Fall Garage Storage Tips with Winter Around the Corner

September 24, 2019 by R. Scully

As winter approaches, the annual ritual of preparing your home for the colder weather is underway. In addition to changing filters and maintaining equipment, winter storage of items used during the spring and summer also need to be addressed. Today we’re sharing some fall storage tips to get your garage ready for winter.

For most homeowners, the garage is typically the main area for winter storage.

Taking a proactive approach to your garage’s winter storage considerations will prepare you for the colder months. In addition, you’ll be able to enjoy the benefits when the warmer weather returns.

Is Your Garage Ready for Winter Storage?

These 6 fall storage tips will help you prepare your garage for winter.

Declutter your garage. Organizing your garage and keeping it that way requires you to declutter the space regularly. As a rule, it should be your very first task when it comes to your fall garage storage preparations.
Cleanse your garage floor. Your fall storage tasks in the garage should include ensuring that the space is clean and as free of dirt, grime, and dust as possible.

Installing garage flooring that is durable and resilient can help cut down on the amount of cleaning required.

Make better use of your garage’s wall space. One of the most underutilized areas in garages for storage is its walls. Floor clutter is probably the main thing that’s keeping you from using your garage for parking. Recouping that precious floor space in your garage will be particularly appreciated during the cold weather. You won’t need to de-ice your windows or brush snow off your vehicles, and they will warm up quicker.

Adding a slatwall storage system to your garage walls will make it much easier to maintain an organized garage. The panels offer flexible storage for all of your garden tools.

Prepare your equipment and tools for winter storage. Taking care when storing your lawn equipment, tools, and patio furniture for the winter will extend their life. And by spring, they’ll be ready to use right away.
Use your vertical space. The vertical space in garages is rarely used as it could or should be. Fix that and find more fall storage space with the addition of specialty overhead racks to store your seasonal and bulkier items. Many homeowners in colder climates own an extra set of tires for their car. If you have a second set of tires, consider adding a wall-mounted tire rack to your garage.
Consider adding extra storage solutions with garage cabinetry. This addition helps you make the most of your garage’s storage space and can be especially valuable when it comes to finding extra fall storage space for your belongings.

Isn’t It Time You Called In The Experts?

Get your garage winter-ready with our smart and effective garage storage and organization solutions. 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 Things To Consider When Redesigning Your Garage

September 17, 2019 by R. Scully

Many of the things we do in life have an impact on our homes as our living space adapts to meet our needs. Things like redesigning your garage may come to mind. For instance, if someone in the house is learning to drive, they’ll either be thinking about buying their own car or sharing the family vehicle.

Important Things To Consider When Redesigning Your Garage

In either case, you’ll need an uncluttered and organized space to park, if you don’t want to park on the street (and incur greater insurance costs). Contrary to what some believe, garages don’t have to be cobwebbed, gloomy corners of the house.

If you’re thinking of redesigning your garage, here are five things to keep in mind.

Consider a new garage door. Why not give your house a facelift with a new garage door? With the safer and stronger doors available today, there are numerous options to choose from that are not only beautiful but also effectively protect the contents inside from the elements outside.
Lay some new flooring. Flexible tiles that interlock come in a variety of designs and colors and are slip-resistant. They’re easy to fit – just cut to shape, slide into place and secure with the tap of a mallet.

They’re also more resilient to leaks and comfortable underfoot, making them just the right flooring for your garage. Other available options include rollout flooring mats or stains/paints that can be applied directly to the concrete floor.

Things To Remove And Install When Redesigning Your Garage

Clear the clutter by utilizing clever storage. Use all of the space in your garage by using every wall in the room. Add in a workbench with a slat wall to hang any accessories and tools or put a large storage system in place that will hide any unattractive clutter.
To escape the gloom, install new lighting. If you’ll be using your garage for DIY projects too, mount long strips of fluorescent lighting to ensure that the whole room is well lit. On the other hand, if you’ll only be using the garage to store your vehicles and want something a little less harsh on the eye, consider installing ceiling spotlights.
Have some fun! The garage is an extension of your house, so feel free to add some personality! Consider installing a sound system, dartboard or a fridge for extra food and drink storage during the holidays.

Ready to get started redesigning your garage? We love creating spaces that are as unique as our clients, so contact us today at 416.616.8735 or visit our website to schedule a free in-home consultation. While on our site, be sure to check out our transformations page.

Racks for All the Family Adventures

August 22, 2018 by Rick Scully

When taking the family to the cottage, to go exploring various parts of the country or to go on a camping trip, it often requires more space than we might have in the SUV or mini-van. To add more cargo space to our vehicles or bring our favourite toys to enjoy the outdoors, many of us might use vehicle racks and hitch mounted carriers.

