garage renovation Archives - Page 3 of 5

Garden Days are Here Again: Are You Ready?

April 18, 2017 by Rick Scully

Smells of fresh wet soil and the sight of green peeking out from the ground have arrived again. It’s spring! And, it’s time to start preparing the garden again. It’s time to dust off the garden tools and pick up seedlings as well as annuals from the local garden centre.

Not only are gardens relaxing for many home owners, but they add curb appeal and value to the home. The most avid gardeners among us have already been nurturing their own seeds since early March in anticipation of the big planting weekend in spring.

Get the Essential Garden Tools

It’s time to take inventory and make sure we’re ready for the season. Maybe, there was a tool or two that you could have used last season. Here’s a checklist of some of the essential garden tools that every horticulturalist to novice gardener should have available.

Garden Gloves with Nitrile Palms

The ideal garden gloves should be form fitting and thin enough so you can feel everything you’re touching. A nitrile coated palm makes the glove waterproof in the palm area and thin enough for dexterity and delicate handling of plants and soil.

Hand Trowel or Hori Hori Trowel

The hand trowel allows the gardener to get into small spaces and move soil around. The Japanese Hori Hori Trowel is a step up from the standard hand trowel by including a measure so that plants are placed at the correct depth into the soil. It also comes with a serrated edge along one side to cut roots in order to untangle a plant from its neighbours so it can be moved to another part of the garden.

The Spade

The spade is an essential tool for moving larger clumps of soil. It`s longer handle and square top allows the gardener to place their foot on the spade and break tougher ground. Some of the best spades will cut through roots to release larger plants for transplanting to other parts of the garden. There are different types of spades including border spades, digging spades and transplant spades but if this is your first spade, try owning a digging spade to start.

The Rake

Removing fallen leaves and other debris that have fallen onto the ground is a key task to maintain the health of a garden. A good rake will come in handy throughout the season and especially at the end of the season when it`s time to clean up after the trees in the yard.

The Garden Fork

The garden fork is an essential tool for turning over the soil in a garden. It mixes the nutrients in the soil making it a more suitable growing environment for plants. It also turns over any dead plant materials so this mulch will decay and provide additional nutrients to the garden.

The Hoe

The hoe is an old favourite. It’s used to shape the soil in the garden. It can be used to hill the soil around a row of plants while removing dead roots and weeds from the garden. At harvest time, the hoe is used to dig up root crops such as potatoes, carrots and other tubers.

The Long Hose with a Rain Wand

Water gives life to every garden. Using a long hose with a rain wand attachment makes it possible to water the garden in a way that simulates rain. The water arcs and drops onto the plant and soil gently like rain. Choose a good rain wand attachment head. It will allow you to adjust the pressure of the water to suit your garden.

The Wheelbarrow

Move heavy bags of compost and fertilizer using a wheelbarrow. A lot of people also use wheelbarrows to transport their garden tools and large trays of annuals to the correct spot in the garden. It’s a handy tool that will save your back.

When to Start Planting & Finding Your Frost-Free Date

So, now that the tools are ready, you can probably barely contain yourself from getting out to the garden to start working on it. How do you know when to start planting?

As soon as the ground is workable, it’s time to start planting. Test the soil by picking up a handful and give it a squeeze. It should fall apart easily. If it doesn’t, it’s a little too wet to work with. In the early days, you can turn soil and work with dormant perennials, shrubs and trees. In addition, cold drop vegetables such as peas, spinach and onions are workable at this time of year.

Use the Farmer’s Almanac to find your frost free date. This year, the frost free date is May 4^th around the Greater Toronto Area.

After this date, there are many annuals that you can plant because they can withstand a small frost or two. But, wait 2 to 3 weeks after your frost free date to be on the safe side for many of your plants. Discuss your planting intentions with your local garden centre and get advice. A lot depends on how the season progresses and occasionally, we can all be surprised by a sudden overnight frost.

If there’s an anticipated overnight frost, you can protect your garden. Dig out some old blankets or burlap sacs to cover your plants and give them some protection from the potential frost. Use bricks or rocks to secure the edges of your coverings. In the morning, remove the coverings, especially when the sun comes out. Avoid having your plants suffocate under the coverings on a warm sunny day.

Store Your Lawn & Garden Tools Easily and Safely

When using your garage wall for storing garden tools, you’ll want to move your winter tools to the back of the garage and the garden tools to the front near the garage door where it’s easier to access. Wall organization systems makes it easy to hang and store all your tools including wheelbarrows and even heavy lawn mowers. The camlock hooks plus proper mounting of your slatwall system are the secret to a well organized and secure wall storage system. Instead fighting through a shed full of stuff to dig out a single trowel or hand tool, it’s all visibly easy to find and use .

