Rick Scully, Author at Garage Tailors

A Quick Guide To Getting Epoxy Garage Flooring

August 19, 2021 by Rick Scully

It can be tricky to stumble on a garage floor solution that stands the test of time while being resistant to salt, oil, gas and other household and garden chemicals., Being able to keep your garage clean from the everyday spills and stains with just water and a squeegee is what you get with an industrial grade epoxy floor coating. Nearly every kind of garage flooring has some pros and cons. Epoxy floors are a brilliant option for a variety of needs, that have many pros to provide you a coating that will last years. Let us help you understand more about epoxy coating by providing some of the significant benefits of installing epoxy flooring in the garage.

Versatility

Epoxy is a wonderful option to decorate the floors as well. It is available in an assortment of colours to suit your personal style while adding a graceful, textured, and impeccable shine. Our epoxy flooring is customized to suit your space and style and can even be arranged into custom or conventional designs and patterns. The number of options makes it a great way to upgrade your plain garage floor and beautify the ambience of the place.

Protective

Epoxy floor coating will guard and protect the underlying concrete from cracks, grease, stains, and pitting. In the fullness of time, adding a coating to your garage will save you a great deal on maintenance and cleaning. Epoxy floor coatings are very reasonably priced and provide you a solution that will stand the test of time and will also help you d level of safeguard that is delivered.

In order to get the most out of an epoxy floor coating is to work with an experienced and reputable installer. Choosing to work with a professional epoxy floor installer, such as Garage Tailors, will ensure that you will get the results that you are expecting while having the peace of mind in a 10 year warranty

Resistance

Epoxy garage flooring is very much resistant to everything that will be thrown at it such as- salt, auto cleaners, transmission fluids, gasoline, oil, and a lot more. This is one of the key reasons they are being commonly installed in garages and within the automotive industry. In addition to withstanding cleaners or chemical spills, epoxy floor coating is even resistant to yellowing from the sun and heat.

It is nearly impermeable to the majority of chemicals spills without any negative effects on the coating. An additional benefit is that epoxy flooring is also resistant to germs and bacteria, which makes them extremely effortless to sanitize. This is the reason epoxy is a brilliant option for clinics and hospitals as well.

Longevity

In contrast to a lot of other kinds of flooring such as big box store tiles, epoxy coatings are a much better option and are installed to last. When installed properly by a certified flooring contractor, your coating will be maintenance free and last for many years without having to be concerned with peeling or cracking. In addition to the stability, its existence makes it popular for industrial and commercial use as well.

Safety

Epoxy floors come with a textured surface to ensure that you have proper traction during the winter months as well as rainy spring and summer days. Adding a coating to your garage floor will also help to brighten the space and add to the visibility in the garage by reflecting light off the floor, which is one of the lesser-known benefits of bringing epoxy into play on a garage floor.

Durability

Clearly appreciated for its durability, epoxy garage flooring is known for a longer existence as compared to other kinds of garage flooring options. When properly installed an epoxy floor coating will provide you with a solution that will be installed in a day but last for many years to come while being maintenance-free.,

Adding an epoxy floor coating will ensure that you’ll never have to worry about your concrete floor any longer It even offers advantages of anti-fatigue and can be straightforwardly rolled-out on the cement without having the need of any type of glue or mortar.

Affordability

The per sq. ft cost of epoxy flooring is the best value coating as compared to other kinds of flooring. Since it can be installed straight over concrete and other kinds of flooring, the cost of installation will be lower in contrast to other options. Pricing remains one of the major and the most instant benefits you will come across with epoxy garage flooring.

Looks

Epoxy garage flooring from Garage Tailor are guaranteed to provide you a professional and bright floor as compared to average garage flooring. Its looks alone make it charming to use. The levelled and smooth surface is even very effortless to maintain and sweep. Since not much sticks to such sort of flooring, cleaning up a mess is extremely painless.

Final thought

If you’re thinking about a garage floor coating please reach out to the professionals at Garage Tailors to carry out an analysis of your garage flooring prior to making any decision. Garage Tailors will be sure to provide you an honest assessment of what the options are for your garage floor.

If you are in search of one of the best and premium epoxy garage flooring solutions, look no further than Garage Tailors. Call a professional team at 416.617.7551 today!

What Makes Epoxy An Excellent Choice For Garage Flooring?

July 22, 2021 by Rick Scully Leave a Comment

The composition of quality epoxy floor coatings should consist of an epoxy resin and a hardener, there should be no other additives such as solvents used to make the epoxy. Epoxy can also be used as a bonding agent when not used as a floor coating. As it is blended, it creates a chemical reaction that provides the floor with distinctive qualities. Resistance is one of the vital qualities that this chemical reaction creates in the surface. This procedure seals and cures the surface and forms a concrete bond and coating that is sure to last for many years and maintenance free.