Some of the typical vehicle add-ons include a roof rack with add on carriers or racks or hitch mounted carriers and racks. There are a wide variety of options to deck out vehicles with the space to carry our favourite toys to our favourite spots around the country. Being able to enjoy the outdoors and the serenity that these remote locations afford us while staying active together is the main motivation of many families to leverage vehicle rack systems.

Throughout the summer and even winter months, we’ll want to haul out these carriers and racks with us to our weekend adventures and then, store them away during the week. Finding a way to minimize the work of storing and mounting the rack systems to our vehicles helps us get away on short notice while keeping our garage storage system organized.

Combining Garage Storage Racks with Vehicle Racks

A great way to do this is to match up garage storage racks and slatwall organization systems with your vehicle’s racks and mountings systems. Matching them up and installing them in the appropriate places within the garage means we can make use these vehicle racks with more ease. If we plan it out, we can set it up so that we don’t need to be especially tall or overly strong to move these bulky carriers or return outdoor toys to where they should be stored.

Just because our weekends are packed with high energy activities doesn’t mean that putting things away needs to be just as challenging. A good garage renovation will provide a system where mounting these vehicle carriers will flow easily from the garage storage area to the vehicle itself.

Overhead Lift Racks for Bicycles and Other Sports Equipment

From a vehicle rack, bikes can be mounted easily onto hydraulic bike racks which can be lifted up and out of the way. While there are many types of bicycle racks including wall mount, floor mount or ceiling mount, the lift racks may be the best suited to work with vehicle racks or mounts.

Firstly, they can be placed to be located at the rear of the vehicle so it’s easy to transfer the bikes between the vehicle rack and the overhead lift racks for bikes, golf clubs, snowboads and other sports equipment. Next, if you have a hydraulic overhead lift, after you’ve loaded a few bikes and a couple of sets of golf clubs, it takes the mere push of a button to get the rack to lift up into the overhead storage space of the garage.

Canoe and Kayak Racks

For canoes and kayaks, they are often mounted on the vehicle with a J-rack or other roof rack system. With an overhead sling and pulley system in the garage which is positioned directly over the roof of the vehicle, the kayaks and canoes can be stored in the overhead space. By attaching the sling around each kayak or canoe and releasing the vehicle rack mechanisms, the kayaks can be lifted directly up into the rafters of the garage until it’s time to retrieve them for the next adventure on our favourite rivers, lakes or oceans.

Cargo Carriers for Roof or Hitch Racks

For cargo carriers located either on the roof of a vehicle or off the rear hitch of the vehicle, overhead systems similar to the bike or kayak storage lift systems make putting things away so much easier after a long trip. With slings and a hydraulic lift system, these carriers can be lifted up and away. Whether you intend to store them empty or pre-packed with some standard camping or adventure gear, the overhead cargo carrier storage makes it so much easier to prepare for the next driving trip.

Enjoying All Seasons with Storage Racks

Turning the garage into a storage system to ease the packing and unpacking of the vehicle racks means we can reduce the strain of moving larger awkwardly shaped carriers and outdoor toys. A little bit of planning and a garage renovation will make it easy to move items from the vehicle to its storage location in the garage and back again.

If you need assistance to create this handy system, a complimentary in-home consultation is available to guide you through a process to outfit your garage storage systems to your lifestyle.

Making Outdoor Play Easy for the Kids

June 21, 2018 by Rick Scully

Now that summer is here, the kids will be home all day. Of course, they’ll want to be outside with all the warm sunny days ahead. Getting on their bikes, scooters, skateboards and other toys to get to the local park or their friend’s house is the typical response to enjoy a play day or play date with a friend. From the bikes and skateboards to the soccer balls, basketballs, water toys as well as strollers and other toys for the younger children, the garage soon becomes home base to everything the kids need to enjoy the outdoors.

For the active family, the garage renovation would provide garage storage solutions incorporating ways for the garage to be used by the entire family for a fun filled summer. This also includes the big kids in the family with places to access golf clubs, tennis racquets, mountain bikes and kayaks. Whatever your lifestyle, making it easy to access your outdoor sports equipment or toys is just as important as keeping them out of the reach of younger children.

Overhead Hydraulic Racks

With some of the bulkier outdoor equipment such as kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and mountain bikes, you’ll want them handy and easy to mount and dismount from a Thule or Yakima rack system for your vehicle. The overhead hydraulic racks or lifts are ideal for transferring these pieces of equipment to or from your vehicle with a minimal of effort. By positioning the racks at the right spot within the garage, equipment can be lowered directly onto the vehicle’s rack while it is parked in the garage.

Reduce the awkward movements and stress on your back or body needed to mount the cargo box and other gear within the confines of the garage space. Plan out garage storage systems that facilitate the packing and unpacking process of the vehicle.