Besides protecting your best garden tools from rust and dampness, the garage wall organization system gives the gardener in the family peace of mind that tools won’t become bent or misshapen. Enjoy your gardening and cherish your gardening tools this spring with a little re-organization or small garage renovation project!

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.

Five Ways to Maximize Storage in Tall Garages

February 23, 2017 by Rick Scully

Having cathedral ceilings in the house gives a spacious inviting feeling to the room or space in the home. In the garage, most of us just don’t spend enough time living in the space to enjoy the tall ceilings in the same way. Instead, more often, we use the garage as a place to store and easily access a wide variety of tools and lifestyle items from bikes, kayaks, canoes, tires, seasonal decorations, and much more. For the car enthusiast, a drive in a favourite vehicle is always just moments away.

The tall garage with its abundant overhead space is one of the most versatile design spaces in an entire garage renovation. With a wide range of overhead storage solutions available, the tall garage has the most potential for unique options of both form and function.

The Mezzanine

The mezzanine is a way to create a functional space in the garage. With tempered-glass safety railings, the mezzanine offers a storage space which is comfortable to access. Instead of constantly having to reach overhead, access to the mezzanine can be as inconspicuous as a retro style pull-down attic ladder which maximizes the use of overall space. Or, it can be actual stairs which can automatically lower with the push of a button. And, in one instance, where a car lift already existed, it was incorporated as an actual lift to reach the mezzanine platform overhead.

To consider a mezzanine, the higher the ceiling height the more well-suited the garage is to a mezzanine. Ideally, people would be able to walk around on the mezzanine without running their heads into the ceiling above. The ideal depth would be a platform area of 8 feet or more. Mezzanines are typically situated above the garage door or to the rear of the garage depending on what makes the most sense.

Storing seasonal decorations, off-season sports equipment and other bulky or seldom-accessed items is the ideal use of the mezzanine. In a tall garage, the mezzanine makes it possible to leverage the entire height as well as depth of the overhead storage space.

Overhead Platform Storage

People rarely realize how to leverage the overhead space in the garage to maximize storage space while opening up the floor space in the garage for vehicles to be parked and your family to get around the garage safely. There are many options to use the overhead garage space to add additional storage space.

A storage solution like an overhead rack or a platform is a good answer to many storage challenges. We offer aluminum Hyloft racks which we’ll install securely to the ceiling of your garage. The other option is the Strong Racks steel racks which come in two styles: the overhead platform or the wall shelf which attaches high along the side or rear wall of the garage.

Racks are typically mounted near the centre or away from walls so there is clearance on multiple sides to access the items stored above. On the other hand, a steel shelf is typically not as deep as a rack as it gets mounted to walls of the garage. The overhead height is adjustable so that more or less space may be made available to store garden or winter tools, seasonal decorations and sports equipment.

Made-to-Measure Platform Solutions

Our made-to-measure platform solutions are made to measure and will fit all the nooks, crannies and turns which the wall takes. Our custom platforms are made to the specified depth and length while being mounted to the specified height from the ceiling.

Not only are they secured to the garage wall but using airplane cable, the platforms are mounted to the ceiling joists allowing them to wrap around the side and rear walls of the garage. Alternatively, poles can be used instead of airplane cable for supporting the platforms. In general, poles limit the amount of usable floor space available. Whether it’s airplane cable or poles, the platforms can support 750 lbs worth of off-season tools, spare tires, seasonal decorations, automotive accessories and more.

Made to measure custom platforms can also be finished with drywall and pot lights below to improve the lighting of the garage or the workspace areas of the garage.

Sports & Vintage Car Lifts

For automotive enthusiasts who love to be near their cars, in their cars and out driving their cars, the hydraulic car lift is one of the ways to park extra vehicles in the garage. Not only are additional parking spaces a concern but for vintage or sports vehicle owners, securing and safely storing these vehicles makes it possible to preserve and prolong the life of these limited edition treasures.

When considering an automotive lift, the minimum garage height depends on the vehicles being stored but a tight squeeze would be 10 feet or 11 feet. And, of course, the automated garage door mechanisms may need to be replaced by a Jack Shaft Operator which allows the garage door to slide up along the ceiling to clear the overhead space for the vehicles. The garage also needs an appropriate width to safely operate the lift to avoid damaging the vehicle or other belongings.

From there, a decision can be made for a 1 post, 2 post or 4 post lift. If you’re considering a car lift, book an in-home consultation with a garage renovation specialist to work out the viability of a lift in your tall garage.

Overhead Bike and Water Sport Storage

Hydraulic lifts are not only for vintage vehicles but also for bicycles. A whole family of bicycles can be parked on a single rack and lifted up and out of the way with the click of a switch. While there are numerous bike storage solutions using walls as well as ceilings, the hydraulic bicycle rack is accessible by every member of the family regardless of their height or strength. And, it’s a good way to leverage the space overhead and use the overhead space in the centre of a garage. In addition to the hydraulic bike rack, a wide variety of bike rack solutions are available to suit any bike lifestyle.