Functionality

Want to give your garage floor, laundry room, or basement dust and maintenance free. An epoxy will meet all your coating needs and it can obstruct detrimental elements that are sure to intrude on spaces with high traffic. Epoxy is known to feature a lot of different types of resistance that add to its status as a hardy floor coating. It bears the brunt of oil, gas, household chemicals, heat, and heavy shock. It is ideal for garage flooring in view of the fact that cars can produce several different types of corrosive chemicals.

Oil and Gas – Epoxy is a substance popularly known for its oil-resistance. It keeps the floor from distortion as a result of spills from vehicles and gardening tools. Based on the type of epoxy, a few surfaces may be more slippery as compared to others when oil or gas does not drench into the floor. If oil or gas gathers on top because of how impermeable it is, additional grip for epoxy floors can also be added by getting slip-resistant aggregate.
Chemical – Chemicals that are either built up from household work or left behind from the car will not have an effect on epoxy. There is absolutely no need to be concerned if the car collection in the garage necessitates extensive work and oil or brake fluids end up on the flooring. Chemicals can be cleaned up without spoiling the epoxy coating. The depth and density of the layering keep chemicals from oozing into the concrete and leaving any detrimental remains.
Heat – Once epoxy coating is dried completely, epoxy turns out to be resistant to heat to a certain level. 200 degrees Fahrenheit is the usual heat limit of epoxy, but higher grade epoxy can bear up to even higher levels of heat. Epoxies that have phosphorous bear up heat better than the ones without, so this is added into the blend at varying levels to attain the most favourable resistance. Heat resistance is perfect for garages storing cars and kitchen flooring as well.
Shock – Epoxy is shock resistant, which is an evidence for its sturdiness. Impacts that would usually bother you, such as weighty things toppling to the floor or the wear and tear of cars driving on the surface, will not damage epoxy coating. Any machinery, tools, or even recreational gear that is dropped on the ground will not leave a spot. Harsh collisions will not break off the concrete any more with a thick layer of epoxy covering the ground.

If you are in search of one of the best and premium epoxy garage flooring solutions, look no further than Garage Tailors. Call a professional team at 416.617.7551 today!

Garage Flooring

June 24, 2021 by Rick Scully

All You Need To Know About Polyaspartic Garage Flooring

During your search for the right garage flooring, you have possibly come across options for epoxy and a newer product known as Polyaspartic. These concrete coatings look alike, so naturally, you would like to know the dissimilarity. So let us begin here.

Polyaspartic is a hybrid matter that looks like polyurethane and was 1^st developed in the ‘90s as a coating for steel in bridges and used for its corrosion-resistant properties. This alternative to epoxy is also known as an aliphatic polyurea sealer, which is a blend of ester and other materials.

The amount of ester can be altered by manufacturers to tailor Polyaspartic to have diverse qualities, such as limited gas emissions and quick drying times post application. Such advances make it more resourceful as compared to traditional epoxy.

Generally, this coating has a clear, polished finish. By itself, it creates the appearance of a wet concrete base. You can add colour to the blend for a bolder appearance if desired. Often, people will distribute decorative chips across the surface of a still-wet coating to bring in a little more colour and non-slip texture.

Applications of Polyaspartic Garage Flooring

The same as the epoxy, Polyaspartic will not appropriately bond to concrete which gives off a lot of moisture. Actually, for the reason that it dries so quickly, applying Polyaspartic is a quick procedure. The appearance and consistency of the material are much like water – it is clear (when not using colour additives), nearly odourless, and very fluid.

You will pour ribbons of Polyaspartic across the floor and evenly spread it with the help of a roller or a squeegee. The layer’s suggested thickness will rely on the manufacturer. In an hour or less, the initial coat will be dry enough to walk on, so you can start the 2^nd coating.

This 2^nd layer will comprise any non-skid traction materials you might wish to use. Disperse them by dusting them over the top after the 2^nd coat is totally spread but not yet dry.

Advantages of Polyaspartic Garage Flooring

Durable – It dries hard, but it maintains some flexibility. This helps maintain a stain and scratch-resistant finish.
Colourfast – The colour will not fade or yellow even after extended exposure to UV rays, meaning the garage will keep looking wonderful for longer.
Air Quality – With low VOCs and virtually no odour from off-gassing, you will be capable of breathing easier.
Versatile Application – It can be applied in a variety of temperature and weather conditions, so you will not need to wait around for the right time.
Speed – polyaspartic takes less than 8 hours to apply and is fully cured within 24 hours.
Maintenance Free – as a result of its strength and durability you’ll never have to worry about your floor needing any maintenance or re-coating. By using simple dish soap with water and a foam squeegee and your floor will look brand new.

