Every homeowner can use a little extra storage space. With a large majority of garages in some form of disarray it is easy to expand your usable storage space by utilizing garage cabinets and getting your garage clutter under control. Garage storage cabinets provide a place to organize and hide your valuables while adding beauty and function to your home. But the idea of outfitting a garage with cabinetry can strike fear in a homeowner's wallet. However cabinets do not have to cost a fortune and can easily be installed yourself with a few simple tools. Garage cabinets are modular, meaning you can pick and choose from a number of sizes (modules) to suit your needs or to fit around existing obstructions such as hot water heaters, switches or doors. We will look at a few different cabinet styles and discuss the advantages of each type.
A very inexpensive type of garage cabinet commonly used is plastic resin. Plastics are extremely durable, stain and chemical resistant, waterproof and do not rust. Common plastics used are High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS). Though plastic cabinets are the most affordable they provide the least number of options in terms of design and style. They come free standing, rolling or can hang on bare walls or slat wall systems. Load capacities vary but plastic garage cabinets should be utilized for light duty storage only.
A more common garage cabinet material is of course wood. Wooden cabinets are available in many styles and can be a great place to start for an inexpensive solution to garage storage. Wood cabinets can be constructed out of a variety of materials such as hardwood, plywood, particle board and MDF. They can come finished, unfinished or laminated with a variety of materials such as Formica or PVC. The shelving and frame construction and connection methods vary from simple nailed or screwed designs, to cam lock systems or dovetail joinery. It is important to choose a construction method appropriate to the cabinets intended use. If the cabinets are to carry heavy loads be sure to utilize dovetail joinery as it is the strongest way to construct wood cabinets. Cam lock systems can be used for medium duty storage, with simple nailed or screwed designs left for only light duty storage. Wood cabinets can also come as free standing, rolling or hanging. When hanging cabinets on a wall, again be sure to utilize a hanging method appropriate for its intended use. For heavy duty cabinets the hanging method should be capable of supporting at least 250-300 lbs. Check with the manufacturer to insure their hanging system meets your needs. Prices vary for wood cabinets based on size and all the above design criteria but can be very affordable.
The next step in garage cabinet design is metal. Metal cabinets can be found in almost every mechanic shop, race car garage, and car enthusiast's home. They are strong, durable, beautiful and expensive. Metal garage cabinets can be constructed from various metals including aluminum, steel or stainless steel, and can come painted, unpainted, powder coated or polished. The main advantage of utilizing metal cabinets is strength and durability. Metal cabinets can come free standing, rolling or can be mounted to walls like the other styles. However metal garage cabinets have much greater load carrying capacities that can exceed 1000 lbs per cabinet.
With so many options ranging from simple plastic storage cabinets to strong and durable metal cabinets, outfitting a garage with storage cabinets can be achieved within any budget. Adding garage storage cabinets to your garage will not only add storage space for tools and paint cans but also allow you to store items from within your house that have been cluttering up your closets and shelves. With a few simple tools and an afternoon or two you can transform your garage into a neat and organized space.
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