How to save money with garage cabinets

Storage is something we never seem to have enough of. Over time, the owners collect a myriad of items, some we need, some we don’t. We inevitably end up with too much stuff, not enough space, and end up throwing things away or in many cases renting a storage unit to put things away while precious storage space in our own homes goes to waste. The average one car garage has about 60 linear feet of wall space and is 250 square feet. In most cases, garages are underused or even completely unused. It’s a terrible waste of space that, if used correctly, could end up saving you a lot of money over time.

We did an online search for monthly storage unit rentals and obtained prices from several leading self-storage companies. We looked at different cities across the country to try to get an average cost and ended up with a range of prices. The pricing listed here was as of August 2010. A simple 5′ x 5′ storage unit will typically cost $45.00-$65.00 per month, while a unit comparable in size to a typical 10 car garage ‘ x 25′ will run between $150.00 and $250.00 per month (not including taxes and fees). At $150.00 a month in two years you will have spent over $3600.00 to $6000.00 and have absolutely nothing to show for it. Even if you don’t need the full 10′ x 25′ space and opted for the smaller 5′ x 5’ unit, you will still have spent $1080.00 to $1560.00 in two years. Over a ten year period, you can see how this can easily add up to tens of thousands of dollars.

For that kind of money, you could easily buy garage storage cabinets to store your stuff at home, where it’s more accessible, safe, and affordable. The best part about buying garage cabinets is that once you pay for the cabinets, they’re yours and you don’t have to buy them all at once. Buy what you can afford now, and you can always add additional cabinets later if you’d like. Monthly payments for garage cabinets will disappear while payments for a storage unit won’t, and the monthly cost of the storage unit will only increase over time. Cabinet prices can vary more than storage units, but the fact remains that they don’t have to cost a small fortune.

Depending on the layout of your garage, you may not have 60 linear feet of wall space available for cabinets. But assuming you have half the total wall space, you still have 30 linear feet of cabinets left over and plenty of free floor space. Large cabinets are 21″ to 24″ deep and with smaller cabinets 12″ or 16″ deep you will still be able to park your car in the garage. However, that would defeat the purpose of reclaiming all that valuable storage space. You can even incorporate a work surface above the low cabinets, with a pegboard, a batten wall, and even open shelving to create a workshop area.

To compare and give an idea of ​​cost, 30 linear feet of wood cabinets can cost between $2000.00 to $4000.00 depending on sizes and finishes. For those homeowners looking for a little more style, there are cabinet sets that come in a variety of materials, styles, and finishes to suit your individual tastes. In as little as two years, you’ll have paid for your cabinets, and each year thereafter you’ll be saving what you would have been spending before. That’s a nice return on investment!

One important thing to keep in mind is that not all cabinets are created equal! Many home improvement stores sell cheap imitations that have limited or no carrying capacity. From the outside they may look the same, but rest assured they are not. To get the most out of your investment, you need to make sure you buy quality cabinets that will hold up to even the heaviest loads. Cabinet construction should be made of ¾” material for strength and will hold at least 100 pounds per shelf or 200-300 pounds per cabinet. If cabinets are to be attached to the wall, make sure the fastening system is wide enough to hold the weight Cheap wall anchors won’t do Be sure to ask your cabinet supplier what the capacities are before you buy, you’ll be glad you did.

Garage cabinets add storage space, utility, and value to your home. They help organize your belongings and make your garage look extraordinary. Having a clean and organized garage with your belongings hidden behind closed doors will not only give you extra storage space, but it will also make you the envy of your neighbors. When asked if storage space is important when buying a home, most people agree that it is. You can bet that when it comes time to sell your home, your garage cabinets will be a welcome addition.