There are some lovely newer neighborhoods in our mid-Atlantic region, but most of their attached garages are bare bones. Depending on when the home was built (and the building code requirements at the time), some garages are only framed out with minimum insulation, while others have been dry-walled.
These residential garages have little personality and appeal - yet are often a massive space. They also lack functionality. They have one or two garage doors, an entrance into the homes (perhaps another one to the outside), a light switch, one or two electric outlets, and maybe a drain in the concrete floor. That's it.
In STRONGHOLD FLOORS' nine years of business (as of 2013), we've seen garages of all shapes, styles, and degrees of functionality. And during that time, we applied professional epoxy coatings to over 3,500 garages in Pennsylvania and Maryland. We've seen some creative garages - ones worthy of the term "personality".
So, how do you take your garage to the next level while making it fun and functional?
Creating a Functional Garage Space
Start By Protecting the Floor
The first step to creating the ultimate garage - one worthy of displaying your car collection, turning into a weekend man cave, or a place where your teenagers can safely hang out - begins by making it more functional. This starts by applying a decorative, protective epoxy coating to the garage floor.
Garage floor coatings, like the decorative chip floor pictured above, should be the first step in creating a functional garage space.
Remember, what makes a professionally applied coating different from a DIY garage paint kit is durability. Professionally installed garage floor coatings won't chip, are scratch-resistant, and are also easy to clean - which is why they're ideal for the garage floor. They're also attractive, particularly when decorative chip coatings or metallic epoxy coatings are used to spruce-up the space.
See How to Coat a Garage Floor the Easy Way to learn more about the differences between DIY coatings and professional coatings.
Add Functionality with Custom Storage Solutions
Once your garage floor is properly protected, the next step in creating functionality is by adding storage and organizational space to keep the clutter contained. We work with California Closets and Closet Factory in Maryland/Virginia to develop custom organization systems, including custom cabinets and specialty wall mount systems.
Our customers love the custom cabinetry because they are far superior to those you get at the big-box home improvement stores. They are heavy duty, wall-mounted hanging systems - customized for our customers' needs and intentions for the space. So, you get exactly the type of storage you are looking for to maximize the space.
Additionally, the cabinets come in a variety of finishes - from stainless steel to wood grains - to give you the look you want.
The use of cabinetry enhances the storage space in your garage.
The Ultimate Garage - Examples from Our Customers
Once you've made your garage safe and functional, it is up to you on how to complete the space. Here are a few clever ideas from STRONGHOLD FLOORS' customers who have created The Ultimate Garage:
- Adding decorative touches. Many customers paint the walls (other than basic white or gray) and/or install wainscoting to match the garage floor coating and cabinetry. Colors can easily be coordinated with the floor coatings. We've even had customers match their exterior home colors with their garage floor coatings.
- Making the garage a "bonus" room. Many of our customers have turned their garage space into a three-season room. They've installed a ceiling fan to circulate the air and/or added heating for the chilly fall evenings when they want to watch the football game.
- Adding a projection television. A few of our clever customer have installed a projection television into their garage. When the garage door is closed, a screen comes down to broadcast the game.
- Building a mini-bar. When we discuss plans for adding cabinetry, some of our customers have turned their garage utility sink into a mini bar sink/area. A few of our customers have taken it one step further by installing a wine-chiller and/or a keg-orator.
- Creating a smoker's lounge. For some of our homeowners, the garage is the place for the guys to hang out and smoke a cigar while hosting poker night.
- Showing off your collectables. We've tailored garages around a car collection for our car enthusiast customers. With so many choices of concrete floor coatings, it's easy to ensure the garage floor shows off those special automobiles.
- Tailgating headquarters. For one State College customer, their garage was the tailgating headquarters before every home Penn State football game. They invited their friends over for pre-game snacks and beverages before they headed to Beaver Stadium together. We even coated a garage in State College in Penn State colors!
Whether you want to turn your garage into tailgate central or a bonus room, the possibilities for creating your ultimate garage are only limited by your imagination. When you begin with functionality in mind, our team at STRONGHOLD FLOORS can help you transform your garage into exactly what you want it to be.
NOTE: The author, Tess Wittler, is a freelance copywriter who regularly collaborates with the team at STRONGHOLD FLOORS. She and STRONGHOLD FLOORS' owner, Mike Mincemoyer have known each other for nearly a decade. You can follow of Tess' writings by visiting www.TessWittler.com.
