Garage Tips

Add Extra Space for a Doorway and Workbench

Adding just three feet to your garage can make a world of difference if you use that extra space for a workbench and a full-size entry door.

Put Feet or Casters on Your Cabinets

Go into any professional or high-end residential garage and invariably the cabinets are on either casters or feet. There are three good reasons for this.

Make Epoxy Painted Floors Your First Upgrade

Of all the garages I've visited over the years, and that's getting to be near 100, only four did not have epoxy paint coating the floor.

Plan for Drain Traps and Plumbing

Garages with waste lines don't need to be frost-proofed, yet still provide a handy way to empty drink bottles and catch dripping hand cleaner.

Wooden Walls Offer More Flexibility than Drywall

Drywall is the least expensive way to cover the insulation. But if you really want to upgrade your garage, cover your interior walls with wood.

Place Racks Above Doors to Use Space

The space above the door when it is open is wasted unless you install a rack system. I've seen bicycles, kayaks and canoes, big ladders, and boxes stored above garage doors.

Upgrade the Wiring to 240 Volts

You can find lifts and other heavy-duty tools that operate on 120 volts, but equipment with 240-volt motors greatly increases the speed of operation.

Consider Pressed Concrete and Ceramic Floors

To make a garage more civilized for entertaining, some garages use ceramic floor tile wall-to-wall. Either of these two floor treatments lends an upscale appearance, which adds to the use of the garage as a large banquet room.

Think of Creative Building Code Solutions

Building inspectors often look at guest quarters and rooms with bathrooms and closets as living spaces that may not conform to single-family zoning.

Add Lifts for More Cars

The quickest way to increase the number of spaces in a garage is to add a floor-mounted four-post lift.

Install Compressed Air Lines

The advantages of in-wall compressed air plumbing are the availability to use air tools anywhere in the garage, and the flexibility to locate a stationary compressor in a hidden corner or even outside of the garage.

Slant Your Floor

If you are pouring a new concrete floor for your garage, consider slanting the floor down toward the door at a drop of two inches for the length of a car.

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