If you own a home, you pretty much have to own a ladder just as a matter of survival. It’s essential to home maintenance — cleaning the gutters, trimming trees, retrieving the kids’ lost Frisbee off the roof. But it’s not like you use it every day — and it takes up valuable space in your garage. And if you don’t store it properly, the ladder can be a safety hazard, especially if you have children.
But do you have ceiling space that’s not encumbered by the opening of your garage door? That’s a perfect storage area — especially for ladders. It’s also handy for bikes, kayaks or canoes. The right ceiling brackets makes it all possible. Here are a few safety and functional factors to consider when installing ceiling brackets for storage.
Ladder Storage
To properly store a ladder in your garage, you’ll need 2 hangers (really 4, 2 on either end to support the ladder). One easy way is to secure L brackets into the wood of the joists of your garage.
Strategize how you will hoist the ladder. Make sure you have enough room with the back wall to be able to maneuver the ladder safely and conveniently. If you have a large enough garage to frontload the ladder, you could install the ladder only a few inches from the wall.
Bike Storage
Simple hooks hanging from the ceiling can be ideal for bike storage. Just be sure they don’t impede movement, especially when it comes to the functioning of your garage door or garage door opener.
Garage Storage Rack
You can also install a garage storage rack for overhead storage. This can be great for storing extra clothes, Christmas and Halloween decorations, or gardening equipment.