You finally come to the realization that your garage is a mess and need to do something about it. Congratulations, acknowledging that you have a problem is always the first step. Now what? You decide that adding cabinets to the garage will provide much needed storage and allow you to put things away so that the entire neighborhood doesn't have to see all your stuff every time you open the garage door. Excellent. Step two: come up with a plan. Now what? Where do you go to get cabinets for the garage? How about going to you local home improvement store to see what they have? Good idea! However, when you get there you are overwhelmed by the choices; metal, wood, resin, etc. But then something hits you; if you buy these cabinets, you will have to put them together. And due to the fact you are handy-man-challenged, as you don't know the difference between an open ended wrench and a claw hammer, you decide to scratch this idea. Now what? Suddenly, a watermelon sized light bulb appears over your head and now everything becomes crystal clear. A couple months ago you remembered that you remodeled your closet and had a professional closet organization company come in and install cabinets. Heck, why don't I just call them and have them install cabinets in my garage as well? A sense of calmness comes over you, as you believe this would be the perfect answer to your garage cabinet question...or do you? You go out to XYZ-closet-company.com to check it out. Perfect! As you review their website you even see pictures of their cabinets in the garage. Perfect, problem solved...or is it?
Garage organization is one of the fastest growing segments in the massive home improvement industry, accounting for multi billions every year. And the closet industry companies have been installing cabinets in the garage for over twenty years. They closet companies were really the first industry to start to focus on organizing the garage. So who better to help with my garage organization than the closet companies, right? I can answer that question with another question, would you order Mexican food at a Chinese restaurant? Of course not. Then why would you have a closet company install closet cabinets in your garage? The obvious answer is to hire a company that focuses on the garage and builds cabinets designed for the garage...a garage organization company.
So allow me to elaborate on the benefits and differences between closet cabinets installed in the garage and custom cabinets designed specifically for the garage. And while there are exceptions to every rule, for the most part, the following information is true about most large franchise based closet organization companies. First, most closet companies install knockdown cabinets. (When you think of knockdown cabinets, think of buying your cabinets at Ikea and then having to assemble them yourself). This means they buy standard size cabinet pieces from the franchise mother ship, inventory the pieces at their shop and then build them at the customer's site. This is fine when your garage layout allows for standard, cookie cutter size cabinets; i.e. 7 feet high by 3 feet wide by 18 inches deep. However, if you want to have cabinets run the entire length of your 21 feet, 7 & 1/2" wall, and you want all the cabinets to be exactly the same width. Also, because of the garage door rail toward the front portion of the side wall, two of the cabinets will need to be 6" smaller in height. So now what? You can have the closet companies use their knock standard size cabinets and have almost 20" of wasted wall space and lose about 6 cubic feet of internal storage space. Or you can contract with a garage organization specialty company to have custom cabinets built 43 & 1/4" wide, with two of the cabinets 6 inches shorter. A perfect fit. Also, knockdown cabinets are assembled with cam and post screws, again think Ikea. Custom cabinets are built to order based on shape, size color designed. The cabinet box is permanently constructed with screws, nails and glue. So you don't have to worry about the boxes eventually coming apart or loosening with normal wear and tear and/or vibrations.
Next what about the materials that the cabinets are made from? Most closet companies install cabinets made from 1/2" or 5/8" particle board. This is fine for cabinets installed inside the house, in a 75 degree climate controlled environment that holds shirts and sweaters. However that's not the garage. The garage is normally the hottest and/or coldest area of the home, as there is normally does not have air conditioning or heating. Also, the garage has to deal with a lot of moisture in the air due to rainy conditions. Also, these cabinets will need to hold heavy paint cans, various tools and tool boxes, plumbing and electrical supplies, 50lb bags of lawn fertilizer and pool chemicals. Items you normally don't store in your bedroom closet. Custom cabinets built for the garage are normally built of 3/4" or 1" industrial grade melamine. These cabinets normally have full and solid backs and reinforced shelves that can hold around 100lbs per shelf. My point is that closet company cabinets are not designed to handle the heavy loads, varying weather conditions and the rugged conditions of the garage. Custom cabinets from a garage organizational company are designed specifically for the garage.
So if you are in the market for cabinets for your garage, consider hiring a company that specifically has cabinets for the garage, a garage organizational company. And if you need cabinets to hold some blouses, socks and ties, call a closet organization company. And if you want some good Mexican food, go to a Mexican restaurant.
