Is professional garage storage worth it?

Professional garage storage is worth it when your obstacle is time, lifting, layout or overhead racks, and probably not when what you need is a handful of shelves, hooks and bins. A professional brings design, matched hardware, installation and often a warranty. You pay for all of that, so the real question is whether you would otherwise get the job done at all, and how well.

When it usually pays off

• The garage is awkward. Low ceilings, door tracks, a panel, a water heater or uneven walls are easier to design around when someone has done it many times.
• You have heavy or bulky things. Ladders, tool chests, a workbench or a long run of cabinets are hard to hang straight and level by yourself.
• You want overhead racks. These load the ceiling framing and should be left to someone who checks what is up there first.
• You value the finish. Matching cabinets, a clean wall system and a coated floor are what pros do best.
• You are short of time. A one-day install can beat months of a half-finished weekend project.

When it usually does not

• You have a modest amount of stuff and a few bare walls. Shelves, wall rails and labelled bins do the job, as in how to organize a garage.
• The real problem is clutter, not storage. Sort and clear first; a pro system built around things you should have thrown away is money wasted.
• You are on a tight budget. Compare the quote with the cost of shelves and rails you would buy yourself before you commit.

Judge it on safety too

A professional install should leave storage that does not tip or fall. The fire administration's advice is to "Use safety locks and guardrails on shelves and cabinets when you store materials."^[5] Ask what the system does about this, how it anchors tall cabinets, and what load rating the shelves and rails carry. A system that holds a garage's worth of paint cans and tools needs to be anchored properly.

Check the licence before you sign

Virginia's contractor law covers a person who, for a fixed price, commission, fee or percentage, takes a contract for the improvement of a building.^[2] Unlicensed contracting is against the law.^[1] No person may engage in, or offer to engage in, contracting work in the Commonwealth unless licensed under that chapter.^[3] A Class C contractor licence covers a single contract or project over $1,000 but less than $30,000.^[2]

There is a practical reason to care. If you contract with someone who does not hold a licence, the Board for Contractors may not be able to help you resolve a complaint.^[1] By hiring a licensed contractor, you become eligible to receive monetary compensation from the Contractor Transaction Recovery Fund in case of improper or dishonest conduct.^[1]

Compare quotes and references

The Board advises you to solicit at least three bids for the work you need.^[1] Give each business the same sketch and list so the quotes cover the same job. The Board also warns: "Beware of any bid substantially lower than the others."^[1]

Ask the contractor for local references, and call them to see if they were satisfied with the contractor's work.^[1] For more on how to compare, see how much garage storage installation costs in Virginia.

Permits

Cabinets, shelves and rails rarely need a permit: Virginia's building code lists the installation or replacement of cabinetry or trim among the work for which no permit application or related inspection is required.^[4] Framing changes, new wiring and work on the wall shared with the house are different, so ask your locality's building office.

A middle path

You do not have to choose all or nothing. Many people hire the parts that need skill or muscle, such as overhead racks, a built-in workbench or an electrician for lighting, and do the sorting, bins and wall rails themselves. A closet is similar; see whether a custom closet system is worth the money.

Stop and call a pro if

• You want racks hung from the ceiling or anything that needs framing cut, moved or added.
• You need new outlets, lighting or a circuit for a workbench. That is a licensed electrician's job.
• A bidder wants a large deposit up front, cash only, or cannot show a Virginia licence on a job of $1,000 or more.
• The garage has damp walls, water stains or mold. Fix the moisture first.

Related answers and getting quotes

Browse more interiors answers or the interiors directory. When you are ready, describe your garage and local businesses can send written quotes.