In addition to bikes, water sports crafts such as kayaks or canoes tend to be stored in the garage as well. Water crafts tend to be bulky and don’t tend to fit standard storage solutions such as platforms or shelves. To optimize the overhead garage storage space, an overhead sling is one of the safest ways to store water crafts and keep them out of the way of being damaged by a vehicle or damaging a vehicle. In addition to kayaks and canoes, wake boards and stand up paddle boards can be place in an overhead sling storage solution.

The Versatile Tall Garage

If you have a tall garage, there are many ways to use the overhead space to improve and increase the usable space in the garage. Not only are these garage renovation solutions functional but they can also add visual appeal to support even the most dynamic of family lifestyles.

Prepare Your Garage for a Snowy Winter

January 12, 2017 by Rick Scully

Winter storms bring snow, ice, powerful winds or a combination. Roads and walkways become very dangerous. A little planning will help the whole family to get going on the morning of a snow flurry or winter storm. Having a few emergency supplies on-hand can save everyone a lot of discomfort and trouble when the storm hits.

During the many activities of summer, it’s easy for the garage to become a family dumping ground. Maybe you’ve even resorted to parking your vehicles outside, rather than vying for the parking space inside the garage over the multitudes of family belongings. Before winter arrives, here are some ways to prepare your garage and car.

Organize for Winter

When the seasons change, how we use our garage storage space often does as well. Gardening tools, golf clubs, and bicycles take a back seat to sleds and skis once the air turns crisp and cold. The lawn mower makes way for the snow blower, shovels and walkway salt.

Take a few minutes at the change of the season to reorganize your garage so that seasonal items are easily accessible. The last thing you want to do is wake up to a snowy drive, only to realize that you must first dig out the snow blower or shovels.

Switching winter tools to the front of the garage while moving summer sports equipment and gardening tools to the back of the garage or into overhead storage areas is one of the steps to preparing for winter. Using PVC slatwall which is durable and resistant to the changing temperatures and moisture of the four seasons is important to slatwall storage systems. Using slatwall with camlock hooks and baskets secures the shovels, sleds, winter tools, sports equipment, recycling bins and even lawn mowers and some snowblowers. A variety of home tools with a hole in the handle including those which seem bulkier, awkward and or even slightly weightier like lawn mowers and some snow blowers can often be placed on camlock hooks and removed just as easily from the slatwall hooks reliably and safely.

The beauty of slatwall is you can add or change the amount of storage you have over time by changing the shelving, basket and hook options. The flexibility of slatwall organization systems allow it to change with your family’s growing needs.

Prevent Ice and Snow from Collecting in Gutters and Downspouts

Snow and ice can wreak havoc on our homes and make getting out in the morning difficult. Some basics to protect the garage and home include a regular cleaning of gutters and downspouts. Removing debris from rain gutters is easy enough to do or get done, but if overlooked, it can result in severe water damage and ice damming in the winter. Pooled water can penetrate the edge of roofs, interior walls and ceilings of your home or garage, causing serious damage to the garage or house.

When the layer of snow on the roof melts due to the heat rising in the attic of your home, water pools along the edge of the roof, where the temperature is much cooler. There, it refreezes, causing ice dams—a mound of ice that starts along the eaves of the roof and spreads upward. This formation of ice, which often traps pools of water underneath it, can cause substantial damage to the exterior and interior of your home.

Protect Your Car from the Snowy Winter

The first step to protecting your car from winter’s blustery affects is parking your car in the garage. Not only will you be able to get out quickly in the morning, you won’t have to clean a mountain of snow off the windshield each morning before work. Parking the vehicle inside the garage not only protects the car from the elements but it also prevents vandalism as well as theft. It won’t take as long to start the car in the morning. By saving time each morning, you won’t be rushed during your commute, making travel safer for you and your loved ones.

By keeping a bag of sand or gravel in the trunk plus a shovel, you’ll be ready for all sorts of winter driving situations. In addition, it’s ideal to use winter tires on snowy roads. With the softer rubber used in winter tires, they provide better traction on snow and ice than the typical all season tires. To swap out all season tires for safer winter tires, you’ll need to store tires. A variety of tire storage racks and overhead storage options are available for use in the garage to store winter tires during the summer months and alternatively, the all-season tires in the winter.

To get the vehicle starting sooner in the mornings, a lot of people use an engine block heater. Park the vehicle in the garage on brutally cold days where there is access to an electrical outlet. Especially, if you get hit with a snow storm and need to get your child to school, a block heater helps make the morning routine run smoothly with less stress. It keeps the engine warm and ready to start while preventing damage to engine components that can occur when starting a cold engine at below freezing temperatures.

Ready for Winter Snow & Cold?

