overhead platforms Archives

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.

Christmas Decorations Inside and Out of the Garage

October 23, 2018 by Rick Scully

garage renovation, garage interior design, garage renovation, slatwall organization system, garage cabinets, garage storage, aluminum, steel, wood, workbench, made to measure, swisstrax ribtrax,

It’s that time again to get out the Christmas decorations. There are a lot of people out there who enjoy going all out to do a light show with choreographed music themes and moving lawn ornaments to match. With an aging population, this may not be possible for all of us. And, getting up on ladders may not always be practical for everyone especially if you have a fear of heights.

However, many of us thoroughly enjoy this time of year and we want to participate in the merriment, the coming together of people as well as all the good tidings of joy and peace. Here are some ideas for how to decorate the garage from the outside while using the garage for storing decorations again in the new year.

Overhead Garage Storage for Rarely Used Items

The overhead space is the best place to store things we use only once or twice a year. Or, we may want to store summer garden tools in the overhead space during the winter and early spring when we need to use winter tools to maintain the driveway and yard in these colder seasons.

Overhead platforms offer open storage space where it is fairly easy to see what’s up there and it is only a limited distance of 18 to 24 inches to the back or furthest reaches of the platform. They come in a variety of formats including made-to-measure wood platforms with pot lights installed to illuminate work spaces below. There are also metal shelves which are mounted against the walls or platforms which hang from the ceiling and can still carry hundreds of pounds of belongings as long as it is properly secured to the ceiling. And, for garages with a high ceiling, a mezzanine makes using the storage space above a lot easier.

For the smaller items such as strings of lights or delicate ornaments, clear plastic storage bins are a great way to store and manage the decorations available. They not only store well on overhead shelves or platforms, but they help the family to seethe available decorations available so you don’t end up with duplicate items which go unused each year due to a lack of space.

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Decorating Around the Garage Door

We often will hang a wreath on the front door and add decorations around the front steps or porch. Often, we forget the garage door yet this door may be a large part of the presentation of the front of the home.

Keeping with the theme that we might use for the front entrance of the house, we can add garlands along the top and down the sides of a garage opening. Wreaths can also be used on the garage door or along the opening of the garage by hanging them over the outdoor lighting fixtures or sconces.

Garage Door Wraps

These days, garage door wraps are available for garage doors of all sizes. They come in a variety of Christmas themes from peaceful to fun and frivolous. Depending on your style, a garage door wrap can match the style of your lawn ornaments.

Whether you go to the extent of having a nativity scene or reindeers with Santa, a garage door wrap can stand on its own or compliment the whole theme of the outdoor landscape décor.

Add Lighting along the Driveway

Still keeping it simple, if you don’t have the ability to get on a ladder and string lights around the house, you can always add a little light along the sides of the driveway. With reliable LED lights, they can be installed temporarily or as a permanent feature of the driveway with spotlights highlighting potted plants of the season or seasonal ornaments.

At the foot of the driveway is a great spot to place over sized outdoor bows, wreaths or seasonal ornaments to welcome your guests with the spirit of the season. All of these decorative ideas not only highlight the garage and the driveway which is the first entry to the house, but it adds some practical benefits of lighting the driveway for more easily locating the driveway entrance on quieter streets.

Make Seasonal Storage Easy for the Whole Family

At the end of the season, most of these decorative ornaments and lights have to go back into storage until the next year. If you find that storing your seasonal decorations has become difficult to manage, start planning for a garage renovation and design which will create a garage storage system to help your family transition to the winter season, the holiday season as well as all the family activities which winter inspires.

5 Things to Look for in a Garage Renovation Expert

March 8, 2016 by Rick Scully

During warmer months, we don’t mind parking the cars outside. It’s easy to overlook a cramped or cluttered garage. When temperatures drop, we’re prompted to squeeze our vehicles inside the garage to protect them from the harsh winter weather. This subjects them to scratches and dents as we try to maneuver in a crowded, overstuffed garage. Even worse, many find it impossible to make room for their vehicles amidst the tools, toys, old furniture and sporting goods that have taken over their garage.

It’s no wonder homeowners begin making plans for home and garage renovations this time of year. If garage organization and renovation has risen to the top of your spring to-do list, here are five things to look for when searching for a garage interior renovation expert.

Experience

The profusion of renovation shows have empowered us to take on our own décor and renovation projects, with varying results. However, when it comes to hiring a garage renovation specialist, don’t be fooled by the flashy DIY websites of newbies and weekend hobbyists who have limited knowledge and experience.

