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Archive for the 'Garage Organization and Storage' Category

Mar 04 2012

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Organize Your Garage with Storage Cabinets – The Garage Plan Shop

Garage Storage CabinetsAs your garage door opens, are you frightened at the sight of what is inside? Do you ever wonder how it got to be so cluttered and full of stuff? Do you wonder if you’ll ever be able to park the car inside the garage again? Do you wonder if you’ll ever be able to find a certain tool or toy that’s stashed inside?

 

You may think it will be impossible to get your garage organized, but there is hope. Installing cabinets and other organizational accessories will create storage space allowing you to get things up off the floor and put them in a place where you’ll be able to find them next time you need them. Garage storage cabinets are available in a wide variety of choices so it should be easy to find just the right ones to fit in your garage and accommodate all of your belongings. In addition to cabinets, there are other garage storage accessories available like shelving units, workbenches and counters that provide extra storage space and even work space.

 

Take some time to consider what items you want to store in your garage and what will go into the self storage facility downtown, this will help you determine how many cabinets and storage shelves you’ll need to accommodate all of your belongs. Do you need a workbench or counter? Consider locking cabinets for items that you need to keep out of reach of small children such as power tools or harmful chemicals such as weed killer. But don’t forget to accommodate the kids. Choose lower cabinets and shelving units that are easy to access for the kids to store outdoor toys, bike helmets, baseball bats and gloves, etc.

 

Once cabinets, shelving units and other storage accessories are installed, store all your belongings in their designated spaces. Each time you use a particular item, return it to the place you got it from. This will help keep the garage floor clear and leave room for you to park the family car.

 

For more ideas like this one, check out The Garage Plan Shop’s resource page and our blogs about garage organization.

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Dec 28 2011

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Holiday Storage Tips: How to Store Holiday Lights – The Garage Plan Shop

How to Store Christmas LightsThe holidays have passed for another year. Now it is time to pack up your holiday décor and store it in your garage until next year. One task is to store all those holiday lights from front yard light displays, the Christmas tree and other areas of the home. Below are a few ideas to help you pack up your Christmas lights so you don’t find a tangled mess of light strands in box next year. If you need additional storage space for your holiday lights and decorations, you may consider keeping them in a private storage unit at a nearby self storage facility. A self storage unit is also ideal for those who do not have space to build a shed or a garage.

 

    • Plastic bags – Wrap each strand of lights in a ball and place each ball in an individual plastic bag (any type will do.) Then store all the bags together in a box in the designated space in your garage.
    • Empty Wrapping Paper Tube – Begin by cutting a slit in both ends of a wrapping paper tube. Secure one end of the strand of lights by threading it through the slit. Then, wrap the lights along the tube. Thread the other end of the lights through the slit at the opposite end of the tube.
  • Cardboard Square – Cut a square or rectangle out of heavy duty cardboard. Cut a slit in one side of the square. Then, secure the end of a light strand by threading it through the slit. Wrap the strand of lights around the cardboard and thread the other end of the strand back through the slit. Store all cardboard square together in a clearly labeled box.

 

For more holiday ideas, check out The Garage Plan Shop’s entire collection of holiday blogs.

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Apr 11 2011

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Plan Ahead: 9 Things to Think About Before Building a Garage – The Garage Plan Shop

Garage Plan 0028G-0022For some guys (and gals) the garage may be the most important part of their home or property. When building a detached garage, The Garage Plan Shop recommends planning ahead. Know how you want to use your garage and what special elements you might need so you can accommodate those needs and incorporate special features during construction. Below is a list of nine things to consider before you purchase a garage plan and begin building.

 

    1. Use: Are you just going to store a couple cars in the garage or do you plan to use it for storage space or a hobby room too? Knowing how you plan to use the garage with determine what special elements you need to incorporate.
    1. Ventilation: Make sure you have a plan for ventilation. During the winter, many will raise their garage doors and starts their cars allowing them to warm up. This allows toxic fumes and gases such as carbon monoxide to escape the garage without causing harm or health risks. However, if you’re not actually sitting in your car or inside the garage while your car is warming up, an open garage door is an invitation for car theft. In this case, you would benefit from installing an exhaust fan. Likewise, if you plan to use the garage for painting or hobbies that may create fumes, an exhaust fan is a necessary element to ensure health and safety. You should also consider having it painted by by National Powder Coating Services for a more eco-friendly option.
    1. Car Storage: If you are planning to use the garage for parking, consider the size of your vehicles. If you are storing a typical sedan style car, you probably won’t need to make adjustments. On the other hand, storing oversized vehicles such as an SUV or truck may require a garage plan with taller overhead garage doors and deeper bays.
    1. Storage Space: Typically, garages are used for parking the cars, but somehow, many of us transform our garages into a multi-purpose storage space. If this is the case for your family, plan ahead. What items will you be storing in the garage? Toys? Lawn and garden equipment? The lawnmower? The kids’ bikes? Sporting equipment? Half-used cans of paint you can actually get rid by  hiring house painters dublin to help you with a renovation. Know what you want to store in the garage and choose a floor plan that offers extra space for storage shelves, cabinets and even wall space to hang shovels, rakes, brooms, etc. You might even choose a garage plan that offers an upper level storage space such as a loft for stashing holiday decorations and seasonal items.
    1. Tool Storage: If you plan to work on your cars in the garage, be sure to allow room for tool boxes, auto parts, oil containers, etc., keeping everything handy for when you need it.

