We bring you a few tips on how to give your garage showroom style
While dealers and panel beaters have long boasted eat-off-the-floor workshops for their cars and clients, switching to a showroom-style garage at home adds to the convenience and pleasure of your property and increases the resale value. And the good news is that this can be achieved in just a few days.While dealers and panel beaters have long boasted eat-off-the-floor workshops for their cars and clients, switching to a showroom-style garage at home adds to the convenience and pleasure of your property and increases the resale value. And the good news is that this can be achieved in just a few days.
Dust busting The first step towards a spotless garage is eliminating dust in all ways possible. The three main culprits here are the floor, the garage door and any other doors or windows in the space.
Good flooring is often one of the most expensive parts of any building project, but it’s generally money well spent. Garage floors should be smooth, free of cracks and easy to clean, and it’s worth investing in a product that will help you achieve this whether you do it yourself or bring in a professional. Paul Clark, owner, Vuka Floors, says, “While an epoxy coating is ideal for a garage floor, check that your garage floor is strong enough before you start.
An easy way to test this is to take a sharp stone or tile and scratch the floor. If it crumbles easily, you may need your floor assessed by an epoxy application company before you go ahead. If it doesn’t, you can buy an entry-level epoxy paint and simply do it yourself.”
To keep your garage environment bright and clean, check that garage doors sit flush with the floor so they don’t let in dust and dirt. Attach a rubber strip to the bottom of the doors if necessary and do the same for the sides of the door and any other doors or windows that open into the room.Shining up The second step is a fresh coat of paint. This will also make the garage instantly brighter and cleaner.
“A good, high grade, washable wall paint is the answer,” says Paul. “I would suggest a paint with a semi-gloss or gloss finish, as these are the easiest to clean and can lead to a sleek, industrial look to match the floors. Avoid a matt finish as these are easy to scuff and tend to fare poorly against mould.”Scaling down Having too much stuff is another major reason why most garages don’t look like the photo-shoot versions.
So decluttering and classification is essential. Go through everything and sort it into three piles: keep, donate/sell and discard. Whether you choose clear stackable plastic bins, hooks, shelves or a combination, there are clever solutions for almost every garage project. Whether you choose clear stackable plastic bins, hooks, shelves or a combination, there are clever solutions for almost every garage project.
TOP TIPS:
•Hang a tennis ball from the ceiling so that it taps the windscreen when your car is in the right spot.
• Protect your car doors by attaching pool noodles or sponges to the walls in places where the doors might touch.
• While shelves are less expensive and easier to access (you don’t need space to swing doors open), cupboards can protect from dust and are lockable. Consider sliding doors on cupboards if space is an issue.
• Store similar items together and keep them visible – all camping gear in clear plastic tubs, nails and screws in glass or plastic jars.
• Decant any messy garden fertilisers or chemicals into neat storage containers and label them clearly.
Words: Andre Fiore | Images: Supplied