Preparation is key to protecting your garage and car from the winter elements. After looking after some of these basics, we seldom think about the garage floor. However, this important surface undergoes constant abuse. In the next blog, I’ll show you the importance of having a good garage floor, especially in the winter months.

Create a Gardening Command Centre in Your Garage

May 19, 2016 by Rick Scully

Temperatures are rising and spring flowers are in bloom. During the approaching Victoria Day weekend, garden centres will be overflowing with Ontarians preparing for the planting season. Many of your neighbors will likely use the long weekend to plant flower and vegetable gardens.

Perhaps you enjoy gardening, but break into a cold sweat at the thought of sifting through the chaotic contents of your garage to locate gardening tools. A hectic schedule—brimming with work and family obligations—makes it challenging to find time to do the things you love. A disorganized garage steals valuable time that could better be used to pursue activities you enjoy like gardening.

Don’t allow garage clutter to sideline your dream of lounging in your personal garden paradise this summer. Instead, create an organized garden command centre in your garage that will prepare you for a successful growing season.

Organize Your Garage for Gardening

The right tools can make any job easier. Make the best use of your time by creating a space where all of your gardening tools are organized and easily accessible. A wall organization system makes it easy to store gardening implements and supplies.

Panel systems like Slatwall, made of durable PVC and available in a variety of colors, provide a strong, sturdy, storage solution that is both flexible and attractive. The 1×8 foot Slatwall panels create a scalable wall organization system that works in a small space, but can easily be expanded to meet future storage needs.

Slatwall panels work with a variety of complementary accessories like hooks, baskets and shelves. Long-handle tools like rakes, shovels and spades hang from hooks neatly along the wall. Flower pots and watering cans store on shelves. Baskets provide catchall storage for gloves, small tools and more.

Create a Dedicated Work Surface

If you don’t have a potting bench in your yard, installing a dedicated workspace in your garage will make gardening tasks like potting a breeze. A flat work surface can be created by repurposing an old table or dresser or by purchasing a premade workbench from a big box store.

For a sturdy, attractive work surface with additional storage, install a garage storage cabinet complete with a sturdy butcher block worktop. Garage storage cabinets come in a variety of configurations which include doors, drawers, shelves and open-to-floor storage space. Cabinets provide additional, hidden storage. Lockable cabinet doors protect pets and small children from accessing dangerous lawn chemicals.

What if you don’t have adequate space in your garage for a dedicated work station? An experienced garage renovation specialist can design a unique, made-to-measure solution to fit your space. A custom solution can be tucked into a tight space or an oddly configured corner of the garage. When space is at a premium, a foldaway work station provides work space whenever you need it, then tucks away to accommodate vehicle parking.

Create a Plan for Your Garden

Once you’ve created your garden command center, it’s time to turn your attention outdoors. Make the most of Ontario’s short growing season by planning ahead. Consult the Farmer’s Almanac or the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs for recommended planting dates.

Carefully plot out your gardening space. What flowers, shrubs and trees will you plant this year? Sketch out a layout for your flowerbeds. Note which areas get full sunlight and which areas are shaded. Before you purchase plants, research online or visit a local garden centre to find out how much daily sunlight your desired plants and flowers require. For instance, flowering annuals like carnations, petunias and marigolds need at least six hours of daily sunlight. However, areas that receive less than six hours of sun are the perfect haven for impatiens, begonias and black-eyed Susans.

Do you plan to have a vegetable garden? A home garden is a fantastic way to keep a supply of fresh, flavourful vegetables on hand during the growing season. Carefully plan out your garden. Which herbs and vegetables does your family eat regularly? Choose plants that thrive in your local area but don’t require more time and space than you have available.

Heed plant and row spacing recommendations. A small tomato or cucumber plant can quickly expand, taking up far more space than you expected. Plant vegetables in suitable areas of the yard. For instance, climbers like cucumbers and beans are ideal for a space along a fence or trellis.

Certain vegetables thrive when planted together. For example, basil and tomato plants are ideal companions. Basil repels mosquitoes, spider mites and aphids; improves pollination by attracting bees; and boosts the health and flavour of tomatoes. On the other hand, fennel and brassicas (cabbage, Brussel sprouts, kohlrabi, etc.) inhibit the growth of tomato plants. Consult a companion planting guide for ideas on which plants to situate together.

Creating a beautiful landscape filled with luscious plants; fragrant, colourful flowers; and fresh, delicious herbs and vegetables requires an investment of time and effort. However, carving out space in your garage for a gardening command centre simplifies the process.

A gardening command centre with a dedicated work surface and gardening tools and supplies that are neatly organized will maximize your time and help you achieve beautiful results. Would you prefer to put your time and effort into gardening and leave the work of creating your garden command centre to a professional? Request a consultation with a garage renovation expert.

