Garage Interior Design Archives - Page 7 of 7

Protection where Garage Walls meet Garage Floors

April 2, 2013 by Rick Scully

Achieving a really finished look that makes the garage an extension of the rest of your home means thinking about the interior design just as you would any other room. Instead of thinking about the wall, floor or organization as their own projects, think of the wall treatment as part of a whole design especially where the wall meets the floor.

Polyaspartic Coated Wall Base & Floor

treating cement block garage walls & cement garage floors - before

BEFORE – right garage wall

AFTER – left garage wall

You can design the space simply by finishing the floors, adding some slatwall, baskets, racks, and hooks. Or you can transform your garage into a room that your family will enjoy using by designing a stunning space with cabinets, a workbench, or even a second level. Whichever route you choose, an important consideration will be where your floor meets the wall. You wouldn’t think of laying carpet or hardwood in your house and not finishing it with a baseboard. The same is true for the garage. And depending on the type of flooring and walls you have, baseboards provide protection from dust, dirt and water seeping behind the drywall or slatwall.

When you’re choosing a baseboard, look first to what is on the walls and the floors. Wall protection is essential in garages where the drywall goes right down to the floor. Water can seep into the drywall at the bottom of the wall and cause crumbling over time.

If your garage floor is PVC tiling, you can use 6-inch vinyl baseboards. The baseboard is glued to the wall and will protect against any water that may seep into the drywall, or under the tiles and create mildew.

Polyaspartic flooring is always a great choice for any garage, but especially those with drywall that extends down to the floor. You can go with the standard 6-inch vinyl baseboard, or we can create a baseboard from 3/4″ plywood and then apply the polyaspartic flooring and continue it up over the wood to create a neat and unified baseboard.

Drywall higher up can also be damaged from, spray from hoses, moisture from damp weather, or water dripping from skis, toboggans and tools. A wainscoting treatment protects against this and looks great too.

Punched Aluminum Wainscoting
Where Garage Wall meets Garage Floor

punched aluminum wainscotting - wall covering meets polyaspartic coated floor

Punched aluminum wainscoting provides a modern industrial look that also provides great protection for the drywall. It can be used with any type of flooring. The walls are protected and the wall/floor joint is caulked to prevent any water seepage. Car enthusiasts love it because they can wash the car or spray down the aluminum and floors after using the garage as a workshop without fear of water damage to the garage or home. It also protects walls from damage when the car doors swing open inside the garage.

Now, most garage floors are not level but sloped to allow water run off in the correct direction. Another advantage of using a wainscoting is the top can be leveled to the eye rather than follow the slope of the floor.

When using an epoxy flooring, it’s best to install a simple vinyl baseboard. The product is too thin and will run if you try and apply it to a baseboard or a wall. It’s another reason why we recommend using polyaspartic flooring. For the small cost premium, it gives you so many advantages.

The big decisions are important when designing your garage, but it’s the small details, such as baseboards and wainscoting, that really complete the look.

Custom Fitting

March 19, 2013 by Rick Scully

Off-the-shelf storage products are great as a simple solution to organizing your garage. But custom-built storage can turn your garage into a room with truly functional storage and workspace.

Just because it’s custom-built doesn’t mean it has to be more expensive. Having a storage unit designed specifically to fit an area of your garage often costs no more than buying a read-made product that may not fit as well in the space.

Custom-built is all about creativity and effective use of space. Here are some ideas:

Workbenches

If you’re a gardener, car-enthusiast or DIYer, a workbench is a nice addition to any garage. Workbenches can be designed to any size or shape. A workbench that folds up to be stored when you aren’t using it is a great space-saver for small garages.

Overhead platforms and mezzanines

As I wrote in my previous blog, overhead storage is a great way to create extra space in garages with high ceilings. It can be as simple as a plywood platform to store seasonal items or as elaborate as a full mezzanine, which allows for another level of storage and workspace.

Ladders

Ladders or stairs are useful if you have a mezzanine or just need an easy way to access overhead storage. They can be designed to save floor space by pulling down when you need them and retracting out of the way when you’re done.

Thule or canoe slings

The best place to store canoes, kayaks or Thules is overhead. We build slings out of sturdy foam-covered chain with loop-and-eye hooks to safely and easily hoist these bulky items up and down.

