DIY Garage Wall Storage Systems

weekendwarrior

weekendwarrior

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Joined
Feb 16, 2014
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Got an email that HomeDepot has a garage wall system sale today, 30% off a few different systems.  The Gladiator wall systems look great- I know a few folks on the FOG use them.

It got me thinking: has anyone routed out some slat profiles for a DIY wall system?  I'd want to use the available brackets/holders/baskets on the market since those would be more intensive to make, but cut my own panels.

Or is it just better worth the effort to just go buy the wall panels?  They're not always on sale, so might be cheaper to make your own if you find you randomly need another row.  Of course, not sure if a suitable material stock would be even available.
 
I bought a bunch of slat wall from a store that was going out of business. $10.00 / 4 x 8 sheet.
 
I tried that slat wall from mdf, and it failed.  Just pulled apart after about 30 days.  Guess it might work in a more climate controlled environment, but did not do well in my garage in Florida.  I got some of the plastic slat wall from Lowes and it has worked fine.  I just use it to hold 2 bicycles, my lawn edger, and stihl backpack blower.
 
You could also just get the gear track instead of the wall panels to hang stuff.

I went all in when I redid my detached garage into a workshop for maximum  flexibility and I had shitty drywall to begin with. I installed the wall panels over the old drywall as a new wall covering...
 
Every single joint in my garage needs to be retaped or a massive skimcoat.  A slatwall might be less work/cheaper in the end to just cover it up.  Not sure it would fix the big hole in my ceiling, though!

Is there a router bit that matches the Gladiator tracks?

Last time I saw the material I wasn't sure what exactly it was made from.  Would plywood work?  I saw this thread on french cleats, but that doesn't solve the horrible taping job.

 

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It is some kind of high strength plastic material. Cuts like it....

Let me see if I still have a piece and I if so I will post a picture of a cross cut section including dimensions.
 
I am in the process of cleaning out a former Radio Shack store and getting all of the standards and slatwall. The standards are 24" on center, with slatwall mounted in between them. Here is how the system looked in the store:

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

The slatwall can only hold lighter weight items, but the standards accept brackets that can hold around 150 pounds per shelf.

Hopefully it will look this clean once it's in my shop.
 

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Was that hole is the ceiling there when you bought the house?  If so, it looks like someone cut it open because of the water lines and a possible break.  Make sure the pipes are on the warm side before covering it up again.  But do cover it up, because CO2 could be getting in the house through that opening.

weekendwarrior said:
Every single joint in my garage needs to be retaped or a massive skimcoat.  A slatwall might be less work/cheaper in the end to just cover it up.  Not sure it would fix the big hole in my ceiling, though!

Is there a router bit that matches the Gladiator tracks?

Last time I saw the material I wasn't sure what exactly it was made from.  Would plywood work?  I saw this thread on french cleats, but that doesn't solve the horrible taping job.
Click to expand...
 
I cut the hole in the ceiling: the sheet rock was raining!  After inspection there was a hairline crack in my toilet above slowly filling the cavity full with some really nice water.

Would a utility hatch keep exhaust fumes from entering?  Not that I use the garage for vehicles at the moment, but it might at some point.
 
If you have living space above you probably need to patch with fire code rated sheetrock.  Of if you could find a fire rated access hatch (probably really expensive) you might be able to use that.

Peter
 
I have a couple of 4x8 sheets of T-111 ply wood out in the barn.  I had intended to build a couple of bathhouses for my daughter's back yard.  She had to move and no longer wants them.  I am almost ready to start making some wall cabinets/shelves in my shop.  I had been collecting scrap lumber for the project, but have been thinking of using the T111 for the sides and using the slots to lace shelves.  i can still use the lumber for the shelves. 
Tinker
 
[attachthumb=1][attachthumb=2][attachthumb=3][attachthumb=4]
I completed this DIY garage wall system last summer. Prior to the project, the wall was drywall that was fairly beat up due to previous owners installing various hooks and shelves. I first covered the wall with 1/4" plywood and then installed the rails. The rails are made form 3/4" and 1/4" glued together. The 1/4" plywood is about 1" smaller than the 3/4" to create a gap for a aluminum flat stock to slide behind. Overall I'm very satisfied with how versatile and strong it is. I didn't keep very good track of the costs but I would guess it would be around $350 with the aluminum stock being the most expensive. A lot of the rails and brackets were made from scrap materials.
 

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[welcome] to the FOG, [member=49077]bradalexander8[/member]!

Thanks for the motivating pics!

I think I'm going to plan on a french cleat system like this one- it looks similar to yours: http://www.familyhandyman.com/garage/storage/customizable-garage-storage/view-all

FH12SEP_WALLSYS_14.JPG
 
Thanks for the welcome weekendwarrior.

I should have included this in the original post but I based my plans off of this system.

http://www.familyhandyman.com/garage/storage/garage-storage-systems/view-all

I bought a variety pack of screw hooks from amazon. I looked at the metal support brackets, but they can get very expensive for ones that can support any weight.

I think the only difference between mine and the picture you attached is the cleats are cut are 45's. You just have to be careful you don't have weight to far away from the wall that's at the cleat height, otherwise it can slide off.
 
bradalexander8 said:
[attachthumb=1][attachthumb=2][attachthumb=3][attachthumb=4]
I completed this DIY garage wall system last summer. Prior to the project, the wall was drywall that was fairly beat up due to previous owners installing various hooks and shelves. I first covered the wall with 1/4" plywood and then installed the rails. The rails are made form 3/4" and 1/4" glued together. The 1/4" plywood is about 1" smaller than the 3/4" to create a gap for a aluminum flat stock to slide behind. Overall I'm very satisfied with how versatile and strong it is. I didn't keep very good track of the costs but I would guess it would be around $350 with the aluminum stock being the most expensive. A lot of the rails and brackets were made from scrap materials.
Click to expand...

That's a nice system you came up with, and the lamps are a nice touch too.  [poke]
 
I used the gladiator wall system. Good temp relief. In the long run bad use of space, you run out of wall space quick. I for one would not recommend them. Or use sparingly. Cabinets are better!!! Imo
 
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