Do These Seven Things to Get the Best Results from Your Garage Renovation

March 22, 2016 by Rick Scully

Your garage should play an important role in the function of your home. A well-designed and organized garage provides storage space for your vehicles and items that are important to your lifestyle, like sporting goods and gardening tools.

In a previous article, we discussed five things to look for when hiring a garage renovation specialist. Now let’s look at seven things you can do to get the best results from your garage renovation.

Before You Hire a Garage Renovation Expert

The foundation for a successful renovation experience begins long before the workers show up on Day One of the project. Start your garage renovation off on the right foot by doing the following three things before you hire a garage renovation expert:

Honestly assess your needs and expectations. Look at how you currently use your garage. Now consider how you’d like to use it. Do you need space for specific sports equipment? Do you require a workbench? Are there items causing specific storage challenges, like a kayak or winter tires? Will an additional vehicle be parked in the garage in the near future? Discuss your needs with the garage organization or garage renovation expert. Any plan proposed should address your unique lifestyle needs.
Know your budget range. Before you meet with potential garage renovation specialists, decide how much you are willing to invest in your renovation. Come to the meeting with a low number (what you’d prefer to spend) and a high number (what you’re willing to spend to get your dream garage) in mind.
Purge. Your renovation should maximize the storage capabilities of your garage. However, even an organized garage will become cluttered again if you store too many items in it. Get rid of broken, outdated or useless items. Gift or donate duplicates, items the kids have outgrown or things you no longer use. The remaining items are those which merit space in your garage.

During the Renovation

Once you’ve engaged the services of an experienced, trusted garage renovation expert, here are three strategies to make the renovation go off without a hitch:

Find a new home for your stuff. During the renovation process, the garage must be cleared of all of your belongings. Items might need to be temporarily relocated to the basement or a storage container. Discuss the issue with your contractor beforehand. Be clear on who will move the items and when they must be moved.
Find alternate parking for vehicles. The garage and driveway will be off limits while the renovation is in progress. If street parking isn’t an option, a neighbor might allow you to park your car in their driveway during the renovation process.
Keep children and pets away from work areas. Kids are wonderfully curious about the world. The beehive of activity and the whirr of power tools are enough to draw the attention of any curious child. However, tools and other materials used during a renovation can pose a danger to children and animals. For the safety of everyone, be sure to keep children and small pets away from the work area, even if the crew is off-site.

After the Renovation

At the end of the project, the renovation crew walks away, leaving you to enjoy your clean, organized, renovated space with adequate storage for the things important to you and your family. Ideally, the credits roll, we fade to black and everyone lives happily ever after. On rare occasions there may be hiccups—small changes that need to be made. Don’t let this ruin your experience.

Continue honest communication with garage renovation expert. If something isn’t as expected, talk to your contractor about it. A good, reliable contractor will ensure that the job meets the expectations created from the outset. They use quality products, backed by a manufacturer’s warranty and they follow through on the project with outstanding service.

A well-organized garage serves as an extension to your home. Lay a solid foundation for the success of your garage renovation by honestly assessing your needs, knowing your budget and purging before you hire your renovation expert. During the renovation, relocate your belongings, keep the driveway clear of your vehicles and keep children and small pets away from the workspace. After the renovation, continue honest communication with your contractor about anything that doesn’t meet outlined expectations.

Using Baskets, Hooks and Shelves to Transform Your Garage

February 23, 2016 by Rick Scully

If garage organization is one of your goals this year, keep two essential principles in mind. Adequate space is required, and each item should have a designated storage space. Taming the clutter in your garage might seem like a monumental task. However, integrating simple elements like baskets, hooks and shelves can increase the available storage space exponentially, providing a designated spot for each item.

Whether you choose to do a full-scale garage renovation or a mini, do-it-yourself one, these tips will transform your garage into an organized storage space.

Eliminate the Unnecessary

A garage consists of three walls and a floor, providing very little storage. With no defined organization system, items are stacked on the garage floor. Eventually, these items take over one of the garage bays. In many cases, the entire garage is consumed as garage becomes a dumping ground for old furniture, broken toys and a host of unused items. The first order of business is to eliminate the unnecessary.

If possible, start by removing everything from your garage. This serves two purposes. First, you can see everything you have stored there. Second, you have a clean slate to work with.

Group similar items, like gardening tools, hardware and sporting goods. Now you can easily identify duplicate items. Sort through everything. Assess whether each item is needed and if the garage is the ideal place to store it. Create piles for items that will be discarded or relocated. Donate old furniture, appliances and clothing and housewares to local charities or to a friend.

Once you are left with only the essential items to be stored, decide where each group of similar items would best be stored in your garage. Now it’s time to use vertical space to create task-related zones for each group.

Use Vertical Space

Vehicles consume most of the limited floor space. Few garages are designed to tap into the wealth of vertical space. Maximize storage space storing items on the walls and overhead.

