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2013/06/03 by: Sarah

Overhead Hanging Storage

Have you ever wondered, if you were a werewolf what would you howl for into the pale moonlight? Love? Money? Fame or fortune? I’m pretty sure that I would run to the tallest mountain, watch for the full moon to appear from behind a creepy, wispy cloud, throw my head back and bellow into the night, “STORAGE!”

I love my house, but seriously I only have one little, wimpy linen closet. Clearly the house was not designed by an architect that had more than one extra blanket. Some days I walk around the house trying to find space to re-purpose a nook or cranny… until one day I had the answer. Overhead storage in the garage, how hard can it be? Storage systems are hundreds (boo) and I had left over wood.  I also wanted to maximize a custom space, so, I designed my own. Turns out you can get a smack load of storage in wasted space in your garage! The entire project cost me $74 and I added 164 cubic feet of storage. Yes, even a werewolf would howl over that!

overhead hanging storage

Supplies : 2×4 wood, OSB or floor board, wood screws (lots of em!) quantity depends on your size of overhanging storage

Tool: Drill, saw, level, Stud finder (if your garage or storage room is painted/finished)

Overhead hanging storage tutorial:

1. Measure thoroughly and determine the dimensions of your hanging storage. Remember doors and windows in the garage that need ample room to open, also plan for plenty of head clearance. I built mine 38″ of opening which allowed plenty of head clearance and so I could stack two of my storage bins on top of each other with a little of wiggle room. (Remember when measuring the OSB flooring will cut 1″ from the opening.)

2. Build the base. You will actually have to lift it and attach it to the wall, so don’t get too crazy in size. Mine was built in three sections. The dimensions of the first was 96×40 with horizontal support beams every 30 inches. You can also do support beams every 24″ for heavy things or complete assurance. (You have to attach it to the wall in a stud or have you ever heard that song, “london bridges coming down…” Studs are generally 16-24 inches apart, so consider the stud on your garage wall when building the supports for the base of the storage so you can shadow the stud location of the wall and you don’t end up with a support beam exactly where it should be connecting to the wall).

overhead hanging storage

3. Attach 2×4 beams to the roof  the length of the structure. I used three 4 inch wood screws in each stud. Studs are generally 16 inches apart on the center. In my garage it’s easy to find the stud because the walls are unfinished and studs are along the white drywall lines. You will use this beam to hang horizontal 2×4 to connect to your base.

overhead hanging storage roof support beam

4. Predrill pilot holes and attach hangers along the roof beam with wood screws.I used three 4″ screws on each connection. My support beams were attached every 30ish inches, if you are holding a lot of weight (over 300 pounds) in your storage area you will need a support beam at least every 30 inches. Predrilling pilot holes on these beams saved us a lot of time and frustration– it’s easier to hold things level and drill straight on the ground than up on a ladder holding the weight! (If aesthetics are a concern, plan to paint the boards and/or make sure your screws are orderly.) Just a note, I totally went to town on the screws! I used five four inch screws at each junction… you could check with a real contractor on what she recommends. I was clearly going for the gold on this one!**

overhead hanging storage predrill pilot holes  overhead hanging storage attach support beams to roof beams

5. Attach a pilot support beam against the wall, make sure it is level. You can rest your base frame on this piece of wood while attaching it to both the wall and the overhead beams. I’m not sure if this is a real thing in the-professional-world-of-wood-building-stuff, but it saved me!

overhead hanging storage cheater level support

7. Attach the base to the wall and the hanging connectors. The base can rest on the cheater pilot beam while you drill screws to the studs and overhead hangers.

overhead hanging storage  overhead hanging storage  overhead hanging storage base to support beams  overhead hanging storage base to support beams 2

6. When the frame is attached to the wall and overhead beams, cut OSB board or floor board to the correct width and length and slide into place (don’t use a flimsy board or something that will break!) I used 1″ OSB board that was left over from a previous project, it pieced together, but  didn’t sacrifice any integrity by using several OSB instead of one (but make sure your boards are meeting over a 2×4!)

overhead hanging storage slide floor boards on

7. Stand back and admire your work of art! Gorgeous!! Now go get all that stuff shoved under beds and behind couches and give it a final resting storage!

hanging overhead storage  overhead hanging storage bring on the stuff

**I don’t do everything perfectly in the home improvement world. This project I really overloaded on wood screws. I was terrified that one day the whole thing would come crashing down on a car or worse… so I pummeled the poor structure with ginormous four inch screws everywhere I could. When I ran out of screws I returned to Home Depot for more wood screws and Hal happened to be working (yes, we are on a first name basis). I told him I needed more screws and he said, “Um, really? Okay.” At the completion of the project my construction friend came over to make sure it was sturdy and when he saw all the screws he laughed, then commented, “Geez, Sarah what are you putting up there, an elephant?” Maybe. Maybe I will.

