Arts & Culture
How Lehi Homeowners Can Reclaim Garage Space Before Winter
How Lehi Homeowners Can Reclaim Garage Space Before Winter
Fall is when many Lehi garages start running out of room. Camping gear comes home, bikes get used less, holiday decorations come out, and winter equipment starts taking over. Before long, there is barely enough room to walk through the garage, much less park inside. For homeowners in Lehi, getting that space back before winter starts with deciding what actually needs to stay on the floor.
Get storage off the floor
Anything you use regularly should stay easy to reach. Bikes, tools, extension cords, sports equipment, and yard gear can move onto wall-mounted storage, adjustable shelving, or slatwall instead of taking up valuable floor space. Keep weekly-use items between waist and shoulder height so the things you grab most often stay within reach.
Camping equipment, coolers, holiday decorations, and storage bins are good candidates for overhead racks because you may only need them a few times each year. A single 4-by-8-foot overhead rack creates 32 square feet of storage without taking away parking space. Rated 4-by-8-foot systems can hold up to 600 pounds when installed correctly and loaded to the manufacturer's specifications.
Winter also makes getting things off the concrete more important. Snow, road salt, and water come into the garage on tires and shoes. Cardboard boxes sitting directly on the floor can absorb that moisture. Sealed plastic bins stored on shelving or overhead help keep seasonal belongings away from the wettest part of the garage.
Some items should come out of the garage completely. Latex paint and other water-based products can be damaged by freezing temperatures, so check manufacturer storage instructions before leaving them in an unheated garage through winter.
Plan the garage before buying storage
One of the easiest ways to waste money on a garage project is to start buying cabinets and racks before measuring the space. A typical two-car garage runs about 20 to 24 feet in each direction. Once you add two vehicles, storage, utilities, and the space needed to move around them, that floor area disappears quickly.
Park your vehicles inside first. Open the doors and raise the liftgate. Run the garage door completely up. Check the location of the tracks, opener, electrical panel, outlets, water heater, windows, and entry doors. Then plan storage around the way you actually use the garage.
This is also where a professional layout can help. Perfect Garage Storage Solutions designs and installs throughout Utah County, including Lehi. The team designs garage systems around parking, storage, work areas, and future upgrades so cabinets, slatwall, overhead racks, and workbenches function as one system instead of separate purchases.
A scaled layout or 3D design can identify clearance problems before installation starts. Without that design phase, a few common mistakes can turn a straightforward garage project into an expensive correction:
- Buying before measuring: A good deal on cabinets doesn't help if they sit where your truck parks.
- Mounting into drywall: Loaded storage has to attach to structural framing, not just the wall surface.
- Blocking the panel, utilities, or door track: Fixing this after installation costs more than designing around it did.
Know what level of project you need
Not every garage needs a full remodel. If the main problem is bikes, bins, and sports gear covering the floor, wall storage and overhead racks may be enough. Custom cabinetry becomes useful when you want tools, detailing products, hobby supplies, and other equipment behind closed doors. Cost scales with the size of the run, the materials, and how much of the garage you're doing at once. Planning the entire space first also keeps today's storage from getting in the way of tomorrow's workbench, flooring, or additional cabinets.
If you are considering a larger garage project, Perfect Garage Storage Solutions has a guide to plan a Salt Lake City garage upgrade. It covers storage, parking, work areas, lighting, and future improvements before you commit to a layout. If you want help planning the entire space, schedule a free consultation with Perfect Garage Storage Solutions and get the garage ready before winter.
