Instructions for Built-in Garage Shelving

Materials Needed

• Garages commonly have unfinished interior walls and open studs. This makes it easier to build in simple shelves. Shelving supports can be built from 2 x 4 inch boards while the shelves can be made from 1/2 inch plywood or oriented strand board. Other materials can be substituted as shelves are often built from available scrap materials.

Constructing the Shelves

• A single set of shelves is constructed from two shelf supports with a horizontal shelf support connecting the front of the shelf support uprights and the plywood shelves themselves.

  The shelf supports are usually built first. Attach the horizontal supports to the vertical support to create the spacing required between the shelves. When finished each support will look like a half a ladder with the horizontal supports the rungs of the ladder and the vertical support one of the legs of the ladder. These supports are then fastened to the studs of the garage wall 4 feet apart. Use a level to fasten the horizontal supports to the studs at the appropriate height. Fasten all parts of the shelf supports together with 16 common nails or 2 1/2 inch deck screws.

  Fasten 4-foot-long horizontal supports between the two supports already attached to the wall. One of these horizontal supports will go along wall while the other connects the supports at the front. When completed all four sides of each shelf will be supported by a horizontal support.

  Cut the plywood to the appropriate size and place on the shelves. Use 1 or 1 1/4 inch deck screws to attach the plywood to the shelf supports.

Considerations

• These simple shelves can be modified for use in a garage with a finished interior. Instead of half a ladder for each support build a full ladder with vertical supports and both sides of the horizontal supports. The back vertical member is then attached to studs in the wall with 16 common nails or 2 1/2 inch deck screws. Continue the project by adding the cross member supports and shelving.