New Year, New Garage: How To Create the Custom Garage of Your Dreams This Year

The kitchen may be the heart of the home, but for hobbyists, car junkies, and DIYers, the garage is a close second. It’s a home for your favorite hobbies, it’s where you keep your memories stored away, and it’s where you tinker with your passions and projects.

But for many homeowners, the garage is a source of stress, largely due to clutter. In fact, according to a survey from the National Association of Professional Organizers, 50 percent of homeowners cited the garage as the most disorganized area of the home.

With the arrival of the new year, you may be considering making changes around your home, and perhaps even contemplating some updates to your home’s beloved garage. Whether you’re thinking about adding new garage storage options or updating your garage floors, Carolina Custom Garages is here to help you get started. So you can get back to loving your garage this year, and for many years to come.

Garage Cabinets and Garage Organization

Clutter making you crazy? New garage cabinets may be the solution to your clutter problems. Getting things up off of the garage floor and stored in a neat and organized way can not only cut the clutter but make it easier to find exactly what you’re looking for when you need it, whether it’s a specific tool for a project or your seasonal holiday decorations.

Carolina Custom Garages offers precision-built cabinets that are made from thermal-fused melamine which allows cabinets to withstand heavy loads, extreme temperatures, and protection from spills and stains. Our one-inch-thick adjustable shelves are 25 percent thicker than the industry standard and have a load-bearing capacity of 100 pounds, so you can store more.

For the design-minded, you can rest-assure that our custom garage cabinets will meet all of your needs. We offer a variety of cabinet configurations and 24 laminate colors to choose from, allowing for endless design options specific to your home’s unique style. Plus, we provide a large assortment of handle selections and hardware made from cast stainless steel for the ideal final touch.
In addition to custom cabinets, Carolina Custom Garages has you covered with our multi-purpose garage organization options, ranging from heavy-duty bike racks to baskets for sports equipment. Whether you’ve got wood, metal, drywall, or concrete, our adaptable storage options are compatible with a variety of materials.

Epoxy Garage Flooring

Has your garage flooring seen better days? Skip the lengthy, messy DIY and let us transform your garage floors.

Our epoxy floors are durable and unlike some other floor coating systems, our product will not peel or wear down. Upkeep is easy, our floors are simple to maintain and can be hosed down or sprayed clean. And, you don’t have to worry about discoloration over the years, our floors offer 100 percent UV protection which keeps coatings from oxidizing or yellowing over time.

Our coatings typically cure in just 24 hours, so you can get back to life as usual and not have to worry about a lengthy renovation.

And, Carolina Custom Garages offers a lifetime warranty on all of our epoxy garage floors. That’s not something you’ll get when you do it yourself.

Ready to revamp your garage? We can’t wait to hear what you have in mind. Get your free estimate from Carolina Custom Garages today.

Modern Garage Upgrades to Increase Your Home Value

It wasn’t too long ago that garages were just a place to keep your car, work tools, and a lawnmower. Times have changed, and many people are rethinking the layout of their home, especially the garage space. Giving your garage a modern upgrade not only makes your life a little easier, but it can add value to your home if done right. Check out a few of these popular garage upgrades, like custom cabinets, storage solutions, and floor coatings. They’ll definitely help you get inspired to revitalize your garage.

Floor Coatings 

A fresh coat of paint on the walls makes any room look bigger, brighter and newer. A garage floor is similar, it just needs a different kind of coat due to all that wear and tear. That’s why most professionals suggest using top-of-the-line epoxy flooring for your garage floor. There are countless benefits to using this type of covering. For starters, it’s durable and impermeable. No matter what type of work you do in your garage, the floor will withstand spills and stains, and hold up to the roughest activities. Because of the chemical properties of epoxy coating, a simple wipe or sweep brings the floor back to life. Some epoxy garage floor coatings have a lifetime warranty, which always brings value to a home.

Besides being functional, slip proof, and easy to clean, epoxy coating has a design element that beautifies any garage floor. Colored chips within the epoxy can be custom blended to create a unique color to match an interior or complement existing cabinets or storage units. Floor coating normally comes in standard stock colors to simplify the process.

Custom Garage Cabinets 

Let’s face it, many cabinets used in garages are poorly made and don’t stand the test of time. Professional installation of custom cabinets is a wise choice because it improves your workspace and storage solutions. It may add value to your home because of the long-lasting quality, craftsmanship, and materials used.  

Store-bought shelving products that use glue and cheap fastening systems may prove to be a waste of money. It doesn’t add value to the garage because they don’t last. Using an installation professional to install precision-built shelving constructed of heavy-duty materials makes more sense. Shelving can withstand heavy loads, making storage and organizing easier.

Most installation companies offer a wide variety of colors and designs of cabinets and storage systems to help you get the right look for your garage.

Storage Solutions

When it comes to organizing a garage, everything should have its place. From the smallest screwdriver to the largest piece of equipment, everything should be easy to reach, but not in the way. Storage hooks, mesh baskets, or slatwall systems add functionality to the modern garage upgrade, so always implement good storage solutions.