Shelving units from local box stores can provide additional storage space. However, these units tend to take up considerable floor space. This is problematic for storage on side walls, where space is already limited. A sleeker option is a wall organization system.

Slotted wall panels are attractive, waterproof and mold and mildew-resistant. Available in a variety of colours, the 1 x 8 foot panels are super strong, engineered to meet heavy-duty industry standards. They are attached to wall studs for additional strength. Slatwall panels are sturdy enough to hang bicycles and other heavy items.

Hang one or two panels or an entire wall of them to create the base for your vertical organization system. Then use the vast array of corresponding accessories to maximize storage.

Accessorize Your Walls

The real beauty of slatwall lies in the countless corresponding accessories designed to meet a wide range of storage needs. Wall organization system accessories include baskets, bins, nets, hooks and shelving. These receptacles provide a tidy place to store items like gardening supplies, household chemicals, hardware and more.

Is sports equipment littering your garage? Sport-specific specialty hooks and racks are perfect for avid sporting enthusiasts. Magnetic strips and specialty racks can corral an assortment of tools.

Wall organization systems are highly-configurable. The corresponding accessories are quickly and easily interchangeable. This creates a system flexible enough to meet your family’s changing storage needs from one season to the next and throughout the years.

Go Above and Beyond

Storing items in baskets and on hooks and shelves is ideal for frequently used items. To find the best place to store lightweight, seasonal items, just look up. Overhead shelves and platforms convert wasted space into a convenient place to store stackable plastic bins.

Overhead storage racks should be installed by a garage renovation expert, or someone who understands how to safely install loadbearing overhead shelves. Prefabricated steel shelving, like Strong Racks, provides strong, sturdy overhead storage that is easily accessible with a step ladder. For something tailored to your unique space, hire a garage renovation expert to build a made-to-measure overhead storage shelf that will allow you to maximize the space configuration in your garage.

An overhead shelf can provide additional storage near the back of the garage or above the garage door. Do you have a high ceiling in your garage? Turn the wasted space into a storage treasure trove with a custom built mezzanine.

Like the idea of overhead storage, but don’t relish the thought of trudging up and down a step ladder with bulky holiday decorations? Hydraulic overhead lifts provide push-button access to overhead storage. Hydraulics lifts come in a wide range of options. They provide raised storage for everything from seasonal items to lawn mowers, bicycles, motorcycles and cars.

Whether you’re ready for some do-it-yourself garage organization or a full-scale professional garage renovation, a local garage renovation expert can help you use baskets, hook and shelves to transform your garage into a neat, organized space.

Envision Your Garage Renovation at Avenue Décor Centre

February 9, 2016 by Rick Scully

A cramped, overflowing garage is easy to ignore during warm weather, when vehicles are often parked outside. During cold winter months, a disorganized garage with limited storage space is more than just a minor inconvenience.

It may impossible to fit one or both vehicles inside the garage. If you manage to squeeze the car in, it must compete with the snow blower, shovels and winter sports equipment, making it more likely to get scratched or dented.

Perhaps you’re determined to organize your garage this spring, to avoid the same headaches next winter. You want an organized space that reflects your lifestyle, works seamlessly with the rest of your home and provides adequate space to store the things you own. Yet, you’re not quite sure where to begin.

Whether you plan to make small changes or a do complete garage renovation, it can be difficult to visualize how new components will look in your space. However, a brand new showroom in Newmarket makes it easy to envision your dream garage and select elements that suit your unique needs.

Discover Avenue Décor Centre in Newmarket

The brainchild of builder Tony Torelli, Avenue Décor Centre is a 6,000 square foot showroom of renovated spaces ranging from stunning kitchens and baths to innovative garage organization solutions. Open to consumers, designers and contractors, Avenue Décor Centre works with top local contractors and designers to bring your home renovation ideas to life.

You’ll discover an endless array of fixtures and finishes for your home and garage that fit your needs and reflect your individual style. Walk through renovated spaces that integrate the latest, most innovative products for the home and garage. The fully-staffed space is open 10 AM to 6 PM Monday through Friday; 9 AM to 5PM on Saturday; and Sunday by appointment.

The licensed, experienced experts who designed and renovated these elegant spaces are available for help with every stage of renovation, from planning and product selection to home consultation and renovation. Not sure what to expect from a garage renovation? Visit the Garage Tailors Garage display at Avenue Décor Centre.

Garage Renovation in Action

Our single-car garage display boasts plenty of organized storage space. Striking Contur cabinets in Carbon immediately demand your attention. This highly-flexible system provides a high-end look at an affordable price. Manufactured in Montreal, Canada, these durable cabinets are the perfect marriage of quality, form and function, wrapped in a sleek, European design.

