Garage Organization: 6 Things Your Garage Wants for Christmas

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Between vehicles, lawn and garden equipment, outdoor toys, tools, and storage, your garage works hard all year. With Christmas time coming up fast, it’s time to treat it to an upgrade. But what should you choose? We have a few great ideas in mind!

1. Epoxy Garage Flooring

Imagine your garage with a shiny, smooth, and durable floor that’s easy to clean. Epoxy garage flooring not only transforms the look of your space but also provides protection against spills, stains, and cracks. This gift will not only make your garage look sleek but also help it withstand the test of time. Plus, it’s a gift that keeps on giving since it requires minimal maintenance.

2. Custom Garage Cabinets

Does your garage resemble a chaotic storage unit more than a functional space? Garage cabinets are the answer to that problem. Custom cabinets come in all shapes and sizes to create the perfect storage solution for tools, sporting equipment, gardening supplies, and more. This gift to your garage will ensure that everything has its place—and the garage stays tidy all year long.

3. LED Lighting

Let there be light in your garage! With LEDs, you can swap out the bulbs in your existing fixtures, or upgrade those fixtures with new ones. Either way, look for LED bulbs and light fixtures made for garages as these tend to be ultra bright so that you can light up your workspace while cutting energy costs.

4. The StoreWall System

This is the unsung hero of garage organization. Carolina Custom Garage is an authorized dealer of StoreWall, which is an innovative slatwall system that lets you hang a variety of hooks, baskets, and other organization solutions. Use hooks and hangers to organize everything from smaller tools like hammers and screwdrivers to larger items like extension cords, shovels, rakes and more. StoreWall’s baskets and shelves give you the perfect spot for all the odds and ends that you can’t hang up. StoreWall is waterproof and stain-resistant, too, so it will keep on looking great even in busy garages where the occasional spill or mess is likely to happen.

The best part? StoreWall puts all of your most-used tools and equipment within easy reach, plus you can rearrange hooks, hangers, and more as your needs change, making it a versatile addition to your garage.

5. Wall-Mounted Tool Racks

Wall-mounted tool racks come in various shapes and sizes, designed to accommodate a variety of items, from long-handled brooms to tiny screwdrivers. These racks are the ideal gift for garages that are begging you to free up valuable floor space while keeping tools neatly organized.

6. Overhead Storage Systems

If your garage has a high ceiling or lots of wasted space above the garage door’s rails, consider getting it an overhead storage system for Christmas. These systems consist of sturdy racks or platforms that hang from your garage ceiling, safely stashing away items you don’t need to access daily—like the seasonal decorations once you’re done with them for the year. Overhead storage systems take full advantage of your vertical space—and that means you’ll be able to empty out a closet elsewhere in your home or safely stow away those boxes that have been taking up space on the garage floor.

This Christmas, don’t forget to show your garage some love. Whether you choose to revamp the flooring, add storage, or improve its functionality, these gifts will transform your garage into a more organized, efficient, and inviting space. If you’d like to learn more about any of these upgrades—or other things you can do to treat your garage to something nice for Christmas—contact us for a free estimate. Your garage will thank you!

 

The Timeline of Your New Garage Floors

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Getting new garage floors can be a great way to make your garage look fresher, cleaner, and more modern. You might want to make other updates simultaneously, too, such as painting or installing new cabinets and shelving. It’s best to handle those things before replacing your floors and work from the top down.

But what about the timeline to get new garage floors once any other work is done? How long can you expect it to be before you can start using your garage fully again? Here’s what you need to know about getting new epoxy coating floors for your garage.

The Preparation Process

If your existing floor is in good shape and doesn’t need any significant repair, the preparation process may only take a few hours and can generally be completed in a day. However, if the floor has damage that will affect your new flooring and can’t be easily fixed, you’ll need to get that repaired before installing the flooring.

With a good filler that’s compatible with the epoxy floor coating, pits and cracks can be filled in during the process, so your new floor installation won’t be delayed. It’s only for more severe issues that other repairs might be needed. Then your old floor will need to be thoroughly cleaned and the surface made ready for the epoxy coating that’s going to be used.

Installation of the Main Flooring

After the preparation process is all done, installation of the main flooring can usually be done in a day. Unless your garage is unusually large or you have unique circumstances that have to be addressed, installing epoxy coating garage flooring is a relatively simple process as long as the preparation is done correctly.

Keep in mind that a completed installation of the main coating doesn’t mean everything is done, and you can’t drive on your new floor just yet. There are some companies that advertise that they can complete the entire process in one day, but this actually isn’t recommended.

The epoxy coating needs time to cure, and if it doesn’t cure correctly, it could end up looking bad and not holding up the way you’d hoped. Since your garage typically sees wear and tear on the floor from vehicles going in and out, it’s worth a little bit longer to wait to be sure the floor is fully cured.

Completing the Details

After the flooring is installed, it needs to cure before you can safely walk and drive on it. In most cases, you can use your new space within 24 to 36 hours after the installation has been completed. The floor will be thoroughly inspected to make sure there aren’t any problems with it, and then you can use it with confidence.