Are you looking to get new flooring for your garage? Make sure to check out how the flooring specialists at Garage Tailors can help you. Call the professionals at 416.617.7551 today!

Garage Renovation Obstacles

February 14, 2020 by Rick Scully Leave a Comment

With any garage renovation project it is fairly common to encounter situations that require a bit of creativity in order to set up the best storage solutions. These situations can be broadly classified into two main categories: those that involve movable objects or materials and those situations when it becomes necessary to work around appliances or other fixtures that are for the most part not readily movable. As you might expect, situations involving movable storage obstacles are fairly straightforward to address. On the other hand, storage obstacles arising from immovable storage solution obstacles need a bit more creativity and planning. However, as you will soon see there are options available for both.

There are a few optimized storage obstacles that show up with any garage renovation project. Each of these must be handled with proper planning and foresight to achieve the optimized storage you desire.

The most frequently encountered storage solution obstacle is the central vacuum. You may have noticed the central vacuum is often left hanging there on the wall taking up a lot of space. Most new home builders mount these central vacuums in the middle of a wall, either the back wall or one of the sidewalls. Also, the central vacuum is typically mounted about half way between the ceiling and the floor. While this position certainly allows you to access the unit for service, it makes storage above and below rather cumbersome.

All of that being said, the central vacuum is actually an appliance that can be relocated relatively easily. The vacuum pipes coming to the central vacuum unit are simply common p.v.c plumbing and the electric is typically a standard outlet plug. Relocating the central vacuum merely means choosing an optimum location, mounting the unit and re-piping the vacuum lines as required. Oftentimes, the best location is found to be mounted in a side corner such that the unit is still accessible but it is mounted a bit higher and out of the way. By relocating your central vacuum, you gain valuable storage space below and of course along the wall where the unit was originally located. For example, if you relocate a central vacuum stuck there in the middle of your sidewall to the back corner, now you have the option to install slatwall, storage racks or other optimized storage solutions in the newly freed up space.

The next most frequently encountered obstacle to optimized storage is the doors and windows. Obviously, in most cases you aren’t going to be moving a door or window. On the other hand, there are practical storage solutions that can be installed to optimize the space.

Start with the door into your garage from inside your home. The most obvious answer is to install an overhead storage rack. An overhead storage rack above your door will add valuable storage space that is useful, yet still out of the way. At the same time, you want to be aware of the fact that there is an optimum way to install an overhead storage platform and there is a sub-optimum way.

The very best solution is to install an over the door storage platform using hardware hung from the ceiling. However, sometimes eager do-it-yourselfers will instead install this overhead platform and support it with vertical posts. While this is okay and does give you the overhead storage, the vertical posts can be an eyesore, not to mention getting in the way of other things you want to have in the garage.

One other scenario to consider is when the door is located in the middle of the wall. In this case, more often than not a customized solution could be the best choice. For example, you could install a combination of overhead platforms, shelving or platforms on one side and slatwall on the other side. Of course each garage design is unique so many who chose to renovate their garages end up selecting a custom solution.

Although windows are not really that common in most garages, customers with garage windows often are looking to optimize the space around the window. The one big issue is often the location of the window. In other words, if the window is in the middle of a sidewall versus being located towards one side or the other will determine the type of renovation options available. One typical storage solution option is the installation of an overhead platform with a slatwall installation to the sides and beneath the window. This option maximizes the utility of the space around the window while still allowing the full functionality of the window itself.

A minor situation that sometimes shows up in garage renovation projects is the location of the fresh water hose bibb. The hose bibb may be installed in a location that means stretching an attached hose along the garage floor and outside. Some renovation customers may choose to have this hose bibb relocated further along the wall to a more convenient location.

Alternatively, to save the trouble and expense of relocating the garage water supply, a more optimized hose reel and storage fixture can be installed. The hose reel can be conveniently mounted on the wall to allow easy access and storage.

One final situation that might be a factor is the automatic garage door opener. The garage door opener operates off of the normal household electrical outlets. Unfortunately, there is rarely an outlet mounted in the ceiling in a convenient location for the opener. Consequently, many homeowners end up draping an extension cord across the top of the garage and down a wall.