These handsome cabinets are loaded with innovative engineering features. Expanded foam core in the door panels minimizes inadvertent dents. EZ-open finger pulls and spring-assisted door stays in upper cabinet doors and push-to-open/close feature on lower doors make the cabinets easily accessible. Most doors and drawers are lockable for added safety and security. Heavy-duty shelves and drawers provide ample storage for heavier items.

Overhead is a sturdy, U-shaped, custom-built platform. Overhead platforms provide the perfect place to store seasonal items, like holiday decorations or off-season sporting goods. The overhead shelf on display was made-to-measure. We also offer a range of prefabricated, steel platforms for overhead or back wall storage.

Need a place to store garden tools, bicycles, automotive goods and sporting equipment? A wall organization system, like SlatWall, is ideal. Displayed in gray, black and white, these prefabricated panels can be configured to any size. The slots in the panels accommodate corresponding accessories, including baskets, bins, shelves and hooks. Together they create a highly-configurable storage solution to fit your family’s unique lifestyle.

Even the floor gets an eye-catching finish. Our one-day polyspartic flooring system was applied, giving the garage floor a tough-as-nails coating similar in appearance to granite. Black, green and gray paint chips combine with silver sparkle to create this colour while also providing ample grip that makes the floor skid-free.

Polyaspartic flooring is available in a range of attractive colours and comes with the peace of mind of a ten-year warranty. For a finished look and to protect the walls around the perimeter of the floor, we installed a six-inch punched aluminum base.

Each Garage Tailors Garage renovation is specifically tailored to the space and the customer’s individual needs. Still, seeing cabinets, shelving, wall storage systems and garage flooring installed in a physical space makes it easier to visualize your dream garage renovation.

Visit the Avenue Décor Centre Garage Tailors Garage display at 17035 Yonge Street in Newmarket today and start planning your spring garage renovation project.

Protect Your Garage Door during Winter Weather

December 15, 2015 by Rick Scully

Harsh Canadian winters are tough on roads and automobiles. The weather can also wreak havoc on your garage door. Ice and snow builds up beneath the garage door, freezing it shut. Metal components contract and seize up in extreme temperatures. Old lubricating grease hardens when temperatures drop, gumming up the tracks. While some issues cause minor inconveniences, others can lead to expensive damage to your garage door or garage opener.

Whether your garage is unfinished or you’ve invested in a snazzy garage renovation, you want to protect your home and the items stored inside your garage. Not all of the consequences of brutal winter weather can be avoided. However, a few preventive steps will greatly reduce the likelihood you’ll return home to the aggravation of a frozen garage door.

Inspect Your Garage Door Regularly

Like many elements of your home and car, your garage door should be inspected regularly. From inside, with the garage door closed, do a monthly inspection of the door and its moving components. Examine rollers, pulley, cables and springs for damage or excessive wear. Confirm that the mounting hardware is securely fastened.

If you see evidence of damage to cables or torsion springs, do not try to adjust them yourself. This can cause injury to you or severe damage to the garage door. Instead, consult a garage door professional who can take care of trickier maintenance and repair issues for you. If you don’t know one, a good garage renovation specialist can likely recommend one for you.

Get the Gunk Out

The moving parts of your garage door require lubricant to slide against one another easily each time the garage door is opened or closed. The grease used to lubricate garage door parts can thicken over time. Debris also tends to collect in the tracks and on the rollers, interfering with movement.

When air temperature dips considerably, the old grease and debris caught in the tracks tends to harden. This clogs the tracks and prevents normal operation of your garage door. To remove built-up gunk, use a damp cloth to remove debris and grease that has built up inside the tracks or on other parts.

Lubricate Your Garage Door

Once you’ve cleared away the hardened grease, get a good grade of silicone lubricant made for use with garage doors. For smooth, trouble-free operation during the winter, and year-round, all the moving parts of your garage door must stay lubricated. Spray rollers, bushings and hinges liberally with the lubricant. Then spray between the sections of the garage door to prevent them from sticking together during icy weather. Do not spray the spring, the chain, the bottom of the chain rail or the track.

Check periodically to ensure that all components are lubricated and operating optimally. Reapply lubricant, as needed. However, be careful not to lube components too much. Too much lubrication can interfere with the alignment of the rollers and lead to a buildup of gunky grease again.

Keep your silicone lubricant and any other household items out of the reach of pets and small children. A locked storage cabinet or high garage shelving are ideal for storing such household items.

Clean and Examine Weather Stripping

The weather stripping beneath your garage door plays an important role. It prevents water, snow, ice and debris from entering your garage. Frequent use of the garage door puts wear and tear on the weather seal. When the weather stripping is compromised, water and dust can get into the garage and damage items stored there. Ice and snow will also build up beneath the garage door if the weather stripping is worn or damaged. If this happens, you could return home from a long day of work one wintry evening to discover that your garage door is frozen to the ground.

