Materials to Build Your Own Garage Cabinets

Lumber

• Garage cabinets can be built using lumber or metal. For a lumber storage cabinet capable of as much as 80 cubic feet of storage space -- four 32-inch bays -- you need 4-by-8 sheets of 3/4-inch plywood for shelving, end and divider panel wood. You also need 4-by-8 sheets of 1/4-inch plywood for sliding door panels, as well as 8-foot 2-by-2's for framing; and 1-by-2-inch lumber pieces for every 24-inch shelf created.

Hardware

• In addition to the lumber, you will need hardware items to hold the lumber in place, as well as aid the wood panels in moving, so you can access your stored items. This includes screws and nails, such as lag screws, framing fasteners, panel fasteners, track and trim fasteners, door track and finger pulls, as well as shelving cleats and cabinet bottom fasteners.

Tools

• Tools needed to construct your lumber and hardware materials into garage cabinets include saws -- circular, miter and jigsaws -- as well as sawhorses, and an air hose and air compressor. You will also need a cordless drill and brad nail gun, as well as a hammer, clamps, tape measure, stud finder, chalk line, level and straight edge. In addition, safety glasses, a stepladder and a ratchet set are needed.

Benefits

• These garage cabinets are deep enough that you can store your camping equipment in them, as well as your kids sporting equipment. The sliding panels make it easy to get items in and out, while keeping out dust at the same time. A metal cabinet might be more resistant to damage and rust, but you can expect to pay $600 for an on-the-ground one with much less storage capacity. It will occupy needed floor space as well, unlike the lumber cabinets, which you can build and put at the top of your garage wall.