Garage Makeover

Has your garage become a disorganized mess? By utilizing the walls in your garage for storage, you can reclaim your garage and maximize your space.

by HSM Staff

Take a drive through your neighborhood and take a peek into the open garages.What do you see? Chances are, you see lots of clutter- so much so that there may not even be room for the family car! It doesn't have to be this way. By reclaiming your wall space for storage, you can turn your garage into the organized, attractive space you long for.

There are several systems to consider for the garage. The system you choose really depends on what is stored within your garage and the space that you have available. We'll outline a few of your choices to get you started: FastTrack® by Rubbermaid, InterChange™ by Racor®, StoreWALL, and Grid Iron.

FastTrack Garage Organization System by Rubbermaid
This system is "easy, versatile, and expandable"- simply screw the FastTrack rail into the wall studs, snap on the rail covering, and you're ready to go. Affixing the rails to the maximum number of studs will give a 48" rail a weight capacity of 1,750 pounds and the 84" rails 2,000 pounds.

There are a countless number of hooks available to hold sports equipment, bikes, ladders, tools, hoses, and cords. Mesh bins and shelving units can be added to hold or group similar items- think balls, cleaning materials, or gardening tools. Each holder snaps into place and can be easy removed and reconfigured as your needs change. It's also easy to add more rails as needed to expand your storage in the future. For full details on the FastTrack system visit the Rubbermaid website.

InterChange Modular Wall Storage System by Racor
Racor's system focuses on ease of installation, storage flexibility, and seasonal access. The InterChange system uses a universal "wall dock mounting bracket" upon which various hangers are placed. Each wall dock is mounted individually into a wall stud and can hold up to 50 pounds.

Racor manufactures various hooks and hangers to hold bicycles (horizontally or vertically), power tools, power cords, or other equipment. Baskets of various sizes can be purchased to group smaller items too. Because each wall dock is mounted individually, you can place seasonal items up high and reorganize or add more docks as you accumulate more stuff. To see the full line of InterChange products as well as printable mounting instructions visit the Racor Incorporated website.

StoreWALL(TM) Heavy-Duty Panels
StoreWALL takes an entirely different approach to organizing by utilizing Heavy-Duty panels to cover the entire wall. The panels employ a hidden fastener system for installation resulting in a seamless, clean look. Like the other systems, the panels screw directly into the wall studs to ensure a sturdy foundation. A variety of accessories are made to attach into the panels' grooves: various hooks and hangers, shelves, numerous baskets, and even cabinets. Unlike the other systems, StoreWALL's panels come in five color choices- two wood grains and three neutral colors. Learn more about StoreWall's full line of products at their official site.

Grid Iron (TM) Virtually Indestructible Garage Organizing System
Grid Iron has developed a steel, slotwall system that enables you to use every inch of horizontal and vertical space for storage. The panels can be purchased individually or you may purchase everything you need in one handy kit. This system has the widest range of accessories (various shelving, hooks, trays, cabinets, work benches, and even drawers) and the rolled-steel channels make it a snap to install and rearrange them. Visit Grid Iron USA for more information.

Garage Door Openers
Garage door openers come with one of three basic drive types: chain drive, screw-drive, and belt-drive.

Chain-drive
This type of door opener employs a chain to power a sectional door up and down. Chain-driven openers are the most common type in use and are dependable and durable. They do require periodic lubrication.

Screw-drive
This type of door opener utilizes a self-lubricating screw that is enclosed within the rail. Screw-driven openers have a low profile which makes them a good choice when headroom is limited. They rarely need maintenance.

Belt-drive
This type of opener opens via a belt and is the quietest opener available. The belts are usually steel-reinforced and require no lubrication.

Note: Before installing a garage door opener be sure that the motor is strong enough to raise and lower your particular garage door.

Did You Know?
The following tech ventures started out in garages:

Hewlett Packard, 1938, rent- $45 per month.
Apple, 1975, rent-free (Dad vacated the space).
Google, 1998, rent- $1,700 per month.

Flooring
You'll want to address the garage floor to protect it from spills as well as give the space a finished look. There are several products to consider.

STAIN
You can stain your concrete flooring. It's easy to apply using only a roller and doesn't require regular maintenance. You can refresh the stain as needed by simply cleaning the concrete and reapplying the stain. Stains are semi-transparent, so you'll still be able to see that the surface beneath is concrete.

CONCRETE PAINT
Another option for sealing your concrete is to apply concrete paint. Most paint manufacturers sell paint that is designed specifically for covering concrete and comes in several colors. The paint bonds to the concrete itself so the surface of the concrete must be clean and dry before it is applied.

EPOXY COATING
Epoxy coatings have become quite popular because they protect the flooring against gasoline, antifreeze, motor oil, salt, and hot tires. They are both easy to apply and easy to maintain. Most epoxy coatings are sold as kits that include everything you need to complete the job- look for a water-based one for easy cleanup and low odor. You must follow all of the steps included in the kit's instructions in order to achieve a strong bond between the concrete and epoxy.

ROLL-OUT FLOORING
Roll-out, polyvinyl flooring is available in thicknesses ranging from 50mm to 80mm and comes in several standard sizes, colors, and patterns. The thick padding helps reduce fatigue from standing, protects the concrete beneath, and serves as a vapor a barrier. The flooring also looks good and can be removed from the garage for cleaning without getting the garage walls wet.

MODULAR FLOORING
Modular flooring is durable, easy to install, and gives you the flexibility to create a one-of-a-kind look. Made from high-impact copolymer, it will stand up to vehicle traffic, oil, grease, and other household products and is stain-resistant as well. The pieces simply snap together making installation a breeze. Modular flooring manufacturers sell tiles in several colors and patterns that you can mix and match to suit your individual taste.