garage shelving

propertyrental · 2 May 2023 at 3:46PM

Looking for some garage shelving units. There seem to be lots tochoose from (Screwfx, B&Q, online supliers etc) but many reviews seem to mention either warping of the shelves or installation problems.

Anyone got either recommendations, or things to look out for/avoid?

Nearlyold · 2 May 2023 at 3:51PM

How heavy are the items you want to store?

CliveOfIndia · 2 May 2023 at 3:59PM

As usual, it's mostly the case that you get what you pay for. But you also need to consider what you want to store on the shelves - just a few lightweight bits and pieces, or heavy tools, full tins of paint, etc. ?

I've got something very similar to this: https://www.diy.com/departments/4-shelf-steel-shelving-unit-h-1400mm-w-700mm/1710950_BQ.prd

Cheap and cheerful, they've lasted years and do what I need.

If the garage is at all damp then wooden shelves are probably best avoided, as they could well warp over time.

Or, instead of a shelving unit, you could just make your own with some brackets screwed to the wall and a suitable shelfing material (wood is fine if it's not damp).

Depends how much storage you want and what sort of stuff you want to store.

If you do go for a shelving unit, make sure you attach the back of it to the wall. In my experience, most domestic garage floors are far from even, and you don't want the unit toppling over. You don't need to go over the top, just a couple of decent-sized screws attaching the top two corners into the wall.

But yep, cost is a factor. The sort of racking you'll see in a warehouse or professional car mechanic's workshop will far outlast something designed purely for domestic use - but will also cost substantially more to buy.

A final thought - depending on your requirements, old bookcases or kitchen units can often be picked up for free or for very little if people are having a clear-out, and might possibly do what you need them to do? Just a thought.

Postik · 2 May 2023 at 5:50PM

I've been looking into this myself recently. The reviews for a lot of shelving is mixed and I couldn't make up my mind. My father pointed me in the direction of Tufferman and their shelving looks quite good.

In the end I have opted for plastic stackable storage boxes because I don't need to access the majority of the stuff regularly.

shinytop · 2 May 2023 at 6:43PM

I got these. Very good but big, not cheap and you need to collect from W Yorkshire. All metal and very strong.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/314119659939?hash=item4922fda1a3:g:p20AAOSwQHZjBzBl

The ones with metal frames and mdf shelves are OK but I had some and the shelves warped badly.

Ectophile · 2 May 2023 at 7:23PM

A lot of shelving units advertise how convenient they are because they assemble without bolts. Avoid them. Go for ones that bolt together, as they are more stable. If you are buying multiple units, it's useful to have some spare bolts, so you can bolt them to each other for greater stability.