Americans love their garages. Not only are they getting bigger, they're becoming multi-functional, much more than just a place to park the car. That's why it's important to include the garage in your list of summer projects, whether it's just cleaning it up, making better use of storage space, or stealing a portion of it for some other use entirely.
And if
you're getting ready to sell, a nice orderly garage will be a plus to potential
buyers.
"One
thing you don't want to do is fill up the garage," says Robert Irwin in
his book Improve the Value of Your Home Up to $100,000: 50 Surefire Techniques
and Strategies (John Wiley & Sons, 2003). "Buyers like to see plenty
of open space in the garage. It tells them your house has adequate storage area
as well as room to park car(s)."
If you're
staying put, then stealing a nook or corner of the garage for a workshop, extra
storage, workout space or recreation area for your older children can put some
of that extra space to use. Or, at a minimum, getting rid of the clutter and
clearing the cobwebs and cleaning the floors will look great to buyers - or
will be one less thing on your summer list if you're not selling.
By
following a few tips and keeping these considerations in mind, you'll be well
on your way to a more functional garage:
# Get rid
of all that extra stuff. What's in all of those boxes lining the shelves of
your garage? Gather all your excess items (this would be a good time to gather
items from the rest of your house as well) and have a garage sale. Once it's
over, take everything that's left over to a local charity.
# Dust the
walls and corners. Get rid of spider webs.
# Do you
have a project in mind that needs a building permit? Check with your local
building department to make sure your project is within code guidelines.
# Do you
need help? If your project involves electrical or plumbing additions, you may
want to hire a contractor. Or, if you feel comfortable with the scope of the
project, you may want to tackle it yourself.
# If
you're aiming for more space, visit your local home improvement store to
purchase cabinets, wood for shelves or other ready-made storage systems. You
may also want to hang up heavy-duty hooks for larger items that can be stored
securely on a garage wall.
# Try to
get everything off the floor and into cabinets or shelves.
# Make
sure all flammable items are stored away and out of reach of children.
# Also,
all tools and chemicals should be out of children's reach.
# If you
don't already have one, install a smoke detector in your garage.
# If
you'll be spending a considerable amount of time in the garage, you may want to
invest in adding a window, fan, or space heater.
If it's
additional space you're after, home improvement retail giant Lowes offers
how-to tips on building a loft 80 inches off the floor, allowing plenty of head
room to walk and park a minivan. Lowe's says two people can get the loft done
in a weekend.
Once your
project is complete or your garage is cleaned and organized, it will be time to
clean those oily floors. Start by wiping any excess oil with a towel or cloth.
Pour some paint thinner on the oil spot, making sure it is fully saturated,
then pour an absorbent material over the saturated spot. You can use cat
litter, sand, baking soda, corn meal, sawdust, or any other absorbent material
you may have on hand.
Leave the
mixture to set overnight then sweep it up the next day. If possible, try to use
a heavy push broom with sturdy bristles. Finish it up by pouring a little
laundry bleach, dry dishwasher detergent or a concrete cleaning solution on the
oil-marked concrete. Let it sit for about an hour. Rinse the area off with hot
water and scrub the area with a broom.
Written by
Michele Dawson
