The most popular systems for garage walls are slat wall and pegboard systems. At first glance, you may think both are similar, and it doesn’t matter which one you pick.
However, if you want lots of versatility and care about aesthetics for any garage organisation project, one choice stands head and shoulders above the other. Can I find garage storage cabinets to match my style? Absolutely! Even the cabinets in the garage should reflect your unique tastes and style. Garage Storage Solutions offers stylish storage in a variety of materials and finishes.
What Is Slatwall?
Before elaborating more on why Slatwall is the preferred pick instead of Pegboard, here’s an explanation of both garage organisation methods.
Slatwall also goes by the name Slatwall due to the grooves or slats throughout.
It’s a typical organisational strategy for retail stores, as it allows staff to hang metal racks that can show off clothing for sale.
More and more, Slatwall has found its home among residential applications as well, especially in garages.
Most Slatwall consists of medium-density fiberboard or MDF.
This engineered wood includes softwood and hardwood mashed down until they’re fibrous. Then they’re combined with resin binder and wax to make the panels.
What about those famous slats? These are machine-added for precision.
Before it reaches you, the customer, the Slatwall gets finished with either lamination or a pressing of melamine paper.
You can typically find Slatwall in four-foot-by-eight-foot panels, but those are also available if you need a more extensive discussion covering the whole wall.
By mounting aluminium or plastic inserts to the Slatwall, you can hang various items in your custom garage, from bags of tools or toys to bicycles.
You typically can’t see the fittings either, which is advantageous.
Another benefit of Slatwall is its range of colours. Some panels come in maple, white, taupe, or black.
This adds visual versatility to your custom garage. If you’re trying to match the Slatwall to your pre-existing garage style, that may be possible.
Advantages
Garage Slatwall whose load capacity and stability for hanging heavy tools, sports equipment are ensured, has ten panels, covering an 8-foot x 4-foot section or 32 total square feet with 10-piece multi-purpose hook kits.
Slotted wall panels are made from MDF (medium-density fibreboard) and PVC construction.
Medium-density fibreboard (MDF), generally more substantial and denser than particleboard and plywood, forms panels by high temperature and pressure.
That means it’s fire-resistant. In addition, PVC(Polyvinyl chloride) can adapt to the changing temperature and moisture level. Why?
Two materials are used in PVC: PVC film, a versatile plastic and can be used for waterproof textiles.
The other material is polyester fabric, a ‘hydrophobic’ material, which is naturally quick drying.
As for aesthetics, the Slatwall is more colourful than any other panels, and you can paint it into your favourite colour to match your decoration needs. As a result, it keeps your garage a beautiful free appearance.
What’s more, you can attach a wide variety of hanging accessories that are easily turned to horizontal Slatwall, such as cabinets, hooks, bins, baskets, and shelves, because of its heavy-duty and rows of horizontal sliding slots.
Therefore, most of us would possibly decide on a freestanding Slatwall unit to show a whole outfit rather than a dummy.
In addition to being used in the garage, Slatwall panels have been utilised in the retail industry for wall coverings and product displays for many years.
Disadvantages
Like a coin, everything has its two sides, goodness and weakness. Slatwall is no exception. Tacked to the wall directly, it is too difficult to tear down from the wall.
Although a garage wall panel is more appealing in the design aspect, it’s the most expensive of any three options.
Moreover, you need to understand the Slatwall display system to install your panels properly.
It’s a suggestion that you should hire a handyperson, a licensed and insured contractor, or skilled worker to install Slatwall panels for the reasons of their weight, complex and various tools to use when installing, difficulty in cutting to size or sinking into the wall studs.
Looking at the following installation steps, you will know why they are pretty hard to work with.
What Is Pegboard?
Your other option for your custom garage organisation project is a pegboard.
Also referred to as perforated hardboard, Pegboard has holes throughout instead of slats or grooves.
These holes are drilled in beforehand. Thus, each hole is entirely even from the other. You can attach hooks or pegs to each of the holes, hence the name pegboard.
Back in the early 1960s, the Masonite Corporation founded the name Peg-Board, but the trademark has long since expired.
The general term for the tempered hardwood, though, has stuck around. Not all pegboards are wood. They can also be metal, typically steel.
Metal pegboards are not always as extensive as hardwood ones because that extra bulk would be heavy, not to mention that it would drive up the costs.