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    1. Workspace or Workbench: The family handy man knows all too well it is important to have a workbench or workspace in the garage providing a place to work on home repair projects and store necessary tools such as screwdrivers, hammer, nails, tape measure and that can of WD40. Be sure your work surface is sturdy and plan to have cabinets or shelves to store supplies within an arm’s reach. This gives you a place to work on projects without having to clean them up before you finish. And the last thing you want to do is work on your project on the floor when you could be working at a nice bench.
    1. Electrical: Depending on how you use your garage will determine the electrical plan. What kind of lighting will you need? If you plan to use the garage as a workshop, you’ll need task lighting or shop lights. Also, what type of electrical access will you need? If you plan to charge the rechargeable batteries of power tools, you’ll want to make sure you have plenty of outlets and enough voltage to get the job done. Will you be using an air compressor or a welder? You’ll need 220 volt outlets for these items. Plan to locate outlets in easy-to-access areas and make sure they can deliver the electric you’ll need for the things you plan to plug in. Your electrician can help you with this.
    1. Heating and Cooling: According to an ac service like the ones at Energy Pro HVAC, if you plan to be working in your garage a fair amount of time throughout the year, add a heating and residential air conditioning unit that is efficient for your climate. Consider insulating the walls as well as having an air conditioning installation. But if you already have an HVAC unit that is already inefficient or probably broken, it’s best to seek professionals from an air conditioning services who are well-versed in air conditioning repair. That way you’ll always be comfortable while you work.
  1. Seal the Concrete: Most garages are subjected to a lot of wear and tear and abuse. When car fluids leak on the floor or you spill a gasoline can, you’ll appreciate having a sealed garage floor making clean-ups go easily and smoothly. Keep your garage floor looking brand new for years to come by sealing it with a high quality epoxy paint from Plastic Materials supplier or you can get from epoxy resin kits for sale online. You may also visit a like like https://shop.plasticmaterials.net/category/polyester for other options.

 

Remember, your garage IS YOUR GARAGE. Only you know just what you need and how you plan to use it, so take the time to plan ahead and make your garage what you want it to be. In addition, if you want your garage to be eye-candy, you can hire a professional exterior painter to do all the painting work, 

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Apr 06 2011

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The Garage Plan Shop: How to Make Your Garage Greener

Garage Plan 050G-0035It is no secret that people use their garage for more than just parking the family cars. Whether attached or detached, garage plans can have a wide range of functions ranging from parking and storage of the lawn mower to a storage space for toys, workshop, office, or rainy day play space for the kids. It is also a great place to load and unload the kids and groceries. As much as we use our garages, it is necessary that we do as much as we can to make our garages green and pollutant free giving the whole family a healthier garage space to use. For this, one may consider hiring a team of home cleaning services to clean and organize the garage. Furthermore, The Garage Plan Shop recommends the following tips for greening your garage and making it more healthy:

 

    • Get rid of hazardous substances: Removing hazardous substances from your garage is the most immediate thing you can do to make it more green and healthy for everyone. Often, the garage is a storage space for gas cans, oil containers, weed killers, fertilizers, paints and stains and cleaning supplies, not to mention chlorine and other pool chemicals for homeowners with a backyard pool. Go through your garage carefully reading labels on all of these items. Determine which of these items you need or want to keep and choose another storage space for them away from the home such as a backyard garden shed. Keep it locked so it is inaccessible to children. Responsibly get rid of anything you do not need to keep. Contact your local hazardous waste facility to find out about proper disposal.
      • Seal your garage walls and insulate: If you have an attached garage, it is necessary to seal off cracks between the garage and adjacent rooms. This will stop the passage of contaminated air into the living areas. Seal up cracks where the drywall meets the floor or framing with caulk or expanding foam. Don’t forget to seal around duct work, electrical boxes, vents and lighting. If you don’t already have insulation in the walls where living spaces are attached to your garage, add it. Insulation acts as an extra barrier against air filtration, to get a quote, see here the local contractor website.  
      • Install and exhaust fan: In most cases, the garage is the primary space to store your cars. Unless you drive an electric vehicle, your car exhausts pollutants, fumes and odors every time you start it. If you garage is attached to your home, these pollutants and fumes can seep into your home. Not only does your car exhaust carbon monoxide, but it also emits sulfur dioxide, dust and other particulates that are not healthy to breathe. Install an exhaust fan to remove these harmful gases and particles from your garage. The size and positioning of your exhaust fan will depend on the size of your garage, so consult a professional before you make a purchase. In order to get rid of those odors, we also suggest contacting AromaTech to get the best advice.
    • If you have old cars in your garage that you don’t use anymore, then you may consider selling these to a junk car buyer for cash for junk cars services to get your garage clean and more spacious.

 

Whether you have an attached or detached garage, these tips will help protect you and your family from contaminated air and pollutants making your garage green, healthy and safe for everyone.  If you want to encourage others in making your community a healthier place, The Solutions Project can help you start a movement.

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Feb 16 2011

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Carport Plans: Add Storage Space with Wall Cabinets – The Garage Plan Shop

Carport Plan 051G-0041With the right set up, a carport can do so much more that just protect our automobiles from the elements. True, they are a nice storage place for the car, truck or other vehicle when not in use, but have you thought about what else a carport can store? If your carport has at least one solid wall, you can easily install storage cabinets on the wall at eye level or higher as not to interfere with the cars when parked inside. Wall cabinets provide an opportunity to organize and store clutter they we might otherwise leave on the ground where it can be tripped over, stepped on or even rolled over by the car. Arrange your wall cabinets in such a way that the items you store are handy, simple to find and easy to reach when you need them. They can be used for anything for tools and auto parts to gardening supplies and even used paint cans. Cabinets are available in a variety of materials including wood, metal and plastic. Installing cabinets in your carport increases functionality and optimizes the usefulness of the space.

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