Baseboards

Having a custom-built baseboard in your garage not only looks good, it protects against water leaks and rot. Wood baseboards allow polyaspartic flooring to wrap up the sides of the drywall. Stamped aluminium is a great modern, industrial look and provides excellent water protection.

Custom-built boxes

There are often unsightly items in the garage that can benefit from being covered up. We’ve built boxes to cover irrigation systems, electrical panels and central vacuum canisters. They can be finished to fit seamlessly into the rest of the garage design.

Designs for irregular-shaped spaces

As mentioned before, garages are rarely standard squares or rectangles. By having something custom-designed and built, you make the best use of all nooks and crannies and odd-shaped corners. When I visit a garage to do a consultation, or often when I’m on the job doing the renovation, I spot areas that would really benefit from a custom-built solution so I’d be happy to make a few suggestions.

Custom finishing

Finishes really up the wow factor in any garage renovation. We’ve done everything from finishing slatwall panels in an oak stain, in keeping with the cottage-look of the house, to installing custom wood worktops. We can even custom-mix paint chip colours to make the perfect shade of polyaspartic flooring.

Have a look around your garage and see if you have any odd-shaped areas or things you want to change. If you do, a custom-built storage solution is what you’ll want to consider to maximize the storage capability of your garage.

Top Ten Garage Faux Pas

December 18, 2012 by Rick Scully

There are a myriad of reasons to organize your garage with customized storage systems from Garage Tailors Garage. There’s the obvious convenience of being able to use your garage for what it was intended – parking your car – particularly on those snowy mornings when you’ve got better things to do than scrape off snow and ice in minus 30 temperatures while waiting for it to warm up.

Then there’s the satisfaction of having a designated space for everything from tires to gardening equipment, camping gear, bikes and power tools. That means finding what you need when you need it. This can be accomplished with customized overhead storage shelves suspended from the ceiling, on slatwall outfitted with CamLok™ hooks or by installing Hercke, Onex or CTECH cabinet systems. A Garage Tailors Garage renovation will ensure your perfect garage and most likely mean you’ve got the nicest garage in your neighbourhood.

But one of the main reasons to consider a garage renovation is to avoid the ten most common garage faux pas that are easily avoided, usually in only two days, with one of our custom designed transformations.

The rake between the eyes – a danger when rakes don’t have a designated space to hang on the wall.

The rollerskate/skateboard underfoot slide – a common hazard for parents of active, occasionally sloppy children.

The excess tool inventory – the rapid multiplying of shovels, rakes and brooms that is a consequence of being unable to find what you need, when you need it.

The old paint-can-on-the-head spill – from perilously storing paint in hard to reach places.

The flat tire – because the cardboard box that housed your nails got damp and soggy and fell apart.

The dust pit– caused by pitted, unfinished concrete garage floors.

The scratch and dent – a consequence of squeezing your car into a cluttered, messy space.

The wall bump – occurs after stumbling around in a poorly lit garage.

The broken thing – obliterated when the ladder that leaned against the wall crashed down on it. But at least it was only stuff.

The broken promise – happens after you’re unable to find the tent and cooking stove you said your neighbours could borrow for the long weekend.

Let us help you avoid these and many other garage pitfalls and make your life easier. At Garage Tailors Garage, our garage renovations are designed to maximize storage and organize your belongings efficiently.

Our renovations can be completed in as few as two days so that your life isn’t disrupted.

CTECH Cabinets

December 4, 2012 by Rick Scully

For car aficionados and collectors or individuals with a keen interest in design, the garage is a place that goes beyond simple storage and protection. It’s a refuge. It’s also a place of distinction. That’s why Garage Tailors Garage offers the finest quality cabinets available for our garage transformations and renovations. And to satisfy all tastes and budgets, we carry the high-quality systems made by Hercke, Onex and CTECH.

Motion Latch - CTECH garage drawers — Click Image to View Enlargement

Over the past few months I’ve outlined the various features of the very adaptable family-owned, lockable Hercke storage system and multi-colour, options of the Onex line. But for pure, sleek, high tech design, my favourite choice is CTECH.

