For many homeowners nowadays, the garage has become more than just a place to park their car. It can be many things, depending on what you envision having in your dream garage. The ideas are endless. You may use it as storage space for unused items, an extra pantry, a man cave or entertainment area for the family, or a shed you can use for crafting and other art activities with the kids. Those are only a few examples. Whatever way you wish to use your garage, you can make that desire turn into a reality with the right tips on your hands.
For all the purposes you want your garage to have, this also means building more than the walls, floor, and roof. It’s designing an interior space where several details need careful consideration.
So, how do you get started with building your garage? Whether you’re on your own in this pursuit or with your trusted contractor, the list of things to do can get overwhelming. Thankfully, you’ve come to the right place because this article will provide you with a helpful guide with a rundown of the steps you can apply when building your dream garage.
- Brainstorm Ideas
Remember that this project is a major one. You’re not just building any other regular garage, but your dream garage. Thus, like any project, you have to spend some time brainstorming before jumping right into it.
This first step shouldn’t be difficult, given the multitude of resources available. Run a quick search online, and it will surely yield numerous ideas to inspire you. You can then print those out and consult with your contractor. With this, you can narrow down your options based on what’s the most feasible, budget and style-wise.
- Clear Out Your Garage
This second tip has to be done if you aren’t building a dream garage from scratch. Suppose you already have one, but it’s not looking anywhere close to what your dream garage is. At the moment, it has simply become a dumping ground for all sorts of clutter. You know it can do much more than that; hence, go for renovation.
Before doing any work in your garage, take a day or two to clear your garage of all the mess you can find. You may have items you can now give out, donate, or throw away. The more things you can get out of your garage, the better. That way, you won’t have any visual nuisance that can affect how you envision your garage to be. Once done, it will also be easier to organize your things in the garage.
- Decide How You Want To Use Your Garage
What exactly is a dream garage? Now that you’ve reached this point, you need to know that a dream garage is subjective. Different homeowners have their desired vision of what, to them, is a dream garage.
Think about how you want to use your garage before you choose and purchase the specific materials and features for your project. This is also helpful in choosing from among your design inspirations.
Some owners want their garage to be a man cave, while others want to convert it into a home gym. Whatever you choose, you need to ensure that your floor can withstand your chosen activities. The best option is to go for an epoxy garage floor in Cincinnati. It’s not called the king of flooring for no reason. Learn more here: cincinnaticoncreteartisans.com.
No matter how grand or pretty, if your garage doesn’t meet your desired use and function, it will remain a dumping ground of clutter. Considering your intended use ensures you’ll be happy with your garage. Likewise, it will continue to be the dream you want it to be for many years to come.
- Choose The Flooring
Gone are the days when a garage floor is described as cold, filled with litter, and greasy. The floors of modern garages today are more sophisticated. There are many options to choose from, depending on the style or interior design theme you’d like to have for your home.
So, what’s the preferred flooring nowadays? Most people go with polymer flooring with a synthetic topcoat applied to your finished cement floor. The result is a shiny and ceramic-like finish. So, if you’re looking for a practical, durable, and aesthetically pleasing floor, then polymer should be your top choice.
- Insulate The Floors
Flooring can’t be complete without insulation. No matter how beautiful and well made your garage is, you won’t like spending time there if it’s cold and dingy. So, don’t skimp on functionality, like insulating or heating the floors.
Weekend mechanics love warm floors. Yet even if you’re not a mechanic, you’ll be glad to have that warm garage floor during the cold winter months.
- Choose The Doors
Run-of-the-mill doors should never be in your options. Because you’re building the garage of your dreams, custom doors are the way to go. Consider garage doors that will be a perfect match for the style you’re aiming for.
You can also take it one step further by having automated smart doors. Thus, right when you arrive in the driveway, the garage door opens with only a few clicks on your remote. You don’t have to go down and out to open it.
Look for a good garage door supplier that can offer you the best deal with all the smart features you desire.
- Don’t Forget The Ventilation
Lastly, take note of the ventilation. Heated floors aren’t enough to keep you comfortable in your garage. This means that you need an air-conditioning system to keep you cool during the summer months. Then, when temperatures drop, have a heater on standby, too. For some, both may seem like a luxury, but it’s good to have both so you wouldn’t have to burden yourself when you badly need them.
Conclusion
A dream home isn’t complete for car enthusiasts, hobby crafters, and homemakers without ticking their desired garage off their wish list. The garage is often the most overlooked part in many homes, too. It can be bare, with plain walls and standard, boring lights. If that’s still what you have now, then building your dream garage should be in the works as your home project this year. Dreaming about it is one thing, but turning it into a reality is another. It’s high time you go with the latter.
Author Bio:
Olivia Grayson is an architectural consultant working for a structural and design firm. She has been in the industry for five years now. When she’s not helping clients with their homes, she enjoys writing about style tips on her blog. She’s a mom to two lovely girls.