Some metal pegboards have been known to sag from one mounting point to another, typically due to a lack of board thickness. If your Pegboard is thick enough, though, this should not happen.
Wooden pegboards don’t always fare much better, even if they’re made of perforated hardwood.
If you hang too many items on the Pegboard or you add one hefty load, you degrade the Pegboard’s quality. It may begin splintering or warping.
Advantages
PegboardIn metal or wood materials, Pegboard is a handy way to keep clutter up the garage floor.
No matter how metal pegboards would be more comparatively costly than the wooden one, yet it’s fire retardant and holds up well.
Plus, fastened straight to wall studs or drywall with a furring strip, the shiny look of metal pegs brightens up a dark space.
In contrast, the wooden pegboards tend to be chipped and split relatively more straightforward than the mental ones.
Thus, you can find they are available in sizes to fit most storage needs or storage space, and you can easily cover an entire wall by using several panels.
Mounted on to the studs of garage walls or inside cabinets (if the cabs are strong enough), perforated hardboard is easy to install.
Install it to the wall studs or furring strips using lathe screws. Ordinary drywall or wood screws will work.
Here’s a suggestion: the large washer head of lathe screws will help prevent tear-through when mounting heavy items.
By the way, it’s easy to hang and move around hooks and other accessories on pegs.
Except for garage organisation, pegboards can be applied to goods shelves in supermarkets, which helps customers visually look at the goods they need.
In the laundry room, music room, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, living room, you can notice it (as below information), as you can see that it is excellent for all sorts of environments without worrying about them falling apart. Complete your garage organisation plan by getting your gear off the floor with Garage Storage Solutions’ smart shelving and basket storage.
- Laundry room: specialised racks, shelves, bins as well as clothespins and other wash day supplies
- Hobby room: wrapping gifts, making crafts, or scrapbooking using tilt-out containers, twine holders, shelves, and jars to organise supplies
- Kitchen: paraphernalia, knives, pastry blender, potato masher, bean masher, skimmer, brush and the like
- Bathroom: ribbons, hairpins, the hairdryer, toiletries, and other necessities
- Bedroom: shelves and racks, a hip means for organising jewellery, belts, scarves, bags, books, magazines, CDs, and DVDs
- Living room: a metal strip pegboard to hang a revolving display of photographs or artwork.
- Music room: literature racks on the Pegboard for guitar and some musical instruments
Disadvantages
The majority of people agree that the Pegboard is ugly and looks cheap!
Unlike the colourful Slatwall system, you’re most likely to purchase pegboard panels in two kinds of colour: white and brown, which can leave a garage interior looking.
Of course, you can paint it in any colour you like. But after that, what you have to worry about is that the dried paint will clog the holes, which leads to further drilling holes through the dried paint.
That can make it challenging to insert hooks and other hanging attachments. What’s more, the Pegboard shows its limitation in load capacity, only suitable for lightweight objects, like smaller hand tools and lighter yard tools.
If you hang heavy items on a pegboard, like a bicycle or push lawn mower, hooks and hangers commonly get knocked off.
Both because it’s attached directly to two studs in a garage wall, even one, and because it’s such a flimsy material that it’s unable to support heavy tools over time.
Another problem with pegs is that garage owners must use spacers over drywall to hold the panels away from the wall so that hooks can be inserted and removed.
Because pegboard accessories need a small void behind the board to accommodate the mounting pegs, and furring strips are required for installing over drywall.
Doesn’t this take more wall space than expected?
Slatwall Vs. Pegboard: Which Is Better?
You are now familiar with the differences between Slatwall and Pegboard, including the pros and cons of each.
As mentioned in the intro, Slatwall is the more practical and efficient option for your custom garage.
It will allow you to clean the space, adding value and a high degree of functionality in the process.
Here are a few benefits that Slatwall has over the Pegboard.
Looks
Slatwall boasts a sleek, seamless appearance that’s made it a trusted choice among retail stores for decades.
It can hide all mounting hardware, so it almost looks like the items on the Slatwall are hanging invisibly on your garage walls.
Pegboard also isn’t offensive to the eye, but the design does tend to be more outdated.
Durability
Another area where Slatwall shines is its durability. It’s not entirely impervious to damage, but since you’re mounting items to the Slatwall, it holds up much better than a pegboard.
Remember, even a metal pegboard can begin to weaken if you overload it.
Wooden Pegboard doesn’t do much better, becoming warped and unstable when the items in the peg holes get too heavy.
