Tips in Choosing the Right Garage Ceiling Racks

How Much Space You Have

Before choosing the right ceiling racks for your garage, you’ll need to know how much space you actually have. Measure out the dimensions of the space where you want the racks. Take note of your ceiling height and any obstructions, like lights or the garage door. 

This is something that my team will do for you; you won’t need to worry about it. The way you can help is to make sure we can access the garage to be able to take accurate measurements.

The Weight of the Items You Want to Store

Think about what you plan to store on your racks. If you’re keeping lightweight boxes full of holiday decorations, you won’t need the sturdiness that you’d need if you were to store kayaks and other heavy sporting equipment or tools. 

Again, your Organized Garage Solutions designer will talk to you about your plans for the racks and can help you determine how much weight you will need them to accommodate. Our systems can hold up to 1,000 lbs. per rack.

Which Materials are Best for You

We use industrial-grade steel racks, as we’ve found they’re the most sturdy and reliable material available while also being cost-effective. They are known for their strength and durability, and they’re also resistant to rust and corrosion.

If you were to DIY your ceiling racks, which we do not recommend, however, you might opt for a lightweight material, like aluminum, which is also resistant to rust and corrosion. In some cases, people choose wooden racks, but this isn’t something we’d recommend.

Whether Motorization Matters

If you are storing lightweight items that you don’t use frequently and you’re comfortable with getting up on a ladder to access them when needed, you may not need to consider motorized racks for your garage. 

On the other hand, if you are storing something heavy or that you’ll need to access frequently, motorization makes sense; it will allow you to get to your items quickly and without the hassle of dragging out a ladder. This is also the best choice if you aren’t comfortable on a ladder; safety is vital when using any garage storage system.

Safety Features

Speaking of safety, you will want to choose racks with safety features. Locking mechanisms can prevent racks from moving when you don’t want them to. Also, safety lips can keep items in place. 

As your garage door is opened and closed and cars drive in and out of your garage, there will be small vibrations that can shift items over time. Of course, in this area of Southern California, earthquakes are also a concern, so you’ll want to be sure your belongings are secure to prevent both damage and injury. 

It can be helpful to review garage safety in general, both before and after you have your garage ceiling racks installed. Read up on some tips from StaySafe.org

Your Future Needs

Finally, it’s important to remember that your current needs might not be your future needs. For example, if your children are young, you may find that as they grow, they will have various sporting equipment that needs to be stored. In this case, you may choose to put in more or larger racks than you need at this moment in time.

On the other hand, if you are getting close to your senior years and currently have no trouble with ladders, you might want to opt for motorized racks to make accessing your storage easier as the years progress. 

Think about where you’ll likely be in the next decade or two, and talk to your designer about how you can build your system now to accommodate your future needs.

Conclusion

Choosing ceiling racks for your garage can be a challenge, but my design team is here to help you make the decision that’s perfect for your needs. We’re happy to go through the different considerations listed above, so you can be sure you’re getting the best product for you and your family. Contact us anytime for a free consultation!

Source

• https://staysafe.org/safety/garage/