How to Install Pegboard | Ask This Old House

In this video, general contractor, Tom Silva demonstrates how to hang a pegboard in a garage or workshop and organize tools with it.

What is a Pegboard?
Using a 1/4 inch masonite board with either 1/4 inch or 1/8 inch holes; these boards can be found at most home centers. Tom shows it can be as easy as mounting it up on an open stud bay.

This will give the space needed to put peg hooks in without hitting the wall. If no open stud bay is available, mount scrap wood on top of existing studs to make room for the hooks. Tom shows how the finished product can help keep your workspace clean and organized.

Time: 1 hour
Cost: $50 - $100
Skill Level: Beginner

Tool

Shopping List

Steps:
Tommy is using a masonite pegboard, this is the most common and cost-effective board.
1. The easiest way to put up a pegboard wall organizer is to find an open stud bay and mount the pegboard up on the studs.
2. If the desired area is a wall, mount scrap wood onto the wall to give the hooks the needed space behind the pegboard. Make sure to mount the scrap wood where there is support, over existing studs.
3. Apply hooks and/or other pegboard accessories to hang up your tools.

Where to find it?

About Ask This Old House TV:
From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. Ask This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home.

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How to Install Pegboard | Ask This Old House

[bruticusmagnus]

I glue 1 inch rigid foam board to the back of the pegboard with a construction adhesive. It fills the space behind the pegboard to prevent spiders from making it a home. It adds rigidity to the pegboard and holds the hangers tight so they don't fall out. The foam board also adds an additional layer of insulation. I use quarter inch self taping lag screws at the corners and at the top and bottom where it crosses every stud. It is very secure and doesn't sag.

[SteveNeubauer]

I want him to tell me Buttercup and Wesley live happily ever after in their own diy house

[deshaunjackson]

The best part about installing pegboard is the hard pegging that follows.

[PublixCarrotCake]

Almost took my finger off with a hanging chisel, be careful hanging extra sharp tools 👍

[kayb.]

Tom has a wonderful, calming vibe. I could listen to him for hours and I don't even have a pegboard.

[fadetounforgiven]

1:38 and suddenly that hook grew bigger.

[jadd]

Hot glue works to hold the pegs in also.

[Artificial.Unintelligence]

1st off this was lazy.. 2 screws in an OBVIOUS install situation and over half the video was putting up pegboard accessories which isn't the part people would have questions on..

1. People say 'DONT use the pegboard holes to screw the board to the strips'... But you did, whats the risk?

2. What's the difference between a horizontal install vs vertical? Both strips and pegboard..

3. What needs pre-drilling? Paranoid the strips will just split and blow out because it's cheap wood.

4. Also, how to deal with metal studs? Is it the same load bearing with a normal wood screw? or do you need to exclusively use wall anchors?

5. no mention of how many screws per pegboard length/height and the load bearing expectation?? 1 screw in each corner seems like way too few.. at least for anything not sized tiny.

6. Lastly, no one EVER mentions tips on how to do this kind of stuff solo; like a full sheet of pegboard is heavy.. how would i hold that up, level it, and get screws to drill in a corner by myself? What do people do to prop stuff up?

[Cantinatollo]

Great video. Thanks for showing the different types of hooks and holders available. Thanks!!

[captainkangaroo]

You guys should do a review of the various pegboard materials including metal and the proprietary types of hooks, holes/slats etc.

[Tubeytime]

I DON'T KNOW WHY I GOT EMOTIONAL DURING THE HANGING MONTAGE

[TankTastic]

I remember watching this series on PBS. Nice seeing this OG!

[gordonyow]

how about doing a demo on pegboard closet, lots of wall space that can be organized.

[cmputer]

Looks like some YouTube “Maker’s” tool collection.

[mariopuzo]

If that makes you feel better, my garage organization would straight up give you a disorder.

[Step-n-Wolf]

You should spacers so all the holes can be used.

[jso]

The gap... I would've totally overlooked that part. Thank you!

[charlesdinwyn]

It's not clear how thick the ripped 2x4 is to stand the pegboard off the wall. It looks thinner than the 1 and 3/4" thickness of a 2x4.

[ajaychawla]

Why does this video make me so happy that I cant wipe the grin of my face

[retsof]

Idk why anyone isnt saying it. But a simple washer underneath the screws is paramount to your pegboard lasting a lot longer.