Garage Organization - Cabinets For the Garage and Closets Are Two Very Different Things!Garage organizing is a project that no one gets excited about. And when you think about garage organizing, the thought of an expensive garage organizational system often comes to mind. But getting your garage in order does not need to be expensive. There are plenty of ways to save money when you tackle this organizing project. Here are a few cheap and easy garage organizing ideas to get you started.
1. Go to thrift stores to find inexpensive or even free garage organizing supplies. With a little imagination, you can get a lot of cheap organizing supplies from a thrift store. When you go make sure that you have a list of what you need so you do not end up buying stuff that will just add more clutter to your life.
2. Recycle old food containers. Plastic and glass food containers make great organizational supplies for your garage. Just make sure you label what you put in them. You can get as creative as you want with this one. Permanent markers work great if you do not want to spend a lot of time on it. Paints work well if you would rather make it into more of a garage organizing project.
3. Check out FreeCycle.org and Craigslist.com for ideas and cheap or free garage organizing supplies. You can get free stuff from FreeCycle.org and cheap or free stuff from Craigslist.com. You might need to check often in order to get what you need. It is a good idea to have a clear idea of what you are looking for before you look at these sites. It is easier to search for an item than to just browse around.
4. Go to garage sales to find cheap garage organizing supplies. Unlike with thrift stores or the websites I mentioned, it is better to go to garage sales with an open mind rather than a list. Be open to thinking about how you can use what you find at garage sales for your organizing project.
5. Look around your house for old or unused furniture and organizing supplies. Before you throw out that old bookcase or table, think about how you can use it for your garage organizing project. Old bookcases make great shelving units in the garage. Old tables can provide a great workspace. Think about how you can use something to help you organize your garage before you toss it out.
5 Quick and Cheap Garage Organizing IdeasYou might think that it is expensive to organize your garage. You might also think that the organizing supplies are also expensive to buy. If what you are thinking is true, de-cluttering garage can be considered burdensome in your budget. However, there are garage organization ideas that will give you some garage clutter clearing tips to have a free or cheap way to attack the mess in your garage. With this, you can make your garage organized without spending too much.
Garage clutter clearing can be easy if you have the right organizing supplies to keep your stuff or items. With this you have to think of the right organizing supplies. In this way, your stuff will be kept properly. You can have the right organizing supplies by visiting a store near you. As you select an organizing tools, imagine the space in your garage. Such tip will help you to maximize the space of your garage. With this, you have to make a list of what you need so that your task will be easy.
Another garage organization idea is to recycle. You don't need to buy always something new if you want to organize a part of your house. The first thing you have to do is to search for recyclable containers in your house where you can store some of your things in your garage. Such garage organization tip helps you to save money and achieve a clutter-free garage.
Furthermore, searching for garage organizing tools can be done using the internet. There are many sites on the net where you can buy cheap organizational tools to store your garage stuff. Yet, think first of what you want for your garage and search it online.
Another garage organization idea is to visit a garage sale. In this way, the organizing supplies will only cost you less. This is also another way of searching for the cheapest garage organization supplies that you can use to keep your garage items organized.
Moreover, you might think that some of your old furniture at home cannot be used in organizing. Aside from searching for old containers at home, you can also use some of your old furniture to organize your garage. Old tables inside your house can be used as your workspace when you are doing something in your garage. You can also use book cases or old closets as your storage.
These garage organization ideas for cheap garage clutter clearing are great helps to avoid overspending just to make your garage organized.
Garage Organization Ideas for Cheap Garage Clutter ClearingWhen you are looking at a 3 car garage plan for your garage addition or new home, pay close attention to size. Building a properly sized 3 car garage can add value to your home while you live in it, and if you ever sell it. Size does matter, and the difference in cost is minimal.
Why do you need such a big garage?
Here are three very good reasons: Vehicle Storage, Home Storage and Resale Value.
1. Vehicle Storage - If you build or buy a home with a small garage, you will likely fill it so full of stuff that your vehicles will be outside. When you compare the value of your "stuff" with the value of your car, you might ask why your ,000 sedan is stored outside and that box of garage sale bargains is inside. Even if you don't care about your cars, the next potential owner may. Protect your investment with a properly sized garage.
2. Home Storage - If you are like many Americans, you may have one or more "mini-storage" units filled to capacity, and you are likely paying from to 0 per month for the privilege. By selecting a properly sized 3 car garage plan and weeding out the junk in your mini-storage unit, you could store the important stuff at home and pocket your monthly storage costs.
3. Resale Value - When you eventually sell your home (everyone does), you immediately enter a competition for buyers. With 10 similar homes on the market, the one with the better location, features and layout will generally sell first. Kitchens usually get top billing, but a properly sized, well-organized garage is also a huge asset.