Of course, this is not the best solution and is definitely not recommended. Keep in mind that an extension cord is only designed for temporary use; it is not supposed to be used as a permanent electrical supply. The solution is to bring in a electrician to mount an outlet close by the garage door opener. Absent wanting to install another outlet, the other option is to more permanently affix the extension cord with cable clamps or similar hardware.

Conclusion: as you can see from the above, each and every garage renovation project presents its own challenges and surprises. However, with some simple planning along with a discussion of the best storage solutions for your situation you can have a garage that works for you.

Top Storage Tips for Your Garage

July 11, 2019 by Rick Scully Leave a Comment

A garage can be a great asset when the storage potential is maximized. But it can quickly become a danger zone when you store the wrong things. Today’s blog is outlining what you should and should not store in your garage to keep it safe and accessible.

3 Types of Things Not to Store in Your Garage

Let’s begin by going over the top 3 things that are not good selections for garage storage.

1. Objects that are sensitive to changes in temperature. Most garages aren’t entirely climate-controlled, which means that anything you keep in there has to have the ability to withstand changes in temperature throughout the year.

Some of these items include:

Paint: Extreme cold and heat will make it either too thick or too watery.

Wine: Changing temperatures can cause corks to expand and contract, which allows air to seep into the bottle and contaminate the contents.

Wooden furniture: Wood that’s exposed to excessive moisture can warp, rot, and crack over time.

Important Documents and Photographs: These items can be damaged when stored in places that tend to get very humid.

Electronics: Computers, DVD players, and Televisions can be damaged by intense cold or heat.

2. Hazardous materials. Propane gas should never be stored inside a garage, as a single spark could set it – and your house – on fire. Some dangerous materials can be kept in your garage with proper precautions in place.

3. Items that could attract pests. Pests like mice, possums, insects, and bats can easily get in. Avoid keeping food – including birdseed and pet food – in your garage so they don’t attract pests.

3 Types of Things That are Perfect for Garage Storage

There are plenty of things that are perfect for garage storage.

1. Your vehicle and accompanying supplies. Garages are meant to keep your vehicle (or vehicles) protected against the elements and for storing other car-related items such as wiper fluid, roof racks, and tire inflators.

2. Gardening supplies. Most of the tools used for gardening are safe to store in the garage. This includes items like flowerpots, manure, gardening soil, fertilizers, shovels, and equipment like weed whackers and lawnmowers.

3. Items designed for outdoor recreational use. Patio furniture, bikes, sports equipment, and outdoor children’s toys are all ideal items to keep in the garage. This will protect them from rain, snow, and wind damage. Keeping them in the garage also means that they’ll be easy to access when you want to take them out.

Ready to transform your garage into one of the most useful spaces in your home? Get started by communicating with one of our interior garage and organization specialists. Call us today or visit our website to schedule a free in-home consultation. While on our site, be sure to check out our transformations page.

Sports Equipment Storage Ideas You Need

June 7, 2019 by Rick Scully Leave a Comment

A CreditCards.com survey found that people spent more than $100 billion over the past year on sporting events, athletic equipment and gym memberships. At the top of that list is $56 billion spent attending sporting events, $33 billion on sports equipment and $19 billion in gym memberships.

That’s an unbelievable amount of sports equipment! And if your family is involved in sports, chances are that you see proof of it throughout the house and garage, scattered everywhere.

Custom Storage Solutions for Your Sports Equipment

Regardless of how many sports your family is involved in, you probably need help with managing all their equipment needs, from golf tees to bicycles and surfboards. By utilizing a combination of adjustable shelves, specialty accessories, and storage cabinets, you can take control of the mess!

Attachable accessories let you reconfigure your storage anytime you need.

One great way to organize and store sports equipment is with wall hanging storage slatwall panels. They can be tailored to fit anywhere and hold anything! You’ll be shocked at how much equipment can be stored vertically in a small space.

Panels can be cut to fit over workbenches, behind doors, in corner spaces – just about anywhere there is wall space that is being unused. Baskets, shelves, and specialty hooks allow for small and large pieces of equipment to be stored safely.

And as the seasonal sports change, you can easily reorganize your equipment storage to keep the current sports equipment accessible.

Store bikes for safety and easy accessibility.

Storing your bikes can take up a lot of space and, of course, you want them stored where they won’t be damaged. Wheel mounts allow you to store multiple bikes vertically and alongside each other without getting tangled up. Using overhead space to store bikes frees up the floor space.

Utilize vertical space with open shelves and cabinets.

Cabinets are available multiple door heights – 3” is the most common one for tools as they lay flat and are easy to access when you pull out the drawer.