The light-weight high-quality aluminum system was launched in 1995 by professional drag racer, Jim Greenheck, as an extension of his racecar trailer systems. As a result, CTECH has some very cool, space age features like the patented MotionLatch™ drawer and door systems that open with the wave of a hand and automatically latch when shut.

The system also comes with a standard leak resistant GasketLoc™ countertop that allows for expansion and contraction without warping. Counters are also injection molded with no sharp edges for a clean, safe finish. These innovations, enduring durability and high style make CTECH the chosen system of motorsport and racing teams as well as connoisseurs of industrial design.

One of the best things about CTECH designs, and the reason why Garage Tailors Garage offers it to clients, is that these features, which were originally engineered for pit carts, racing facilities and trailer cabinets, translate beautifully to create one-of-a-kind garages.

The aluminum cabinets are powder coated and available in nine standard colours – red, yellow, green, blue, orange, midnight blue – as well as white, grey, and black, with custom colours available upon request. This means they can be coordinated with your interior house designs offering continuity between the garage and the mudroom or adjacent laundry room.

CTECH cabinet systems are totally customizable to suit your needs and space requirements while also being available in an array of standard configurations. Doors can be adapted to open in either direction and overhead cabinet doors swing open vertically for easy access.

So whether you have high performance cars that deserve a home with the same level of sleek engineering, fantasize about owning the track like Paul Tracy or simply want to invest in the best-looking, highest quality storage systems on the market, CTECH can make your racecar and design dreams a reality every time you step into your ideal garage.

If you’re interested in a garage renovation, I’d be happy to visit and discuss various design ideas and give you an estimate. Customized CTECH cabinet orders require about six weeks lead time and once they’ve been delivered, our Garage Tailors Garage renovation can be completed in as few as two days.

Simple and Secure Tire Storage

November 20, 2012 by Rick Scully

If you’re like most people, you might be pretending that despite the raked leaves, frosty mornings and occasional dusting of snow, winter is still far away. Or maybe you’re thinking that given last year’s virtually nonexistent winter and lack of snow, we’re in for the same this year. Either way, it’s hard to imagine getting excited about the task of hauling out the snow tires and heading to the garage for a changeover. But if your tires are stored properly and easy to access, this seemingly fraught task is simple.

At Garage Tailors Garage, our garage renovations are designed to maximize storage and organize your belongings efficiently. Tires require a designated space for safe storage. Many of our clients opt for wall tire racks, which can accommodate tires with or without rims. These racks are mounted securely to the wall and ensure that the tires don’t touch the floor putting unnecessary pressure on the rubber. This configuration is especially practical for people with physical limitations who are unable to lift heavier objects or for people who simply would rather not. Depending on what other items you want to store and the size of your garage, cabinets are another close-to-the-floor option that also keeps tires out-of-sight for a sleeker look. These cabinets must be at least 48 inches deep and 30 inches high to fit most tires.

For tires without rims, we often suggest overhead storage solutions that also include room for storing heavy-duty floor mats and other out-of-season belongings. One of our more common installations involves suspending steel racks from the ceiling. This system is both strong and secure while also being easily accessed by a stepladder when you need take care of the seasonal tire changeover. It’s also a good option for people with one or two sets of tires. Platforms can support more weight so I often suggest them for clients with multiple vehicles, sets of tires and other automotive accessories.

Of course for people with very large garages and a penchant for high-tech storage solutions, we recommend hydraulic lifts. These sit flat against the wall and lift the tires but since you can’t store items underneath, you’ll need space to accommodate the snow blower, bicycles, garden equipment and any other things that live in the garage.

Proper tire storage is easy and doesn’t require a lot of space or expense, just a bit of planning so you can transition effortlessly from season to season. Make your life easier with a Garage Tailors Garage transformation. That way you’ll always know where to find everything when you need it, and in winter you’ll even be able to park your cars in the garage where they belong and save time clearing snow off windshields in the morning.

To ensure minimal disruption, our renovations can be completed in as few as two days. I’d be happy to come over to discuss options and give you an estimate.

