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5 Top Reasons To Keep Your Garage Properly Structured

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You are not alone if you have ever looked around to make out who is outside prior to opening the garage door. This part of the house gathers everything from garden supplies and tools to sports equipment and toys – a few of which most likely have not been used in years. Luckily, custom garage storage solutions by Garage Tailors change everything. When you are done systematizing, you might even have an adequate amount of space inside for your car!

Here is how a well-thought-out and properly structured garage will help

  • You can stumble on everything without any difficulty

Remember the last time you looked for the cleaning attachments for your utility vacuum, a head screwdriver or roll of duct tape?

Your storage preferences are more or less boundless – hooks, bins and small baskets on a slat wall system, or cabinets and drawers as part of a well thought-out and structured workbench. That means less time spent searching for your stuff. You might even save money on duplicate things such as screws, tape, nails, and weed trimmer lines all for the reason that you can now come across what you already have.

  • Costly stuff stays safe

For such a disorganized space, the garage surely does hold a little costly stuff. Bicycles do not come cheap, and neither do garden and lawn equipment or power tools. And then there is the most expensive one: your car or any other vehicle.

With a properly planned garage, costly stuff stays safe. The paint of your car will not get chipped from a bicycle falling against it, or from your kids, by chance, riding their scooter, electric toy car or tricycle into it. During the procedure of sorting out the garage, you will get rid of toys your kids have grown out of, and you will hit upon a protected place for what they still use.

Other lawn equipment, exterior furniture and tools can be securely kept within cabinets or on wall mounted storage accessories so they will not fall off a shelf or land in a heap in the corner.

  • Dangerous tools and equipment stay safe

Garages also have a few dangerous tools and equipment that you would like to keep safe from the little hands and prying eyes of children. Dwell on any electric or gas garden tools that you have, such as a hedge trimmer or chainsaw. Power tools such as circular saws and drills also need protection. Not to mention any rock salt or fertilizers that you keep in this space.

  • The entire garage will look airier and cleaner

Yours is not the only home on the block with a disorganized garage. It makes sense, really – the space is just a traverse from your car – if you are fortunate and you have got space for it – to your house, and a place to store outdoor equipment. So its neatness and orderliness – or lack thereof – does not have an effect on your lifestyle as much as an untidy house world. That is a bad amalgamation, but one that is uncomplicated to remedy.

Regardless of how many times you clean the floor, untidiness looks dirty, and it can even create a centre of attention for frightening critters such as mice and bugs. When you put your garage in order, the entire space looks smart and stays free from bugs and dirt.

If an uncluttered garage looks airier, that is for the reason that it actually is. Piles of loose stuff and boxes lying about take up extra space as compared to wall-mounted storage shelves, cabinets, and systems that make the best use of wall space and keep things off the floor.

  • Make good selections simpler

Anybody can get organized. It is staying structured that is the bigger trick. You are more expected to do it when something is convenient. That applies to almost everything from sorting the mail and hanging up your coat to putting things away in the garage.

Convenient storage encourages kids to place their toys away rather than tossing them on the garage floor and makes it effortless for you to put the drill back in its place and set all of the vacuum tools on the shelf where they go.

In a lot of homes, warm weather makes the garage almost a revolving door. Kids run in and out grabbing balls and bikes, and you will spend weekends working on projects and most likely washing the car. Wouldn’t it be amazing to open the door and not worry about what the neighbours might assume? Much more important, visualize a space where everything has a place, and there is room left over for a vehicle or two.

With a little creativeness and resourcefulness, even the smallest garage can store your belongings, in conjunction with a place to park your vehicle and workspace. To know how it can be done with custom-fit storage solutions by Garage Tailors, feel free to give us a call at 416.617.7551!

A Detailed Guide To Help Keep The Garage Properly Organized

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For the majority of homeowners, garages are personal storage facilities – without any additional expenses. However, after a short time, they often become untidy with everything from outdoor patio furniture, tires, multiple bicycles, kids sports equipment and ancestral tools that you simply can’t seem to part with.