Making Sure Your Floor Lasts a Long Time

After installation and curing, you can go back to using your new epoxy-coated garage floor the way you normally would. It’s slip-resistant and cleans easily. It will also look great for years and will hold up to all the vehicles and people who use it.

 

3 Things to Consider When Selecting Garage Finishes

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When it’s time to update your garage, there’s a lot to consider. Fortunately, you don’t need a complete remodel to enjoy the benefits of big changes and a great-looking space. Instead, you can change the flooring and focus on some customized cabinetry solutions that will give you great value.

Then you can enjoy your garage to the fullest and make the most out of the space. Here are three of the most valuable areas to consider when deciding on the right color finishes for your garage upgrade.

How Much Natural Light is the Area Exposed To?

Having a lot of natural light coming into your garage can make the space warmer and more comfortable. Light can also make it easier for you to see what you’re doing in the space and work on projects or hobbies you enjoy.

Unfortunately, you also need to be aware that too much light could be a problem. For example, sunlight streaming in through a window and striking your cabinets could eventually cause them to fade. That can change their overall appearance, and the end result might not be something you’re happy with. That’s especially true if there are other cabinets that will no longer match properly.

What Size Space Do You Have to Work With?

The size of your garage space matters, and if you want the space to look bigger, you’ll likely need to choose lighter colors. If you select darker shades for your cabinets and flooring, the garage might look smaller. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it can be a problem if you already have a small garage.

Make sure you consider the changes a new color will bring before you choose a floor coloring or new cabinets for your garage. Some people like to have a darker-colored floor and lighter cabinets, which can help tie everything together and ground the space. If that’s not for you, though, you can certainly choose other options. It’s important to select colors you like.

Are Contrasting Colors Important in Your Garage?

Whether you want everything to be similar or you want a strong contrast, you can create a garage space that looks good and feels comfortable. Smaller spaces often look better with a little less contrast, but the layout of the space can also make a difference.

In the end, you should decide if contrasting colors are important to you, and if they are, they can be a great choice for your garage. While most people like to keep resale possibilities in mind, there’s no reason to avoid making your garage into everything that works for you and meets your current needs.

Remember, you don’t need to do any significant level of remodeling to have a garage you’re happy with. Instead, consider changing the floor color and look with a quality coating. Add in some beautiful, functional cabinetry and storage solutions, and you can be happy with your color finishes and garage layout choices for the long term.

Garage Transformation: How Much Does it Cost?

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Transforming your garage doesn’t have to be difficult or complicated. You can give the space a new and better-organized feel with concrete floor coatings and customized storage solutions. 

The best news about a garage transformation is that it doesn’t need to cost a lot. There are options for nearly all garages and budgets.

Not everyone wants or needs to remodel their garage. Instead, they want to make it a better version of what it already is, with a transformation based on good storage and protection for the floor. 

With a little help and some consideration of the different options, you can take your old, tired garage and have it feeling new again.

Here’s what to consider when you want to price out a garage transformation you’ll really be happy with for the long term.

Customize Your Cabinet Space

The cabinet space in your garage is important. It’s a great location to store tools and miscellaneous items, along with anything seasonal for the outdoors, such as smaller holiday decorations. It’s great for watering cans, seed packets, extra gloves, bike helmets, and just about anything else you can think of. 

Small items that don’t belong in the house but need protection from the elements have the perfect home in garage cabinets. But if you don’t have enough cabinets to hold the items you want to store, or if your cabinets are in bad shape, you’ll want to get new ones. 

Stock cabinets cost less than custom ones, but customizing your garage cabinets is the way to go. Then they work just right for your needs.

Upgrade Your Storage Systems

It’s not just cabinets that are good storage solutions. Shelving, wall storage systems, and overhead storage systems all have their place in a well-organized garage. If you’re pricing out a garage transformation, don’t forget to consider the storage types you need most. 

For example, you might want a rack on the wall to hang rakes, shovels, and other outdoor tools. On the other hand, maybe you’re looking for a basket just the right size to hold outdoor sports equipment. 

There are garage storage solutions for nearly any budget and any need. Bike racks are popular options to get bulkier items up off the floor, and you can get almost any kind of wall storage option you want for the gear and tools you own.

Choose Concrete Floor Coatings

Transforming your garage also requires taking care of the floor. Concrete floor coatings are an excellent choice because they’re cost-effective and durable. As you price out your garage transformation, think about how you want to keep your floor in good shape for the long term. 

Concrete floor coatings come in many different colors and designs, so you can pick something that matches the color and look of your home. Not only will it look great, but it’s easy to clean and can really make your garage look like an entirely different space. It lasts for years and won’t peel or fade.

In short, the cost of transforming your garage fully depends on the cabinets, floor coating, storage solutions, and other options you choose for it. You can work within a set budget or choose what you like and go from there. Either way, you’ll have a beautiful garage you can really enjoy.