in-home consultation Archives

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.

Create a Mudroom in Your Garage

October 18, 2016 by Rick Scully

As the weather cools we’ve traded shorts and sandals for coats and galoshes, creating a storage dilemma for all of our outerwear. Flooring takes a beating when children, pets and hurried adults track wet, muddy boots inside. This creates extra cleaning duties and can stain or damage carpeting, tile or hardwood floors.

Mudrooms were designed to remedy the issues outlined above, but not every home has a mudroom or adequate space to create one. If you have a serious case of mudroom envy, but lack space for one inside your home, don’t despair. Move your focus to your attached garage instead. Your garage just may be the perfect space for a “mudroom”.

Collect Design Ideas

Creating a mudroom in your garage can be as simple or elaborate a project as you wish. It’s an ideal project for DIYers that can be completed in an afternoon. However, if you’re looking for a lot of additional storage, want a more detailed mudroom or don’t know where to begin, a garage renovation expert can create a made-to-measure design tailored to fit your family’s specific needs.

Whether you choose to take on the project yourself or hire a garage renovation expert, it can be helpful to explore a variety of mudroom design ideas. Pinterest, Houzz and other sites offer a wealth of design ideas for inspiration.

Plan the Space

Consider what is most important in your mudroom. You’ll need a space to store shoes and coats, but what else do you plan to store there? Do you require space for umbrellas and other items? Would it be an ideal place to store reusable shopping bags? What type of seating will you incorporate into the space and where?

Consider the number of family members that will use the space and the volume of coats, shoes, etc. that will be stored there. Determine your aesthetic preference when it comes to storage. Do you prefer hooks, baskets and open shelves which allow everyone to store their items quickly and easily? Or do you prefer closed storage which tucks everything away neatly out of sight?

Once you know what you’ll be storing and how you want to store it, lay out exactly where you plan to install each element of the design. Take measurements to ensure any materials purchased will fit into the space.

Gather Needed Materials

Once you have a plan for your design, it’s time to gather your materials. Storage for coats and shoes is the most essential feature of a mudroom. Go for high-quality shelving that will endure the fluctuating temperature of the garage and stand up to daily use.

A garage wall organization system is perfect for open storage. Corresponding hooks, baskets and shelves make it easy to store coats, shoes, umbrellas, backpacks, dog leashes and more. Alternately, a wall organizer can be built from scratch or purchased.

Quality garage cabinets are available in a variety of configurations and are ideal for closed storage needs. Reclaimed items like repurposed dressers or wooden crates can be combined with fabric or wicker storage crates or drawers to create neat, simple closed storage. Seating can also be built, purchased or repurposed.

When acquiring your materials, don’t forget finishes, hardware, paint, tools and anything else necessary to complete the job.

Create Your Mudroom

If your garage walls are unfinished, you’ll want to install drywall first or hire a garage renovation expert to finish the walls. Another option is a garage wall storage system which can be installed directly on an unfinished wall while giving you a finished look.

If you choose to paint the walls, invest in quality paint that can withstand broiling summer heat and frigid winter temperatures without breaking a sweat. It should also be easy to clean and tough enough to survive bumps and scrapes.

Now it’s time to pull out your plans and install the elements of your mudroom. Install shelving and hooks. Build or install a bench to provide comfortable seating while removing footwear. Put baskets and other functional elements into the space to hold shoes, umbrellas and other items. Add finishing touches like a clock, artwork or wall stencils to give the space a special touch.

Once your mudroom is installed, it will transform the space in your garage and cut down clutter inside the house. Say goodbye to wet coats piled in the corner; muddy boots tracking salt onto your wood floors and soiling the carpets; and balancing on one foot to remove footwear.

If you want a more complex mudroom installation or DIY isn’t your idea of a good time, request a free, in-home consultation from a garage renovation expert.

Envision Your Garage Renovation at Avenue Décor Centre

February 9, 2015 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.

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