How big is big enough?
The ideal size for an optimally configured 3 car garage is 24' X 36'. Why? Most of today's typical cars are about 16 feet long and a little over six feet wide. Add to that the 30" minimum distance garage planners recommend beside and between cars, and your 30' wide triple garage gets pretty narrow with no room for added storage.
Here's the breakdown:
A 36' wide garage with two foot wide shelving units on both sides instantly becomes 32' wide. Park three cars inside at 6'2" wide each (18'6" total) and you have 13'6" left. Add 30" beside and between all three cars and you have a whopping 3'6" to spare (not a lot). At 30' wide, that "spare" room becomes 6". Remember, too, that you may want room for recreational equipment, an extra refrigerator or freezer, a utility sink or other "toys" that take up space.
At 24 feet deep you have enough room for a 16' long car with one foot between it and the garage door, a two foot deep garage workbench and five feet of work space. If you own a standard cab, full-sized pickup at nearly 19' long you're down to two feet of "wiggle room." Extended cab? Yikes!
Extra Square Footage is Surprisingly Affordable
Let's do the math. If you purchase a home with a typical 3 car garage plan, it might be 21' wide and 31' deep (I've seen 20' X 30', which is ludicrous). If you have a 30-year, 0,000 mortgage at 6%, your monthly mortgage payment would be about 00.
Increasing the garage size to 24' X 36' adds 213 square feet. At about per square foot, that adds ,650. A 30-year, 0,650 mortgage at 6% nets a monthly payment of about 63. For the extra per month you get to say goodbye to your mini-storage and hello to greater investment value for your home. Ahhh.
Even if you never sell your house, the added comfort and convenience of having your cars parked inside, all your stuff in one place and higher (potential) resale value is well worth the extra few bucks (in my opinion). A properly sized 3 car garage plan make all the difference. Just think of the things you could do with the extra room!
3 Car Garage Plan - Is a Bigger Garage Really Worth the Money?One of the most confusing aspects of homebuilding can be the
rough opening for an overhead garage door. It is one of the
most frequent questions I am asked.
The rough opening for a garage door, simply put, is the
actual size of the door itself. For example, if the garage
door is a 7'0" x 16'0", then that is the size the rough
opening should be framed to. This is also what the opening
in the foundation should be. The studs and cripples will
then stop right at the edge of the foundation.
The foundation usually drops 8" to allow the concrete floor
to be poured over the top of it. This has to be accounted
for when figuring the length of the cripples to get the
right height of the overhead door header. Normally the
floor is poured 3" below the top of the foundation wall. If
the overhead door is 7' then 4 and 1/2" is subtracted from
that height. This is the 3" drop and 1 1/2" for the bottom
plate. Your total cripple length would be 6' 7 1/2".
Once the floor is poured, the door jambs can be installed.
The width of these jamb pieces vary with the size of the
wall and what the wall is finished with (brick, siding,
dryvit, etc). The header piece is installed first, then the
two side pieces. These go from the header to the finished
concrete floor. Once the jambs are in the door can be
installed. With the door installed the door stops are then
put on either with or without weatherstripping.
If you know the door size of your overhead door, you know
the rough opening. From there its determining where to start
and stop your framing.
(c) Mike Merisko http://www.sawkerfs.com
Garage Door Rough OpeningsWhat is it about Haas garage doors that make them so great? The answer may be different for most people, but the fact remains - Haas garage doors are fairly popular and this mostly has to do with the company that's responsible for making them: Haas Door.
Haas Door has been around for over half a decade, or to be more specific, 57 years. According to the company's web site, they offer a wide variety of overhead sectional doors, which through the years, have been mixed with sectional doors in wood, fiberglass, aluminum, and steel. It is said that they are highly regarded due to their high R-value products like the foamed-in-place insulated steel and aluminum doors, which have unsurpassed quality and workmanship just like all of their other products.
It really should be no wonder why Haas garage doors are so good, then. The company responsible for making them has been around for what some may consider to be a very long time now. As a result, they've accumulated a lot in terms of experience to show for it.
Currently, Haas Door offers services for residential doors, commercial entry systems, as well as industrial access. It is clear that the company made it a point to serve all corners of the market so as not to alienate any portion while serving as many customers as possible. They take care of installations, repairs and replacements for all three and have been doing so for years. This has allowed the brand to evolve in line with advancements in garage door technologies.
The company is even willing to assist people before they start paying as customers. On their web site, they provide all the information anyone would need to know before doing business with them. They also have on-site showrooms where they showcase their various designs to potential clients to help them make up their minds the fastest.
