The Garage Plan Shop Blog

Weather you have an attached or detached garage, there are many things you can do to be safe inside and around the garage. From ensuring your own personal health and safety and that of others to protecting what is stored inside the garage, these tips from The Garage Plan Shop will help you practice garage safety:

• If it isn’t necessary to have your garage door open, keep it closed. An open garage door is an invitation for any passer-by/burglar to have a street view of everything you have inside. If they see something appealing, they might just decide to help themselves when you’re not looking stealing tools, bikes and other valuables. Or, they may watch and wait for you to leave before they strike. And remember, often the things in our garage will provide an indication about what is inside the house turning your garage burglar into a house burglar too.
• Keep all windows and doors locked and secured when you’re not inside the garage. An unlocked window or door leaves opportunity for someone to break-in your garage. Lock windows and screens when you don’t need them open and keep the overhead door and any service entries locked when not in use.
• Install motion lights outside the perimeter of your garage. If you need to head to the garage late at night or you are coming home late, the motion lights will light your way from the garage to the house or vice-versa. They will also deter burglars. And you’ll appreciate an outside light turning on when you pull in the driveway late at night. Motion lights have an added bonus, the save energy by only coming on where there is motion rather than keeping a light on all night. 
• Organize the inside of the garage and keep everything in its place. Not only will this make it easy to find something you are looking for, but it will keep the floor and pathways clear making it easy to walk around in the garage and pull the car inside without risk of tripping over something or driving over something such as a sharp tool or rake that could potentially damage your tires.
• Store items such as power tools out of reach or out of sight of children. It is best to keep them locked in a storage closet or cabinet inside the garage, but it you don’t have a place to lock them up, install sturdy shelving units or cabinets and store dangerous power tools and other items that may have your children up and out of reach.
• Do not store flammable materials such as paint cans, gasoline containers and lawn fertilizer in your garage, especially if your garage is attached or situated near your home. If your garage catches fire, there is a good chance your house might too. Not only are these items at risk for catching fire, but they also give off hazardous fumes of not sealed and stored properly. These fumes can make their way into your home putting everyone at risk. It is best to store flammable items and other harmful chemicals in a backyard storage shed as far away from the home and garage as possible.
• If flooding ever threatens your property, chances are your garage will be the first to take on water. Such cases call for the help of a professional fire restoration or water damage restoration minneapolis company. It is important that the water is removed from the appliances in your garage as well as moisture from the interior because it can also become the reason for a short circuit in your house. The flood cleaning service providers have the tools and technologies that will help to remove moisture from the interior. And if your crawlspace hasn’t been encapsulated yet, contact a professional crawlspace encapsulation service to get the job done.
• Never let your car run inside the garage with the garage door closed. The build-up of gases and emissions from a running car can cause serious illness and even death. If you need to warm your car up in the winter, back it out of the garage or at least open the garage door all the way to let the harmful gases escape.

Following these safety tips will help protect the items you store inside your garage and prevent unnecessary health risks to you and your family.

Tags: garage organization, garage plans, garage safety, garage safety tips, garage storage, Safety, safety tips

Charming dormers and a siding façade highlight the exterior of this RV garage plan. Whether you are looking to store your RV, motor home, boat or trailer, the extra deep RV bay is sure to satisfy your needs. An extra tall overhead garage door accommodates extra height. A smaller overhead door opens to a garage workshop area offering space to park the family car or convenience when moving large and bulky items in and out of the workshop area. The family handyman will appreciate the shop area delivering plenty of space to work on home repair projects and store tools and supplies. With the full bath and laundry closet, it is easy to clean up after a dirty job either in the yard or workshop. The office and covered patio are thoughtful extras. Upstairs you’ll find a loft suitable for storing holiday decorations or basement and attic overflow.  Practical and functional, this RV garage plan with loft storage has much to offer!

For more information about similar garage floor plans, visit The Garage Plan Shop.

