I am always looking for storage space. If there is one downfall we have as Americans, it’s that we tend to keep a lot of things we don’t want to get rid of. Thus, finding a place to put them becomes a chore. I considered renting a storage unit, but paying money for one just is not in my budget.
I was browsing Facebook Marketplace when I was inspired by a storage system made out of 2x4s. It was a pretty basic, simple, structure that even I, an amateur carpenter, could do. However, the scale for it was larger than the area I had available. The price for those premium 2x4s has come down significantly since the COVID epidemic when they skyrocketed. Now they’re running less than $3.50 a board. For under $50, I could turn the area underneath my backstairs into a usable, multi-storied storage space.
I already had a piece of treated 4×4. Whenever one is working with wood that needs to touch the ground, it is best to use treated wood. That way the wood won’t rot like regular wood could. First, I used my table saw to cut that wood down to a 2×4 size. Those two pieces would be the side base frame upon which I would then use the other 2x4s to make the floor.
To begin, I attached each piece of treated wood to fit adjacent to the existing stringer for the stairs. When I tested to see if everything was level, it wasn’t. I spent hours trying to figure out how to get those treated wood pieces level, to no avail. The concrete patio is slanted so that water runs down toward the grass. Finally it dawned on me that I could level the structure by adding wood to the top of the treated framework. I’m sure a professional would know that to begin with. But as an amateur, “you live and you learn.”
With both sides now being level, I began to cut the 2x4s to build the platform floor. I found it was best to measure each piece individually for length. That is a time-consuming process, but it allowed for each piece to fully cover the area like I wanted. Before screwing the board down, I used polyurethane to coat the edges to protect the wood from rain and snow. Once everything was installed, I polyurethaned the entire base.
I had a couple of wire shelving units. I attached 2x4s directly under each step to form the side ledge on which the wire shelvings could sit. I used an angle grinder to cut the shelvings down to size. I now have a perfect storage area for all my barbecue supplies.
Now if I would only pull out the grill and use it.