Mr Old's Garage

Just when you think you have run out of storage area, because all of your wall and floor space is taken up, somebody comes up with an innovative storage option. Now, I have to admit that I have heard jokes about putting stuff on the ceiling, but I did not really consider it as a serious option. But somebody did. Yes, that is what makes a really good entrepreneur, they take the ideas we joke about and make it a reality, then years later we can say, “I thought of that!” and regret our missed opportunity.

It seems that lack of storage space is a modern problem, you see storage units popping up all over the place, people have sheds and basements full of stuff, and garages packed to the limit. Lets face it, our modern society is filled with pack rats. Some of the stuff we honestly need, some we don’t. But some of the stuff we need, we only have to access occasionally. That is when garage overhead storage options come into play. So what are these items? Here is the list from my garage:

Christmas decorations (or any holiday, if that is your thing)

Seven years of filed paperwork that we are told to keep “just in case” (of what, I don’t know, I think it’s a joke that IRS agents chuckle over occasionally. Of course, if you don’t have the paperwork, then the jokes on you!)

Bikes stored out of the way for the winter, and skis for the summer

Camping supplies

Seasonal clothing

Folding chairs

Food supply

Keepsake items from your childhood

Of course, once someone figured out a way to store things on the ceiling, many other creative people followed, so there is a variety of garage overhead storage options.

The most obvious solution was to attach a hanging shelf to the ceiling. These shelves are most often made of metal, with the shelf portion like a metal grate so that you can see from below what is stored on it. These shelves are available in various sizes and depth so that you can find just right one for your storage needs. Access to this type of shelf is with a ladder or step stool (if you are already tall).

Another overhead garage storage system available uses tracks that hang from the ceiling. The tracks have an “L” shape and two sets of tracks are positioned the desired distance apart so that plastic totes can hang between them. This works great, and is economical, if you already have files or Christmas decorations already stored in plastic totes. Many of these systems have optional utility hooks for bikes and ladders. These are also accessible with a ladder, and though they can hold quite a bit of weight, they usually do not hold as much as the hanging metal shelves.

Now, if you do not like the idea of having to use a ladder to access your items, somebody was clever enough to solve that problem too. There are garage overhead storage solutions that are on a pulley system. Most often composed of a 4’x4’ platform that can be loaded and lifted up to 12’. You just have to make sure that it is located over a clear space so that you can lower the shelf when you need to get something down, such as over where you normally park your car. Also available on pulley systems are ceiling bike and ladder lifts.

So, take a walk out to your garage and look up. Do you see any available storage space up there?

Our garage is a mess! The last house we lived in, there was no garage. So we were excited when we moved two years ago into a larger house with a garage. How wonderful for winter weather! We would not have to go out and defrost and clear the snow from the car. How wrong we were! Last year we were dumped on with snow, the worst winter in decades, and our car was outside in the driveway. What about our garage? It was a being used for storage, both organized and unorganized.

We really did try to organize our garage. We built shelves along the walls for boxes and plastic totes. Along another wall we had some metal shelves for home business items. There was also a work bench to keep tools organized with a cupboard above it that came from the kitchen remodel. But everything was still a mess, there just wasn’t enough room. The motorcycle was in the garage, so that was good, but it took up floor space requiring the rest of the garage to be even better organized if we hoped to fit a car in as well. Also, we were sloppy recyclers. We were really good at recycling milk jugs, cereal boxes and cardboard, but for some reason people just opened the door and threw it into the garage to be gathered and taken to the recycling center once a month. I know that we had recycling bins at one time, but who knows what happened to them?

So enough was enough, we did not need another winter with our car outside. My husband is a “do it yourself” kind of guy, which is really great, but we needed some help to get our garage organized, something that didn’t cost a lot of money. We did not need the fancy large cabinets that are really nice but out of our budget. Also, it is the garage, rough built shelves worked great, we just needed creative ways of finding more space.

With a little research, we discovered some GREAT garage organizers to help us get more out of our limited space. Obviously, this was a universal problem that someone had put a considerable amount of thought to and had done something about it! There are many different items available to hang most anything on your wall or ceiling.

