When you think about remodeling your home, your mind may wander automatically to the kitchen or the bathroom. Perhaps, you think about repainting the walls or renovating the dining area. But when was the last time you thought about doing a garage improvement project? Sure, your garage may seem more like a mere extension of the house, but the room plays an important function that’s way beyond protecting your vehicles.
What else do you do in your garage anyway, besides parking your vehicle there? For one, it’s where you keep your essential household tools. In a typical American home, the garage is also a large cabinet where homeowners keep the stuff they don’t want the guests to see, and most of the time, the space is cluttered. In fact, because of clutter, about 25 percent of Americans are embarrassed by their garage.
If you don’t want Marie Kondo asking you about which part of your garage sparks joy, then get down to reorganizing it. Better yet, if you have time and extra money, try to give the room a new look while maintaining its core functions
Garage Insulation
“Insulation makes up for 70% of the total heat gain and loss in your home,” says a Kansas City-based insulation company. You shouldn’t underestimate the importance of the system – even in extensions like the garage.
Insulate not just your garage walls or ceilings but also your garage door. Beyond the system’s typical function of controlling the entry and exit of warmth in the area, garage insulation also helps save from energy bills and adds a soundproofing quality to the room. The latter is essential if you stay in your garage to accomplish some projects or, say, learn some instruments.
Ceiling Storage
Is your toolbox full? Or does your attic no longer have enough space for your items? Don’t fret. The answer is up there – literally up there in the garage. Ceiling storage is a great way to add a storage area in the garage room without sacrificing floor space. You can use this new storage for car accessories, garden tools, or even as a bookshelf.
But before starting any do-it-yourself ceiling storage garage project, make sure that the room’s walls, roofs, and foundation can support the weight of the items you plan to place there. If you are uncertain, it’s best to consult a pro – you don’t want to be saving space but wasting money.
Office Garage
Do you find your bedroom too comfortable to do some work? Or is the dining room too loud for that video call you have with your boss? If you don’t have your own study yet, you can make do with a personalized office in your garage. The office doesn’t have to be elaborate. You only need to install a desk by the wall, place some chairs, and maybe a little bookcase nearby. It’s also important to build your garage office around your electrical options and update the wiring and the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning unit.
Consult an architect about the plan you have in mind. Whether you’re extending the garage or adding another level for the office, the place may need structural adjustments.
Garage Floor Finish
The garage floor is one of the most abused parts of the house, what with grease, oil, and fluid needed in the car. But it doesn’t mean you have to settle with a slimy, greasy floor. Oil on the floor isn’t a little thing. These kinds of liquids also pose risks of falling or sliding. How can you improve your garage floor, then?
- Repair simple floor cracks with a coating, paint products, and epoxy.
- Cover the top of your garage floor with a carpet
- Switch to alternative flooring options, like interlocking vinyl.
Your garage should be more than just a house for your vehicles or storage area for stuff you think are unsightly indoors. Your garage is part of your home, and for that, remodeling and improving it is just as important as renovating the next room.
