Page 6 — Albert Lea Tribune, Thursday, October 21, 2010
Fall Home Improvement 2010
Tips for organizing sports equipment
By Andrew Dyrdal sports editor
Organizing a garage is tough, and finding space to store lawn furniture, golf clubs and a trampoline for the winter can make that job a nightmare. But Mike and Vicki Larson, of Albert Lea, have found ways to use their existing unfinished garage to inexpensively get sports equipment organized and off the ground. The space between wooden studs in walls can be the best place to find space for storing the little things, like skateboards, hockey sticks and baseball bats. The Larsons lean them between the studs and against the wall and then fasten bungie cords between the studs on nails so that they won’t fall down. The equipment is off the garage floor but low so the kids can
get access to them. J-hooks on the inside of the studs are a great way to help store bicycles temporarily. While most people hang their bikes high on the wall or ceiling, they are hard and dangerous to get down, especially for children. The Larson’s son, Cully, a thirdgrader, had his bike leaned up against an unfinished wall where he could easily store and access it himself. He lifts the front wheel off the ground by the handlebars and slides the wheel’s spokes onto the J-hook. It stays fastened against the wall until he needs it next. Golf bags and fishing equipment are best hung high in the air and off the ground on a wooden wall. For fishing poles, nail two nails close to each other and stick the handle of the pole between them. Tackle boxes and golf bags can be hung on
Fall Home Improvement 2010
Albert Lea Tribune, Thursday, October 21, 2010 — Page 7
one nail by their handles or straps. For big equipment that the Larsons need to store only during the winter, like lawn furniture and a trampoline, they built a loft in the back of their garage nine-feet off the ground. A two-pully system was installed on the ceiling in front of the loft so that large items could be drawn up easily. Mike Larson said he used a two-pulley system because it makes for half the weight and that his son Cully can lift objects up to him. The Larsons store cool weather items like lawn equipment last because that’s the first to come out during the spring. Using space off the ground and between studs is an inexpensive way to organize your garage for the winter. It also eliminates the need for costly storage cabinets.
Mike and Vicki Larson’s garage has nails to hang golf bags, bungee cords attached to studs to organize hockey sticks and a loft with a two pulley system to lift larger items like a trampoline and chairs.
Fishing poles and tackle boxes are stored away for the winter on a wall with nails to hold them up. This is an inexpensive way to get fishing equipment off the floor and organized.
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A two-pulley rope system hangs in front of the loft in the Larson’s garage. Two pulleys create half the weight of one so that Cully Larson, a thirdgrader, can lift objects up to his dad.
Along with spots to store golf bags and hockey sticks, Mike Larson screwed a J-hook into a stud for a place to store a bicycle. It’s low to the ground so his young son or daughter can easily store and access their bike.
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