Does Your Garage Need Organizing?

When you first moved into your house, you probably took advantage of the luxury of being able to park your cars in the garage. Now they’re sitting in the driveway or in the street, and you don’t even open the garage door anymore. So what changed?

If you’re like most Americans, you fell into the trap of turning your garage into an oversized storage shed. Now there are so many of your belongings packed inside -- boxes filled with knickknacks, old mattresses, unused furniture, the tractor, lawn tools, bicycles, etc. -- you can’t even walk around the space anymore, much less find something you need.

Garage organization projects are one of the fastest growing segments of the home renovation industry. According to an April 2005 report by the Rockwell, MD-based market research firm Packaged Facts, homeowners spent $800 million on garage organizing products in 2004, and $1.25 billion on garage and shed storage products combined. The report projected that spending on garage makeovers would grow to $1.59 billion in 2009, making it one of the fastest-growing segments of the home-improvement industry.

If you’re planning to renovate your garage, start by taking inventory of what you own. You’ll likely find there are a lot of things you can simply give away or throw away. Next, make a list of what’s left and start considering your storage needs. Here are some solutions for the most common things people keep in their garages:

• Bicycles can be hung from hooks nailed to the ceiling or rafters.
• Ladders can be leaned into corners or hung from peg boards.
• Garden tools can be hung from peg boards or stored in tall cabinets.
• Power tools can be stored upright in cabinets or on shelves.
• Fertilizer, gasoline, paint cans, oil, poisons and other hazardous chemicals should be stored on a high shelf or in a locked cabinet out of the reach of young children.
• Loose tools, including hammers, screwdrivers, wrenches, levels, etc., can either be hung from peg boards or stored in drawers.

When it comes to cabinets and shelving, you’ll find a lot of options, ranging from coated metal wire shelving and particle board cabinets to furniture-grade cabinets and hardwood shelving. If you’re looking for a storage option that is built to last, check out the offerings from RhinoStorage by RSI, a new entrant to the garage storage arena.

All of the cabinets and work benches they offer have been protected inside and out with Rhino HardLine, a sprayed-on polyurethane-polyurea that is the same finish which makes Rhino Linings truck beds so tough. Among the benefits they offer are durability, sturdiness and security -- all factors that are of the utmost importance in a garage.

The line includes a variety of wall and base cabinets that are lockable and come with such storage options as metal drawer boxes and adjustable 3/4-inch thick shelves. There’s also a 60 inch long worktop surface that can be placed on top of the cabinets or secured to a wall.

“Our partnership with RSI is an ideal way to extend the Rhino reputation for providing the toughest and most durable protection in the industry beyond our core truck bed liner business,” says Pierre Gagnon, President and CEO of Rhino Linings USA, Inc. “Rhino Linings have been proven in millions of pickup trucks, and now customers can experience the same level of unmatched durability and long-lasting protection in their garages and workshops.”

Rhino Storage by RSI cabinets are available exclusively at Lowe’s Home Improvement stores across the country. For more information, log on to www.rhinostoragecabinets.com

Courtesy of ARAcontent