Anyone with a knack for organizing can throw up a website and declare themselves a garage renovation or garage organization expert. Even if the finished product looks beautiful, the work may not be sound or endure the test of time. Additionally, if the project doesn’t meet local building codes, it could cause problems down the road, if you ever decide to sell your home.

If you can’t get a referral from a friend or neighbor that has had a similar project done, search a reputable contractor database, like HomeStars, for a garage renovation expert.

Check to see how long the contractor has been in business. Review photos of completed projects, either on the database or on the contractor’s website. Have they completed a wide variety of projects or just a handful? Is the quality of their work and their design aesthetic compatible with your needs?

When meeting with a potential garage renovation contractor, don’t hesitate to ask direct questions about his or her past experience. Ask for photos of other projects, then ask about customer reviews and testimonials.

Customer Reviews

It’s easy for potential contractors to overstate their level of talent and experience. However, hearing from current and former customers provides a stronger gauge of how happy you will be with the contractor’s work.

A reputable company with a wide range of experience should gladly supply customer testimonials. Better yet, a well-regarded garage renovation expert with a long list of happy clients is likely inclined to provide the names of a few customers who are willing to speak with you about their experience with the company.

When talking to past customers, ask not only about the quality of the contractor’s work, but his or her reliability and work style. Did the project come in on deadline and on budget? What is their work ethic? Were workers on the project when they said they would be?

Highly-rated garage organization and renovation experts have dozens of reviews from satisfied customers. Such details are often included in those reviews and testimonials.

Customized Solutions

Every garage is different. Primarily because each homeowner has specific lifestyle needs which impact how the garage is used.

Active sports enthusiasts require extensive sports equipment storage. Green thumbs and gearheads require adequate storage and workspace for their pursuits. A family with young children needs storage for toys and sporting goods that is easily accessible to little ones. They also need a way to store dangerous household chemicals out of their reach.

Off-the-shelf organization solutions aren’t designed to fit specific storage needs. To ensure you’ll be happy with your garage renovation now and down the road, find a garage renovation specialist who will tailor a solution to your specific needs.

An innovative garage renovation expert will tailor a solution to your specific storage needs, not coerce you to accept a one-size-fits-all solution that doesn’t suit your lifestyle.

No Surprises

Nothing is more frustrating to homeowners than a renovation project that doesn’t meet their expectation or far exceeds their budget. Prevent unpleasant surprises by ensuring that any potential garage renovation contractor provide you with a complete proposal of the work to be done.

The proposal should spell out all of the plans for the renovation in clear detail. The types of materials that will be used and the projected cost and timeline of the project should be clearly enumerated. Don’t leave important details to chance.

Quality Assurance

Good contractors do excellent work. They provide great service and stand behind the products they install. Before hiring a contractor, talk to him or her about what assurances they provide in the event something goes wrong. Will they stand behind their work?

Quality products usually come with a standard manufacturer’s warranty. Find out what products the garage renovation expert proposes installing and what kind of warranty is offered on each product. Ask specific questions about how the contractor will handle any problems that arise during the project or after it’s completed. Make sure the contractor is willing to put such assurances in writing.

Whether you’re planning a major interior garage renovation or a smaller garage organization project, you want to work with a solid, reputable expert. Search for a garage organization and renovation expert with experience and dozens of customer reviews and testimonials to back it up. Look for an expert who offers customized solutions with no unpleasant surprises. Then make sure he or she is willing to stand behind their work and the products they use.

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.

Overhead Storage

March 5, 2013 by Rick Scully

A recurring theme in helping my clients with garage organization is getting stuff off the floor. Having hooks to hang tools and racks to store equipment keeps the garage neat and maximizes your space. But there’s often an overlooked way to get even more storage space from your garage. Overhead, there’s a whole new area for storage.

Overhead racks are an ideal place to store items that you use infrequently. It’s a great place for storing garden furniture in the winter, as well as camping gear, out-of-season sports equipment and seasonal decorations. Tires can also be stored on overhead racks, but it’s best for tires without rims. Tires with rims are heavy and you likely don’t want to lift that much weight over your own head.

Where can I place overhead storage?

Selecting the ideal area for ceiling storage depends on the height of your ceilingand whether you have an entrance to your home from the garage. Over the garage doors, for example, is an ideal spot if your ceiling is 10 feet or higher. The tops of the rear and side walls make excellent storage areas as well, provided that you leave enough clearance for parking and walking below.