Even though garages are utilized for stockpiling stuff and parking vehicles, however, in the long run, you may stumble on yourself falling down a rabbit hole of needless baby strollers, toys, Christmas decorations, or other things taking up the parking space. Putting the garage in order may look like a very big challenge, but there is light at the other end of the organization tunnel.

Our team at Garage Tailors can help you come up with organized garage designs that may include everything from an overhead storage unit, wall organization systems or cabinets.  We would like to let you in on some of the most effective tips to administer and systematize the garage space. The following are some of the most promising tips that can help you deal with the mess in the garage:

  • Plan it out

It can be overwhelming to jump right into organizing the garage. In particular, based on how untidy it is, or if there is some stuff in there that holds a little sentimental importance and you would like to keep them. Go through the garage and write down what you would like to keep and the stuff that you do not mind throwing for trash pickup.

Ensure that you put everything out on a day when the waste is planned for pick-up so that the stuff does not mess with your yard or the street.

  • Make it a day

The same as any other big job on your plate, you should plan a day of the week to clean the garage. Decide a day when you can put all the other things off until you conclude the task. It does not all have to be performed in a single day – you can make it a habitual day that you devote to exclusively de-cluttering the garage until it is finished.

  • Ask for some assistance

If you discover that organizing the garage is too big of a task for you to deal with unaccompanied, you can always call in assistance. Request your family or friends to give you a hand in cleaning out your garage. More hands are better than none when you need assistance, and asking family and friends can help the task get completed in advance of the plan.

  • Mark zones

When it comes to putting anything in order, you would like to dwell on the way you will split things and where to put them during splitting. If you have got quite a few things that are associated with one another such as seasonal decorations or fitness equipment, then you should mark a zone for where you will store the things once the garage is structured.

  • Put in practical storage solutions

Our garage organization service will be sure to provide you the help you need to get things in the garage properly and efficiently stored. We will use our 20 years in the garage organization business to provide you a solution that is designed to cater to both your personal needs and the actual space of your garage based on the height, weight, and size of the specific stuff you are keeping. Solutions such as overhead storage units, shelving, hoists, tool cabinets, and wall racks provide tidy-looking solutions to uncomplicate your life.

  • Tag Your Storage Bins

The garage management professionals commonly come upon places that are messed up for the reason that there are not any labels to recognize stuff. Have you tried seeking something in the garage, and left with it looking more cluttered than before for the reason that you had to look around every box simply to stumble on one item?

Putting labels on your bins will help you reduce the time and effort that it takes to search through the stuff without difficulty and discover them quickly without having to make an even bigger clutter of the garage.

  • Decide an outline

Based on the size of the garage, you may be capable of forming an outline that works wonders to fit the vehicle and keep a large number of things. Make a decision where you would like everything to go, and leave an adequate amount of space to park the vehicle and an adequate amount of place to keep additional bits and pieces in the future.

Leave items you need at eye level and put other things that you just make use of seasonally on higher shelves for ease of access.

Hire the experts at Garage Tailors to get your garage in order

At Garage Tailors, we know how hard it is to put a garage in order without feeling overwhelmed. And, that is the reason we are here to help you plan a garage that works wonders for your managerial needs. We can make renovations, install cabinetry, shelving, and help you come up with an arrangement for long-term organization solutions.

You can always get in touch with the professionals at Garage Tailors simply by giving Ian a call at 416.617.7551. We are just a phone call away!

Five Reasons to Install an Epoxy Garage Floor Coating

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Are you thinking that it’s time to do something with your damaged and weathered garage floor but not sure what the options are?  The best option that you should look at when your garage floor needs an update is a coating.   

An epoxy floor coating can turn your floor from the current dirty and pitted floor that it is into a brand-new looking floor.  Our epoxy coatings are useful for preserving concrete surfaces and protecting against harsh impacts — at a fraction of the cost of removing and replacing your floor with a new concrete slab. 

Coating the floor of your garage, basement, cold cellar or a commercial space will provide you with many benefits. Epoxy floor coating will seal your floor to help minimize the dust both in your garage and inside of your house and is resilient to the everyday wear and tear that your floor is exposed to bringing a feeling of wow to your garage while also providing a level of safety. Have you thought about but put off coating your garage floor, then now may be the time for you to consider calling the professionals at Garage Tailors about adding an epoxy coating?

