Garages are viewed as a luxury in some intown Atlanta neighborhoods, but if you live in the suburbs, the garage likely is the first thing you encounter when arriving home.
A cluttered garage can leave homeowners dreading clicking on the door opener. Stains, peeling and cracks on the floor can be a constant source of irritation.
"This is the entrance point to the house," said Kurt Miller, owner of Garage Floor Coating of Atlanta. "They're just tired of people having to walk around stuff on the floor and just the ugly floor itself."
It’s easy to shut the door on those problems as you walk into the house, but here are some ways to tackle annoyances in the garage.
Getting gear out of the way
Sports equipment, outdoor toys, tools, lawn and garden gear, pool supplies, seasonal decorations, extra refrigerators and freezers, and other random items, such as picnic baskets and rain boots, steal space in garages. When those items are all on the floor, they can be an eyesore and even present a danger when pulling into the garage or existing a vehicle.
Some homeowners are only able to park one car in a garage, even if it's made for two cars, because of the clutter on the garage floor, said Doug Calvert, owner of Garage Solutions Atlanta.
“It’s reached a point that the homeowner can’t do anything more in the garage. They’re pulling their hair out,” he said.
Shelves, overhead racks and cabinets with countertops to work on hobbies are among the organizational systems that can spruce up the garage, which is becoming a more important extension of the home, Calvert said.
Some Atlanta garages also have equipment and space set aside for larger hobbies, such as working on cars or restoring classic automobiles. In a Kennesaw home, Garage Floor Coating of Atlanta added a car lift and cabinets by SpaceMakers to a garage after they learned the homeowner had a classic car and wanted a setting for working on vehicles.
Electrical outlets, heating and air conditioning, security systems and TVs also are being added by homeowners who plan to spend more time in the garage.
If you desire to get your garage under control, Calvert said it’s important for homeowners to take the time to eliminate clutter. Then separate items often used from those only needed seasonally or just once a year.
“We always encourage people to purge,” he said. “I know it’s difficult, but try to get rid of those items that continually sit there and haven’t been used for years.”
Storing all that stuff
Hanging and overhead storage options range from shelves and systems sold at home improvement stores to retailers such as The Container Store and local companies with the expertise to plan out and install organization systems. Other options are workbenches and modular garage cabinets such as those by Lista, which Kennesaw-based interior designer Linda Castle recommends.
When installing cabinets, choose materials that are designed to be wet, such as cabinets with PVC coating that helps wick away moisture, Miller said. He added that reusing kitchen cabinets in the garage is one option that some homeowners consider, but those cabinets may not be able to withstand the elements and may be too deep for the garage.
Adjustable bars and hooks, wall-mounted cabinets, bike racks, sports ball bags and the Monkey Bars Garage Shelving System are the options Garage Solutions Atlanta offers to clients. The average customer uses about 12 to 24 feet of Monkey Bars (about $720-$1,440 plus tax), which can hold about 1,000 pounds for every four feet of shelving, Calvert said. Another option is to purchase individual Monkey Bars ($22 each), with 10 different hooks (ranging from $9-$15).
The heights can be customized, based on the size of hanging items or whether homeowners want their children to reach certain items.
Overhead racks, which attach to the ceiling and can hold 750 pounds, often are used to store holiday decorations, Calvert said. The racks are adjustable up to 3 feet and can be used in garages with at least 10 feet ceilings (the average cost is $399, including installation, plus tax).
“People like the ability to have things suspended up high so that it’s not visible when the garage doors open,” he said.
The size of the garage, especially for townhome owners, can limit the ability to put in extensive storage systems. Another challenge is determining how the garage was constructed, so that the bars can be installed in the center of studs or the storage racks can be attached to ceiling joists.
Adding appeal to the look of the garage
Whether you’re buying an existing home or have lived in your home for years, dirty garage floors - from hot tires and cars leaking oil - may be an annoyance.
“We have frustrated homeowners,” said Miller, who has worked on garages in locations ranging from Lake Lanier to Peachtree City to Lake Oconee. “They’re ready to have a big change in the garage.”
Some renovated homes have beautiful kitchens and bathrooms, but before the homeowners walk into the kitchen, they’re confronted with oil stains in the garage. Clients ask Miller how to get the floor cleaned so the garage can look as good as the rest of the house.
One option is using an epoxy based floor coating, which can resist stains and water damage and allows you to wipe away oil and dirt very easily. Some homeowners choose to redo their floors as a do-it-yourself project. Companies such as Garage Floor Coating of Atlanta has a five-layer process - applied over two days - and a lifetime warranty against peeling (the average cost is around $1,000 per bay), Miller said.
A tricked out garage is not all about the floors and storage. Custom touches such as murals can make garages stand out, and even put a smile on homeowner’s faces as they arrive home.
For a car-collector client, Castle, owner of Decorated Designs, worked with Atlanta-based decorative artist Stewart Huntington to create a mural inspired by Route 66. The mural at eye-level, was created above wainscoting in the new four-car garage in north Atlanta.
An epoxy finish was added to the floor by Rodriquez Painting to making maintenance easier and to create what Castle said looks like a high-end, terrazzo-style floor.
“He wanted his garage to be special, different, exciting,” she said.