Hercke Cabinets

October 9, 2012 by Rick Scully

Designs That Let You Put Things Away in Style

It’s said that necessity is the mother of invention. Consequently some of the most useful products are designed for very specific situations and requirements. But that doesn’t mean these solutions can’t look terrific too, which is why when people are interested in efficient and great-looking garage organization solutions, I’m happy to suggest three different lines of cabinets – Hercke, Onex and Ctech. All of the products that Garage Tailors Garage carries and recommends for garage transformations are highly functional and have specialized features that will appeal to various needs, priorities and budgets. Over the next few months, I’ll get into more specific details about the unique features of each product, but this month I’m going to focus on Hercke.

As the operator of an independent business, I have the luxury of choosing the suppliers and products I believe in and Hercke’s modular system is durable, functional and attractive. It’s one of my favourite storage solution systems because in addition to good design and adaptability, dollar for dollar it’s a sturdier, higher quality product than similar systems offered by home improvement retailers.

Is there a gauge distinction between big box cabinets and these?
The fully lockable system includes 30-inch wide steel cabinets with black cases and black shelves. They can be personalized with stainless steel or powder grey fronts that work extremely well in a garage storage setting and can also be utilized in other areas of your home for storage system continuity. Another key feature is they have scalable legs, which ensure that the cabinets can be levelly installed to retain their integrity even with the 5% grade slant on garage floors, a building code requirement that ensures proper water run-off.

Hercke cabinets work effectively because their storage and organization system was created by homeowners with needs that are likely quite similar to yours. The company was founded by the husband and wife team of Tom and Katy Van Hercke when they were unable to find adequate storage solutions to keep power tools out of the reach of their two young children and Katy wanted to store some over-sized platters and trays in the kitchen. Their breakthrough was developing a system that was functional in the garage or basement, but also flexible and attractive for other areas of the home including the kitchen, laundry room, office or playroom. The other important component was they wanted the design to be appealing for both men and women. It is. And that kind of aesthetic appeal and continuity is handy to get consensus on a project like transforming the chaos of your garage into an attractive place of highly organized storage, safety and efficiency.

As a consumer, you have a is a range of options, but I believe that customized Hercke cabinets are a far better value and long-term investment than a lot of lower priced, and consequently lower quality substitutes out there. Plus, Garage Tailors Garage offers full-service transformations from the design and sourcing through installation that can be completed in a few days once specialty orders have been placed. For a consultation and estimate, give me a call.

Selling your house? Let your garage help set the stage.

September 25, 2012 by Rick Scully

When you’re thinking about putting your house up for sale, you can’t just hang out a For Sale sign, let people stroll through an open house and expect a great offer or incite a bidding war. Even though the current real estate market is overheated, the trend toward timed offers and increasingly savvy buyers combined with the popularity of interior design and home makeover shows have created new challenges to attract buyers willing to go the distance.

Houses are now staged, often by professional companies that remove your personal effects and replace them with stylish home furnishings and décor. Home staging, or fluffing as it’s sometimes known in the industry, might also include upgrading flooring, lighting and painting to give your home a fresh, new look. Since curb appeal is important, it’s not uncommon for agents to suggest some minor landscaping or at the very least putting out a large planter with flowers.

Generally speaking, when showing houses, real estate agents don’t spend much time in the garage mainly because they’re usually a mess. That’s unfortunate since a garage is another asset that adds value to your home. A clean, tidy garage with well-organized storage provides another feature for agents to point out to their clients. Not only does it highlight useful storage solutions, it’s also a place to show a home’s personality, utility and suitability for potential buyers.

While “garage staging” isn’t an industry standard yet, I have been called in to install slatwall and flooring by a contractor who was finishing a house on the Bridle Path. In addition to setting up a system for organizing the garage, I supplied bikes, golf clubs, tennis racquets and gardening tools to make it look authentic so that prospective buyers could envision how the space might work for their needs.

When you’re considering minor upgrades to make your home market-ready, don’t forget about the garage. It can be so much more than the place to stow packed boxes and Rubbermaid bins before your move and really showcase the flexibility and livability of the house.