Maintain your weather stripping to protect your garage door and the opening mechanism, which can be damaged when you try to raise a garage door that has been frozen shut. First, take a rag and wipe down the seal, inside and out. Then, thoroughly examine the weather stripping. Check for cracks, wear and missing pieces. Test the seal to ensure it is keeping cold air and moisture outside.

If your garage door weather stripping has been damaged, replacing it is an easy fix. Purchase a good garage door seal and install it after removing the old one. If you’d rather not tackle the job yourself, a garage door professional can handle the job for you.

For added protection in the event that moisture does get inside the garage, store items inside your garage above ground whenever possible. A good slatwall organization system, garage storage cabinets and overhead garage storage racks will keep your belongings high and dry if water or ice gets inside.

Create Workshop Space in Your Garage

December 10, 2015 by Rick Scully

The gift-giving season is upon us. If you’re a parent or grandparent, you may find yourself in need of a workspace where you can create or assemble toys and other gifts away from prying eyes. Or perhaps you simply want a workshop where you can work on crafts and hobbies. Your garage can provide the needed workspace and solitude.

Create Workable Space

If your garage is the family dumping ground for old toys, furniture and sports equipment, you might find it difficult to make room in your garage for your vehicle(s). Finding space for a safe, comfortable workspace in your garage probably seems like an impossible dream. However, integrating a slatwall organization system, like slatwall, into your garage reserves much-needed floor space.

Wall organization panels utilize movable shelves, hooks and baskets to store toys, tools, sporting goods and other items along vertical wall space. With most items stored neatly along the walls, you can carve out a back corner or sidewall to create workspace or a makeshift Santa’s Workshop.

Locate your new workspace near an existing electrical outlet. If your garage lacks sufficient outlets or enough power to accommodate your work, have additional outlets installed by a professional electrician. The use of extension cords should be minimized. If an extension cord is required, make sure it’s approved by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA).

Standard incandescent overhead lighting is adequate if you do little more than park your vehicle in your garage. To create a functional workshop in the garage you’ll require directed task lighting. Ceiling-mounted spotlights and track lighting can flood a particular area with much-needed lighting. Tabletop or desk-mounting lightings provide focused lighting on your work surface. If you’ll be working beneath an overhead cabinet, under cabinet fluorescent lighting is a good option for creating directed task lighting.

You’ll also want to stay warm and cozy while you’re working. A fan-forced electric garage heater is a relatively inexpensive way to safely warm the space. There is no messy fuel to deal with and no open flame, so electric heaters are maintenance-free and easy to operate. Be sure to follow all of the manufacturer’s directions and don’t place the heater too close to anything combustible.

Now that you have a warm, well-lit corner of the garage, it’s time to find the perfect workspace.

Explore Workspace Options

The most essential component in your garage workshop will be the flat workspace. There are a variety of options for your work surface:

Custom cabinets.

A sleek, highly-flexible modular cabinet system like Contur Cabinets offers timeless design and highly-functional cabinets and workspace at an affordable price. Sturdy, adjustable shelves and spacious, lockable drawers provide ample space to store tools and materials.

Box store workbench.

A typical wooden or stainless steel workbench, available at any home improvement store, can provide a flat work surface, if additional storage isn’t needed. Carefully measure the space in your garage to make sure the workbench will fit. A bench with adjustable height is preferable, particularly if more than one person will be using the space. Opt for a model that has a footrest; this will help alleviate strain on the legs and back.

Reclaimed furniture.

For a quick fix, repurpose an old desk, table or dresser into a work surface for your garage. This is a great way to make use of that damaged piece of furniture you just can’t seem to let go of. If you don’t have a table or desk that’s the appropriate size or height, try garage sales or resale shops. Repurposing furniture and other items reduces your carbon footprint and gives new life to a treasured old piece. Just be sure that any standing workbench has an appropriate height, so as not to cause back or neck strain.

Made-to-measure workbench.

Creating workspace in your garage may seem hopeless if you have very limited space or an odd configuration. However, an innovative garage renovation specialist can create a custom or made-to-measure workbench to accommodate your space. Even in a small, one-car garage a fold-away workbench can provide the workspace you need.

For more tips on how to set up an ergonomic standing workspace, refer to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety.

Plan for Next Year

A reclaimed desk or box store workbench can be an ideal short-term solution for assembling toys and other items in preparation for holiday gift-giving. However, if you’re looking for a year-round workshop for gardening, auto or bicycle maintenance or crafts and hobbies, these solutions might not provide the storage and space you require. Begin planning your garage renovation now.

A garage renovation specialist can maximize storage and workspace in your garage, creating a custom or made-to-measure workbench, if needed. Check out some of amazing garage transformations Garage Tailors Garage has done in the Greater Toronto area. Then begin thinking about how you’d like to use your garage in the year ahead. Whether your goal is to store all of your bikes, tools and lawn care equipment and still have room to park your vehicles or to create a bona fide workshop in your garage, we can help.