Garage Cabinet Storage Systems

Now, for things such as an expensive set of golf clubs, you might opt to have lockable garage cabinets. They will safely and securely store more expensive items which cannot afford to be knocked about by the kids, their bicycles or other toys as they move about the garage accessing or putting away their summertime toys throughout the summer..

Slatwall Organization Systems

The slatwall organization systems are so durable, versatile and modular, not only are they great for garden tools and lawn mowers, but they can also be used for a variety of kids toys. For younger children, mount hooks at lower levels so they can mount their own scooters, skateboards, bats, racquets, clubs and bikes off the ground and out of the way of the vehicles which will be parking inside the garage at the end of the day.

Also, there are some great basket systems where all the basketballs, footballs, soccer balls, baseball gloves and other toys can just be tossed into mesh net or wire net basket. By evaluating the kids’ favourite activities and the space available in the garage, the right combination of hooks and baskets will make any slatwall space an effective storage area for everything your kids will want to do throughout the summer.

Bicycle Rack Storage Systems

Bicycle usage is back on the rise again these days for everyone in the family. Kids love riding their bikes to visit friends or to go on a neighbourhood adventure with friends. When all the neighbourhood kids ride back to your house for a lunch break, they just ride up, jump off and run inside to satisfy their hungry bellies after a fun filled morning of activity. Give kids a place to park their bikes. This helps them learn how to put things away in the proper place.

Overhead racks, slatwall hooks and other storage systems are great for the overnight storage of bikes. For summer, a floor rack where kids can park their bike means they leave their bikes standing. They can avoid having bikes strewn all over the garage floor. This keeps it easy to maintain the organization of the garage and prevents damage by vehicles driving into the garage . It also gives the kids a reasonable way of being able to put things away in the proper place within the garage.

Plan a Garage Storage System

When the lifestyle of the whole family is considered, we are able to design the right combination of storage options so that the space can be optimized and utilized fully. The garage spaces can accommodate both off-season storage and easy access to summertime toys and gear which are used regularly. When you need the entire garage space to work well for everyone, consider a garage design that allows the family to leverage the space for maximum enjoyment of the warm sunny summer days ahead.

Planning a Garage Renovation this Summer

February 20, 2018 by Rick Scully

It’s the time of the year when people are planning for their garage renovations over the summer. There are many aspects to completing a successful garage renovation project. A lot of people are looking to finally get a garage storage solution for all the things that the family dumps onto the garage floor instead of having a place for everything to reside inside the garage.

If you’re finally done with having to look at the chaos in the garage, you’re ready for a garage renovation this year. To get the family and the garage ready for a garage storage system, here are some steps to take.

Start Planning Well in Advance

The garage renovation season is approximately mid-spring to mid-autumn because temperature is important to some aspects of the project such as some of the garage flooring and paint. When the temperature is moderate then these applications will dry and set with high quality and long lasting results. As home owners, we all want high quality renovation projects completed.

In addition, good renovation specialists will be booked many weeks in advance. So, meeting with a garage renovation specialist early is a good idea not only to book the project timeline for a garage renovation that is ideal for your family and their many activities this summer but it also sets out the time to prepare for the project.

De-Clutter and Select Items to Store

If your family has collected many items or have plans to store things in the garage which are actually sitting elsewhere in the home, it’s important to identify these items for storage. In addition, de-cluttering family belongings helps the homeowner avoid trying to store things that the family does not actually use. Finally, group the items which will be stored in the garage into their respective piles. It is an important initial step of the process to take inventory of things which will need to reside in the garage in the long term.

After these initial steps, other activities will become apparent and discussed as your well-chosen garage renovation specialist guides you and your family through the project process.

Choose a Quality Garage Renovation Specialist

One of the most important aspects of a successful project is finding a good garage renovation specialist.

So, what are the qualities homeowners are seeking in a garage renovation specialist? The garage renovation specialist is the key to your project team in achieving a result with the best possible outcome with the best experience for your family. Here are some key qualities to consider and how they’ll affect your project this summer.

A Garage Renovation Specialist must be a Creative Solution Provider

When it comes creating garage solutions to our storage problems, there are a lot of factors at play from the idiosyncrasies of the garage space to the unique lifestyle needs of each of the family members in your home.

The creativity of a good garage renovation specialist assures that new solutions can be found to difficult combinations of challenges around the garage. Also, creativity means that new and unique solutions can be found when faced with difficult problems and challenges.

Creative solution providers ask the questions that need to be addressed. Working as a team with the homeowners to find the answers, the garage renovation specialist can work to achieve optimal solutions that address the challenges of a project.

Does Your Garage Renovation Specialist Act as your Personal Project Manager?

Not only will a good garage renovation specialist manage their own crew and work timetable, but they’ll also guide the homeowners through the steps they need to take or considerations that they’ll need to make throughout the entire project. Instead of having to make hasty decisions at the last minute, guiding the planning and decision making process well in advance allows the homeowner to have peace of mind with their choices.

