organizing tips Archives - Garage Tailors

What to Expect When You’re Organizing Your Garage

November 22, 2011 by Rick Scully

In the last several blog entries, we discussed clearing the clutter out of your garage. In today’s blog, you’re going to find out about the process of a garage transformation, getting an estimate and what questions you should be prepared for.

When I’m called in, the decluttering should be nearly complete. Only the stuff you want to keep should be in the garage. When we can see the space we’re working with, it makes planning a whole lot easier.

You may also find that there’s stuff in the house such as seasonal decorations that you’d like to store in the garage as well as boxed items like clothes, or tools that are currently in the basement.

Some people have a good idea of what they want or need, such as shelves for storage, tools they want to hang on the wall, cabinets to keep things out of the way. Most people show me what they want to store and ask for recommendations.

The main questions I need answered are:

What’s your objective?
What do you want the garage to do that it’s not doing today?
How many cars do you want to fit in the garage?

The answers to these questions and the initial visit can last up to an hour. I get a sense of how the client lives and what they are looking for. I try and understand their aesthetic priorities versus their functional needs.

Some people like to be able to see everything at a glance. In this case it could be mostly hooks and shelves. Other people are a little messy, and I understand that. Cabinets are great for hiding messes, as well as keeping things like chemicals out of the reach of small hands, for people who have kids.

Within two days of the visit, I’ll send a detailed drawing, proposal and itemized estimate. It’s not something I can do on the spot as each job is custom, which is one of the benefits of using Garage TailorsGarage.

The transformation can be done in as little as two days, if all we’re doing is getting the garage organized. If we’re drywalling, that will add another two days and flooring will add a day.

Once you’ve had a chance to look over the proposal and estimate, you have a chance to ask any questions you might have, give me additional suggestions and make the decision to move forward and have the garage that you’ve always wanted.

Tidy Tool Storage

September 6, 2011 by Rick Scully

3 hook tool rack — Often, people hang tools sharp side out. Hang sharp side towards the wall to prevent personal injury to family members.

So many tools, so little space. Even in the biggest garages, tools and gardening equipment often start to take over. And why does that rake always seem to threaten to fall on you every time you open the car door?

Start by sorting your tools into groups. Put all the gardening equipment together in one area of the garage. Hang rakes and shovels on lockable hooks with the sharp side towards the wall. That way you’ll know they’re secure.

Don’t hang tools on nails hammered into boards – it’s an accident waiting to happen. A slatwall system is a great solution because hooks and baskets can be safely locked into place.

Electric tools, such as lawnmowers and weed whackers can also be hung on locking hooks with their extension cords wrapped and stored neatly on hooks beside them.

Smaller tools with holes in the handle are easily stored on hooks. That way you’ll always be able to find what you need when you need it.

Tools for woodworking or home maintenance, such as drills and saws, can also be neatly stored in the garage. Any tool with a handle can be hung safely and securely and easy to find.

Smaller items (especially tools for a car enthusiast) should be stored in a cabinet with shallow drawers. Place the tools in one layer so you can see them easily. Line the bottom of the drawer with a rubber membrane mat to prevent the tools from sliding around.

Next time we’ll discuss making room for a workbench in the garage, so you can store and use your tools in one place.

In the meantime, give us a call. We’ll help you find a solution to all your garage storage needs.

Making Use of Overhead Space

August 9, 2011 by Rick Scully

Think you’re making the most of the space in your garage? Look up…. there’s probably another level of storage you’ve not considered.

Tiered storage can make the most of empty space above the car. It works best in garages with minimum 10-foot ceilings because you want to make sure shelving can be out of the way of your minivan or SUV as well as your head.

There are two types of tiered storage:

The end walls where a tier can be as low as 4 feet, so the nose of the car can tuck underneath
Side walls where the storage needs to be high enough to clear the top of your head

We build the storage using sturdy 2×6 or 2×4 wood construction and finish it with ¾-inch plywood. It can easily support hundreds of pounds. It can be finished and painted to suit your design. And you don’t need to worry about running into poles or posts because everything is held securely into the ceiling with airplane cable.

The structure can be as simple as a single shelf. Or it can be as elaborate as shown in the photo here with pot-lights installed underneath to create a workspace. And you can even check out some moderately priced options for tiered storage for an extra vehicle.

