Extreme Garage Makeovers Part 3 - Getting Into The Closets

This is how crazy this stuff gets, as seen in Moduline's NHRA display.

Previously on Extreme Garage Makeovers, I installed a 9000-pound capacity car lift from American Automotive Equipment, followed by a trick epoxy and urethane floor (on the shop side) from Protective Industrial Flooring and Imagine That 360 (ec, March and May 2007). The excitement levels remain pumped as I receive a huge order of Pro II aluminum cabinets from Moduline Garage.

In addition to the flooring and lift, cabinets and toolboxes play a huge role in setting the tone for a top-notch garage. For something that can be custom-tailored, available in a variety of colors, and combining toolbox-type cabinets with storage, Moduline is worth checking out.

Moduline uses computer-aided design and CNC manufacturing to construct each cabinet precisely. The raw material is a high-quality aluminum. Each frame is electrolytically anodized, converting the surface to aluminum oxide. This coating is highly resistant to corrosion and abrasion. Unlike plastic or resin, it doesn't attract dust, cause static shock, nor rust or deteriorate when exposed to moisture (which is what can happen with steel). Additionally, unlike wood and some other materials, Moduline's cabinets are highly resistant to mold and mildew. While durable, the cabinets are also light. I was able to lift and move each empty piece by myself.

The company offers a wide range of designs, including corner-filling L-shaped items. The cabinets have a baked enamel finish. Moduline prefers this over powder-coating for its consistency, which makes color-matching replacement parts easier. It's not uncommon to spot Moduline cabinets in specialty kitchens, dental offices and trade show displays. They've even grown popular in some new high-end homes, where the builder will offer them as an option and work their cost into the mortgage.

Moduline cabinets can be purchased as stationary cabinets, closets and toolboxes (which Moduline calls drawer cabinets), or as mobile workstations and shop carts. For this garage, I chose a stationary system. Moduline took the 12 feet of wall space available (to the right of my slop sink in the twin-car spot) and designed a system to suit my needs, filling all but eight inches of that space.

What was ordered gives a good idea of what Moduline has to offer. The large closet measures 75 inches tall by 32 inches wide by 24 inches deep. Next to it are three overhead wall-mounted cabinets 18 inches tall by 15 inches deep. The outer two are 36 inches wide to line up with the drawer cabinets underneath, and the middle one is 32 inches wide to match the seven-drawer cabinet beneath. In between, there is a wall space of 104 inches wide by 20 inches tall to be used later.

On the lower end, all three drawer cabinets are 36 inches tall. The outer two are 36 inches wide and the seven-drawer unit is 32 inches. They're also 24 inches deep, matching the large closet. Each cabinet is double-reinforced on the sides for extra rigidity, and all the drawers slide on ball bearings for smooth operation. On top is one large custom piece of aluminum, bringing it all together to make one large and trick-looking workstation. One option I took advantage of was adding Moduline's four-inch toe kick riser, bringing the counter top up to 40 inches and the top of the large closet to 79 inches.

The garage couldn't be complete without one of Moduline's most popular accessories-the folding workstation. Thanks to its aluminum construction, the entire system weighs only 29 pounds, but it's tough. Dimensions are 40 inches wide and nearly 30 inches high, with a 1.75-inch thick reinforced aluminum bench top. The unit folds up with a spring-loaded positive locking mechanism that keeps it closed. Installation was fairly simple. I had to drill a few holes to line up with the studs in my wall and the whole thing took about an hour. I placed it in the shop side of the garage for easy access.