Every homeowner wants to know what they’ll experience or need to do to achieve the best garage storage solution outcome. When the garage renovation specialist acts as your own personal project manager, you’ll get the guidance needed to both prepare and act when required.

Quality Garage Renovation Specialists Possess Strong Communication Skills

Organizing and creating a garage storage system that fits the family lifestyle while overcoming any physical challenges within the garage requires effective communication skills. Homeowners may have some anxiety but there are also more moving parts to a garage renovation than some people may suspect. It’s everything from unique challenges of a garage space to the weather and timing of garage storage items to the responses of younger or older family members being prepared for the changes ahead.

Good communication skills amongst the garage renovation specialist and the family members will result in:

Increased Clarity: everyone understands what will happen and there is time to take it all in so that frustration remains low and understanding remains high
Increased Success: when everyone is clear on the project steps and direction, the garage renovation specialist and homeowners can work together for optimal results
Project Productivity: clear communication means the project moves forward meeting both the project timeline as well as the project budget
Homeowner Satisfaction: when people can understand the vision and everyone is able to communicate their own thoughts, concerns and anticipated directions then everyone will feel a satisfaction with both the process as well as the outcome

Punctuality is Respect for You & Your Project

Punctuality is respect for people, the team and the project. It shows discipline and the ability to focus on the tasks at hand while meeting timelines. It reduces stress on the project and for the homeowners. We’ve been noted for our punctuality and whenever we run into traffic issues or another type of delay, we will call ahead to let homeowners know how long we’ll be delayed.

It’s not only satisfying for us, but it keeps our homeowners experiencing project timelines with few to no delays.

A Commitment to Quality Results is Essential

From product selection to the quality of the workmanship for each renovation project, quality is the key. Homeowners experience pride in their garage and the garage storage solutions that matches their family lifestyle.

For us, quality is not just good quality product selection but it’s assuring that there isn’t that awkward gap because the cabinets are just 4 inches short of the wall or space. Everything is made to measure which means it fits the garage space and everything is configured to fit plum with the wall and floor lines. It’s all made to measure. Just like a kitchen with all its cabinets and appliances fitting perfectly and plum to each wall, a quality garage renovation will do the same for the garage.

An Established Track Record in Successful Garage Renovations Completed

We can say a lot about our work but the proof is in the many satisfied homeowners we have helped. We have a wide variety of transformations that we’ve posted not only to give people an idea of what can be done with a variety of challenges but it also gives people an idea of how homeowners have felt about their projects.

Get Started Today with Your Garage Renovation Project

If you’re looking to recover the space in your garage for a storage system which will meet your growing family demands and with an experience you’ll find as satisfying as the final results, contact one of our garage renovation specialists today.

Garage Renovation & Design: DIY or Do It For Me

March 21, 2017 by Rick Scully

Garages are a great way to use the space effectively for storing a wide variety of household items from garden tools to sports equipment to winter tires. The main concern, of course, is to find a place for all these items in the garage while keeping the vehicles safe as they are being driven in and out as well as parked inside the garage.

The walls of a garage may be made of cement blocks, brick and for some newer homes, drywall. It’s not easy to work with some of these types of walls. Not only are some garage walls difficult to work with but mounting shelves so it can carry the weight of heavy items. We want to prevent things from falling off and damaging the vehicles or worse, injuring family members.

Am I ready for a Do It Yourself Garage Renovation?

The garage is one of the more complex rooms in the entire house. If you’ve just purchased your first set of tools, this is likely not the project for you to tackle. Some of the building materials and dimensions of the space can be more challenging than the typical room found inside the house.

Some of us have very talented hands-on people in our family. They may even be professionals with related skills. However, not all professionals may have the time to spare to work their own homes in a timely manner. Some professionals are over worked because they are so talented in their field of expertise. If this is your family, consider if the best way for this person to gain a mental reprieve from work is to spend their time off doing something else or whether a garage renovation would be a relaxing past time activity.

Many of our garage renovations can be completed in approximately one week, once we start because we have a well-established plan, process and timeline. There are exceptions to this timeline, but a big consideration is keeping the garage renovation time to a minimum so the family may be able to enjoy as much of the summer as possible.

While a garage renovation is a great home project, don’t let it take away from your time with your kids during those precious years. Also, don’t let a home project affect your children’s summer experience and enjoyment of the garage as home base to their bikes, scooters, skateboards and other modes of play and transportation.

Knowledge and Expertise Gets It Done Right the First Time

There are no other rooms in the house with the same challenges as the garage. While learning to paint one bedroom gives experience to painting a second bedroom, it’s not the same when it comes to the garage. Renovating the garage has its unique challenges because it is a room directly exposed to the outside and the elements.