Yet if you use too many holes at once on a pegboard, then the whole Pegboard can look disorganised.
In other words, you can’t win either way, and that’s a problem when it comes to organising your custom garage.
If you are still contemplating both systems, consider what you intend to store on the walls.
Both systems can easily handle items such as fasteners, rakes, wrenches, and hobby supplies. What about big and heavy items such as bicycles, chainsaws, and golf clubs?
Pegboards may give way under the pressure of heavier items, ripping the hooks out of the holes.
It’s no secret that slat wall organisers are strong enough to keep heavy items secured to the wall indefinitely.
Organisation
Your ability to organise your garage with nothing but Pegboard is quite limited.
Sure, you can attach all your tools to one board and then add some hooks for hanging items in bags on another board.
Can you attach a bicycle to a pegboard, though? No, you cannot. However, Slatwall can handle both large and small items all the same.
You can install hooks to the Slatwall to put your tools on display the same way you can with a pegboard, but you can also take things one step further.
From rackets to nets, bags of basketballs and soccer balls, surfboards, beach chairs, and even a tiny ladder, everything’s attached to the Slatwall with no risk of falling.
You also don’t have to worry about the Slatwall bending, buckling, or warping under the weight either.
Style Differences
The physical differences jump out immediately when visually comparing slat wall organisers against pegboards.
Slat walls are constructed of durable materials into elongated horizontal strips that sit flush to the wall.
Their visual effect resembles outdoor home siding. Pegboards, on the other hand, are made of individual panels with numerous holes.
Both systems use hooks for hanging items. If you prefer an elegant look for your garage, slat wall systems have a sleek, modern look.
Alternatively, the exposed remaining holes from pegboards are hard to ignore.
If you put in the time to organise your garage with a wall system, aesthetics may be necessary.
Especially if you intend to use your garage as an extra room for hobbies or entertainment. But looks aren’t everything. So, let’s look at functionality.
Between Slatwall and Pegboard, Slatwall is the best organisational pick for your custom garage.
The value and charm Slatwall will add to your garage increases your home’s curb appeal even further. Also, with Slatwall in your custom garage, you’ll have more functionality.
Organising With Holes Vs. Slats
Pegboards have been around for a long time, and there’s no denying that they’re easy to use.
Each board contains numerous holes, and you can decide where to insert the hooks to hang your items.
Peg holes are typically spaced inches apart, which limits ways you can personalise.
The sheer number of holes can unintentionally lead to board clutter. Sure, everything fits, but it doesn’t necessarily look all that nice.
On the other hand, Slat wall systems work in tandem with various sizes of hooks, bins, and baskets, giving you excellent versatility for neatly storing small to large items.
Unsightly clutter is avoided because each item can hang directly on the wall or be stored inside in a hanging container.
Tips For Choosing Slatwall For Your Garage
If you’re now convinced Slatwall is the best solution for neatening your custom garage, here are some tips to help you make the most of it.
Plan How Much Slatwall You Need
You may opt for small Slatwall panels or floor-to-ceiling Slatwall.
Both are within your grasp, but only you can decide how much Slatwall your garage needs. So first, measure your garage interior and then get to planning your Slatwall project from there.
Select Your Slatwall Style Carefully
Slatwall comes in so many colours and styles, so you really should take some time to narrow down your choices.
Plain white melamine surfaces match almost any garage, while cherry Slatwall adds depth and warmth to space.
Black melamine Slatwall has a timeless look, and birch melamine is bright, cheery, and looks like the real deal.
Compare Prices
Slatwall can be expensive, depending on the material you select. Basic white melamine Slatwall may cost less than Slatwall that’s coloured, for example.
Once you get Slatwall installed in your garage, you will have to tidy it up now and again.
You can use various cleaning tools for this, such as a vacuum, a duster, or some soft towels, soap, and water.
If you must spritz the Slatwall with a cleaner, then make sure it’s a mild product.
Avoid any products containing alcohol, bleach, or ammonia, as these could damage the Slatwall permanently.
Conclusion
If you’re eager to clean up your custom garage, you can use Pegboard or Slatwall for the job.
Both have their perks, but Slatwall is more advantageous. It can handle heavier loads without warping.
You can also get Slatwall in panels or from floor to ceiling, and it comes in all sorts of fantastic styles. A storage solution from Garage Storage Solutions can transform your garage into a social focal point for visitors with a modern look.