You Need to Get Your Garage Organized
Bill H Ahh . . . those were the days. Remember when your garage was simply a place to keep the car? Well those days are over. Now, it is home to work benches, bikes, sports equipment, lawn mowers, extra refrigerators and more. One recent poll showed that at least half of the surveyed homeowners rated their garages as the most disorganized place in the house. One look at my own garage and I must agree. Follow these steps and keep your garage so neat and tidy. You just may be able to put your car back into the garage and keep it there. First, you toss - The first step is to get rid of what you no longer need. If this includes old car batteries, car parts or used oil, be sure to take them to a recycling center for safe disposal that don't cause any type of pollution problems. If you happen to come across any old toys or sports equipment that are in good shape but are not used anymore, drop them off at a local Salvation Army or charity so other kids can benefit from them.
- If you have a lot of items that you think others might enjoy, have a yard sale. Trash anything old and useless if you no longer need it.
- The next step you need to take is to organize the items you want to keep. Try to group lawn-care items, toys and playground equipment, paint and varnishes, pesticides and topsoil bags, tools and workbench all together.
Built-in cabinets - You've finally sorted through all of your once beloved belongings and decided which items to keep. Now you need a place to store all of them. Built-in cabinets will help keep you organized and also increase the value of your home as a side benefit.
- Cabinets come in a variety of materials, from particleboard, to plastic or metal. Buy the best you can afford to get but try to get ones that stand up to years of use.
- Keep in mind the thickness of the shelving. Using three-quarter inch industrial grade materials is recommended. Thin shelves will be too flimsy to provide support.
- Sealing the edges of your cabinets is also important. Some companies offer T-molding, a plastic material that fits into a small groove cut in the edges of the cabinet. However, this type of edge trimming is not recommended; it can snap and buckle, allowing moisture into the end grain of the doors.
On or above the floor? - You'll need to decide whether you want your cabinets to sit on the floor or be wall mounted. MyHomeUS's experts recommend mounting the cabinets above the floor, eliminating the risk for pests and avoiding damage from water leaks or flooding. Other contractors maintain that mounting the cabinets above the floor actually increases the risk for pests, such as black widows and snakes.
- Installing cabinets on the floor could double the amount of weight that can be stored in the cabinets since you won't need supporting brackets. You can protect cabinets on the floor from water by including a toe kick with a sealant.
- Finally, you want to select a company with a proven history of building garage cabinets. Check out the warranty and determine if there's an additional charge to install the cabinets. Many companies offer in-home consultations. Service can vary from company to company, so do your homework.
Whatever your goal, by thoroughly planning your project, finishing it expertly and making it a place you are comfortable with, your garage can be a place for you to spend many relaxing hours for years to come. Making your personal preferences work within your budget is our team's expertise. MyHomeUS is a full service design, remodeling, and local home improvement firm serving New York City, New Jersey and Westchester. We can help you with every phase of your remodeling project with our many home improvement solutions. Start right now by scheduling a free consultation with one of our consultants. For more information, visit www.myhomeus.com. About the Author
Bill H may be contacted at www.myhomeus.com. Click here to view more articles by Bill H. Reprinted with Permission from IdeaMarketers.com
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