The cabinets are made of either steel or laminate, and the doors for the steel cabinets are either silver powder coated or stainless, while the laminate cabinets come in many different colors. Ceiling-to-floor cabinets that have adjustable shelves can house any equipment behind closed doors. Open shelves and panels provide quick access, making it easy to store and retrieve equipment.

A custom storage design opens up endless possibilities for relieving the chaos in your garage. We love bringing order out of chaos and confusion, so call us today or visit our website to schedule a free in-home consultation. While on our site, be sure to check out our transformations page.

5 Steps to Clean and Organize Your Garage This Summer

June 7, 2019 by Rick Scully Leave a Comment

The warmer, longer days of summer are upon us, and it’s the perfect time for undertaking organization projects that require being outside. Did you know that 50% of homeowners say that the most unorganized part of their home is the garage? If you have a garage, now is the perfect time to spend some time cleaning and organizing it.

Today we’re sharing some basic tips to clean and organize your garage from start to finish.

Empty your garage.

Completely emptying a garage is not always the first thing that comes to mind when you’re getting organized. While it might seem far easier to just clean around the items in your garage, emptying it will be extremely helpful when you begin the organization process.

After you’ve taken everything out, dust and sweep the entire garage. When you are finished cleaning, you’ll have a blank slate for creating an organization strategy. This can help you visualize new ways to add storage using different options for hooks, shelving and more.

Take this opportunity to decide which items you really need, and which you can donate or discard.

Make zones.

When your garage is clutter-free, create a map of the floorplan. If you are thinking about adding built-in storage or shelves, be sure to measure the length of your walls and make note of where your windows are. Also, measure the height of your garage from ceiling to floor. You can then use the inventory of the items you’ll be keeping and design zones to classify related.

Utilize the ceilings and walls.

Adding hanging cabinets or shelves to an empty wall will help keep you organized. Using the measurements you took will determine the length of the shelves or the size of the cabinets that can fit in a certain place. Consider utilizing the height of your garage to include loft storage areas. By stowing some items near the ceiling, they will be out of the way yet easily accessible when you need them.

Add built-in storage and racks.

Placing things like lawn equipment and bikes on racks is a simple way to keep them from seeming like useless clutter. Racks can also help organize items because you can hang related items on the same rack. Cabinets that are built-in can also be used to shelter items that you don’t want to be exposed.

Create sections and add labels.

Label any containers and boxes with a concise description of the contents. Store them with the labels facing outward and keep all related items in their predetermined zone. These labels are not only useful for organizing the items you currently have, but they will be helpful for future storage.

If you’re looking for a better way to organize your garage, contact our renovation specialists today to schedule a complimentary in-home consultation. We’ll help you get the most out of your garage space with our innovative solutions.

Garage Storage for Spring Sports Equipment

April 7, 2019 by Rick Scully Leave a Comment

After a long winter, everyone is ready for warmer weather and being able to spend more time outdoors. Spring means the start of summertime activities and sports such as cycling, soccer, baseball, ultimate Frisbee, kayaking, canoeing, stand-up paddleboards, skateboarding, scooters and so much more.

custom storage overhead of canoes & kayaks

It would be ideal if the kids could grab their bikes and other sports equipment without dragging it through the house along with all the dirt, gravel or water that the sports equipment collects. One of the best places to make it easy for children to use and replace their toys and sports gear is the garage. If you’re not currently storing the sports equipment in the garage, consider these garage storage solutions and how the garage can be remodelled and redesigned to accommodate all of these storage systems while having the vehicles parked inside.

Garage Storage Solutions for Sports Equipment

Storing sports gear in the garage is a good idea. Kids can run in and out of the garage during the summer days to find their toys without running through the house to return dusty or muddy or wet sports equipment to a location in the basement.

sports equipment storage slatwall camlock hooks baskets mesh netting bins surf boards skateboards rollerblades helmet

Using an open style of storage makes it easy for children to figure out something they want to do. By placing sports gear and toys at the right height for your child’s age, each family member can fetch and replace things on their own. Learning good organizational habits early helps children maintain good habits later in life.

Using closed storage solutions allows the family to keep expensive sports equipment such as golf clubs behind closed doors such as inside garage cabinets which lock up. This also helps keep a clean look to the design to the interior of the garage when cabinets are added to the storage system of the garage.

Of course, there is also sports gear which you might want to put away when spring arrives. These might include skates, snowboards, skiis, hockey equipment, toboggans and more. You may not have enough garage wall space to hang out the winter equipment as well as the spring / summer ones along with other tools which you may want to have handy during the summer. In this case, overhead storage would be a good way to store items which you are unlikely to use for the season.

