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Recycle Kitchen Cabinets into Garage Storage Units

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Recycling Kitchen Cabinets Adds Storage Space and Reduces Landfill Waste

In many major kitchen remodeling jobs, the contractor rips out the old kitchen cabinets to make room for the new cabinets. All too often, the old cabinets are doomed to the dumpster and destined for the landfill.

The little remaining cash value of the old kitchen cabinets are not worth the time to contractor. Rather than removing the cabinets carefully for resale or donation, too often the old cabinets are broken down and tossed away.

Many of these old kitchen cabinets are still structurally sound and with a little creativity and effort, these cabinets can make great basement and garage storage units. The base cabinets are the perfect height for workbenches, and the upper cabinets provide lots of storage options for tools, painting supplies and the rest of the stuff that accumulates in a garage. And the cabinet doors not only help to keep the contents clean, they give the garage a neat and well organized appearance.

Photos by the Author

From the Kitchen to the WorkShop

A recent remodeling project provided an opportunity to recycle the old kitchen cabinets into a new garage workshop. After a skilled and cooperative contractor removed and dismantled the cabinets, I positioned the cabinet carcasses along the back wall of my garage to make the most efficient layout. In my case, there were not enough base cabinets to stretch all of the way across the back of the garage, so I incorporated the 'gap' into the design by placing the table saw in the middle of garage and adding a plywood backboard for hanging a few commonly used tools.

The resulting layout uses a combination of overhead and base cabinets to create separate garage storage units and work stations.

Secure the Storage Units to the Wall

Installing the cabinets is straight forward, especially if your garage walls already covered with sheetrock. Locate and mark the studs for screwing the cabinets into the wall. If your garage wall is poured concrete, 1x4 nailer strips can be drilled and anchored into the wall. The cabinets are then screwed to the nailer strips. Painting the walls with a shade of white helps to reflect light to brighten the area, and adds to a neat and finished appearance.

Working from one corner, install your first cabinet. Depending on if you have a helper or are working solo, it may be easiest to install the upper cabinets first. Remove the doors and shelves to make them lighter and easier to handle. With a helper or two holding the cabinet in place, secure the cabinet to the wall by driving screws through the back of the cabinet and into the stud or nailer strip.

Add the Benchtop

Cut to fit, 3/4" plywood makes a study and practical workbench surface for the lower garage storage cabinets. Make the plywood bench tops slightly wider than the cabinets to create an overhang, and adding a strip of hardwood edging will minimize splintering and create a finished look.

Line up the base cabinet under the overhead cabinet, and check for level. If needed, add shims under to level out the cabinet left to right and front to back. Continue adding upper and lower cabinets, working your way across the wall according to your layout plan.

To attach the garage storage cabinets to each other, clamp the face frames of two cabinets together and drive a screw through the frame of one cabinet and into the frame of the other. After hanging all of the upper garage storage units, reinstall the doors. Without enough cabinets to span the entire wall, a section of plywood makes a good backdrop for hanging frequently used tools.

“Turn Old Kitchen Cabinets into Useful Storage”

Tips

Homeowners are always looking for more storage and there are plenty of other places where old kitchen cabinets can be put to good use, including in the laundry room, basement storage area or in the backyard shed.

A creative home owner can re-purpose old cabinets from his own remodeling job, or can find cabinets from other sources such as kitchen contractors or Craig's List. What ever the source, recycling kitchen cabinets keeps them out of the landfill.

Have You Turned Old Kitchen Cabinets Into Useful Storage?

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AlleyCatLane Mar 9, 2012 @ 7:58 pm | delete

Great idea! I hate throwing away perfectly good furnishings.

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survivoryea Mar 9, 2012 @ 5:20 pm | delete

What a great idea - everyone can use more places to put things! :>)

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quester Mar 2, 2012 @ 8:57 pm | delete

loved the idea of kitchen cabinets being reused. For more garage storage ideas check out my site: http://www,garagestoragetips.net

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johnncrick Feb 15, 2012 @ 10:52 pm | delete

This lens give me a great idea. Thanks. Check out my lens to learn more about kitchen pantry cabinet. Thanks.

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Tipi Dec 24, 2011 @ 10:15 am | delete

Anthony, you are an inspiration....the only thing needed here is some fresh angel dust!
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