Knowledge and the experience to complete the task properly the first time means as homeowners, you can enjoy a low maintenance garage for many, many years ahead. The whole family can appreciate the garage instead of having regular garage projects every couple of years which take people away from family time together.

Many of our garage storage solutions last the lifetime of the home when they are applied correctly. We often see other solutions which don’t last or which need regular attention every couple of years. High maintenance items take away from family time because of time and attention needed for regular maintenance.

Specialty Tools and Skills for Garage Renovation

Whether you are ready to renovate your own garage or not, there are some specialty solutions in the garage. For instance, the preparation and application of garage floor coating takes specialty tools and skills to apply. However, a high quality garage floor such as polyaspartic coating is an item which adds a lot of comfort to the garage while making the floor surface easy to clean up and low maintenance.

Garage floor coatings require special skills, tools and processes to prepare the cement foundation adequately. Preparing the cement foundation is the key to a successful polyaspartic garage floor coating. The polyaspartic floor coating will not adhere and remain maintenance free for the lifetime of the coating unless the preparation of the cement floor is completed properly.

In addition, there are a wide variety of engineering skills used throughout a garage renovation to assure that the mounting of overhead platforms and wall shelving can carry typical loads of 600lb to 800lb per square foot. Safe and secure installations of overhead platforms, racks or shelving are key to assuring that belongings, vehicles as well as family members are protected from any damage or injury.

Made to Measure Garage Storage

There are no standard dimensions or shapes for garages. Made to measure solutions give a finished and professional look to the garage. People often want to see end-to-end wall organization systems or garage cabinets. The typical big box store garage storage items or cabinets come in standard sizes and dimensions that are rarely able to accommodate unique dimensions or other challenges which add to the unique space of a garage.

There are a variety of challenges that shape a garage including:

odd outcropping or corners of the walls,
the location of the door to the house
the central vacuum situated in the middle of a wall
the plumbing for an outdoor faucet placed at an awkward location along a garage wall
the standard slope of a garage floor built to code

These hurdles add challenges which are overcome with Made to Measure solutions that need a little additional preparation. This includes unique sizing of platforms, cabinets and wall systems as well as some special adaptations to the garage space, at times.

Many Paths to a Garage Renovation

After overviewing some of the larger challenges that might be found during a renovation, it’s easier to see what would be appropriate for your situation. There are few paths that we find people will take to accomplishing their goal of a functional garage design.

The Do It Yourself project is self-explanatory. However, many people with DIY projects get us to complete a garage floor coating, made to measure product installation or a variety of other specialty services. The Do It For Me project is what we find the large majority of people are seeking whether it is a fully finished or a partially finished look as the final goal.

To start your project, use our online garage survey tool to assist with a definition of your garage renovation project that best reflects your needs and preferences. The garage survey tool helps people define what they need or don’t need and to start to consider and communicate preferences as well as a plan to fit their garage storage requirements. We provide a complimentary in-home consultation to discuss how you envision your project. After seeing your garage, we introduce additional ideas that you may want to consider.

Give yourself a healthy lead time for planning, ordering and installation dates so your family can make the most out of the summer days ahead.

Six Questions for Your Best Garage Renovation

June 7, 2016 by Rick Scully

A renovation or design project that doesn’t quite end up as you imagined is disappointing. That’s why it’s critical to hire a highly recommended expert who will take measures to learn exactly what you want.

A good designer has a variety of design ideas in mind. However, exceptional designers understand that the most critical component of any project is creating a design that fits the distinct needs and preferences of each client. To achieve this, the design expert must ask the right questions and listen carefully to client responses.

At Garage Tailors Garage, we tailor each garage renovation to the specific budget, lifestyle needs and design aesthetics of the client. During the initial consultation, I explore the space and talk to perspective clients about how they envision their renovated garage supporting their current lifestyle and any future needs. However, this conversation begins long before I arrive at their door. It starts with six important questions asked on our client consultation request form.

Tell me about your garage organization and storage needs.

A successful garage renovation is visually appealing and functional. To ensure the design achieves both goals, we start by gaining a thorough understanding of how you plan to use your garage.

Think about what is stored in your garage now. Will you require a garbage and recycling station in the garage? Do you need a place to store tools? Will lawn equipment and gardening implements be stored there? What other items do you store in your garage? Is your garage the designated storage space for seasonal decorations or off-season tires?

If your family is active, you’ll likely have a variety of sporting goods that require dedicated storage space. The consultation form simply requests that you check off the types of items you want to store. However, the form is also designed to prompt you to think more deeply about how you plan to use your garage, preparing you for our discussion about your lifestyle needs.

Tell me a little about your garage.

Your garage has a limited amount of space, but our creative and made-to-order storage solutions maximize every square foot available. First, we need to know more about the space.