If you have wall space that is not used up by shelving, you can get some great wall garage organizers. They come in different forms, but are basically like a peg board or wall slat system that is used in department stores. Once you have the wall system in place, you can purchase different types of brackets, hooks and shelves to fit most any need. There are hooks for hanging gardening tools to help organize your rakes, hoes, shovels, etc. There are special shelves and baskets available to fit other sporting goods or other miscellaneous items. You can get large hooks specially designed to hang bicycles or garden hoses, or really small bins for organizing different hardware items such as screws, nuts and bolts.

Now, I don’t really have much extra wall space for special hanging needs, though I could used some of these specialty hooks to help better organize some larger tools and bikes. And such hooks are available without having to purchase an entire wall system. Perfect for what I need.

The main accessible space that I have is the ceiling and I discovered some really neat systems to hang items. Some garage organizer systems are full metal shelves that hang. The shelf can come in varying sizes and depths. Sizes can vary from as small as a 2’ x 6’ to as large as a 4’ x 8’, with drop down depths varying from 12” to 45”. These shelves are perfect for seasonal items such as camping supplies. Some shelves, such as I have described, you have to access by ladder, other systems are available that work on a pulley system for easy access.

Another great garage organizer system that I found was tracks that hung from the ceiling. The tracks have an “L” shape. You position two sets of tracks the distance apart that you need so that you can hang plastic totes between them. For us this is perfect. All of our Christmas supplies are already kept in green plastic totes. We just hang the tracks 30” apart, label our totes and hang them by their lips on the tracks! Economical and we can keep using storage container that we already have. Also great for hanging plastic file containers. After all, where are you supposed to put those files that you are encouraged to keep for seven years? Many of these systems also come with special hangers for bikes and ladders.

Well, it did not take too much to get our garage organized. After all, we had been trying but were short just a little space. By using garage organizers to better organize some wall space for those awkward items like large tools and ladders, and then ceiling space for specialty items that only need to be accessed seasonally really helped. Though I have to say, that my favorite garage organizer gadget is my bike pulley!

Have a garage? Starting to hate that ugly concrete floor? It may be time to start considering a way of covering up that floor. As it turns out, there are many alternatives to drab concrete garage flooring. By upgrading your flooring, you can increase the value of of your house, as well as the beauty and utility of your garage. No matter how you slice it, garage flooring is a great thing.

However, if you’ve ever checked into getting your garage floor redone, you might be a little confused about all the options available. It true, you do have quite a few options when it comes to garage floor coverings. To help you make sense of the options, lets break them down, and look at what you can do to rejuvenate your garage.

The first option we’ll look at is epoxy. Applying garage floor epoxy creates a very durable finish for your garage floor. Epoxy will seal your floor against moisture, as well as protect it from cracks and stains. Epoxy can also change the look of your garage, as it comes in any different colors. It is easy to instal;. You simply paint it on, after a curing period (usually 24 hours or so), you’ll have a great new floor. Having this epoxy floor will make the garage much easier to clean, as it will stop liquids and spills from seeping into the floor, as will happen with concrete.

However, there are a couple disadvantages of epoxy flooring. They can be vulnerable to certain chemical spills, for example. Many epoxies are also sensitive to high heat. Also, most epoxy surfaces are slippery when wet, which can be a hazard.

Another option is garage floor mats, which are just large vinyl mats that you can roll out to quickly cover up your garage floor. Since they come in a broad range of colors and styles, you can find the perfect setup for your garage. You get solid protection, are quick installation, and are easily removable. They also resist slips, stains, drop, and other garage hazards.

Of course, these mats aren’t perfect. You will have to cut them to fit around oddly shaped areas. Repairs can also be problematic, as you’ll have to patch the floor in the damaged region.

If these problems bug you, you might want to check into garage floor tiling. It works more or less like garage floor mats, but are tiles rather than a big roll. You can fit them into oddly shaped areas, and replace them if they are damaged. Quick and easy. Of course, these are a little more expensive, but for many, they are worth it.