What Is Epoxy Floor Coating?

Epoxy floor coating is a two-part system made of a coloured base resin and a hardener. As the base resin and the hardener are mixed, they will form a chemical reaction that gives your floor a brand-new look.  The process of adding a coating to your garage floor is that it will seal and cure the concrete surface by forming a firm bond between the concrete slab and the epoxy product itself.  If this sounds like what you are looking for, keeping reading about the many advantages of our epoxy floor coatings to help decide if our services are the right choice for your garage.

  1. Hiding cracks and pitting

Once an epoxy floor coating has been added to your existing floor slab you will notice a considerable difference in the lighting of your garage.  The clear topcoat will now reflect the light substantially making it much safer when you get out of your car at night while also making the space feel much bigger as well. 

Most new garages will have some cracks in the garage floor slab due to shifting while some older homes will have much more damage to them such as pitting.  Our process is not just about adding a floor coating, we first repair all cracks with our hardening slurry as well as any significant and major pitting.  We then apply a solid colour base coat, a decorative flake system with 100% coverage of the slab (many colours to choose from to fit your personal preference). The addition of the decorative flakes will also help to hide the imperfections from the divots that may be present in your floor.  

Our decorative flakes are made of vinyl, come in a wide variety of colours, are ¼” in size and our added to the base flake to ensure 100% coverage so that there a no bare patches.  Our epoxy floor coating with a full decorative flake system is guaranteed to transform your garage floor into something that you’ll be sure and tell your friends about.  Our floor coating system will take less than a day to install from start to finish.

  1. Cost Effective

If your floor needs replacement, an epoxy coating is a considerably more affordable option compared to removing the existing slabs and replacing it with a new one.  Epoxy is also more cost effective than adding vinyl tiles as tiles will not stand up to things like water, salt and chemicals.  As soon as vinyl tiles are exposed to these elements they will begin to lift, peel, and discolour.  A new looking epoxy coated garage floor will be the most cost-effective solution that you will find that is guaranteed to last.

If your garage floor is causing you stress, then look no further than the benefit of transforming it with an epoxy coating.  Our prep and installation process will be so efficient that it will be completed before you return from the office.

We also want you to rest assured that we do not use a DIY kit from the bog box stores and use only industrial grade products from Sherwin Williams that are guaranteed to stand up to daily wear.  Having our team at Garage Tailors complete your garage floor transformation is sure to bring you years and happiness without the hassle of yearly maintenance that comes with a painted floor.  

  1. Salt/Chemical Resistance and UV Stable

An epoxy coating will ensure resistance to the many kinds of things that your garage floor slab is exposed to such as salt, chemicals (oil and gas) and heat from the tires also known as hot tire pick-up). It’s also great for garages as it will not yellow from the suns UV rays. 

Salt

Due to our winters in Ontario, salt is the major contributor to most of the damage to garage floor slabs.  Given that salt usually is applied to our roads and subsequently tracked into our garages in November and will stay there till washed out in March or April, it’s allowed to have up to 5 months to eat away at the concrete.  

Our epoxy coatings are guaranteed to not break down from salt and so you’ll never have to worry about if your floor will become pitted ever again and will maintain its finish for many years to come.

Chemical (oil and gas)

Given that garages are where we often fill our lawn mowers with oil and gas as well as any spillage from our vehicles, your garage floor will benefit from a chemical resistant epoxy floor coating.  Or maybe you are someone who use your garage to work on your car so it’s exposed to other chemicals such as brake fluid, not to worry as our coatings are guaranteed to stand up to these fluids as well.  And if you drop a wrench while doing your maintenance, our coatings have a high level of shock and impact resistance as well.  To lean up any chemical spill all you’ll need is a rag and possibly some rubbing alcohol if it’s been sitting there for a while 

UV Stable 

There are many types of epoxies on the market from DIY kits to the 100% solids that are offered by trusted brands such as Sherwin Williams.  When choosing to install an epoxy coating one of the important things to consider is whether the product is UV stable.  Choosing to go with the cheap DIY kit or maybe even something from a commercial supplier that’s not 100% solids will most likely leave you with a floor that will yellow or amber from the suns UV rays.  This yellowing may happen as soon as a month or possibly a year, but it will happen unless you have a written guarantee from your installer like the one offered from Garage Tailors. 