What sort of things can you store overhead?

large seasonal decorations
pool chemicals so they are out of children’s reach
tires
larger sports equipment
out of season items

Let Garage Tailors Garage help you make the most of the space in your garage. Give us a call.

Easy Garage Maintenance

July 19, 2011 by Rick Scully

Summertime is the perfect time to do a little maintenance on the garage.

Oil the rails on the garage door with a lubricant (such as WD-40) to make sure it runs smoothly.
Clear any spider webs from the electronic eye on the garage door.
If you need a new garage door, contact Aurora Overhead Doors for a quote.
If you use extension cords to connect your garage door power, consider having a receptacle installed in the ceiling. Extension cords are really only safe for temporary use.
Improve your lighting. Ask us about T8 fluorescent bulbs. They stand up to cold temperatures and provide lots of light.

Keep your things and your family safe. Change the code on your garage door periodically.

Also, kids are in an out of the garage this time of year looking for their toys and sports equipment, or even playing hide-and-go seek. Make sure dangerous tools and chemicals are locked away in cabinets and their toys are on low shelves or hanging on hooks within easy reach.

Any questions? Give us a call.

Taming the Garden Hose

June 21, 2011 by Rick Scully

garden hose - garage storage — Garden Hose Storage

The problematic hose. That snake of a thing always seems to be in the way and just doesn’t look pretty in the garden.

How many hose reels have you tried, only to find they work for a little while and then either break or the hose gets stuck inside? It’s nice to have the hose handy for using in the garden, but personally I think most hose caddies out there are more trouble than time-saving.

Universal Hook - Great for Garden Hoses — Universal Slatwall Hooks for Garage Storage

The best way I’ve found to store a garden hose is in the garage on a Universal Hook. It’s large enough to accommodate a 100-ft hose and when combined with slatwall, it can easily bear the weight. If you use a hose connector, attaching the hose to the outside faucet is a simple task.

Tip: When you’re finished with the hose, take the extra few minutes to coil it up neatly on the hook to avoid tripping on it or running over it with the car, which could puncture the hose or flatten the nozzle or end.

Need to make space to store your hose in the garage? Give us a call.

Easy bicycle storage

June 8, 2011 by Rick Scully

With the rising prices at the gas pumps these days, there’s even more reason to pump up the bicycle tires and get out for a ride. But what’s the best way to store the family bikes in the garage?

You’ll want to make sure even the kids have easy access to their bikes without worrying about them scratching the car or the bike – two wheels don’t come cheap these days either.

Overhead storage makes use of unused space higher up in the garage without using that precious floor space. These systems use pulleys or motors that are easy enough for even a child to operate.

Wall-mounted bike storage racks are another option that also saves some floor space. They are easy to install and some come with shelves to store helmets and other bike-related stuff.

There are also floor stands that make it easy to just roll and lock your bike into place after your ride.

Before you make your decision on bike storage, get advice your local bicycle shop about the best way to store your particular model of bike. Some high performance bikes don’t like being hung by the wheel or at certain points on the frame.

Still competing with the car for space in the garage? Give us a call.

Spring ahead – a place for everything and everything in its place

April 19, 2011 by Rick Scully

In keeping with the spring clean theme, let’s move from floors and talk about wall organizers and shelves. Spring is here, and you need your garage to be functional.

First, purge. Go through the contents of your garage and if you haven’t used it in three years – get rid of it. Have a garage sale, or donate items to a local charity. Make sure you take items such as paints or chemicals to the hazardous waste disposal facility in your area.

Spring forward – Move the winter shovels, toboggans and bags of de-icer to allow everyone in the family easy access to garden tools and supplies, bicycles, golfing equipment and other summer items. Have a look at our specialty storage solutions to make sure even the kids can easily grab their bikes and sports equipment.

Organize items in zones, putting like items together in one easy-to-reach area. That’s the beauty of the slat wall system. It’s easy to add baskets and hooks to keep gardening tools and supplies, sports equipment, etc. in their place. One basket can hold windshield wiper fluid and other car needs, and another can hold potting soil and fertilizer, while yet another can neatly organize golf shoes. Keep visual clutter to a minimum with one of our cabinet storage systems.

Next month, we’ll talk more in depth about these effective storage solutions.

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