6 Things to Budget for When Remodeling Your Garage

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A garage remodel can be an extremely satisfying project. It offers homeowners the opportunity to customize and alter their space to suit their exact needs and get rid of any outdated features or finishes that remain from previous owners. Plus, these renovations help facilitate the creation of a meaningful custom space without disrupting the rest of your home or tracking dust and dirt through your living area.  

The first step in planning your garage remodel is determining what you’d like to add or remove from your existing space. Once these plans have been made, you can start to price out different options and see which you’d like to prioritize. Then, you’ll need to use your plan to create a budget that can help guide you through the process.

6 Useful Things to Budget for When Remodeling Your Garage

The areas or features you’d like to budget for during your garage remodel depend greatly on your interests, and how you intend to use the space. DIY enthusiasts may want to budget for the cost of adding more electrical outlets, while those who want to be able to work on their car year-round may need to consider budgeting for additional insulation.

Here are some of the factors you should consider when budgeting for your upcoming garage remodel.

1. Permits

Getting permits for your garage remodel is the first step in ensuring everything you do is up to code. Depending on your location, this could cost anywhere from $300 to $1,500. Only minor cosmetic work does not require a permit.

2. Insulation

If you want to make your garage comfortable year-round or convert part of it into a living space, you’ll need to add insulation to your budget. Both the amount and the type you choose will influence your final cost.

3. Electrical

Improving an old and outdated electrical system or adding in new outlets and fixtures should all be considered in your garage remodel budget. Even if your system currently functions well, electricity can make a huge difference in your space, and improving it is always worth the cost.

4. Plumbing

If you don’t have a convenient bathroom or sink near your garage and you want to convert part of your available space, you’ll need to consider plumbing. While the cost varies greatly depending on the scope, paying roughly $1,500 is the minimum you can expect for any serious plumbing work.

5. Demolition

If you’re making your garage larger or knocking down existing interior walls, demolition should definitely be a line item on your budget. It’s tempting to do this part yourself, but if you don’t have the experience it’s always worth hiring a professional.

6. Garage Organization

A custom garage organization system is what can take your garage from a repository for junk to a functional place you actually want to spend time in. From shelves to cabinets, each aspect of your garage’s organization should be considered carefully and planned using the unique specifications of your space.

Want to learn more about how the Carolina Custom Garages team can help transform your garage that suits your needs? Get in touch with us today for a free estimate.

5 Things to Expect During Your Garage Remodel

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Not everyone considers their garage to be the heart of their home, but for many of us, it’s the headquarters for our hobbies – not to mention where we store our most prized possessions.

If your garage simply isn’t living up to its full potential, however, then a garage remodel is just the thing to breathe new life back into this old space.

A garage remodel may seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. If you’re considering a remodel, here’s what you can expect.

1. Custom 3D CAD Design and Estimate

Before any garage remodel project can begin, it’s vital that a blueprint is first put in place. Prior to this happening, however, it’s important for a designer to sit down with you and work out exactly what you need from your garage remodel. During this initial consultation phase, other factors – such as budget, style, and materials – are also taken into consideration.

At Carolina Custom Garages, we use our proprietary design software, ORGdesign, to provide you with your custom 3D CAD design and estimate. Not only does this software allow you to see a three-dimensional version of how your new garage will look, but it also enables flawless execution because the design is translated into an exact order.

2. Emptying Your Garage

Before the installation process begins, your garage will need to be free of clutter. This is a great reason to finally address all the items you’ve been storing in your garage and determine what you want to keep and what needs to go.

Typically, a garage remodel project only takes 2-3 days to complete, so you can simply store your items somewhere else on your property during this time. Alternatively, you can hire a lock-up storage container to keep your items secure and protected from the elements while their new home is being built.

3. Time for Other Services

Once your garage is empty, it’s also the perfect time to arrange any other services you require before the remodel takes place. This might include new coatings on your concrete floor, painting, upgrading lighting, making electrical changes, or fixing plumbing, for example.

4. The Installation Period

This is the exciting part. When you hire the services of Carolina Custom Garages, our team managers will organize an installation time that works for you.

We always provide you with accurate installation dates so that the project can be completed smoothly and on schedule. Our crews arrive on time and begin the installation procedure immediately.

As we mentioned previously, garage remodel projects usually take between just 2-3 days to complete. During this time, you can simply sit back and relax while we transform your garage into the space you’ve dreamed of. Our crew will even leave it cleaner and neater than when they arrived!

5. Garage Remodel Complete

Once the installation is finished, you can admire your new garage space. With your new storage options and layout, the final piece of the puzzle is to make your new space your own, complete with all of the items you hold dear.

Carolina Custom Garages specializes in garage remodels including custom cabinets, epoxy floor coatings, and storage accessories. Considering a garage remodel? Contact us today for your free in-home estimate!

4 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t DIY Epoxy Garage Floors

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Epoxy is an excellent option for garage flooring—it’s durable, low maintenance, and easy to clean. However, you’ll only reap the benefits when the process is done exactly right. As they say, too much resin ruins the whole batch. Even if you could prep, mix, apply, and finish the epoxy perfectly, fluctuations in temperature and humidity can still cause problems. That’s why epoxy floor coating is best left to professionals.

