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  Garage Makeover for function and design

  Did you ever look at your garage and wish you could park your car in the garage as it was intended?  Or maybe make the garage an area where you would like to leave the door up and not mind if the neighbors look at it.
    Here are some ideas and suggestions that would make your garage something to be proud of.
    Most ever one would like to use their garage as a muti-function area. Part of the garage to store things, some of the area to be used to work on things or actually use it to park your vehicles in.
   The first thing is make up a list of how you see your ultimate garage. With the list in hand, do a lay out of where you see thing going. This would include lighting, workbench and area for your tools including roll around tool boxes and yard tools.

    The second area is what to do with all your “stuff”? Most garages, unless there is a room over it have some space above them. This is where you could install a pull down ladder; this now becomes your new found storage area. In this area would suggest you install some ½ inch plywood as flooring. This can be cut into strips at your local home improvement center, to allow you to get them in this area,  Would also suggest insulating before putting the strips down and add a light with a switch. The “stuff” that you store needs to be lightweight and distributed over the area. Your trusses or ceiling joists are normally designed to handed minimal load over the garage. This is also a great time to go through what you have and see if you really need it.

       With your layout in hand the next area is the electrical. There never sees to be enough outlets. Add a couple to each wall; this is especially true where you have planned your work bench. Now to the lighting plan, would suggest 4 ceiling lights with one of them over the work bench. On the subject of electrical would also suggest a wall heater near the work bench up higher like around 5 Ft. double check to make sure that this placement will not be in front of anything in the future.

      The next thing is to insulate the walls, if you are planning to install a wall heater, with R-13 or R15 High density if you have 2X4 wall studs. Then on to the drywall. This can be done by yourself, believe it or not. Most ceilings are already dry walled, but if not you can rent a panel lift from your home improvement center. There are a couple of tricks to installing drywall on the walls by yourself. Measure down from the ceiling approx. 4ft ½” and install some nails or screws part of the way in, you now have a place to rest your drywall as you shove it tight to the ceiling. Before installing your drywall it is always a good idea to pre mark where the studs are especially on the ceiling and put a couple of screws or nails part of the way in the drywall before lifting in place. Do your coats of mud and then texture. You can rent a texture machine from your home improvement center or rental store. Be sure to Tape off everything in the garage including the garage floor.
    After drywall, prime and paint walls and ceiling. Very important to Prime as you will have a much better paint job. The paint should be no lower in sheen than satin to allow for cleaning of marks on the walls.

    Install your lighting and switches after that. On the subject of lighting, the fluorescent type should be ceiling mounted to give you more ceiling room and better light distribution. The advantage to fluorescent is you get more light for energy used. The down side is they take a little time before you have light after you turn on the switch, you could also install your regular 2 – Bulb ceiling lights,  these are very inexpensive at your local home improvement center.
    I would suggest an epoxy for your garage floor; these come in a wide area of colors and is again available at you painting store or home improvement center. There is some prep work involved but the effort is worth it.
    Getting your things off the floor is the next area. The plastic shelving you put together has a lot of versatility and can be moved to suit you needs.    Peg boards, above the work bench,  will allow an area to hang your tools that you use a lot. Your Local Home improvement center also has shelving that you hang on the wall, Wall brackets for your garden tools and pre made shelving compartments with doors. Getting some inexpensive wall cabinets is another way to clean up the clutter.

I hope that this article helps  to allow you to have a great looking garage for function and design