A modern garage update may feel like a major home improvement, but with the right installation professional adding new flooring, custom cabinets, and storage may increase the value of your home and make your dream garage a reality. Contact our team today to transform your garage.

 

How Moisture and Humidity Affect Your Garage and Things You Can Do to Protect It

It is normal for us to wipe moisture from our brows on a hot day, but should it be normal for our garage floor to sweat? The answer is most definitely no. A sweaty floor and high moisture content in your garage ends up creating a slippery surface and damp walls.

How Moisture Builds Up in Your Garage

The most common reason moisture builds up in your garage is a sweaty floor. If you have a concrete floor, when warm air comes into contact with the cool concrete, it will cause the air to cool to below the dew point and result in condensation on the surface. As the moisture in the air condensates in your garage, it increases the humidity dramatically. Not worried about a garage that sweats as much as you do? You probably should be.

How Moisture and Humidity Affect Your Garage

Over time, excess humidity and moisture can negatively impact your garage. Moisture eventually breaks down the foundation of your garage. Mold and mildew are faster foes, however. They can grow in a season and cause rot to set in the wood of the building and health issues for occupants. Moisture also causes your tools, storage units and vehicles to break down much faster.

Things You Can Do to Protect Your Garage

You will often notice that springtime is when your garage starts to build up moisture and continues through the hot summer when the air is warmer. There are multiple things you can do if you want to protect your garage.

Check the Drains

Before you install anything new or run an electronic device to try to rid your garage of extra moisture, you should make sure the problem isn’t internal. Check all your drains and gutters to ensure they are unobstructed and working properly. If they are leaking anywhere or backed up, they can cause the build of excess moisture.

Dehumidifier

Once you make sure everything is functioning properly, you can get a garage dehumidifier. They are great at getting excessive moisture out of a room and preventing mold and rot from going rampant.

Add Ventilation

Ventilating your garage is another one of the best, long-term ways you can protect your garage from extra humidity. Installing an exhaust fan is an easier way to go about this. While it isn’t quite as simple as plugging in a dehumidifier, it is more energy-efficient in the long run.

You can also do this somewhat effectively by installing more windows or passive vents in the walls of your garage. Installing storm windows can help, especially if you can put them on a side facing the sun to have the sunlight evaporate the moisture during the day.

Air Conditioning

For those of you who use your garage as a workshop or a man cave and have it air-conditioned, it is time to put that air conditioner to use. The vast majority of air conditioners work to reduce moisture levels in the air since they evaporate it as they run.

Floor Coating

Finally, one of the best and most permanent ways to cut down on condensation is to apply a floor coating to your garage. You should consider using a coating made for a wet environment to help out the most.

If you need more advice on garage maintenance or want a high-quality floor coating, contact our garage experts at Carolina Custom Garages.

What Types of Storage is Best for Your Garage

Types of Garage Storage

One of the biggest complaints that most people have about their current home is the lack of storage that they have. It can be frustrating not to have enough room to store items away for that next project or camping trip. Here are some areas of your garage where you could be maximizing your storage potential.

Overhead Garage Storage

Airy garages with high ceilings have the advantage of all of that overhead space that’s not being utilized. Overhead storage can be a beneficial way to store away items where they won’t be in the way. Hooks, racks, and installed shelving are all options for keeping things up high. 

 

Overhead storage is perfect for putting away items that you won’t need for a while since it’s often not easy to access. Think camping gear stored during the winter months or Christmas decorations stored during the summer months. There are specialized overhead storage holders for items like bicycles and kayaks that can best help you to maximize this space when trying to store more awkward items.

Wall Storage Cabinets

The walls in your garage may be overlooked for their value as a storage space, especially in areas where there isn’t a lot of clearance. Wall racks in these areas can be beneficial for hanging up smaller items, such as brooms and mops. The wall storage rack helps keep them off of the floor and out of your way.

Pegboard systems and shelving can be great additions along garage walls to add more storage. These are great for not only adding places to put things, but helps with keeping your tools and items organized. Wall units are very customizable for the space you have available on the wall, along with what you want to store.

Off the Floor Garage Storage

Keeping things off the floor can go a long way to getting your garage organized the way you want. Cubby systems and bins are one great option for off-the-floor storage. These work nicely because the containers are stored away when not in use but can be pulled entirely out for easy access when needed. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes to store all different kinds of things.

Out of the Box Ideas

Think outside of the box when considering where you can add storage to your garage. For instance, you can use your garage door as a storage space with racks that are specially made to fit on your door for items like fishing rods. Another idea is creating a loft that fits above the garage door that doesn’t stop it from opening but uses an area that would otherwise be dead space. Not everyone has the same setup with their garage, so there may be a space you have available that could provide you with more space.

Customizing your garage is one of the best ways to maximize the amount of storage space it offers. At Carolina Custom Garages, we specialize in creating a garage space that optimizes the inside of your garage while making it look fantastic. Contact our staff today to discuss your options for customizing your garage space.