacked in the corner aren’t as steady as you may think.) What’s more, you won’t have an easy time accessing garden hoses, planters, lawn mowers and the other items that you’ll wish to have readily available come spring.

The solution: garage organization. With the right garage cabinets and wall organizers in place, you can almost completely eliminate clutter from your floor, freeing up space that will allow you to utilize your garage to the max this spring. If you need a hand getting organized, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’d be happy to talk to you about a custom garage storage solution.

Get organized before the holiday season hits!

November 9, 2010 by Rick Scully

Our customers are often so pleased with the order we bring to their garages, they’ll ask us if we’re willing to tackle the inside of their homes, too – especially in December, when they find themselves rushing around madly to prepare for holiday guests! Unfortunately, we’re unable to oblige them. There are simply too many garages in need of storage solutions, cabinets and more. Thankfully, though, there are plenty of professional organizers willing to help you transform that make-shift storage room back into a guest room before Aunt Mary and Uncle Jim show up in their Santa hats.

When choosing an organizer, keep in mind that the person you hire will be working very closely with you, your family and your most personal belongings, so it’s important to make sure the fit is a comfortable one. As you shop around, ask these questions:

How long have you been in the business?
What’s your fee structure?
Do you offer any follow-up support?
Are you available for telephone consulting?
Can you provide the contact information for three local references?

Once you’ve found a professional who can answer all of these questions to your satisfaction, I say simplify your life. Let the experts go forth and conquer on your behalf!

Does chaos lurk behind the doors of your garage cabinets?

October 21, 2010 by Rick Scully

In our last post, we pointed you to online stores that sell organizational solutions. Boxes, containers and bins, oh my. The assortment is so extensive, it’s almost hard to excuse a disorganized home or garage!

At Garage Tailors Garage, we specialize in custom floor and wall cabinets, among other things. While our cabinets can certainly bring order to your garage, there’s plenty of opportunity for chaos behind closed doors. Use the solutions you find online to keep awkward items, including the following, neatly arranged on your cabinet shelves:

screws, washers, nuts and bolts
paint brushes and other paint supplies
sandpaper and small tools
string, rope and bungee cords
hose and sprinkler attachments
golf balls and tennis balls – every garage has some!

While labelling will help you quickly find what you’re looking for, you can skip this step by opting for clear containers to begin with. Don’t have any garage cabinets to organize? Check out our products page to find out what you’re missing.

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