What is a "Lumber Rack"?
Anyone who works with lumber on a regular basis eventually needs to evaluate storage options. Regardless of the cut of lumber you work with, a lumber rack is the storage device you will need. Ready-made lumber racks can be purchased from a variety of retailers or you can build one to suit your individual needs.
A lumber rack stores lumber to prevent warping, maximize storage space and enhance ease of use. Lumber racks can be wall mounted in your garage or shop to organize wood for upcoming projects. There are also lumber racks that mount to a truck for easy delivery and transport to and from jobsites.
When choosing a lumber rack, take the following into consideration.
- Sizes of stored wood
- Amount of wood to be stored
- Strength of the storage system (maximum storage weight)
- Available space for the storage system
- Easy of lumber retrieval
Ready-made lumber racks provide specs regarding the sizes of lumber they can accommodate and the overall weight rating. They also provide the dimensions of the rack and installation procedures.
If you opt to build your own lumber rack, there are many plans available for free on the internet. Simply search for "lumber rack storage plans." Do-it-yourself plans provide the flexibility to make your storage system specific to your individual needs.
The above characteristics also refer to home-made lumber storage racks. In addition, assess your design plans with your specific needs in mind to ensure your storage system is a success.
- If you are mounting the lumber rack to a wall, be sure the wall can support the weight of the lumber. Wallboard alone do not support stacks of lumber. Utilize concrete block walls or wooden studs within the wallboard to provide support.
- A workbench with lumber storage underneath the work surface may be a better use of space.
- Rolling lumber storage carts work well in smaller garages and shops with limited space.