When parking garage space feels limited, the first instinct is often to look around the vehicle for storage. But sometimes, the most useful space is directly above it. The floor may be occupied by a vehicle, while the area above it remains empty. For apartment properties where residents need extra storage, that vertical space may be worth considering. Above car storage units use this part of the garage without placing another cabinet beside the vehicle. They can work well where floor space is limited, but there must be enough height above the vehicle for safe and practical access.
Why Look at the Space Above the Car?
In many apartment garages, little room remains once a vehicle is parked. When additional storage space is added around the vehicle, it would leave less space for moving around the vehicle or opening its doors. However, the above car storage units use an entirely different strategy, which involves the use of vertical space rather than increasing horizontal space.
Not every garage has the right conditions for above car storage systems. Available ceiling height, along with the position of pipes, sprinklers, lighting, beams, and other building services, can limit the usable space above a vehicle.
How To Use The Vertical Space Effectively
Vertical space can be useful in apartment garages. It needs to be planned around the vehicle and the structure of the bay. The points below explain what to check before choosing overhead or above car storage units.
- Check Vehicle Clearance First
An overhead unit needs to leave suitable clearance for the vehicle below. Property managers should consider the vehicles residents actually use rather than planning around one small car.
The type of vehicle also affects how much space is available overhead. Taller vehicles, SUVs, or cars with roof racks may require more clearance, while an open trunk or rear hatch can extend further upward. These measurements should be considered before deciding on the size and placement of the storage unit.
- Think About How Residents Will Reach It
Using space above a car can solve a floor-space problem, but the storage still needs to be accessible.
Items kept overhead may better suit occasional things residents need every day. Suitcases, seasonal decorations, camping gear, or sports equipment may be practical examples.
- Compare Vertical and Floor-Level Storage
Not every parking bay requires the same storage design. In garages with enough space at the end of a bay, a carpark storage box may be a practical option without taking up additional space around the vehicle. There may be space next to the vehicle for apartment storage units in some cases.
There is the issue of clearance space for the swing door storage unit. It requires a space where it can swing without any obstacles. Where the space is limited, another design might be better.
Above car storage units may be used if there is enough height but limited floor space in the garage.
- Look at the Bay With a Vehicle Parked
An empty parking bay creates the illusion of extra space in the garage. In any event, storage considerations should always take into account the bay occupied by a car.
The residents must also be allowed adequate space for parking, opening their doors, accessing the back of their vehicles, and moving around.
- Choose Size Around What Residents Store
A larger unit is not necessarily the better choice. Its size should be based on what residents are likely to store and how much space those belongings actually require.
An above car storage unit should have enough room for those items without becoming so large that it affects clearance, access, or the way the parking bay functions overall.
Planning With Bradyl Storage Solutions
Bradyl storage solutions can be considered when property managers want to use parking areas more effectively. Available height, vehicle clearance, access, and the garage layout can help understand which configuration makes more sense.
FAQs
- Do above car storage units take up the parking area?
These systems make use of the vertical space above the car instead of installing an additional unit on the ground. Appropriate ceiling height and clearance from the vehicle must still be taken into consideration.
- What can residents keep in above car storage units?
They may suit belongings that are used occasionally, such as suitcases, seasonal items, camping gear, or sports equipment. Suitable contents will also depend on the particular unit and its specifications.
- Is a carpark storage box better than overhead storage?
A carpark storage box may work well where enough floor space is available, while overhead storage can be considered when the floor area needs to remain clear.
- When can a swing door storage unit work well?
A swing door storage unit may work where there is enough space in front for the door to open after the vehicle is parked. The full opening clearance should be checked first.
Conclusion
A full parking bay does not always mean there is no room left for storage. The unused space above the vehicle may offer another practical option.However, despite the efficiency of using vertical space above car storage units, the feasibility of such storage is still dependent on the height of vehicles and other requirements. Whatever the design, the goal remains the same: storage should make the parking area more useful, never more difficult to use.
Explore Bradyl storage solutions to find a storage setup suited to the available garage space.
