A Guide to Garage Storage Cabinets

Garage storage cabinets are manufactured using several popular methods and materials. The quality of the cabinetry varies widely as well as the cost. While inexpensive cabinets may temporarily suit the needs of a casual homeowner, a quality cabinet will provide a lifetime of heavy garage use. Garage cabinets are made with a variety of materials including wood, metal and plastics.

With all types of cabinets, my #1 recommendation is to mount the cabinets at least a few inches above the floor. This protects cabinets from damage if your water heater leaks and allows quick cleanup with the garden hose. You will also eliminate a cozy home for insects and rodents.

Wood Cabinets

The majority of garage storage cabinets are manufactured from wood based products and require the most explaining. With wood cabinetry, attention to the materials and construction methods used is paramount to achieving a quality cabinet system. Here are some additional items you should look/lookout for in a garage cabinet system:

Core Materials

Particleboard Storage Cabinets

You will find least expensive garage cabinets manufactured from particleboard. Particle Board is an engineered wood product composed of sawdust, splinters, chips or shavings, bound together with an adhesive. The board is typically manufactured by extrusion, or hot pressed. Particleboard is extremely susceptible to the effects of moisture. For this reason it is used primarily for interior furniture applications and as sub-flooring material. The following photos depict some problems I experienced with particle board in the garage.

Shelf fractured when stepped upon.

↑ Moisture damage

← Unable to handle garage abuse.

MDF Storage Cabinets

Medium Density Fiberboard is similar in construction to particleboard, but is formed of much smaller wood fibers. The resulting product is a dense, smooth, and very heavy board. During the forming process, paraffin wax may be added to the fibers to provide water resistance and reduce swelling from temporary moisture conditions. Modern MDF products manufactured with premium resins can be a good choice for garage storage cabinets in low humidity climates. The structural properties approach those of solid wood and the surface is idea for applying decorative laminates. Many premium garage cabinet companies use MDF board.

Ulti-MATE Garage PRO 5-piece Cabinets

Plywood Storage Cabinets

Plywood is constructed of uneven layers of veneers (thin slices of wood). The layers are joined together with adhesive with alternating the grain patterns to create a dimensionally strong panel. Plywood is suitable for high moisture environments and is often used for exterior projects.

Plywood is also lightweight compared to particleboard or MDF. Plywood does not offer the smooth texture of MDF and must be covered with a laminate to provide an attractive finish for garage cabinets. Garage Detailer recommends Slide-Lok garage storage cabinets manufactured with strong plywood sides and fascia and a tough 9-ply laminate surface

Construction Methods

Custom Built

Custom cabinets provide a permanent solution to your garage storage needs. The cabinets may be constructed on site and either stapled, screwed or nailed together and attached permanently to the wall. Custom garage cabinets can provide a clean uniform look to match the interior of the home or be simple storage with exposed particleboard or MDF.

When purchasing a custom built cabinet system, be cautious of the materials used. Staples, screws and nails will all cause problems overtime with inexpensive particleboard cabinets. The wood will expand and contract with climatic changes causing failure of the fasteners and cabinet system.

Modular

Modular cabinets are pre-assembled before attaching to the wall. Modular cabinets may appear custom installed by stacking and joining multiple sized cabinets together to fit your needs. The advantage of modular cabinets is their portability. Modular cabinets can be quickly removed from the wall and taken with you if you move.

The strongest and most durable modular cabinet systems use a dovetail assembly construction method. For more than 100 years, the finest cabinetmakers have constructed all sorts of furniture using the dovetail technique. A dovetail joint consist of a wedge shaped tenon along the edge to be joined on one component and a wedge-shaped slot on the mate.

The best dovetail joinery requires no gluing. As a testament to the durability of this joining method, our kitchen table is over 60 years old and is all dove-tail joints with no glue. You can quickly disassemble the entire table without the use of any tools. We use this antique sturdy table everyday and it is still like new. Our Slide-Lok garage storage cabinets’ plywood core is manufactured using similar dovetail construction techniques.

Finish

The exteriors of garage cabinets are typically fused with an attractive and durable laminate surface available in colors, wood tones, or metal finishes. The interior on inferior cabinets is often left unfinished, and the raw wood will absorb and permanently stain with greases, solvents, and oils typically found in the garage.

When inspecting the finish, look for the use of T-molding edge banding. This is typically a plastic material that fits into a small groove cut into the door edge. Over time with climatic changes, this edge trimming method will fail.

Resin (Plastic) Storage Cabinets

Cabinets made from plastic materials are available from many home centers. Suncast, Black & Decker, and many other manufacturers have offerings. Plastic avoids the problems associated with moisture in the garage, but I have yet to find a resin cabinet worthy of my recommendation. Chemicals and sunlight discolor many plastics; heavy garage items warp plastic shelves, and plastic cabinet doors typically do not latch closed and warp over time.

Metal Garage Storage Cabinets

Several manufacturers now offer metal cabinets tailored specifically for the garage or workshop. Metal cabinets with modern powered-coated finishes are virtually indestructible. True Garage Fanatics looking for the highest quality storage systems will settle for nothing less than metal cabinets. Companies such as Gladiator GarageWorks and Eliminator provide metal garage storage cabinets with a unique advantage. These metal cabinets have heavy-duty casters so you can easily move them around. When you’re ready to move, there is no need to unpack them. Simply roll them on the trailer or truck fully loaded and go! Sears also makes a handsome metal cabinet line for a decent price.

Those looking for the ultimate garage storage system – check out the modular system offered by LISTA International. Once found only in commercial use, these top-of-the-line cabinets are now finding their way into extreme garages. If you demand the very best, this is it!

Two other metal storage systems I personally find attractive are made by Dura (imported from England) and Baldhead in California.

No matter what your preference in garage cabinets is, give Garage Detailer a call at (866) 364-3148. We service the Arizona market with Slide-Lok cabinets, Gladiator GarageWorks, Lista, and Dura.

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