Build Your Own Garage Cabinets

Answer 1

Building the garage cabinets, one wall at a time, saves hauling everything outside.

There are two situations that call for building or installing garage cabinets. The first would be when a new house has just been completed and the owner is anticipating using part of the garage for storage. The second situation would be the lack of room to move around in the garage and the door is difficult to close all the way.

With either one of these, garage cabinets are a practical solution. Fortunately, there are a few ways that have proven to be inexpensive in terms of building garage cabinets. In addition, this is not a difficult job to plan and accomplish, and the average DIY person can install these cabinets in a relatively short time.

The most basic assembly consists of 2” x 4” frames that attach to the floor with expander bolts, and can be nailed to the ceiling joist or rafters with #16 box nails. The frames can be installed at 24” wide, to receive a half sheet of plywood as shelving. In this way, one full sheet of 4’ x 8’ plywood will make two, 8’ long shelves. The plywood can be 5/8” thick, construction grade or better, if preferred. Decking screws can be used to secure the plywood to the frames, and once a wall of shelving is completed, the shelves can be stocked to make room for building a cabinet on another wall. Doors can be made using the same plywood material, and they can be hinged and installed at the same time, or whenever it may be convenient. The idea is to get things off the floor and realize a degree of organization.

For those who prefer metal frames for extra durability, 3/16” thick angle iron will make an excellent framework. Again, 5/8” plywood can be cut into half sheets for the shelves, and attached to the metal frames using self-tapping screws. Securing the metal frames to the floor can be accomplished using expander bolts. The upper sections of the frame can be attached using pan head wood screws for a secure assembly.

The final alternative would be to have prefabricated or custom cabinets installed in the garage. These can be painted or stained to any desired finish and the hardware could be polished brass or brushed aluminum. These styles of cabinets are particularly suited for carriage houses and dual use garages.