I was reading that the upper section of the garage walls right under where the roof joists meet the sidewalls is often wasted when it comes to storage. The article advised that building a wrap around shelf would amount to hundreds of square feet of storage space. Problem was all the plans I saw were very expensive and cumbersome looking without much strength…about 30 pound boxes max.
I like the concept itself even though it is not practical in a smaller garage where the door tracks make storage up to the rafters in the front third of the garage impossible. Instead, I planned out a “quarter loft” that would span the entire width of the back of the garage. Not tall enough to stand on, but nearly two feet deep, eighteen feet wide and very strong. To support it I planned a large built in cabinet underneath, more of a large wall locker really. I know this would sacrifice permanently some floor and wall space, but it would be lockable storage for a variety of things I have wanted to get out of the house in the off season as well as copious drawer space. Additionally anything that projects beyond the four walls of the garage interior increases surface space to hang tools and jigs from. The recesses to the right and left of the “wall locker” I have left unplanned, except that one side would be dedicated to the “shop” and the other would hold a small work out area for the bow flex.
I started with a simple header across the wall. Yes, I should have insulated first, and regretted it as the temperature plunged to -20 last winter. On the other hand I had limited time before I would owe another months rent on the public storage locker so I had to get this up quick if I didn’t just want a huge mess of stuff in the middle of the new garage.
I did come to my senses and insulate under areas I would not be able to get to later.
You get the idea how big this is. I decked it out with 3/4 particle board on top and sheathed the locker in 1/2 plywood. Before I could get any farther, it was time to bring all my stuff home and get it squared away as best I could before one of the coldest, most unpleasant winters in many years descended on me, along with a nasty cold. So as these things go, the storage on top is fantastic and the storage below currently holds extra plywood. I will have it finished before this winter though!