central vacuum Archives - Garage Tailors

Garage Renovation Obstacles

February 14, 2020 by Rick Scully

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Four Ways to Make Use of “Unusable” Space in Your Garage

July 8, 2014 by Rick Scully

Several items are commonly stored in garages: gardening tools, automotive supplies and winter weather accessories. Yet, the configuration of your garage, the space available therein and the items you store there are unique to your individual lifestyle. Let’s explore two common issues that frequently create a storage challenge in garages.

Storing Oversized Items in Your Garage

When clients are unable to park their cars inside the garage, it’s usually due to one of the following reasons:

Too many items stored in the garage;
Oversized items have taken over the garage;
Inefficient use of available space.

In this post, we’ll address the last two issues: storing oversized items and making efficient use of available space, since these two issues are frequently connected.

Is the storage of winter tires, kayaks, building materials or other bulky, oversized items preventing you from parking in your garage?

If so, you’re not alone. Whether you have a small, one-car garage or a large three-car one, your garage contains a finite amount of space. Yet, as the years go by, we continue to acquire what feels like an infinite amount of goods; most of which, ends up vying for space in the garage.

Periodically, it’s a good idea to assess what’s in your garage and eliminate unnecessary items. Purging your garage of unneeded items frees up valuable storage space. Still, the unusual size and bulky nature of items like canoes or leftover house siding make it difficult to store them in the garage without impeding the car’s entry.

What’s a frustrated homeowner to do?

Make Use of “Unusable” Space in Your Garage

Is your garage saddled with “unusable” spaces like high ceilings or oddly-shaped corners? Is your central vacuum sitting smack in the middle of a wall where you’d like to install a bank of cabinets? These types of situations create storage challenges that homeowners find extremely frustrating.

However, as a garage renovation specialist, I know that these challenges are easily overcome by applying creative storage solutions. Here are four possible creative solutions to storing your oversized items:

Custom-built overhead platforms – Looking for a solution to the dilemma of what to do with oversized items? Just look up. Many garages have open space overhead that seems “unusable.” However, a custom-built, overhead platform creates the perfect place to store items that aren’t frequently used. If the garage ceiling is high enough, a full mezzanine can be built across the back wall of the garage which allows for another level of storage and workspace.

Custom-built or customizable cabinetry – Perhaps you’d like to install cabinets along the back wall of your garage, but a recessed or curved wall makes it difficult? Garage Tailors Garage has met this challenge by either custom-building cabinetry designed to fit that unique space or by installing cabinetry with customizable design options. A poorly located central vacuum can either be relocated or hidden inside of a cabinet. The final result is aesthetically-pleasing cabinets that have nice, clean lines, even when the walls behind them don’t.

Custom-built slings – Canoes and rooftop sports equipment carriers for your vehicle provide an additional challenge. An overhead platform would provide storage space. However, the item would be difficult to access. A better option is a custom-built, overhead storage sling. Sturdy chains are used to provide maximum holding power. In the case of a canoe sling, the chains are covered to protect the finish of the canoe as it is lowered or hoisted into place overhead.

Other custom-built options – In a small, tight garage it’s nearly impossible to add a traditional workbench. However, a custom-built workbench that is tucked in an otherwise unusable corner or that folds up against the wall when not in use fits perfectly in a limited space.

There are many creative storage solutions available. However, it can be difficult to visualize how those solutions might work in your space. In the next post, we’ll explore specific storage challenges and examine the creative solutions used to resolve them.

Want to see how Garage Tailors Garage can fix your garage storage dilemma? Request your consultation today.

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