Assemble two 7 1/2 x19' slatwalls in 4 hours

Yes, you can choose less expensive ways to organize your walls for tools, sports equipment, and all the other necessary stuff that ends up in the garage. But you'd be hard pressed to find a system that is quicker to install and more versatile than PVC vinyl slatwall. The system favored by retailers now has price points that make it a smart choice for homeowners.

StoreWALL recently introduced metal InstallStrips, a mounting system that eliminates the step of screwing slatwall sheets to the wall, which improves the appearance, too. With no fire-code requirement in this detached garage, Zac and his friend Mark attached InstallStrips directly to the wall studs, allowing them to skip the expense and mess of drywall on two walls. The pair installed two 7¹⁄₂ x19' walls in a morning.

Hangers slip easily into slats. This hanger has a locking feature for the lower slat.

1. After marking a level line across all studs, fasten the 45"-long mounting strips (InstallStrips) to the studs using #8 x 1¹⁄₂ " screws. Zac used a 6' level to confirm the alignment of the strips.

2. Cut the StoreWALL panels to length with a standard or plywood-cutting blade mounted in a circular saw. Minimize chip-out by cutting with the good side of the panel down.

3. Starting at the bottom, Zac and Mark slide the 15 x 96" panels into place over the InstallStrip grippers. For appearance and strength, they staggered the slatwall seams.

4. After marking the outline for an electrical box, mark the openings ¹⁄₄ " oversize in both directions. Drill ¹⁄₂ " blade start holes inside two opposite corners.

5. With a jigsaw and a standard blade (about 10 teeth per inch), cut the opening for the outlet. The switchplate cover (installed after Step 6) covered minor splintering caused by the cutting action.

6. Install electrical boxes ³⁄₄ " forward from the studs, so they will match up with the front face of the 1¹⁄₁₆ "-thick StoreWALL material when it's secured on the InstallStrips.