Need wall storage in your garage? Learn how to install the Flow Wall system. It’s an awesome organizer that’s functional and looks great!
We are so happy with the flow wall system we installed in our garage. First, we want to share with you why we think it’s so wonderful! Then, we’ll give you all the details on how to install the Flow Wall system in your home.
**Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. We appreciate your support. (disclosure policy)
Why the Flow wall system is awesome
If you’ve been following the blog for a while, you know two things are very important to us when it comes to our home.
First and foremost, it needs to be functional. For a room to function properly and efficiently, it has to be organized.
Second, if you really want to enjoy a room or space in your home, it has to be visually appealing.
If you love how your space looks, you’ll enjoy spending time there. The Flow Wall system checks both of those boxes because it is functional and looks great too.
Functional
The system is made up of panels that you can arrange on your wall any way you like. You can use six panels or sixteen, it’s totally up to you and your needs.
You can purchase hooks, magnets, containers, cabinets, and shelves to add to the panels. It allows you to store all kinds of tools, equipment, and supplies. It’s totally customizable to your needs.
You can move the hooks, shelves, etc. to a different place on the wall if your needs change.
We used it in the garage but you could put it in a storage closet, craft room, or laundry room.
Looks good
The panels look nice and come in three different colors. We chose silver, but they also have black and white.
You can get a very customized look! If you don’t want to see your items hanging on the wall, you can purchase cabinets.
Gather materials to install the flow wall system
- power drill
- drill bits sized based on screws. (We bought Tapcon masonry bits for 3/16″ screws. Buy several as they get dull and one is not enough. Packs of 4 are sold at HomeDepot)
- regular drill bit for wood or plastic 1/4″ diameter slightly larger than the concrete screw diameter
- Phillips head bit (or specialty bit that comes with some screws)
- Screwdriver for bit
- tape measure
- pencil (marker works better on masonry walls)
- bubble level
- laser level
- flow wall panels
- screws- For masonry walls, we purchased 3/16″ X 1 3/4″ Tapcon concrete screws. Flow Wall panels or kit comes with plenty of wood screws but no concrete screws.
- Stud finder (only if installing on wood-framed walls. We did not use it for our masonry wall)
How to install the flow wall system
Decide where panels will go on the wall
The first step is to decide where the panels will go on your wall. It is important to consider what you want to hang. Flow Wall panels are 4 feet-wide by 1-foot tall panels that interlock. Unless you are using the upper cabinet or lower cabinet options, there is really no reason to install panels from ceiling to floor. We started about 2.5 feet from the ceiling and ended about 4 feet from the floor since we are not using hanging cabinets.
Order panels
Once you know what you are organizing on the wall, order a kit or the number of panels you will need. We purchased a Flow Wall kit from HomeDepot that contained 12 panels, 4 shelves, 6 four-inch hooks, 4 eight-inch hooks, and a heavy ladder hanger. We also got a second set of hooks and shelves.
Decide how to arrange panels on wall
There are several different ways you can hang your panels. If you’re unsure, Flow Wall has suggested configurations. For our pattern, we decided on 3 columns of 4 panels. We need to hang a lot of yard tools like rakes and shovels so we chose to have more horizontal than vertical storage.
There is an outlet on the garage wall, so we decided to start our pattern just above it. If you cannot avoid an outlet, you will have to cut a hole in the panel.
eXAMINE Masonry WALLS
We have concrete masonry walls, so I did not have to locate studs. I paid attention to the block pattern and odd places on the walls. As I mentioned before, make note of outlets or other obstacles. Remember, holes drilled into concrete must be precise and straight.
Hang the panels
Prepare first panel
To prepare the first panel, I followed the Flow Wall recommended screw pattern in their instructions. I used my marker to mark screw locations in the grooves on the panel at all four corners. Then I marked additional screw locations on the top horizontal groove and the third groove down at 16″ and 32″ inch locations measured from the left side of the panel. Next, I used a regular drill bit 1/4″ diameter which is slightly larger than 3/16″ screws, and drilled holes in the panel.
*Tip: Use an extra piece of board underneath the panel to avoid drilling through the panel and harming your workbench surface.
Mark location of first panel
Start with the bottom-most right panel. Once hung, it is easier to interlock and support the next panel going up. First, we held up the panel at the location concerning that outlet I mentioned and marked the wall for the location of the bottom left corner and left side of the panel. Then use a laser level and make marks every few inches of your laser line from that bottom corner mark to the layout where the first panel will rest on the wall.
Place first panel to mark screw location on wall
Align the first panel on the wall to your vertical and horizontal marks. Best to have a helper and to test by placing the bubble level on top of the panel to check the level. When satisfied that it is level, take your marker and mark the screw location of the right bottom corner by marking a dot on the wall through the pre-drilled hole in the panel.
Pre-drill hole for first concrete screw
Put the panel aside and pre-drill the hole in the masonry wall using a Tapcon masonry bit. Be sure to keep drill level and take your time so as not to stress the bit. They can break. Align the panel on the wall, check for level, and use a screwdriver to put in the first screw.
*Tip: I put tape on the drill to help know when I had reached the proper depth in the concrete
Pre-drill for remaining screws and fully attach panel
The panel is attached with the first screw. Now recheck that panel is aligned to marks on the wall and is level. Have a helper hold the panel steady and pre-drill the bottom left screw hole, then attach the screw. With the panel now secure and level, proceed to pre-drill and attach the upper right and left screws. Then insert the four screws in the center of the panel. It is important to get this panel secure and level so your column of panels is straight.
Install remaining panels for the column
With the bottom panel secure, prepare your next panel by marking the same screw hole pattern and pre-drilling holes in the panel as was done on the first panel. Hold the panel in place by interlocking to the first panel per Flow Wall instructions. Line up the edges and pick a top corner and pre-drill the screw hole. Put the panel in place and use a marker to mark the hole. Remove the panel and pre-drill the first hole in the wall. Put the panel back in place and put in the screw. The panel is now secure so pre-drill and insert the rest of the screws. Repeat for the remaining panels in the column.
Start the next column of panels
Flow panels interlock end to end using a couple of plastic dowels or pegs. To start the next column, first mark the same screw hole pattern as the prior panels and pre-drill the holes in the panel.
Next, insert the dowels in the right end of the panel. Temporarily put the panel on the wall and connect it to the bottom panel on the first column. Make sure the panel is flush and use a bubble level to verify the new panel is level. Take the marker and mark the location of the upper left screw hole on the wall. Detach and set aside the panel and pre-drill the first concrete screw hole. Attach this panel with dowels again and screw in the first concrete screw. With the panel secure, pre-drill and install other screws.
Repeat prep for remaining panels and attach with dowels to the first column. Pre-drill and attach with screws. Repeat these steps to install a third and final column of panels.
FINISHING TOUCHES
Put caps on the ends
Flow Wall panels come with solid edge caps that provide a frame around the wall unit. They attach by the same holes in the panel sides as the dowels used to connect panels. We installed caps on the sides of our panel wall and it looked really nice.
Add accessories
The last thing to do is position the various hooks and shelve attachments we planned out at the beginning and hang our items. All done and looks awesome.
Are you ready to get your garage organized?
We hope this post has given you the confidence to install a flow wall system in your home!
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Blessings, Rich and Donna
More home organization Inspiration
- Garage Organization Made Simple
- Easy Way to Organize Your Garage Into Zones
- Learn to Organize and Maintain Yard Tools
- Easy Strategy to Clean and Organize Your Car
- How to Improve Your Homes Curb Appeal
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**Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. We appreciate your support. (disclosure policy)
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