What can I safely store in a non-climate-controlled garage?
Uninsulated garages experience extreme temperature swings, humidity, and pests that can ruin stored goods. This makes it difficult to use garage space effectively for items like tools, kayaks, and household materials without risking damage.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Keeping temperature-sensitive items like paint inside the houseDid this help you?
- 2Using plastic bins instead of cardboard boxes to protect items from humidity, dampness, and insectsDid this help you?
- 3building a shedDid this help you?
- 4adding a carport or lean-to style overhangDid this help you?
- 5buying a different house that meets all needsDid this help you?
- 6Using joist hangers from the center beam to the inner wall with a ledger board to mount hooks and storage.Did this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Found a house we really like..only downside which is one of the bigger things on the list was having a garage. To store things, kayaks, tools, maybe a bit of material etc.”source ↗
“I'd like to use our garage ceiling space for storage (bikes, outdoor toys).”source ↗
“The joists above (bedroom floor) are engineered iJoists, so I really don't want to hang anything from them.”source ↗
“Would I be able to put some 2x6 or 2x8 in joist hangers from the center beam to the inner wall with a ledger board?”source ↗
“I moved into a home with an attached garage for the first time. I’m in a dilemma where the house is large but the storage is small, but my garage has some nice storage space. What can I safely store in my garage?”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
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- 2How to heat a carport for winter parking
- 4How to find a 3PL for cold storage and custom labeling