And to wrap up their impeccable service, they set up a system that takes care of ensuring that clients get to experience the brand's unique same-day or next-day installation services. As most people in the service industry would know, how fast you deliver your product is what really counts.
These are just a number of reasons why Haas Door still has a presence in the industry despite having been around for so long. Because of this, it's not likely for Haas garage doors to disappear any time soon.
All About Haas Garage DoorsProperly sized 2 car garage plans will add value to your home, save you a lot of future aggravation and could save you some money. There are hundreds of free and almost free garage plans available for purchase or immediate download from the internet. Make a bad choice and you may actually decrease the value of your home.
When I recently conducted a home plan search in the 2100 to 2499 square foot category, 40 of the 50 I found were 2 car garage plans. A few of the garages were 24' square (a good thing), with many in the 20' X 20' range (NOT so good) and one 19' wide (ludicrous!).
What kind of cars do you drive? Better yet, what kinds of cars do the future buyers of your home drive? If the world had nothing to store and everyone drove a Mini Cooper, no problem. For the rest of us, plan on 24' square at a minimum.
Why so big? Many of today's popular cars and SUVs are 16 to 17 feet long, leaving little room to walk around the car with the garage door closed. Worse yet, install 18" to 24" deep storage shelves or a 25" deep workbench in front of your cars and there isn't room for you.
With so many people parking their ,000+ automobiles outside, you would think the C.R.A.P. stored inside was actually worth something. If you do have valuable stuff stored inside, why not make room for your cars, too? Add a garage workbench, a tool box, a few tools and some recreational equipment and things could get really tight.
Compare these two garage plans:
1. Plan one is 20' deep with a 16' long Chevrolet Trailblazer parked inside. With one foot of clearance at the back of the Trailblazer you only have three feet in front. Add a 25" deep workbench and there is 11" left for skinny you. Drive a full sized pickup and you're sunk.
2. Plan two is 24' deep with the same Trailblazer parked inside and one foot of clearance at the back. Now you have nearly five feet between your vehicle and the workbench.
What about width? Most garage planners advise you to leave 30" between cars and any obstruction, including other cars, walls, etc. Why? So you can open your car door and get you and your stuff out without contortions.
Let's again compare two garage plans:
1. Plan one is 20' wide. With 30" between two average cars (about 6'3" wide each) and between your cars and the walls, your garage must be a least 20' wide. There is no room for shelving.
2. Plan two is 24' wide. With 24" shelving on both walls you still have 30" between and beside your cars.
How much more do 2 car garage plans cost? If you buy a house with a 20' square garage and a 30 year, 0,000 mortgage at 6% interest, your payment would be about ,240 per month. Expanding your garage to 24' square adds 176 square feet to the house and ,800 to the cost (at per square foot or less for garage space). Your payment increases by about per month. How much are you paying for mini storage?
In addition to valuable storage space, room for a garage workbench, toolbox, shelving, etc., your cars are less likely to get door dings, you won't have to back out of the garage to let someone climb in and your mini storage costs will go down. The resale value of your home will also likely go up in the future and your home may even sell sooner than a similar one with a smaller garage. What's the bottom line? When you search for 2 car garage plans, it really pays to be picky.
NOTE: The financial examples in this article are for illustration purposes only. Your particular circumstances, real estate market and building costs may vary from those provided here.
2 Car Garage Plans - How to Properly Size Your New GarageSelecting the right top for your garage or basement workbench starts by knowing how you want to use it and the type of work you will do. In addition, knowing how you will be using the workbench will help you determine the type of storage that is required. For automotive and related uses, consider a laminate top or stainless steel for ease of maintenance, durability and overall appearance. If you are a do it your self kind of person who likes to do home repairs and refinish furniture? A workbench with a maple butcher-block top, even 16-gauge steel, will provide very low maintenance and have extremely smooth non-sticking surfaces. What you decide should be unique to you and reflect how you will use the workbench.
Your workbench top should be tough, require minimum maintenance, and look good. The workbench should provide an open area for work, and have built-in storage space for all your tools and accessories.
Workbench tops are made standard sizes and available in a number of different materials including 16-gauge steel, laminate, aluminum, stainless steel, and maple butcher block. You have a wide selection of workbench top options and choices such as overall size, shape, color, and design. Each of the options are unique to the individual construction material of the top.
Let us look at some different choices for your garage workbench
1 - Maple Butcher Block
Northern maple butcher block workbench tops are as functional as they are beautiful.
