Whether you have a small garage or just a whole lotta stuff, the more you can stretch your garage space to the max, the more organized, neat and spacious your garage will be. After decades in the garage door business, we can’t tell you how many homeowners wind up parking their cars outside because their garage is too full of other toys and belongings.

5 Tricks to Make the Most of Your Garage Space

Here are 5 tricks for getting the most out of your garage space so you have room to store everything you need to – and park your car inside, which was why the garage was designed in the first place. When your garage “expansion without construction” project is complete, your garage will look better than it ever has.

1. Get rid of what you don’t use. The first item of business is to go through everything and get rid of what you don’t need. In the case of your garage, we recommend making it a family affair. Take everything out of the garage space and then evaluate it with an objective eye. If it hasn’t been used in a year or more, you can safely donate or sell it. Should you need it again in the future, you can probably rent or borrow it – or find it cheap again on craigslist.
2. Stick a piece of plywood up in the rafters. If your garage has exposed rafters, you can make a safe, pseudo-attic by throwing a piece or two of plywood up there. Make sure the wood covers the spaces between the rafters adequately and layer it if necessary to safely support the weight of what you store up there, as well as your own weight when you access the new “attic”. This is a great space to store the bulkier and/or seasonal items that don’t need to be in the common area year-round.
3. Utilize hooks. Moving things from the ground or perimeter space to the upper-levels of the garage is a smart way to gain floor space. Bikes, scooters and big wheels are all good candidates for the hooks. This can save you almost ¼ of your garage floor space, depending on the size of the garage. It also keeps them safe from those front or rear tires of the car when a bike is laying down in the middle of the garage, rather than tucked neatly along the sides.
4. Install shelving to the ceiling. Garage shelving systems are not uncommon, but they are often inadequate to do the job they were designed for. The higher you build them, the better off you are. Take your shelving up to the ceiling – or at least 8-feet – to optimize the storage space. Use upper-sections for the things you utilize the least. Then, think about who uses the shelves and for what to determine which shelves make the most sense. For example, kids craft items and outdoor or water toys may be on lower shelves while tools or hobby and crafting items can live in the middle- and middle-upper reaches. Make sure your shelves are sufficiently supported for safe storage and access.
5. Install an automatic rolling door. Automatic rolling doors roll up and down on tracks along the sides of the entrance and then along the ceiling edges. This is a major space saver when compared with doors that operate using a swing-system, requiring more air space to clear the upper-end of the garage. If you have an older garage door that swings, maybe it’s time to replace it so you can gain more space for storage.

Are you in the process of upgrading or remodeling your garage? Make storage a priority so you can stretch your garage space to the max. If you need to replace your current garage door or are interested in designing a new one, give us a call here at R&S.

Forget about Man Caves and Hobby Shops. Maybe it’s time to clear out that garage and transform it into the perfect craft room. Perhaps you just retired and finally have the chance to spend time on the crafts and hobbies you love most. Or, maybe you’ve downsized or moved into a home that doesn’t accommodate an extra room or space for your creativity and crafting.

Convert Your Garage Into a Craft Room in 7 Steps

Whatever the case, a garage can be the perfect solution. You can turn your garage into a craft or hobby room in just 7 steps.

1. Tackle the Dirty. If you’re reading this post, odds are your garage looks like a garage: dirt, cobwebs, mish-mash of stored goods, grease spots and all. If this is the case, tackling the dirty is definitely the first step. Clear everything out and give your garage a thorough cleaning from top to bottom. Even if you’re a renter, it’s worth it to give the walls a fresh coat of white paint (or whatever the existing paint color may be) just to spruce it up that much more (you might even find some leftover paint from previous owners or renters).If your budget allows, you may want to hire a professional cleaning service for this task since they have the tools and tricks to get things spic-and-span in record time. Otherwise, a little hard work will do the trick. Make sure you wear a mask and adequate clothing to protect yourself from the copious amounts of dust, rodent droppings, pollens and other allergens and irritants that may have settled in the garage over the years.
2. Remove the Grease Stains. Most garage floors have a grease spot of some kind, which will detract from the overall appeal of your new creative zone. Remove it as thoroughly as you can. Covering it up with a rug before removing the stain can cause old grease/oils to slowly wick up into the rug’s fibers. Once you’ve absorbed the greasiest elements using kitty litter or sawdust, pick up Griot’s Oil & Grease Cleaner This product works wonders when used as per the manufacturer’s instructions, and it’s safe for animals, plants and storm sewers. Other, similar products are available from your local hardware store, but please prioritize eco-friendly options. Once the area is clean and dry, you can cover any remaining stains with an indoor/outdoor rug of your choice.
3. Replace the Garage Door. Unless your home is new, the garage door may be under-insulated for your needs. At first, this can seem like an unnecessary expense. However, space heaters and coolers use a tremendous amount of electricity, and this adds up quickly. Odds are that replacing your current garage door with one that is better-insulated will actually save you money in the long run. You’ll also appreciate the added bonus of insulation from exterior noise.
4. Change the Color Scheme. If you aren’t renting (or if you have a lenient landlord), go ahead and change the color palette. Repaint the walls in a color of your choice, one that is soothing or inspiring – and that makes you feel like you’re in a custom designed space – rather than a garage conversion.
5. Install storage racks. If you’re like most crafters, your garage-turned-craft-room will still be needed to store items that are typically housed in a garage. If your garage has rafters, the simple addition of plywood can create an attic-like space where holiday decorations, camping/outdoor gear and family/children’s mementos can be stored. Paint the exposed side of the plywood sheet white or a shade of your choosing for aesthetic appeal. Stainless steel wire racks are a smart choice as they are easy to keep clean and require zero maintenance. Then, attractive Tupperware containers or baskets can be used to store your craft supplies and tools.
6. Use an Air Purifier. There’s a chance your garage is laden with decades of chemical, gas and grease odors. It might also feel or smell a bit “stale”. If this is a case, purchase a basic air purifier to help keep the space feeling fresh and clean. Fans can also help to keep air circulating. Plug-in air fresheners will help to create a fresher, “non-garage” smell.
7. Install a Power Strip or Two. Odds are your garage is seriously lacking in the power outlet department. Power strips are a simple solution. Think about where you’ll be doing what in your new craft space. Then, notice where the outlets are. This will help you to establish how long cords need to be in order for you to work comfortably.