Heat (Hot Tire Pick-Up)

Another benefit of using Garage Tailors is that we use a product that is guaranteed to withstand the heat from your tires and will not leave brown stains from the hot rubber.  Like the UV stability issue, our epoxy coating is guaranteed to not breakdown from the heat of hot tires by either discolouring or weaken and break down where it delaminates.  Our epoxy coating can withstand heat of greater than 75 degrees Celsius.  

  1. Durability

Once installed by our professionals, our epoxy coating will not need to be redone for an extended amount of time and we offer a 10 year written warranty to back this up. The coating is guaranteed to endure the wear and tear from your vehicle and all other everyday usage while maintaining its glossy and reflective appearance ensuring long-term satisfaction. 

  1. Ease of Maintenance

Most people lead very busy lives both professionally and personally so having a floor coating solution that doesn’t require maintenance is often a big decision-making factory for many of our clients.  Once you’ve made the decision to go with an epoxy floor coating, the only thing that you’ll have to do (if you choose to) is simply take your garden hose and spray your floor every spring and fall, it’s as easy as that.  Given that untreated concrete will continuously emit dust, by adding an epoxy floor coating you will eliminate much of the dust that is tracked from your garage into your house.

If you are looking for a floor coating system that is cost effective and sure to last, trust the professionals at Garage Tailors to take care of you and your garage floor. 

 

A Quick Guide To Getting Epoxy Garage Flooring

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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?

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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

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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 1st 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 2nd coating.

This 2nd layer will comprise any non-skid traction materials you might wish to use. Disperse them by dusting them over the top after the 2nd 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

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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. 

1.5 car garage, etobicoke - overhead platform storage, garage cabinets, slatwall organization system, camlock camlok hooks, polyaspartic floor, cement block coating - beforeThe 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.

garden hose reelA 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.

Finishing Touches for Your Garage Project, Part 1

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2 car garage willowdale showcase - 4 post hydraulic car lift, garage cabinets, polyaspartic garage flooring, overhead platform storage, tire storage, satinless steel work station, flatscreen tv fixture

Previous articles have addressed the refinishing of your garage floor.  We covered everything from the fundamental steps required for proper floor preparation to the application of your new floor covering. Next, you will want to consider what is commonly referred to as the finishing touches. In this case, finishing touches can be separated into three key areas: drywall, painting and lighting.

Drywall is an established garage wall covering material found on both existing and newly constructed homes.  Unfortunately, in many cases the drywall installation is only about fifty percent finished.  That is, when the home builder was done with the garage, he may have left the drywall both unsanded and unpainted.  Now understand this is a common practice and totally above board.  The builder is simply following the building code and completing what he needs to do to complete the job.

Yet unfinished drywall is not just found in newer homes.  Actually, there are quite a few existing homes out there where the garage hasn’t actually been touched since the builder left.  That’s quite common, and now that you have decided to move forward and upgrade your garage you can be sure it’s done right, the way you want.

You see, the time you have set aside to refinish your garage floor gives you the perfect opportunity to take care of that drywall.  Here are a couple of options for you to consider.  First, imagine the scenario where the drywall is already installed and thoroughly covering your garage walls.  With this scenario, the existing drywall might only need to be sanded and painted.  Also, there may be a few areas where the existing drywall needs to be patched or repaired and then re-mudded. “Remudding” is just contractor speak for applying new joint compound to the seams between the drywall sections.  Remember, the point of the “mudding” process is to make the joints invisible so that your wall looks smooth and uniform.  Of course, at this point you will want to choose a paint color complimentary to your home exterior and garage floor covering.

1.5 car garage, etobicoke - slatwall, overhead platforms, polyaspartic floor coating, shelves bike racks - before

Another scenario is when the drywall installation doesn’t cover as many walls as you want or is damaged in one or more areas.  When this is the situation, you can choose to install drywall over any other areas you want as well as replacing or patching any damaged drywall.  One thing to keep in mind with new drywall installation is that the building code requires newly installed drywall to be at least 5/8 inch think and fire retardant.  After the correct drywall is installed, the same “mudding” process, sanding and painting procedures needs to be completed.

