It’s easy to forget that your garage is a part of your home. Improving the condition of your garage will increase the value of your property. Not only that, you’ll be able to enjoy working in your garage year-round.
Below are 5 of the best garage improvement tips that you can take action on this year.
Let’s get started.
1. Insulate Your Garage
By insulating your garage, you’re going to keep the air in rather than leaking out. Before you think about installing air conditioning or heating, the first step is to properly insulate your garage for maximum efficiency. Otherwise, the air will leak out and you’ll have an enormous bill at the end of the month.
You can easily insulate your garage with a garage door insulation kit. All you’ll need is a knife, a measuring tape, and some double-sided tape. Installation is a breeze and before you know it, your garage will be insulated.
You’ll be able to enjoy a 5-20 degree difference in temperature year-round. You won’t need to suffer any longer during the summer or winter months! Not to mention, you’ll also block out unwanted noise from your neighbors.
2. Seal Your Concrete
If your concrete is untreated, you are at risk of cracks and stains. By sealing your concrete with the best concrete sealer, you’ll be able to easily clean your concrete without an issue. It will also reduce the amount of damage your concrete suffers from freeze-thaw damage.
You’ll want to do a moisture check on your concrete to make sure that you aren’t treating a moist floor. Otherwise, your sealer won’t stick to the concrete properly. You can purchase a concrete moisture test from any reputable big box store.
If you want to apply the sealer yourself, you’re going to need a spray gun. I would suggest leaving it to the professionals as you need to be able to apply the concrete sealer fast. It dries quickly so you want to get it in every corner without it puddling up on you.
3. Add Heating or Cooling
After you’ve insulated your garage, you can feel free to purchase a cooling or heating unit. The most efficient heating option is gas heaters but unless you already have an installed gas line, it won’t make sense to install one just for that purpose.
Stay away from portable air conditioning units as they are the least efficient cooling choice out there. If you can afford it, the best heating AND cooling units are ductless mini-splits. Another option is window units which are much more affordable but their aesthetic leaves a lot to be desired.
By adding a cooling or heating unit, you can increase the value of your home by increasing the livable square feet. It’s a great way to justify your purchase, but let’s face it, no one wants to be in the garage during the winter or summer!
4. Consider Flooring Options
A great way to add to your garage’s aesthetic is by investing in flooring. You might not know that porcelain tile is a viable garage flooring option, but it’s one of the toughest out there. Tile installation is a bit pricy, but if you can afford it, it’s going to add a nice flare to your garage.
Another option is to power wash your garage. If you haven’t cleaned your garage floor in a while, power washing will restore your concrete to its natural state. You’ll be surprised at how much caked-on dirt and grit you’ve accumulated over the years!
You can also look into garage floor interlocking tiles if your concrete is damaged. Fixing damaged concrete is pricy and might not be worth it, but with tiles, you’ll be able to increase your aesthetic and preserve your concrete for the long term.
5. Hire Professionals
While it can be tempting to do improve every aspect of your garage by yourself, some jobs are better left to professionals. If you’re eyeing an epoxy job, you’d want to know that you have an hour between mixing the epoxy before it turns into hard rock. If you’ve never applied epoxy before, chances are you’ll be left with an expensive, heavy bucket of epoxy!
Make sure to shop around for the right person. Do your research before and compare prices. The biggest mistake you can make when improving your garage is rushing into a contract and before you know it, you’re paying twice for a job that wasn’t done properly.
You can find estimates for any job online so be aware of that before you scout a professional. It’s also a good idea to ask for references or guarantees so that you aren’t left with a half-done job.
Final Words
You’ll have a spruced-up garage in no time. The best advice is to take it slow and figure out what you want out of your garage. You don’t need to spend a ton of money to make a difference. Some of the best improvements can be done by yourself, so take the time to figure out how to do it to save some money.
If you’re hiring professionals, don’t be afraid to say no. Don’t let yourself be pressured into a contract, take your time with it. You’ll be glad you did!