Overhead Storage for Winter Sports Equipment in Spring

When you’re using overhead storage, you likely have your spring / summer equipment located in this area in the winter. If you haven’t already, you’ll want to pull out spring and summer toys or sports equipment from overhead storage so you can lay it out for easy access. At the same time, snowboards and toboggans can be returned to overhead spaces until next winter.

bike storage solutions - bicycle storage ceiling lift

Depending on the height of the garage, seasonal storage spaces may include made-to-measure platforms as well as mezzanines where they can be designed to fit the overhead space from one corner of the garage to the other corner of the garage. Mezzanines are typically built with glass railings to easily view what’s stored above and still prevent larger items from rolling off the edge. To get up to the mezzanine, a pull down attic ladder or stairs can be part of the installation although we’ve also used lifts and electric stairs.

Other off the shelf overhead storage solutions include platforms and shelves which come in standard sizes. Shelves which are less than 2 feet in depth can be mounted to the wall. Other platforms with a 4 foot depth would need to be mounted in the centre of the ceiling so someone can climb up from any one of the four sides to be able to reach items closer to the centre.

Overhead Storage for All Seasons

Certain sports equipment may be stored in the overhead space during all seasons even if we use them mainly through the spring and summer. For instance, kayaks and canoes are bulky and won’t easily store on shelves or walls. If you garage has enough space, floor standing racks may be an option but most people don’t have enough space available in the garage to do this.

sports-equipment-storage-slatwall-camlock-hooks-baskets-mesh-netting-bins-shelves-balls-skates-rollerblades-skateboards-golf-clubs-camping-gear-1024x768

Instead, kayaks, canoes and even Thule cargo carriers can be stored away safely overhead with a sling. They can stay there whether it is spring, summer, fall or winter. Add a hydraulic lift system and it makes it even easier to mount or remove from the roof of your vehicle. With the touch of a button, the hydraulic system will do the heavy lifting.

Hydraulic racks for bicycle storage and golf club storage are also available. Even young children who wouldn’t be able to lift a bicycle onto certain wall rack systems would be able to use the hydraulic rack system. With the press of a button, they could have the hydraulic rack lower so they could position their bike into place and then push a button to raise the bicycle rack back into place in the overhead space.

Slatwall Organization Systems & Bicycle Racks for Sports Equipment Storage

A variety of wall racks for bicycles exist including fold away racks that tuck bikes flush with the wall like pages in a book. Other racks allow bikes to mount flush with the wall to maximize space for parking vehicles. Some racks are installed into the ceiling and some are mounted into the wall. For young kids who ride in and out all day, using a floor standing rack for kids to wheel their bikes into the gride and walk in for lunch without minimal fuss. This may not be an all season solution but in the summer when the kids are constantly on the go, this may be an effective way to keep their bikes from being left just anywhere inside the garage or on the driveway.

Finally, for most sports gear, a slatwall organization system would accommodate most equipment. They offer a variety of camlock hooks, baskets and bags to store a wide variety of balls as well as gloves, shoes and other types of sporting equipment. Scooters, skateboards, bats and other equipment can be hung from hooks. Balls can be stored in the storage bags which hang from the wall. And, baskets for baseball gloves, shin pads, helmets as well as other protective equipment can be mounted in a wide variety of configurations to suit the outdoor lifestyles of everyone in the family.

Remodelling the Garage for Sports Equipment Storage

If you’re looking for a better way to keep the kids playing without dragging in the dirt, mud and wet equipment of their favourite sports, consider contacting our garage renovation specialists for a complimentary in-home consultation today. Storing sports equipment in the garage makes a lot of sense.

Earth Day Canada 2019 – EarthPlay

April 7, 2019 by Rick Scully Leave a Comment

This April 22^nd is Earth Day 2019 (https://earthday.ca/) and the Canadian theme has been EarthPlay. It’s about having outdoor play for children to foster social connection, a sense of inclusion, resilience, health and their interest in the environment. You can also foster a sense of community if you run a street party for all the kids in the neighbourhood. And, of course, it all starts at home, in the yard or driveway.

Getting the young ones involved in Earth Day activities is a great way to kick-start their interest in being and playing outdoors on a regular basis. Here are some ways to not only get your own kids outside but all the kids in the neighbourhood to enjoy play outdoors together.

Loose Parts Outdoor Play

Earth Day Canada is promoting adventure parks for outdoor play at local parks. It’s the latest design concept in outdoor parks where loose parts maximizes children’s creativity, communication and social interaction.

In 2008, an observational study provided research on loose parts playgrounds showing that all children like to act out little dramas with each other on the playground. When loose play parts where added to static parts of the playground, the level of play became more dynamic where the children used the loose parts to create new play areas together and then played out new dramas within the new spaces created.