Once you have addressed the drywall in your garage, now you will want to consider painting.  Of course, if your garage walls are drywall, they will have been painted as explained above.  But what about exposed concrete or exposed brick walls?  You will be pleased to learn that both of these garage wall surfaces are prime candidates for a new coat of paint.  There are combination paints that serve as both a sealant and paint. We’re experts at making your garage interior match your home’s exterior as well as garage flooring, so whether you already have garage flooring or coloured cabinets, we can recommend colours which will make your garage match the rest of your home when the door is open and being enjoyed by your entire family during the warmer months.

T8 LED tube light

Lighting is the third area I’d like to discuss when considering finishing touches for your garage. The typical garage lighting is modest at best.  Often times, there are either one or two incandescent fixtures with a single bulb.  While that may be all right for the builder, it may not look so good once you refinish your garage. In fact, most people who choose to transform their garage use this opportunity to upgrade their garage lighting.

There are three popular options available to you when you decide to upgrade your garage lighting. Your first option and the most popular choice is replacing the incandescent fixtures with LED lighting fixtures.  LED’s have exploded in popularity and dropped in price. They consume far less energy, put out more light, last a lifetime, have controls over the color temperature, and come in a variety of very attractive fixtures. Fluorescent bulbs are still a good option, but one precaution to be aware of is to make sure your fixture includes T8 rated bulbs.  The ‘T8’ rating indicates those bulbs are designed to work in colder temperatures. Fluorescent tubes do go out and have to be disposed of carefully as many contain elements that are not appropriate for regular landfills. LED lighting is the fast and economical upgrade recommendation to your existing garage lighting.

On the other hand, the alternate lighting option is to install recessed lighting or what the home builders refer to as “pot lighting”.  Recessed lighting or pot lights need an opening or recess to accommodate the new fixtures and is most commonly found in garages with finished ceilings or often, under our custom overhead storage platforms where we again have the space to recess the pot lights and run the electrical wiring.

Next month, we’ll review additional finishing options such as baseboards, casings and doors.

Tips to Storing Holiday Decorations in Your Garage

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Christmas tree and lights

The holiday season has come to an end, and you may have already started taking your decorations down, but can’t seem to organize them just right. Clients in Greater Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Hamilton, London, Markham, Vaughan, Kitchener, Oshawa, Barrie, and Guelph can benefit from learning a few of our simple holiday decorations storage hacks.

It may be tempting to pack things away in a rush and simply putting them anywhere, but think about this time next year! You’re going to have a much tougher time finding and unraveling everything if you’re not organized from the get-go. 

Make your holiday packing and unpacking a breeze with some of these helpful storage tips.

Take The Time To Come Up With A Holiday Decorations Storage Plan

Putting some prior thought into how and where you are going to fit all your decorations will save you lots of time and hassle!

Garages are probably the best place you store your holiday decor, so you may want to maneuver things a bit if you have a lot of items already stored. 

Make a section of the garage for just your holiday decorations and be sure it is easy to access. That way, in 11 or so months, you won’t be climbing over boxes to get to them and potentially hurting yourself.

Use Plastic Storage Bins And Overhead Racks

Plastic storage bins are the perfect place for ornaments, stockings, and  garlands among other items. Not only are they affordable, but they can be stacked easily and save you tons of space. They’re also not a fire hazard.

Using a clear container over a solid one will also help you easily identify what’s in the box so that you’re prepared for the coming year.

Overhead racks are also a huge space saver if you don’t have many shelves in your garage. With overhead racks, you won’t have to worry about heavy items taking up space on the floor of your garage. The space can instead be used for parking or storing items you use more regularly.

Use Clear Plastic Bags And Cups For Your Ornaments

Using clear resealable bags will make it easy to color coordinate your ornaments. You can also use leftover plastic cups to store your more elaborate, fragile ornaments so that they don’t get ruined. It might also help you bubble wrap them to prevent them from breaking.