Maple workbench tops lead the crowd as a top choice of homeowners because they look great and are tough enough to withstand years of abuse and still survive. Maple butcher-block tops are made of compressed strips of hard maple glued together in the required size and finished with a smooth nonporous low maintenance acrylic finish that enhances the natural wood color.
Maple butcher-block bench tops are available online and from your local garage remodeling companies. Workbench tops are made in standard sizes or they can be designed and created to your custom size requirements.
2 - Stainless Steel
Stainless steel workbench tops are an excellent solution for anyone who needs a real heavy-duty work surface that is tough, long lasting, nonporous, and is low maintenance. Stainless steel workbench tops cost more then laminate however, they will give you 10 or more years of service and can be used in any home garage workshop.
Stainless steel tops are extremely rugged, made of heavy 16-gauge stainless steel with welded and finished square corners formed over a solid wood core.
3 - Laminate Top
Laminate workbench tops are amazing looking with today's most luxurious laminates by Formica® and others. The laminate workbench top is Formica laminate on a wood base and is coated with an epoxy glass coating. You can select many different standards and designer looks such as granite or different stones, wood, and colors such as oak, beige, white, black, and you can apply a custom decorative front edge treatment to give it a that finishing touch.
Laminate workbench tops are a low cost and affordable solution that can transform your garage workbench from a messy, dirty looking work area into a space even your wife will truly appreciate.
4 - Gauge Sheet Steel
Sheet steel workbench tops require virtually no maintenance other than a daily wipe down to remove the days spills. Sheet steel workbench tops are made from a 12 gauge piece of sheet steel and sized as a single sheet covering the top work surface of the workbench. The external edges of the steel are corner welded, finished, polished for quality appearance, and safety. The finished sheet steel top is then glued to 1" plywood core. Gauge sheet steel workbench tops are maintenance free and provide a smooth surface that is coated to prevent rusting.
5 - Custom Designed Workbenches and Tops
You can buy garage workbenches with a great work top ready made online or build one yourself. However, to get a workbench with a custom top or unique drawer setup and storage requirements or to fit into a specific size space in your garage or workshop you might consider the many benefits of consulting with a local expert in garage storage and organization. A local expert in garage storage can assist you in designing a custom workbench with a unique top and incorporate all your individual storage requirements.
Garage Workbenches a Guide to a Better Work TopOverhead garage storage is not a mystery, is very affordable, it can be done by a handy do it yourself person and will create immediate new storage space. Take a walk around your local neighborhood on any clear sunny Saturday afternoon when people are home and have their garages doors up. What you will see is many of your neighbors share a common problem with you, garage storage at its worst with piles of personal items, trash bins, and boxes taking up most of the floor space in their garages. Why is this shared problem so common with homeowners? Simply put; older and even some newer homes were never designed nor constructed with adequate built-in utility storage. The homeowner is left on their own when it comes to finding and organizing storage for items used to service the home like rakes, shovels, lawnmowers, and hand tools, not to mention all the personal papers, boxes, decorations, where to put them? Think Vertical. Today, the average home garage has a large open attic area of unused storage space. Typically, this unused space is not functional space only available space and it requires improvement for use as overhead storage. Generally, improvements include plywood coverage over the open floor joists, a drop down ladder for safe entrance to the attic from the garage floor level, perhaps enhanced lighting, and a direct wired or wireless storage lift solution to get your items safely in the attic space. These improvements can all be done by a do it yourself homeowner. Your new overhead garage storage all starts with a plan.
Decide on what items you plan on storing. Measure the attic space before you start doing improvements, so you know just how much space you will have. Consider your storage weight requirements. The structural floor capacity is a very important issue and the design of your garage must support anything you want to store. Your improvements must adhere to local city and state building codes. We recommend that you obtain a permit before actually starting any attic improvements. Make use of the garage ceiling joists that are generally 24" on center and are in good shape. It is possible that you will need to add additional joists placed 16" on center to add support to your garage structure. Consider dry walling the actual garage ceiling and include insulation. This will give you a finished look to the garage. Check out A drop down retractable ladder to give you access to the attic. Save your back, a storage lift solution can safely lift 200 lbs from the garage floor straight up into your new attic. This lift solution gives you the ability to store just about anything safely, and provides you immediate access to your items without climbing over piles of boxes, lifting, carrying, and straining yourself. This solution is very affordable and is even available with a wireless remote.
When it comes to planning your overhead garage storage and attic space, consider your needs for off the floor storage and organization such as storage cabinets, shelves, wall storage with hooks to hang things and open baskets to hold things. A little extra planning and a small investment will make a big difference in the organization and access of all your stored possessions.
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