To finish your new craft room, keep on the lookout for garage sales and craigslist ads so you can find used tables, chairs and other furnishings to complete your new craft room in style.

While it’s hard to imagine life without an automobile, you only have to go back about two or three generations to find Americans who lived on a day-to-day basis without one. That’s because cars didn’t become a regular part of the American landscape until the end of the 1890s and, even then, they were largely a coveted leisure possession, owned predominantly by the wealthy classes.

By the beginning of the 20^th century, cars found their way into the middle- and working classes as well – sometimes for leisure but often as a service vehicle. However, mechanical vehicles still shared roadways with horses, carts, buggies and wagons. And, that is where the history of the garage begins.

Out With the Horse, In With the Car

For households that owned horses, buggies and wagons – and that kept them on the premises – the barns and other out buildings were used as storage containers. Often, those who lived in towns paid monthly fees to livery stables. These stables took good care of the horses and your transportation-of-choice until you needed them. Thus, the concept of a “garage” was a foreign one.

Instead, as the buggies and wagons moved out, the car moved in. In many older homes – especially in the east coast and Midwest – Carriage Houses were the norm. These structures were built specifically for the family carriage and its accoutrement – including tack. When the carriage went by the wayside, this same building was used for the automobile and its accoutrement. These buildings were almost always detached from the building and, often, the opening faced a different direction from the home so the carriage or farm equipment were easy to access from the fields and barns.

The more cars established themselves as part of our culture’s fabric, the more demand there was for car-specific storage and this resulted in a wide range of vehicle storage options, and many variations in theme.

Before the Residential Garage Door: Attempts at Hiding the Obvious

In the automobile’s earlier incarnations, mechanical and maintenance equipment varied significantly from model to model. Thus, the building’s constructed to house the family vehicle were also built to accommodate its tools, parts and accessories. These buildings were typically outbuildings, located away from the main dwelling and ran the gamut from very ramshackle to impressive, depending on the household’s budget. Because of the toxicity associated with the chemicals and fuels required by autos, homes that had both horses and autos kept them housed in two separate buildings so as not to asphyxiate valuable livestock.

Then, in May of 1917, a famous UK publication, Country Life Magazine, printed an article by John Boyd. Among other things, Mr. Boyd proposed that given the fact that auto storage buildings had none of the sanitation issues that existed in stables, there was no reason why the building couldn’t be attached to the home. In fact, in an era where automobiles needed to be stored in a heated environment (energy efficiency wasn’t even a sparkle in the collective consciousness), and required water and other utilities, it actually made more sense to connect garage buildings to the main house. Boyd adeptly pointed out that, “Chauffeurs, as we all know, rank infinitely higher than grooms in the social classification of the household, and they may naturally expect quarters near the other servants.”

From that point forward, architects have come up with a myriad of ways to balance the proportions and profile of residential houses while still keeping the garage connected, or at least close to, to the main building. In many downtowns, detached garages were built at the back of the lot, opening up to an alley, which kept the garage from negatively affecting curb appeal. This tradition was one that continued into the post war era.

For those who already owned homes that were built “pre-garage”, pre-fabricated, portable options were popular because they could be added to the existing property and, especially attractive to renters, could be moved if the tenant had to move.

Ideas and methods for including garages into residential home design continued to evolve throughout the 1920 and 30s. After WWII, attached garages increasingly became the norm. As a result, homeowners had a more vested interest in the look, style and function of their garage door since it comprised such a large area of their home’s façade.

This is where R&S comes into the picture. We’ve provided stylish and functional residential garage doors since 1963. Take advantage of our expertise and contact us the next time you’re in the market for residential or commercial garage door repair, replacement or maintenance.