Garage Improvements

Clean the Garage

• The first step to improving the garage is to clean it out. Even a garage that isn't filled with clutter contains items that you don't need. If you have old oil from oil changes, don't dump it down the drain or the sewer. Contact your local municipality for disposal or recycling sites in your area. Some municipalities handle this themselves as do some garages and auto parts stores. Recycle any old, clean containers that aren't being used for anything. Hold a garage sale to make some money off of old furnishings or clothes you're storing in the garage, or donate them to charity.

Storage

• Once the garage has been emptied of the clutter, you can replace all the items you kept. When doing this, use storage systems to organize the possessions that you're keeping in the garage. Install shelving to store items that are kept in containers, such as paint, fuel additives or poisons for weeds and insects. You can purchase shelving units or do something as simple as installing brackets near the top of the walls and placing boards on them. Install pegboards on the walls to store small hand tools, and nail a 2 x 4 to one of the walls; then drive nails partway through to store implements like rakes and shovels. Purchase a tool chest to hold tools like wrench sets and screwdrivers. If you have bicycles to store, screw hooks into the ceiling, and hang the bikes from them.

Finish the Garage

• You can finish your garage if it has never been finished. If the walls aren't insulated, you can cut small holes into the drywall and blow loose-fill insulation or expanding foam insulation into the holes. Install fiberglass insulation and drywall sheets on any walls that have just the bare frame. Prime and paint the drywall to give it a finished appearance. You can clean the bare concrete floor to remove dirt and oil stains, then paint it. Another option is to install tile on the floor.

Convert the Garage

• Take the process of finishing the garage one step further and convert it for a different use. Turn it into a workshop by building a workbench and installing equipment like a table saw. The wide-open space of the garage makes it an ideal location for building a home gym. If you work out of your home, using your garage as your office provides you with a workplace that's not inside your home, allowing you to avoid distractions such as kids and pets. It also has a separate entrance, which means that your clients don't have to enter your home. Another option is converting it into an bedroom, especially if your parents or in-laws move in with your family.