1. You need the right equipment and supplies.

You’ll need a long list of supplies to apply epoxy to your own garage floor. You’ll need compounds for patching concrete, cleaners, degreaser, brushes, rollers, and sealants. And the epoxy kit, of course. Unfortunately, the kits you can get at the hardware store are not professional-grade. Professionals use a mix of solid resin and harder, creating thick, durable flooring. DIY epoxy is usually water-based and leaves a thin coating that bubbles and peels. In addition, contractors use heavy machinery to mechanically grind the floor. Grinders remove stains and marks and make the concrete ready to bond with epoxy. On the other hand, DIY kits recommend acid etching which leaves behind residue and barely scratches the surface.

2. Epoxy mistakes are headaches.

Many homeowners who try DIY epoxy jobs don’t always get things right the first time. It takes knowledge and experience to properly prep, coat, and finish garage floors. For example, the concrete must be expertly cleaned and prepared for the epoxy to bond. Plus, If the resin and hardener aren’t mixed correctly, the final product will bubble and blister. In addition, the conditions need to be just right. If the weather is too cold, too hot, or too humid, the epoxy won’t set correctly. Small mistakes in application can lead to major headaches down the road. You may wind up replacing the entire floor which is a waste of time and money.

3. DIY jobs cost more in the long run.

Applying epoxy coating yourself may sound like a cheaper option. However, it can end up being more costly over time. Kits from the home improvement store give thin coverage, so you may need to go back and buy a second kit. There is also the cost of supplies for cleaning, prepping, and sealing. You may want to rent a concrete grinder for a professional-quality job. Even with the upfront cost, there is still maintenance to consider. DIY jobs tend to peel and flake and need replacement sooner than professionally applied epoxy.

4. Epoxy is best left to the professionals

Unfortunately, DIY epoxy projects can lead to costly mistakes that are too much time and effort to fix. When the defects are bad enough, the only solution is to replace the coating—not an easy task. Professional contractors have the knowledge, experience, and equipment to get it right the first time. They know how to deep clean and grind the concrete for a strong bond. Then, when the conditions are right, they apply a thick, even coating that looks beautiful and lasts for years to come.

At Carolina Custom Garages, we have the expertise to accurately apply epoxy flooring. Our high-quality coating system permanently bonds to concrete and is guaranteed to never chip, flake, or peel. Apply for a free estimate today.

Epoxy Garage Floors: 6 Things to Expect with a Full Broadcast System

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Whether you’re building a new garage or just need to give your old one an update, epoxy flooring adds value and beauty to your space. It also provides long-lasting protection for a surface that can take a serious beating from the elements — and from your hobbies, chores, and other activities.

But with so many options available, choosing the perfect epoxy garage floor for your home can feel overwhelming. If you’re considering a full broadcast epoxy system, here’s what you can expect.

1. Outstanding Protection

Epoxy garage floors consist of three layers of protection over the concrete foundation: the primer coat, the decorative layer of colorful flakes, and a top coat of epoxy that creates a long-lasting seal. The durable epoxy completely seals the concrete to protect it from oil spills and sharp impacts that can cause unsightly chips and cracks over time.

2. A High-End Finish

In full broadcast flooring, the colored chips are applied in a tightly packed pattern that completely covers the floor, leaving no base layer visible through the chips. Floors finished with a full broadcast system are often compared to granite or stone countertops thanks to the dense layering of color. The intricate pebbled effect provides a more high-end look than random broadcast floors, in which the chips are peppered across the surface as an accent.

3. Customizable Colors

Full broadcast floors are endlessly customizable, so you can create the exact color combination you want to complement your home. We offer select, ready-made chip blends, or you can get creative and design your own special look. There are hundreds of possibilities, and the only limit is your imagination.

4. Improved Safety

A professionally installed epoxy floor provides a bit of traction under foot due to the “orange peel” texture of the dense chip covering. This is ideal for rainy or snow days when water puddles under your car — your epoxy floor offers improved slip resistance over bare concrete.

5. A Cleaner Garage

An epoxy floor is much easier to keep clean than unfinished concrete — just open the garage door and hose off any loose dirt, road salt, or grit. The non-porous topcoat creates a watertight seal that prevents staining, so your garage always looks as good as the day it was installed.

6. A Cleaner House

Unfinished concrete floors tend to break down over time, leaving a layer of concrete dust on your shoes that is easily tracked into the house. You might not notice this fine dust at first, but over time it can work its way into carpets and create micro scratches on hard floors. An epoxy floor seals in that dust to keep you from tracking unwanted particles into your home.

7. Fast Installation

Full broadcast epoxy floors are faster than most people realize! The entire process typically takes two days to complete: one day to install the base coast and chips, and another to apply the top coat. After that, the floor will need an additional 24 to 36 hours of curing time before use.

Want to learn more about installing a full broadcast epoxy floor in your garage? Get in touch with Carolina Custom Garages for a free estimate today.