I hope this helps you understand your option for garage floor covering. Of course, you should always do your homework before buying, but this should help give you some idea of what you need to be looking for. Whatever you choose, though, I’m sure you’ll be thrilled with your newly floored garage.

One of the most innovative companies when it comes to garage storage is Gladiator Garage Works. They offer complete garage organization systems and products. From storage cabinets to work benches, to wall hooks and ceiling storage to garage flooring and appliances. Everything you could possibly need to not only get your garage organized, but also looking top notch.

Gladiator prides themselves in their products and for good reason:

As already mentioned, they offer a complete system for your garage, regardless of your need. They give you a choice of full or partial wall coverage, with a lot of flexibility based on what you need to store. They are very versatile because all of their products are modular. The wall slot garage storage system allows you to rearrange or add components are your needs change. Casters are optional on many cabinets so that you can move your tools with you as you work. Gladiator garage storage cabinets are very durable. They are made from heavy duty materials that are built to last. This means the strength of steel with a sleek tread plate design and a durable powder coat finish. They also use oversize casters and piano hinges on their cabinets. Gladiator has many of their products UL tested. This includes their hooks, cabinets and wall systems. Being tested by an independent lab gives you confidence that their garage storage products will hold the weight they are rated for, and in extreme temperatures. Gladiator gives your garage a unique style and uniform look. Their garage storage systems are rugged, stylish and easy to clean. Your garage becomes like another room in your house where you enjoy to spend time, not dread going out to when you need to locate something.

Another great thing about Gladiator, is they make it easy for you to organize your garage. Regardless of you activities or interests, they make it simple by offering special garage packages. These packages offer everything you need from flooring, to cabinets, to wall systems with the specialty garage storage baskets, shelves and hooks for your special needs. The packages they offer are:

Sports package which makes it easy to lace up, grab your gear and go. Includes plenty of baskets for holding sports gear and balls as well as shelves, a fold away work station and gear locker. And of course, a refrigerator for holding cold drinks so that you don’t have to go in the house when you are sweaty and dirty. The Outdoor Activities package is similar to the sports package, but with some differences to make it easy to pack up and hit the slopes or the trail, regardless of the season. This package is set apart by the special hooks for storing outdoor gear, such as skis and bikes. The Automotive package will make you feel like you have a professional shop. It includes flooring, and plenty of cabinets of different configurations for storing your tools. Cabinets come on castors so you can take your tools to your project for easy access. Workbench tops with power strips also come in handy. If you love gardening, then the Gardening package is for you. Among other things, it comes with hooks and loops for hanging your tools, plenty of shelves for storing pots and other gardening supplies, as well as cabinets, a garage compactor, a work bench that is great for potting and a clean-up caddy. Last but not least, the Home Projects package is great for the DIY person in your home. This garage storage package comes with plenty of hooks for tools, various cabinets, work bench with power strip, small item bins, stool, garage compactor and fridge.

So, if you are looking for a good looking and efficient garage storage system, look not further than Gladiator. With a little work, you will have your garage organized in a manner that is best suited for your lifestyle. You will never again have to go to your garage and stand there wondering where to look for your missing tool, racket or potting soil.

I have a 24×24x8 garage, walls insulated-no sheetrock. Ceiling insulated, insulated doors.
My hope is to be able to heat my garage so it is warm enough to do hobby work, and play with my children.
In Massachusetts, so the temp can get pretty low. I might need to raise the temperature by 30 or 40 deg.
I want the cost to be reasonable, for example, less than $300 preferably, unless there is a good reason or advantage where I can justify it.
I do not have natural gas and do not want a 100lb LP tank outside.
It needs to be reasonably sized, for example maybe 2′x2′ max. Ideally it would be portable so in the summer I can store it somewhere else.
So far in my research I am leaning towards a Kerosene heater, due to the size, price, btu’s, portability, etc. I am not sure if there are any safety or legal concerns.
Propane might work, but I believe I have to run a line to the outside even with a 20lb tank legally and safely.
Thanks so much.