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Comments

  1. Narayan Kumbakara says

    2014/05/05 at 6:54 am

    Thank you for sharing!

    What was the vertical depth of your cabinet and what made you to decide that dimension?

    Thanks in advance,
    NK

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      2014/05/08 at 2:02 pm

      Sorry for the slow reply. From the ceiling to the OSB flooring is 38″ of opening. I wanted to use my storage bins, two high and two deep in the storage so I stacked them & measured then added about 3″ of extra space. The 38″ allowed plenty of head clearance and so I could stack two of my storage bins on top of each other with a little of wiggle room. (Remember when measuring the OSB flooring will cut 1″ from the opening.) Good luck!

      Reply
  2. Amy says

    2014/09/24 at 9:55 pm

    Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!!
    I have been scouring the web trying to find some good DIY instructions for building garage storage. Yours if the first I have found that really truly make sense! And you aren’t even asking me to buy something to get the info!
    I really appreciate the virtual help!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      2014/09/29 at 3:26 pm

      Thanks for your comment, I hope it goes well!

      Reply
  3. Michael says

    2015/05/20 at 7:42 pm

    On each section(as I see you made two of them) how much weight can it hold in each one?

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      2015/09/08 at 10:08 am

      Sorry for the late reply, it’s disgraceful really. I’m working on this as other people have requested as well.

      Reply
  4. Stephanie says

    2015/08/20 at 11:55 am

    We have LOTS of upper storage space in our garage for this type of project. How much weight do you think the ceiling joists/trusses you are attaching to can hold? Is it necessary to do an additional diagonal support from the front of the platform to the wall?

    BTW, I’m digging the Y shirt. We bleed blue here in our home.

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      2015/09/08 at 10:07 am

      I will calculate the weight question… there are a few factors that go into it. The first thing to look at is what type of screws you have, the box will usually give you a weight limit per screw and that is your first clue. I’ll post more details as soon as I can get them together. Thanks for the comment. Go cougars.

      Reply
  5. Emily says

    2015/11/10 at 3:58 pm

    Your tutorial was awesome! Thank you for posting. We built 15 ft of storage for under 100.00 then used the left overs to build a coat rack with bench!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      2016/02/01 at 11:26 am

      Yeah! So glad it helped!

      Reply
  6. MIchael says

    2016/05/25 at 7:59 am

    Any suggestions for doing this in a basement with concrete walls?

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      2016/07/26 at 11:39 am

      I have not worked with concrete, but it is totally doable. It will require a cement drill bit and and cement screws. Also, make sure your paint (If you’re painting) will adhere to cement. Sounds fun, good luck!

      Reply
  7. Name* says

    2016/06/06 at 2:27 pm

    Will you look at this and see what you think?

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      2016/07/26 at 11:42 am

      Yes, send me a picture and I’ll check it out.

      Reply
  8. SN says

    2016/08/09 at 9:39 am

    hey what gauge of 4″ screw did you use?

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      2016/08/23 at 10:47 pm

      Hi, sorry for the late reply. I think it was a #8 with a rolled thread. Here is a pretty simple page about wood screws for more info. Good luck! http://www.woodbin.com/ref/wood-screws/

      Reply
      • KG says

        2018/07/22 at 10:32 am

        I will emphasise that this link stated that drywall screws are not wood screws. Most people do not know this, wood screws are stronger.

        Reply
        • Mike Riding says

          2020/04/15 at 11:20 am

          Yesssssss! Thank you for your comment! When buying screws ALWAYS look for screws specifically for your materials, drywall, wood, metal are the three biggies and they all function differently. It’ll say right on the box what material the screw is used for. Thanks again for the clarifying.

          Reply
  9. Matt says

    2016/08/09 at 1:07 pm

    Do you have any more picture of the 3 sections you built meet? I’m wondering if you have 2 2×4’s together where the sections meet.

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      2016/08/23 at 10:34 pm

      Sorry for the late reply. I can’t find any other pictures but I built each section individually like a box in step 2, so yes 2 2×4’s rest against each other where the sections meet. Does that answer your question?

      Reply
  10. Paul says

    2016/08/16 at 10:35 pm

    Great job, you did a great job. Your project is going to be my template for my project. Sorry that you went to the wrong school. 🙂 GO UTES!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      2016/08/23 at 10:32 pm

      Thanks! We bleed pretty blue around here!

      Reply
  11. Csbk says

    2017/07/08 at 2:34 pm

    Thank you. This is what I built. It works great. The 2×4 attached to the ceiling and the 2×4 coming off on one side seems to make a lever. Im concerned that too much weight (like a person) and not attached properly could pry off or split the 2×4 on the ceiling.

    Reply

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