Label Your Storage Bins

Garage with stored items

Labelling your storage bins will make things much easier when it comes time to put decorations up again. You’ll know where everything is and don’t have to worry about rummaging through tons of boxes.

Shrink Wrap Your Artificial Tree

Not only does shrink wrapping your tree save space, but it will also prevent your artificial tree from collecting dust while it’s stored for months at a time. When you’re ready to take it out again, cut open the shrink wrap with scissors and fluff up the branches. Your tree will be good as new!

Wrap Lights In Cardboard

Using a few square pieces of disposable cardboard to wrap your tree lights in will help to keep them organized and detangled.

Additional Tips for Holiday Decorations Storage

Here are a few final helpful tips to help make your holiday storing a breeze:

  • Use bubble wrap or decoration storage containers (avoid using newspaper as the ink tends to rub off on the ornaments)
  • Use dividers for fragile decorations or even egg cartons that are then stored in plastic boxes
  • Prevent tangles in lights by using discarded wrapping paper tubes
  • Donate any decorations you haven’t used in a while so you don’t accumulate things
  • List out any decorations that are broken so you can buy new ones next year

Signs You Need to Insulate Your Garage

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man in garage with stored belongings

If someone were to ask you what the most important room in a home is, what would you tell them? The living room? The master bedroom? Believe it or not, it’s your garage. But, do you need garage insulation? 

It may be for cars and storage, but think about it –– the garage is essentially the very front entrance of a home! Keeping your garage insulated is more important than you might think.

Homeowners living in Greater Toronto, including Mississauga, Brampton, Hamilton, London, Markham, Vaughan, Kitchener, Oshawa, Barrie, and Guelph should look to the team at Garage Tailors Garage for all their insulation needs. Here are some common questions from those homeowners looking to insulate their garages and why you should invest in it.

Why Is The Garage Such A Fundamental Part Of The Home?

It’s much more than just a place to park your car and store your belongings. People nowadays often view their garage as an extension of their home. Maybe it’s where you have your very own home gym or a place you use as a workshop for your creative projects. 

Whatever it may be, it’s important to keep your garage insulated. Blocking out air that seeps into your garage is vital to keeping indoor temperatures at a comfortable level in any season. With an insulated garage, temperatures will stay similar to what you have in your home.

It’s a pain to have to listen to the garage door open and close throughout the day. Or maybe your partner or child is working on a project that requires using noisy tools and lots of thrashing. Luckily, insulation acts as a sound barrier so you won’t have to worry about these noises while you’re enjoying your favorite TV show.

What Happens In A Garage That’s Uninsulated And Unattached?

Even though the shared wall that’s between your garage and home is usually insulated, it only keeps the air out when the access door is shut. Any time you open the door, you’re letting out the precious air you use to keep your home at the perfect temperature. Save money in the long run and invest in garage insulation.

Are There Any Other Options?

You may not mind having a cold or humid garage when the seasons change, but if you have plumbing running through the garage, you have no other option –– insulation is necessary. Maybe you have a washer/dryer installed in the garage? With an uninsulated garage, you run the risk of dealing with frozen pipes during the winter months.

Is there a bedroom just above your garage? If so, you will need to make sure insulation runs over the ceiling as well. Without proper insulation, it’ll be very difficult to keep that room warm.

Are My Belongings At Risk In An Uninsulated Garage?

contractors insulating a garage

If you use your garage as a place to store your belongings, such as bikes, skis, kayaks, etc. then you will want to invest in proper insulation. During summer months, garages become humid and humidity breeds rust and mold. Save yourself the worry and cost in the long run and invest in insulation from the get-go.

What About Carbon Monoxide? 

Most people use remote starters for their cars during the winter. If you start your car while it’s tucked away in the garage, carbon monoxide fumes can make their way into your home. And if your garage is well insulated, you won’t have to worry about the fumes. 

In case your garage is attached to your home, it might be wise to install carbon monoxide detectors close to the door that leads to your garage. 

Contact Us

Your garage is a much more important space than you might think, so don’t neglect it! Be sure to reach out to Garage Tailors Garage for all your garage insulation needs. We look forward to serving you.