In this section of the questionnaire we ask whether we’re renovating a one, two or three-car garage. You’ll also estimate the height of the ceiling. This gives us a clear idea of how much wall space and overhead space is available for the garage renovation design. Lastly, we need to know more about the existing framework. Is the space drywalled or will we be working with block walls or open wood stud walls? The answer to this question will dictate the application process of certain design elements like wall organization system panels.

Tell me a little about your storage style or preferences.

1 car garage markham slatwall organization system cabinets recycle green bin storage polyaspartic coated stair floors punched aluminum wainscoting

ctech cabinets black silver car finished floors drywall windows

In the questionnaire, this is presented as a simple, multiple choice question. Do you prefer to see everything or do you want to keep some things behind closed doors? Yet, this question speaks to the heart of your design. Do you want everything kept on display using baskets, hooks and shelves, or do you prefer the clean lines of hidden storage?

When done well, both storage styles can be quite attractive. Visibly stored items are quickly and easily accessed. The items themselves can be arranged in a pleasing manner that makes them an integral part of the design. On the other hand, sleek cabinets provide hidden storage, ensuring the renovation design is the star of the show.

What type of storage are you interested in?

2 car garage oakville slatwall organization camlock hooks shelves hose reel drywall finish after

1 car garage, central Toronto - attic mezzanine overhead storage for 1.5 storey garage

custom overhead storage, rear wall secured with airplane cables

Now that you’ve had a chance to consider what you’ll be storing in your garage, the available space and the storage style preference, it’s time to address the type of storage you envision for your space. Would you like to see everything stored neatly along the walls of your garage? Would you prefer to store everything overhead, making use of wasted space? Or would you prefer to combine wall organization and overhead storage to maximize the available storage space in your garage?

Whenever possible, it’s ideal to incorporate both wall organization and overhead storage. Wall organization systems make frequently used items like gardening tools and sports equipment easily accessible. Overhead storage racks are perfect for storing large, bulky items like kayaks and infrequently used items like holiday decorations.

In this section you’ll also indicate whether you want to include garage cabinetry or lighting options in your renovation design.

What level of finish are you interested in?

garage design & renovation, ctech cabinets, slatwall organization system, polyaspartic flooring on stairs, finished drywall, overhead bike storage, undermount lighting

Our garage renovations range from basic garage organization projects to high-end garage renovations. The distinction is in the finishes. If you simply want to transform a cluttered garage into an organized space you’ll enjoy returning to each night, you may opt to bypass the finishes. You’ll still have an organized garage that looks great and does everything you need it to do.

For functional reasons, like preserving your garage floor and discouraging stains, you might select one of our garage flooring options. These include our one-day polyaspartic flooring system and modular, interlocking floor tiles—which can be scrubbed clean or replaced if damaged.

For clients seeking to transform their garage into a contemporary showplace, we can incorporate a number of finishes to get the look you want. Drywall, painting and beautiful polyaspartic flooring—available in a variety of stunning colors—pair nicely with Canadian-made garage cabinetry designed in a sleek, European style to create an impressive space.

What is the budget for your garage renovation?

The last key question about the design deals with your budget. The array of design and finish options available represent vastly different costs. I suggest that clients establish a budgetary range. The bottom number should be what you’d ideally like to spend on the project. The top number is what you’d be willing to spend to get the look and function you desire. Creating a budget range will allow us to develop design options that address your lifestyle and storage needs without going over your budget.

Are you ready to transform your garage into an organized, functional space or a fabulous showplace where you can park your vehicles and store all the things your lifestyle requires? Complete the Garage Tailors Garage consultation request form and begin the journey to your best garage renovation.

Plan Now for a Better Garage Experience Next Winter

February 3, 2015 by Rick Scully

How many times did you awake this winter to discover that your car was covered in ice and snow because there’s no room for it in the garage? Trudging out in the harsh elements to brush away snow, chip off ice and warm up your car is the last thing you want to do on a busy weekday morning. Worse, it can leave you rushing to get to work or to get the kids to school on time, making winter travel even more dangerous.

Last year, perhaps you promised yourself that you wouldn’t spend another winter forced to park your car outside of the garage. The months seemed to fly by, and your plan to organize or renovate the garage never quite happened. Before you knew it, you were in the midst of another harsh winter. After our last blast of wintry weather, perhaps you’ve made the same promise to yourself again this year.

Next winter might feel as though it’s a lifetime away. But then again, remember how quickly last year seemed to pass? The first month of the year is already in the books, and Groundhog Day is almost here. Ontarians are eagerly awaiting Wiarton Willie’s prediction of whether spring is on the horizon. Wiarton Willie’s forecast of what’s to come is out of your hands, but the fate of your garage isn’t. Now is the time to start making plans.