This sort of open-ended self-directed play is something where all the kids in the neighbourhood could benefit. If an Adventure Playground with loose parts is something that would make sense for your neighbourhood, it can start with smaller steps this Earth Day to get the kids involved and the neighbourhood too.

Loose Parts Outdoor Play at Home

Hosting an adventure playground in your own front yard and driveway is the place to start. Now that it’s spring, it’s time to do some spring cleaning and the best place to find some of those loose parts would be the garage. It is a good way to both de-clutter the garage and start gathering loose parts for a play area in your yard or driveway.

Finding loose parts for your outdoor playground at home consists of recycled materials that you already have lying around the garage. They can be everything from old tires, wood blocks, cardboard boxes, pvc piping or cardboard tubes, plastic bottles & caps, old wooden spoons, old pots & pans and old plastic bowls. From the outdoors, fallen branches and leaves, pebbles, larger stones, pine cones, dirt and water. Reclaimed wood pallets, bamboo poles, old blankets or fabrics, buckets, some plastic planters and other non-recyclable items make for better loose play items than more garbage for the landfills.

For toddlers and pre-schoolers, keep the pieces larger so that it’s not something that they will swallow. Anything reusable, flexible and either unbreakable or harmless if broken would work well for the loose parts playground. Be prepared that loose play items typically get damaged during play.

When it comes to storage, some playground pieces such as the branches, stones and pebbles can be stored outside in a designated play area. Other pieces such as recycled household items can be stored in large rolling bins or toy trunks so the kids can roll out all the pieces to the driveway or play area. With appropriate garage storage systems, large storage bins and storage bags loose play items can be stored easily so the kids can pull or roll these things out to play.

Storage bins can be stored on platforms. Otherwise, slatwall organization systems with camlock hooks can hang large storage bags of loose play parts. On rainy days, the kids can return wet and muddy loose parts with a minimal of clean up. Especially when a polyaspartic garage floor coating covers the cement floor of the garage, it makes garage floor maintenance simple. If you don’t have some of these standard storage components in your garage, you may want to consider a garage remodel or renovation this spring so the garage has a place for your children’s outdoor play toys.

Outdoor Play on the Street

To get outdoors, combining loose parts play areas with other outdoor activities is important. Riding bikes, scooters, skateboard and more can be a big part of spending time outdoors. Also, road hockey on quieter crescents or streets as well as basketball and skip rope on sidewalks or driveways are great outdoor activities.

This Earth Day, you can get the families on the street together, get a street event permit and have a street party. During the day, multiple play stations for the children could kick-start play dates amongst the families on the street with evening events so the entire family can participate.

Garage Remodel, Reuse and Renovation

Earth Day is a great way to kick off good habits for everyone to enjoy the outdoors. As we try to get our families connected to the environment, we can also get connected to our neighbours and community while decluttering our garage and re-organizing it so that we can reuse items for our children’s playtime.

To help the kids find places to put things back, consider a garage remodel or renovation so appropriate garage storage solutions can be designed. Contact us for a complimentary in-home consultation early to plan the timing of your garage interior design.

Preparing Seedlings for the Spring Garden

March 12, 2019 by Rick Scully Leave a Comment

With the Spring Equinox on March 20, 2019, it gets us thinking of spring and the warmer weather ahead including sunshine and being outdoors in our gardens. As an enthusiastic gardener, you may be thinking whether you can start with planting seeds at this time of year. If you want to start your plants from seeds and grow your own organic vegetables or herbs, starting seedlings now is a great idea. Indoors somewhere or in the garage would be some ideal locations for seedlings.

Depending on how many seedlings you’ll be starting, either a workspace in the garage or multiple slatwall shelves will do the trick. This will keep the seedlings safely off the ground with a workbench or workspace to do transplanting as the seedlings take off and need to be transplanted into a large pot.

Choosing Seedlings to Start in March

There are a variety of seedlings which can be started in March so that they will be ready to plant in the garden by May. Here some seedlings which you might consider for the Southern Ontario climate in March.

Broccoli
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Celery (April)
Leeks
Lettuce (April)
Pac choi & choi sum (April – cover well)
Peppers
Radish (April)
Spinach (April)
Tomatos (April)

With this variety of vegetables, one or two of your favourites are probably among these options. If so, it’s time to investigate starting a seedling system in your garage.

Containers for Seedlings

Seedlings need a lot of water as it grows. To grow seedlings, using paper containers is often the best way to grow seedlings. The containers will then biodegrade as the seedling needs to be transplanted into larger spaces. Use a clear plastic covering to keep the evaporation of water low and to speed the germination of your seedlings while providing some extra warmth. Seedlings seem to do best when they receive a lot of water.

