Homemade Garage Ceiling Storage Racks

Lumber

• If you want to store one single item that's too large or ungainly to bring into the house, build a C-shaped storage unit by creating several three-sided racks from 2-by-4 lumber. Insert screws through the top arm of each C into a beam in the ceiling and reinforce the storage rack by using steel L-brackets at the corners. You can also attach brackets at the end of the rack's arms to secure your equipment, such as a rowboat or canoe.

Bike Racks

• While bike racks can be made out of lumber as well, it is frequently easier to attach a pair of U-brackets to the ceiling near a wall or other out-of-the-way place. Just hang the bike by its frame if there's enough space to allow the bike to hang down.

Wired Shelving

• One of the most flexible methods of creating garage ceiling storage racks is to suspend wired shelving from the ceiling beams. To use this method, insert appropriately sized eyebolts into the ceiling beams so that a bolt will be directly over each corner of your shelf. Attach a chain to each eyebolt, loop the chain through the wires of the shelf and then attach it to itself by inserting a nut and bolt through two links of the chain. The best part about this method is that, if you leave some extra chain, when you want to put taller items on the shelf you can simply unscrew the bolts, allow the shelf to drop down the desired distance and reattach the bolt. The most important thing to remember when using this method is to check that all four corners of the garage ceiling storage rack are level.

What Not to Store

• While using garage ceiling storage racks can be very beneficial, especially if you're an outdoorsman, it's important not to store anything too heavy or hard to immobilize overhead. For instance, you might want to find a better place to store your bowling ball. Overhead storage is probably not the best place to put the weights from your weightlifting set, either. Another type of item you should avoid storing overhead is any kind of liquid that can leak and cause a problem. Not only are liquids generally heavy, but many liquids can cause a hazard if they drip onto your car or splash down on your head. Flammable and caustic liquids should especially be avoided. Consider safety before convenience when using your overhead storage racks.