One of the more popular upgrades we do is creating customized overhead storage shelves. Suspended from the ceiling the shelves create a half storey and increase the storage space footprint for items like snow tires and seasonal decorations that are only accessed once or twice a year. We can also paint and install slatwall, which can be outfitted with cam lock hooks to hang everything from shovels, rakes and power tools to skis and bikes. Flooring is another easy option. Unlike concrete, which soaks up oil and shows other stains, our low-VOC polyaspartic floors don’t absorb liquids and can be washed with soap and water. Plus, depending on the complexity, the renovation can usually be done in two days.

Buyers are critics. While they’re looking for reasons to buy your house, they’re also considering reasons not to buy it. One way to ensure good reviews is to put everything in its place. A garage upgrade is a cost effective, efficient way to increase the value of your property before you sell it.

Creating a Man Cave in Your Garage

August 7, 2012 by Rick Scully

Man caves have grown in popularity over the past few years, and while most guys have them in a basement or spare room, don’t discount the garage as a possibility, especially if you’ve got a car that you want to show off while you watch the game.

The garage man cave isn’t just for car enthusiasts. An empty bay can be a great place for a poker game with a table that folds up at the end of the night. However, chances are the client who’s looking for this is a car enthusiast, because he’s looking to convert his garage into an extension of his living space. In order to create a garage like this, there are a few factors we take into consideration when planning storage solutions.

Exotic car lovers generally like to take care of their own vehicles, which means we need to figure out storage for cleaning supplies and wax.

Because the garage is being used as a living space, we want to minimize dust. This means completely finishing the walls with drywall or slatwall and finishing the floors with a polyaspartic floor system.

If the client is going to use the space in the winter, a heater is a necessity. There are many options for either gas or electric heaters and an added bonus is that a steady temperature is better for the paint and the oil.

Tire storage is also a consideration as a car enthusiast may have multiple sets, including winter or sports tires.

If a television is included in your plans, you’ll have to have a cable connection. We can hide the cable and wires behind cabinets so that they are accessible but remain out of sight.

The beauty of creating a man cave in your garage is that the space can still pull double duty. It can fulfill all your storage needs – just park one car on your driveway until the end of the fourth quarter.

Click here for a recent transformation where we included space for a bar fridge and a plasma TV in the cabinets.

Get ready for gardening season

May 5, 2011 by Rick Scully

Spring has been a little slow arriving this year, but it’s still time to think about getting the garden ready for warmer days ahead. And that means making sure all your tools are organized and within easy reach in your garage.

Last month we talked about bringing spring and summer items to the front and storing away winter gear. It’s easy to organize your tools using our slatwall system. And camlocks on our hooks easily release from the wall and then lock back in place. Regular hooks need to be screwed into the wall and can come loose with use. The camlock locks in tight and stays in place even with heavy items.

Here’s how to properly store your gardening tools:

Your lawn mower, weed eater and edger should be in one area with an extension cord nearby

Store gardening gloves, trowels and pruners together in a basket so you’ll always know where they are

Hang tools such as shovels and edgers with the sharp side towards the wall. Make sure rakes and hoes are stored with the tines toward the wall. You don’t want to risk injuring yourself or scratching your car. The hooks we install are all covered in a rubberized coating to prevent scratches.

With some careful arranging, you can even make a space in the garage to put a potting bench or small work area for rainy days. Talk to us about ways to create tiered storage to give you even more space in your garage.

Make Way for Spring in Your Garage

March 22, 2011 by Rick Scully

In our last post we talked about pre-planning for the season ahead. In keeping with that theme, let’s give some thought to your garage. It’s finally time (or almost time) to lay snow shovels and snow blowers to rest for another nine months, along with ice scrapers, bags of salt, skis and snowboards. Where are you going to store them? Your garage, of course, but let’s not close the subject there.

If you thoughtlessly dump winter items onto the floor of your garage, you’ll not only have a harder time manoeuvring your way around your vehicle; you may also risk damaging this valuable possession. (Skis and shovels stacked in the corner aren’t as steady as you may think.) What’s more, you won’t have an easy time accessing garden hoses, planters, lawn mowers and the other items that you’ll wish to have readily available come spring.

The solution: garage organization. With the right garage cabinets and wall organizers in place, you can almost completely eliminate clutter from your floor, freeing up space that will allow you to utilize your garage to the max this spring. If you need a hand getting organized, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’d be happy to talk to you about a custom garage storage solution.

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