Building a shoe rack for the garage is an easy project that anyone can do. I have made many of these for my friends and family over the years, which never fails to impress them. The best part about making your shoe rack is that you get to choose what kind of wood you want (I prefer cedar), how long you want it to be and how deep each shelf should be — depending on your needs!
Step 1: Measure your garage space and make a list of what you will need
The first thing you will need to do is measure your garage space. This will help determine how many shoes you can fit in your rack and how much of a shoe rack you need to purchase. Once you have measured the width and height of your garage, list what tools and materials you need to build a shoe rack. The list should include the following:
- A saw for cutting wood
- Wood glue
- Wood screws (metal or plastic)
Step 2: Purchase the hardware, lumber, and hardware
Before you can start building the shoe rack, you need to purchase the necessary hardware and other materials that will be used.
You will need a saw (jigsaw) to cut the lumber and plywood. If you don’t have one yet, I suggest buying an electric model since it is more convenient for cutting wood pieces with varying thicknesses. If misused, a manual hand saw can significantly cause injury or damage to your hands if they have been recently injured or are not well-conditioned for this kind of work. The most common tool used by DIY enthusiasts is probably the circular saw which has been around for ages now, but it also comes with its own set of problems like limited depth level due to its design; it may also cause injuries because of its fast spinning blade which makes contact with your fingers when using too much force while cutting through thick material such as plywood or hardwood flooring boards (which consists mainly of oak).
Step 3: Cut the lumber to size
To cut the lumber to size, use a circular or table saw. The ends of each 2×4 must be cut square. Otherwise, they won’t fit together correctly. This can be done by placing the future against a straight edge (like a level) and cutting it with the circular saw or table saw.
Step 4: If you have an existing garage cabinet with deep shelves, remove it from the wall brackets.
Your cabinet should be sturdy enough to support your shoe rack. If not, you may want to look into a different option.
If you have an existing garage cabinet with deep shelves, remove it from the wall brackets (if there are any) and place it in its new home.
Step 5: Install the desired brackets on the wall.
Once you have determined the height of your shoe rack, measure from the floor to the top of your desired bracket. Use this measurement to determine how high each frame should be installed.
Next, find the studs in your garage walls using a stud finder and mark each with a pencil. Placing brackets on these marks will ensure that they are securely attached to the wall and not just floating around on their own (which would cause them to fall off when too much weight is applied).
Once your marks are made, use a drill/driver to drive screws through each print and into place. You may want help holding these pieces while they’re being screwed into place; if so, consider having someone hold up one end while you secure the other side or asking a friend or family member who doesn’t mind getting his hands dirty!
Step 6: Mark on each board
When you have determined the spacing and configuration of your shoe rack, mark where you want to mount the brackets and then use a drill/driver to screw them into place. Make sure that the frames are spaced evenly along the length of the wall.
Now all that’s left to do is hang up your new rack!
Step 7: Hold up one of your primary support beams.
Hold up one of your primary support beams to ensure that it fits securely in place and doesn’t hit any vertical studs as it hangs from the wall brackets. If necessary, use a drill/driver to add wood screws where needed.
If you are working alone, hold the beam up with one hand and drill into the drywall with your other hand. Once you have drilled through, use a level to ensure that both ends of the beam are perfectly horizontal before screwing them into place. If you have help available, they can hold up one end while you do this work on the other side.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You’re finished building your self-supporting shoe rack for the garage, and now you can start filling it up with shoes, boots, and sandals from all over the house.