Types of overhead storage solutions

Ready-made

There are ready-made durable racks made of steel with a scratch-resistant finish. The ceiling unit is 48 x 96 inches and is secured to the ceiling joists. The rack can extend from 16 to 34 inches from the ceiling and holds up to 750 lbs.

For ready-made overhead storage on the side walls, there are 24 x 48 inch cantilevered racks that can be attached to the wall studs with sturdy metal brackets. These shelves can hold lighter items of under 200 lbs.

Custom-made

Garage Tailors Garage can create custom-made overhead storage that opens up a whole new world of possibilities. Canadian garages are rarely a standard size or shape and this limits what is available in ready-made storage solutions. Having overhead storage custom-designed to fit your garage ensures you are making good use of every inch of available space.

Ready-made overhead racks come in limited sizes and are often wide and open on all sides, making it difficult to see and reach items stored in the middle. We can design and make overhead platforms out of wood to any shape, size or depth you need.

Garage Tailors Garage attaches custom-made overhead storage to the ceiling using aircraft cable. These sturdy cables can support more than 1000 lbs. And we’ll finish your platforms to complement the design of your garage. The possibilities are endless. We can even install pot lights underneath to create a lighted workspace or create something as elaborate as the mezzanine we recently built for a client, complete with a space-saving retractable ladder.

Often clients will choose a combination of ready-made and custom-made storage to make their garage space work for them. If you’re ready to get organized, consider overhead storage.

Avoid Seasonal Anxiety Disorder with a Garage Changeover

October 2, 2012 by Rick Scully

Spring cleaning has become a tried and true ritual, the ideal time to gather up unwanted things for a garage sale or trash haul. Fall is also a great time of year to consider a sort and purge to transition into winter and ensure your garage is ready to do what it was built for – protect your car from the elements. But for many people, the idea of saying goodbye to summer and getting ready for winter is so off-putting they avoid it. At Garage Tailors Garage we call this common condition, Seasonal Anxiety Disorder. And the best way to alleviate symptoms is to have an organized garage.

For people with existing garage storage solution systems, the time that it takes to do the seasonal changeover is usually less than an hour. The changeover typically involves transferring the items you won’t need for a few months to the back of your garage and the ones you will be using to the front for quick access. Shovels replace rakes, the snow blower gets more prominent placement than the lawnmower and you can stash the pink, bug-eliminating windshield fluid in a cupboard and break out the blue antifreeze. Any sand or ice melting products that keep your stairs, pathways and front sidewalk slip-free get moved to a basket, which is suspended just off the floor near the front of the garage to grab when necessary. Snow tires are removed from overhead platforms or secure floor racks to be replaced with your all-weather tires until the spring. Typically people power-wash the garage in the spring to remove any salt stains from the floor, but a good soap, water and brush cleaning in the fall wouldn’t hurt.

If you’ve accumulated stuff that you no longer need, get rid of it. Give it away to a charity, have a garage sale or throw it out. Don’t put yourself in the position that led you to organize your garage in the first place. Purging should be an ongoing activity. It’s impossible to keep everything and keeping things you’ll never use again is a waste of space. For example, when kids get older, strollers get replaced by tricycles, which are replaced by scooters and bikes. Unless you’re planning on having more children, don’t keep the stroller. That’s what Craigslist and Kijiji, or the curb with a “free” sign, are for.

However, if the very idea of going into your garage to dig out winter items makes you feel queasy, you might be suffering unnecessarily from a bout of Seasonal Anxiety Disorder. Chaotic garages can be scary, but the problem is easily remedied. If you’ve never organized your garage, or the last time you did was during the past millennium, the best way to tackle it is to start in reverse. First, you decide what you need to keep, what to donate and what to throw away and then organize your garage to make space for your cars. The process takes planning, time and money, but ultimately will save you valuable time and aggravation each time you realize snow is on the way.

You can pretend the good weather will last forever and then cuss and fuss every time you find yourself scraping snow and ice from your windshield in minus 30 degrees. Or you can transform your garage with custom-designed storage solutions that address your personal needs and get into a warm, snow-free vehicle every winter morning.

At Garage Tailors Garage, we’re hoping to eradicate Seasonal Anxiety Disorder so everyone can feel good about getting the garage winter-ready. If you’re interested in knowing what could be done with your garage, we offer free in-home consultations.

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