How to add garage shelving to metal stud wall?

[rjtvipul333]

Hi,

I am trying to help a friend build shelving in around the garage walls.

I have done this before at my house with wooden frame. However, my friend has metal frames. Metal frame is like 2-3 mm thick.

I am not sure what type of screws/studs would be best suitable for this work.

The shelving needs to be sturdy and be able to hold large weights (25kg per meter length of 500mm deep melamine boards supported with FlexiStorage strips and brackets. Please see the picture of what I am trying to do.

If someone can suggest suitable screws/stud that could hold the weights for this shelving, that'd be really appreciated.

Products I plan to use:

1) Flexi Storage Home Solutions 1000mm White Single Slot Wall Strip - Bunnings Australia

2) Flexi Storage Home Solutions 350mm White Double Slot Wire Shelf Bracket - White - Bunnings Australia

3) CUSTOMpine 16 x 1800 x 445mm White Matt E1L Carcass Shelving Standard Particleboard - Bunnings Austr...

4) Screws/studs - this is what I need help with for metal frame house!

Thank you,

Cheers!

[MitchellMc]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @rjtvipul333. It's terrific to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about installing shelving.

Typically, when fixing into metal studs, you can either use self-tapping screws or drill larger holes into the studs to accept expanding toggles.

I just wanted to point out that metal stud framing is very lightweight, and although it can have items hung on it, I would not deem it suitable to hold large weights. I'd encourage you to reach out to the manufacturer of the studs to determine whether the weights you intend to hold are within the scope of what is possible. Also, Flexi-storage shelving isn't designed to hold large weights. It's for light to medium weights and having 25kg's on each shelf and multiple shelves under each other risks the fixings failing.  

You might like to consider free-standing shelves, which are more capable of holding heavier weights.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell
 

[rjtvipul333]

Thank you Mitchell for the response.

The plan is to hang the storage so nothing obstructs car parking, opening the doors etc.

Only one shelf is needed, but around the garage ceiling - mainly storing empty boxes of monitors, Christmas lights, and other rare use stuff!

The weight will be distributed however, it is possible that a computer CPU can also be placed!

You believe metal frame would be enough to hold this!?

Any other alternatives then free standing racks?

Thanks.

[MitchellMc]

If it's just the one shelf, then I believe that is fine, @rjtvipul333. However, if you have, say, three of four shelves attached to the same uprights/studs, that could become an issue.

Mitchell

[rjtvipul333]

Got it! Yeah, its just one shelf around the garage, at roughly 7 feet up from the ground 🙂

Thanks again Mitchell! 🤙