Think it’s too early to start planning for a garage renovation? It isn’t. Garage organization and renovation services are in high demand and have been growing in popularity in recent years. Schedule your garage renovation consultation in February to ensure your project will be started as soon as spring arrives. Starting early allows plenty of time for consultation, design and the ordering of products.

The primary purpose of your garage renovation might be to rescue your vehicle from the harsh winter weather. However there are many benefits to getting your garage renovation completed during spring. Are you tired of tripping over bikes, bats, balls and gardening tools in your garage? Do you avoid tackling small projects around the house because finding a screwdriver or wrench is a small project in itself? Depending on the options you choose, you’ll be able to:

Safely store your winter tires.
Neatly store winter sports equipment like sleds, ice skates and skis.
Store family bicycles off the ground and out of the way of vehicles.
Organize and store tools.
Neatly house gardening tools and equipment.

Just as unprotected sun exposure can damage your skin, it can also damage the paint on your car. Over time, the sun can cause oxidation and premature fading. Prolonged exposure to the oppressive summer sun weakens leather seats and rubberized trim. The headlights of your vehicle are also impacted by exposure to the sun. Parking your car in the garage during summer keeps your vehicle looking newer longer. It also makes it more comfortable to get into the car on hot summer days.

Renovating your garage during spring means you’ll have a safe place to park your car next winter, but you’ll also be able to enjoy the benefits of an organized garage during spring, summer and fall. Each garage renovation is tailored to meet the unique needs of the client. So whether you need a simple wall organization system, overhead storage, garage cabinet installation or customized storage solutions, your garage renovation specialist can help your dream garage become a reality.

Complete the garage survey form to tell us a little about your garage and schedule your no-cost, in-home consultation.

Five Essential Tips for Maintaining and Organizing Your Garage

December 16, 2014 by Rick Scully

As the year quickly draws to a close, it’s the perfect time to recap some of our favorite garage renovation tips from this past year.

Winterize Your Garage (and Everything in It)

If you haven’t already prepped your garage for winter, there’s no time like the present. Defend your garage, and home, against the harsh, cold weather by doing the following:

Replace the batteries in your garage door openers.
Check garage door weather stripping and replace, if needed.
Check all moving parts of the garage door. Get a pro to repair damaged or malfunctioning parts.
Lubricate garage door rollersand hinges to ensure smooth operation.
Test the garage door safety reverse sensor. If not functioning correctly, adjust the sensors or have them repaired.
Shut off water supply to exterior spigot.

Use Specialized Solutions for Your Unique Storage Needs

If your garage is stuffed to the gills, preventing you from parking your car(s) inside, specialized storage solutions could be the answer to your problems. Bulky items, like lawn mowers, snow plows, motorcycles and canoes take up considerable room in a garage. However, there are a variety of specialized garage storage solutions that can help. Here are a few:

Tire racks–Specialized tire storage racks come in a variety of configurations, allowing tires to be stored vertically or horizontally, on a wall or overhead.
Lawn mower racks or lifts – Riding and push mowers take up substantial garage space, making it difficult to park vehicles inside. Worse, vehicles can get scratched when the door is opened, or while the lawn mower is being moved.Lawn mower racks store push mowers off the ground, so additional items can be stored underneath. For a riding mower, a motorized lift will lift and lower the riding mower with the push of a button.
Motorcycle lifts – Motorcycles often hijack space needed for the snow blower, or to park a second vehicle. A professionally-installed motorcycle lift can safely store the bike off the ground, reserving premium garage floor space.
Kayak and paddle board racks – It can be tricky to find just the right place to store these seasonal items in your garage. If not properly stored, expensive paddle boards and kayaks are easily scratched or toppled. However, specialized kayak and paddle board racks provide safe, attractive storage for these items.Overhead, wall-mounted and freestanding racks are available. Many models can hold multiple boards/kayaks.
Overhead pulley systems – Canoes, truck caps and other heavy items which must be lowered onto a vehicle are excellent candidates for an overhead pulley system. Such a system allows users to lift and lower heavy items with minimal effort. Pulley systems are also available for single, double or multiple bicycle storage.

Maximize Garage Storage

The specialty storage solutions outlined above lift bulky items and preserve essential floor space. However, a variety of smaller items also pilfer valuable space when stored at ground level. A wall organizer system is the key to maximizing garage storage space by storing items vertically. Once installed, a professional-grade garage wall organization system, like slatwall, has infinite configurability, thanks to corresponding accessories:

Baskets – Store balls, sports pads, household goods and other items in baskets. Create a separate basket for each task, sport or individual.
Hooks – Use hooks to hang a wide range of items from gardening tools to sporting equipment, like hockey gear and bicycles.
Shelving – Shelves fit into the grooves in slatwall, enabling heavy items to be stored securely. High shelving provides the perfect storage space for items that should be kept out of the reach of pets and children, like automotive fluids, household chemicals or flower pots.
Specialty hooks – Many professional-grade garage wall organization systems offer specialty hooks for items like golf equipment, skateboards, snowboards and more.