A couple of dry days and your seedling efforts will be for nothing. It’s best to water your seedlings from both above and below. The condensation on the plastic covering helps prevent the escape of moisture from above while the condensation on the plastic covering will return some of the moisture back to the seedlings. Keep water available in the tray below the containers so that the seedling containers can soak water into the soil from below the seeds and remain moist at all times.

You can make your own containers using old newspaper which easily soak in water from below. These can be placed in plastic trays lined with a layer of water. Another alternative is to buy a reusable seedling system. These systems often come with watering systems built-in to help make sure that the soil is constantly moist. And, it may come with clear covers so the seeds are kept warm and visible. They can be used year after year instead leaving containers which may need to be tossed due to cracking or breaking.

Use a Homemade Liquid Fertilizer and Good Composting

Homemade liquid fertilizers are inexpensive and faster acting than some of the store bought fertilizer. Some of the things which can be used include fresh grass clippings steeped with equal amounts of water for 3 days. Seaweed can be used after it has been steeped for 3 days. And, urine with 20 parts of water can also be used as a liquid fertilizer.

Seedlings will need a little of this diluted liquid fertilizer twice a week to start. As time goes on, they may only need some fertilizer once every 7 to 10 days. Once you’ve added the fertilizer, if the plant starts to darken its leaves and growth, you’ll know that your seedling needed the fertilizer. If you don’t see any change, try lengthening the time between fertilizer feedings.

If you have a heated compost which reached 150 °F and killed off bacteria or a vermicompost with beneficial disease-fighting microbes at about 15% of the mix with soil, helps the germination process and has been shown in a study to do better than just soil alone. Seedlings are delicate so healthy soils and fertilizers with beneficial microbes will help them germinate into stronger plants before they get transplanted outdoors.

Lighting and Warmth

As the seedlings break through the top of the soil, they will now need a lot of light and warmth. Standard fluorescent lights which are placed slightly above the seedlings would be ideal. The slatwall shelving system would be ideal for both mounting the lights and adjusting the height of the lighting relative to the height of the new growth from the seeds. When the lights are just slightly above the height of the plant, there is enough warmth from the lighting to keep the seedlings warm. Using a timer, you can make sure that the plants receive 12 – 15 hours of light per day during these early days.

Most seedlings could use a differential in temperature of 10°C between the day and the night. If the garage is still a bit on the cold side during the night, use some heavy clear plastic to create an insulating barrier around each shelf.

As the seedlings start to grow in height, you’ll want to re-adjust the height of your shelves so they have more room to grow. The slatwall organization system and the shelving offers the flexibility to change the height between shelves quite quickly. The sturdy construction of the slatwall shelves and their mounting mechanisms allows it to hold even larger pots of heavy soil so as your seedling and soil requirements expand, your slatwall will be able to accommodate the growing weight demands of your growing garden.

Use an electrical source which has been installed to building code standards to provide a power source for your fluorescent lighting. During a garage renovation, not only can storage and workspace be created but adequate electrical supply and water supply can be made available to suit the family’s interests in gardening or other creative tasks. Garage storage and workspace solutions are available to suit a wide range of family lifestyles, hobbies and past times. The various rigours of gardening systems are no different in their demand for a space that can accommodate the various needs of your new plants.

Learn about the Germination Period of Your Favourite Garden Plants

In order to have a successful garden in the spring, timing is everything. Plants have various germination periods from 4 weeks to 11 or 12 weeks before they will be ready for the outdoor garden. And, the various climates from Southern Ontario to Northern Ontario will also affect the length and timing of these germination periods.

If you know neighbours who are avid gardeners, they may be able to give you a hint regarding some of the plants that you may have in common. Join gardening clubs in the neighbourhood or online so you can ask questions and get valuable hints and tips about your favourite vegetable crop or perennials. Timing the growth of seedlings and assuring a good germination period for them before they go outside can have a significant impact on the bounty you’ll get to enjoy as they ripen or become ready to pick.

Gardening in Your Garage

Not only is the garage a great place to start your garden, but it makes it easy for you to get your saplings out to the yard for planting. With a polyaspartic garage floor, small spills and mishaps are not a big deal and any water spills can be easily mopped dry. When spring finally arrives, you’ll be able to swap out seedling trays when they have been planted in the garden for slatwall space to hang garden tools and supplies which you’ll want to use regularly to tend to your garden throughout the growing season.

If your passion is the garden, we can help you make the most of your garage renovation to include work space as well garage storage space for your most valuable tools and growing systems.