Simple Steps for Building Plywood Shelves for The Garage

There are many different garage storage ideas to choose from, one of them is building plywood shelves for the garage. Plywood is a good medium because it comes in a variety of different thicknesses, is durable enough to stand up to heavy objects, and is also more light weight than other hard woods.

There are numerous building plans for projects made out of plywood, from simple wall hung shelves all the way up to complete storage ideas.

The first thing you need to consider when building plywood shelves for your garage is if you want them to attach directly to the wall, or be built as a cabinet. There are advantages and disadvantages to both directions.

Making shelves that are wall mounted can in some cases be easier to build, be adjustable, and come in a wide variety of different styles. You can attach metal hardware runners vertically along a wall, with slots for the metal brackets. These can be completely adjustable for almost any sized storage need.

While you are buying the brackets, think about how deep you want the shelves themselves to be. Most bracket arms extend in sizes from 6"- 12," however you can sometimes find longer ones. It is important to remember that the deeper the shelf the less weight it can carry.

Length of the shelf is also a consideration. Longer shelves are going to need more support; a standard shelf size is around five feet, with two brackets mounted on the studded rail. Once you have all these things in mind, it is time to put your idea into reality.

The first thing you need to do is go into the garage, figure out where you are going to need to install shelves, and take some measurements. It is a good idea to bring a piece of paper and a pencil with you so you can write these measurements down. Always measure twice, then write it down, just to make sure.

You also have to think about the depth of the shelves, and how high the first shelf is going to be off the floor. You also need to make sure that there are at least two stud lengths of open wall space so you can mount the adjustable rails to two studs, supporting the weight of the shelves as well as items you are using it for.

Some feel that they can buy self anchoring screws for drywall, but this isn't going to work, especially if you plan on storing large heavy objects. Just like when you are mounting brackets for hanging bicycles, lawn mowers, and other items.

Now that you have a plan as well as the measurements, it is time to go down to your local home improvement outlet. Some of these retailers will even cut down the large pieces of plywood, either for free or a small fee. They don't do intricate cuts, just the basics, but this is okay for rough cutting plywood.

Remember that you are not going to get exact widths. For an example, a standard piece of plywood is about 48" wide and 8' long. If you cut it five feet long, you will have a little under three feet left over, due to the width of the cutting blade. Don't expect to get four 12" wide pieces out of it.

Once you have all the materials you need, it is time to get to work building plywood shelves. You will need some tools. You will need a drill for drilling guide holes for the screws. When mounting the base rails, you should start at one end and work your way down the rail, with a screw about every twelve inches, and with a screw at both ends. Make sure that they are mounted evenly and on the level. If they are even slightly off the shelves will be crooked.

Then mark where the shelves should be and mount the support arms in place. Before putting up your plywood shelves, make sure you sand all of the edges smooth. If you want to keep your shelves longer, you need to apply some kind of sealant to keep out moisture.

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