What is your garage to you? Is it just a place to store your car and keep it out of the elements? Or does the space have the potential to be something more? Many people are choosing to update their garages to give themselves more storage space, a place to work on home improvement projects, or even an expanded living area. Updating your garage can significantly improve the value of your everyday life and help you get a better offer when you eventually choose to sell your house. Here are some of the top updates experts recommend when updating your garage.
Update Your Garage Door
The first potential update is perhaps the one your mind first went to when considering updating your garage, but it is important to talk about. Many people haven’t updated their garage door in years or even decades, and you’re probably used to the minor annoyances that come with an outdated garage door. Old manual garage doors that require muscle to open, doors that are prone to breaking down from regular use, and doors that don’t allow you to keep an opener in your car are prime candidates for an update. According to M & M Doors, a garage door company in Grand Rapids, MI, “the garage door you install should match your needs, budget, and house style.” Find a reputable company to install a new garage door, research the best brands of garage doors, and choose a color that compliments your house.
Improve Insulation and Ventilation
Garages are known for temperature extremes, but they don’t have to be. If you have an attached garage, you can capture some of your home’s AC and heating by updating and improving the insulation. This will make your everyday driving more comfortable, help protect your car from the consequences of weather extremes, and even help your energy bill by decreasing the heat and AC leached from a poorly insulated garage. If you’ve never looked into your garage’s ventilation, improving the insulation is an excellent opportunity since you’ll already have an inspection. Proper ventilation will ensure that your car won’t build up carbon monoxide in the garage and endanger your family.
Rethink Your Storage Strategy
A cluttered garage isn’t just unsightly, it also decreases the overall use of the space and can create tripping hazards. Investing in shelving and large plastic bins will go a long way to organizing your various sporting equipment, outdoor toys, and tools – especially if you have kids. You’ll be able to find things more efficiently and get more use out of your space. The best options are inbuilt, heavy-duty wire or wood shelving, though freestanding shelves can work in a pinch.
Improve Your Garage’s Lighting
A dark garage isn’t just annoying when you come home late at night, it can also be unsafe if there are tripping hazards or stairs in your garage. In order to improve your garage’s lighting, ask an electrician to install motion-sensitive lighting in your garage. Shop lights are a great option since they tend to be more powerful and bright than usual indoor domestic options.
Seal Your Garage’s Concrete
Most garages are built with concrete floors, but this can cause issues. Not only is concrete difficult to clean in the event of your car leaking oil, but concrete is also porous, and this means that small cracks can easily become larger in places with cold winters due to the water in the concrete expanding. To protect your garage’s floor, make it easy to clean, and make it more attractive overall, find an epoxy finish designed to be painted onto concrete. Unlike some of these tips, this is an easy weekend DIY project that anyone can do.
Add Electrical Outlets for More Potential
Outdoors box freezers, mini-fridges, power saws, an extra car battery – there are many things you could use the space in your garage for, but most older garages simply don’t have a large number of outlets. If your garage doesn’t have many outlets, have an electrician install at least two outlets per garage wall to give you the power and flexibility you want. Make sure that you choose waterproof GFCI outlets – garages will generally see more water than other areas of your home and the safety is a must.