All hooks, baskets and shelves can easily be relocated, creating endless configuration possibilities.

Find a Way to Use “Unusable” Garage Space

One of the keys to maximizing storage space in your garage is to find clever ways to make use of “unusable” space. Look around your garage. Perhaps you have high ceilings, oddly configured corners, poorly placed appliances and other dead spaces that create storage challenges. However, a garage renovation specialist can find creative solutions for such challenges, like custom-built overhead platforms; custom-built or customizable cabinetry; custom-built slings for storing canoes and rooftop sports equipment carriers overhead; and other custom-built options.

Make Keeping the Garage Organized a Family Affair

Standing back and surveying a neat, organized garage almost makes the entire Saturday you spent cleaning it feel worthwhile. But what happens a week later, once the entire family goes back to using the garage as a dumping ground? The garage quickly returns to utter chaos. This often occurs because only one person in the family is charged with the responsibility of keeping it clean. Put an end to this cycle of chaos. Get the entire family invested in keeping the garage organized. If everyone contributes to the hard work of cleaning and organizing the garage, they are more likely to work toward keeping it that way.

Explore these and other garage renovation and organization topics to ring in the new year with a clean, organized garage that will stay that way.

Should I Hire a Professional Garage Designer or Do It Myself?

March 13, 2014 by Rick Scully

Home and garage renovation projects can be fun. For anyone inclined to try his or her hand at it, there’s no shortage of DIY books and television shows to help. Completing a renovation project yourself can offer a potential savings. However, it doesn’t always work out that way.

The Hidden Costs of Doing It Yourself

One of the primary reasons we tend to take on a renovation project ourselves is to save the cost of labor, which can be considerable. We hope to trade a few weekends and a little elbow grease for a renovated space at a fraction of the cost. However, when unexpected issues arise the DIY cost advantage can quickly disappear. Here are four factors we often fail to consider when doing a renovation project:

The value of expertise and experience. We can learn a lot from a half-hour television show or a how-to book. However, neither is a substitute for an experienced professional on-site.
The project always takes longer than expected. Ever planned a quick weekend project that ended up taking a month of weekends to complete? Time is your most valuable asset; the only one which can never be replaced. Make sure the trade-off is worthwhile.
The cost of specialized tools. Many garage renovation projects, like applying polyaspartic flooring, require expensive, specialized tools. Purchasing such an item can wipe out the savings you hoped to achieve while leaving you with a tool you won’t likely use again.
The cost of fixing mistakes. Remember those episodes of The Cosby Show where Cliff would try to fix something and inevitably make it worse? He’d eventually have to call a plumber in to fix it. In the end, it cost more than if he’d let the plumber do it in the first place. When flooring, cabinetry and other garage projects go wrong, it can be quite costly.

Renovating the garage yourself seems simple enough, but doing it wrong can cost a lot more time and money than you ever imagined. An experienced, professional garage designer will get the project done right, in less time, and offer exciting new possibilities.

The Professional Garage Designer Advantage

Creating a customized garage design that fits your space and meets your unique needs can be challenging. Here are a few of the advantages of working with a professional garage designer:

Knowledge and Experience

Garage renovations pose unique challenges. While every garage is different, the extensive knowledge and experience that a professional designer brings to the project provides a distinct advantage. A pro designer is current on construction codes, understands how garages are constructed and is familiar with the latest garage storage and décor products and materials. Additionally, the experience of working on a variety of garage design projects gives a pro designer an extensive knowledge base from which to draw when planning and completing your renovation project.

Innovative Space-saving Solutions

Garages offer limited floor space. Then there are odd spaces that homeowners never quite know how to use. With a growing number of possessions and limited space in which to store them, it can be difficult to envision how to get all of your things in your garage along with your vehicles. However, a professional garage designer can see the potential in your space and offer innovative solutions like slatwall, movable shelving and overhead storage to maximize available space.

Design and Engineering Skills

Garage design professionals know how to use available space efficiently while also following fundamental design and engineering principles. Therefore, the proposed renovation will fit your lifestyle while resolving perplexing design issues, like what to do with an odd corner space. Custom-designed overhead shelving and other storage structures will be well-made and safely installed. The selection of colours and finishes will truly enhance the space.

Turning a chaotic garage into an organized space that houses your car and all of your belongings can be a challenge. Doing it yourself might seem like the cheapest solution, but DIY garage reno projects can quickly go awry. A knowledgeable, experienced professional garage designer can maximize your space so that it’s organized, functional and safe for many years to come. Interested in what a professional garage designer can do for your space? Request a consultation.