When prospective home owners are browsing realty listings for new property purchases, the home interior is often given much of the attention, with most selling points centering their focus on energy-efficient appliances, master bedroom size, and functional kitchen layouts. Though curb appeal is a much-ballyhooed buzz word in the industry, it often refers to the condition of the driveway, lawn, and home frontage. But what about the humble and powerfully-practical garage?
The garage is arguably one of the most important areas of the home, being responsible for storing vehicles and expensive tool collections vital to maintaining both the family home and lifestyle. The importance of a well-designed garage becomes even greater when one considers how vehicles are growing in size. If you are in the process of planning a garage build, or are thinking about remodeling your existing garage space, there are some important considerations for you to make to strike the perfect balance between functionality, spaciousness, and curb appeal. Read on to learn 5 things you need to know before choosing the best garage for your home.
Better access options exist!
Most standard home construction features large garages facing the street, with access into the house available by passing through the laundry or utility room. As a result, the garage front entrance gets very little use from day to day. This design is standardized for a reason, being a great money-saver, but more attractive options do exist. A well-designed mudroom with shoe storage and seating is a more welcoming design option that makes your garage seem more domestic than utilitarian. Homeowners will need to decide which is right for them.
Orient your garage for success.
Different garage orientation options are out there for homeowners to explore. Rather than face the street directly, many realty agents suggest angling its frontage slightly away from the street, with a 90-degree angle being ideal. This will minimize the impact the garage entrance has on the home’s street-level frontage, and make your garage a talking point should you ever wish to sell your property down the road.
Dress your garage up as a domestic space.
Some homeowners prefer that their garage looks as if it were part of the house itself. This domestic façade can be created by matching your garage’s siding, windows, trim, and entry-ways to those featured on your home. Furthermore, bulky garage doors can be softened by substituting them for a series of smaller doors.
Choose the best flooring options.
Finding the right garage flooring can be a tough task. Unlike the living room or bedroom, garage flooring must be chosen while being mindful of the unique wear-and-tear it will experience from car fluid leakage and heavy storage demands. If you wish to convert your garage into a more domestic space, your flooring materials will need to be rethought. For most garages, Global Garage recommends the use of polyaspatrics. Thought of by many to fall under the umbrella of epoxy coatings, polyaspatrics are actually quite different and much more effective, being 3 times harder and possessing 3 times the chemical resistance of conventional epoxy coatings.
Consider your storage options.
The garage is the most important storage space in your home, with most people relegating this part of the property to the role of mini storage unit. Overhead storage is very popular among home owners because it makes use of otherwise wasted space, but many homeowners would benefit from the improved weather resistance, organizational advantages, and security offered by the installation of garage cabinetry. With numerous cabinet sizes, designs, and colors available, cabinets also allow the homeowner to fully customize their garage’s aesthetic.
Though these five tips provide an excellent basis to get your garage dreams started, one of the most important steps homeowners can take when planning the construction or remodeling of their garage is to contact a professional consultant. Global Garage professionals are standing by to steer homeowners in the right direction, and can help you realize your garage goals today!