Tags: Garage Loft Plans, garage plans, garage workshop, Garage Workshop Plans, RV garage, RV Garage Plans

Whether you’ve been thinking about building a detached garage plan for a while or the idea is new to you, it is important to keep in mind that such an addition to your property will improve your home and prove to be valuable. Detached garage plans come in a variety of sizes and styles, but one thing is certain, they all add value to your home or property, provide sheltered parking and protection for your cars, and offer storage space for basement and attic overflow or practical workspace such as a workshop or hobby room. Below are a few reasons while building a garage will improve your home:

1. 1. First, consider the protection of your cars. Being an enclosed structure, not only will a detached garage protect your cars from the elements preventing such problems as sun or hail damage, but it will also protect from other things like falling tree limbs and flying debris during thunderstorms so you need to consider the type of roofing installation for your garage. In addition, a garage will keep your car safe from potential auto thefts when parked in the driveway or on the street. The garage offers a secure overhead door that can be locked. Other windows and doors can be locked as well, keeping criminals away and your cars safe.

1. 1. When storage is considered, most of us think of storing our cars inside a detached garage. But building a garage plan can offer other kinds of storage too. Perhaps a 3-car garage safely stores two automobiles and the third bay is used to store seasonal items such as holiday decorations and patio furniture during the winter months. Or maybe you own other motorized vehicles. A detached garage plan provides parking and storage for boats and trailers, ATVs, golf carts, jet skis and more. When it comes to storage, there is no limit. Detached garages can be used to store the lawn mower, gardening tools and the leaf blower not to mention the kids’ bikes, soccer balls, and skateboards.

1. 1. In some cases, building a garage means added workspace in the form of a workshop or hobby room. Some garage plans include parking bays and a separate area for special uses such as a workshop for woodcrafts or a loft that can be finished as a sewing room or game room. You may also hire a professional plumber if you wish to install a plumbing system inside your detached garage for a washroom or bathroom. A cooling and heating system installation may also be considered if you prefer to use the extra space as an entertainment room or additional living room.

1. Finally, detached garage plans deliver added value to your home. When you add a practical and useful structure, such as a garage, to your backyard, it will increase the value of your home. Should you ever have to move, you’ll see a nice return on your investment.

It is easy to see why adding a garage to your home or property will improve its overall function while satisfying your needs for parking, workspace, storage, and value. Take some time to browse The Garage Plan Shop’s collection of detached garage plans.

Tags: Building A Garage, Detached Garage Plans, garage, garage plans, home improvement

Have you ever found yourself wishing for or dreaming of a detached garage to protect your cars from harsh elements or store extra stuff? Do you worry about the cost of build a garage or the lack of space in your backyard? If you answered “yes” to one or both of these questions, building a one-car garage plan from The Garage Plan Shop may be the solution you are looking for. Single-car garages are versatile enough to serve a variety of needs and they are generally simple in design making them an economical build.

Small and 1-car garage plans are just that, small enough to store one car inside. In most cases, their compact sizes allow them to fit in the most modest of backyards solving the issue of a small space or tiny backyard. Furthermore, most are quite basic in design foregoing all the stylish exterior elements and special features that drive up building costs. Generally, even those with a minimal budget can afford to build a one-car garage plan.

Of course a 1-car garage is just right for providing sheltered parking for one automobile, but do you know what else a 1-car garage can do? Take a look at the list below. You might decide that a single-car design is flexible enough to accommodate your parking needs now and convert to another use in the future. Or, maybe you’ll decide you need a 1-car garage for one of ideas mentioned below. So, what can a small garage or 1-car floor plan do for you?

• • Lawn and garden shed

• • Motorcycle garage

• • Stores smaller motorized items like an ATV or golf cart

• • Storage space of a mechanic’s tools

• • Hobby or craft room

• • Workshop for the family handyman

• Storage area for basement and attic overflow

Whether you want sheltered parking or a workshop, small garage plans and 1-car garage blueprints can accommodate a broad range of needs.

Tags: 1 car garage, 1-car garage plan, Detached Garage Plans, garage plans, one-car garage, small garage, small garage plans