Extreme makeover, garage style

If you can't park your car in the garage — or have trouble finding it when it is parked there — your garage probably could use a makeover.

Less is more when it comes to your garage. Start your garage makeover by clearing the clutter. Empty the garage and get rid of toys, tools, sports gear and other stuff that you don't need or haven't used for more than two years. Organize what's left by installing shelving and cabinets.

If the interior of your garage consists of bare studs, finish the space and make a few other key improvements while it's clean.

It would be an excellent time to add lighting and electrical outlets with a ground fault circuit interrupter. A permit likely will be required when making these improvements. Check with your local building official.

If there is attic space above the garage, install a pull-down staircase so you can easily use the area for storage.

Clutter tip

As you clean out the garage, you may end up with a pile items of that are still usable but need new homes and another pile of items that are unusable and need to be disposed of properly. Here are a few resources for both piles:

What do I do with ... ? King County Solid Waste Division's database of hundreds of businesses and organizations that accept unwanted items, www.metrokc.gov/dnrp/swd/
wdidw/index.asp

Online Materials Exchange, King County's Solid Waste Division's exchange for household and building materials, www.metrokc.gov/dnrp/swd/exchange

2 Good 2 Toss, Washington State Dept of Ecology's exchange for reusable building materials and large household items, www.2good2toss.com

Seattle Public Utilities, online resources for hazardous wastes, recycling and disposal stations, www.seattle.gov/util/Services/
Garbage/index.asp

Seattle Times staff

Consult an engineer to determine whether structural upgrades are needed before "stressing out" your roof or ceiling framing. Also, be certain that your attic stairs comply with fire-prevention codes, as there must be a continuous fire barrier between the garage and living space.

You can improve the energy efficiency and comfort of the garage by adding attic and wall insulation. This can be useful if you use the garage as a workshop.

Wallboard is key

After the wiring and insulation are complete and have been inspected, wallboard can be installed. Wallboard provides a smooth and uniform surface to which shelving, cabinets and other organization systems can be attached. And with a bright coat of paint, it can enhance natural or artificial light.

Though fire taping is standard for garage wallboard, you might want to go the extra mile and finish it as you would any other room in your home. Prime the raw wallboard with a drywall sealer and finish it with a coat of acrylic latex with a washable finish. A fire-taped finish is all that's needed for walls that will be covered by cabinets or other organization systems.

With the walls and ceiling complete, the floor finish is next. Although the floor can remain raw concrete, a finish will make the space easier to clean and will prevent damage from corrosives. Options for floor finish include coatings, tile and roll-out rubber mats. Epoxy is the most durable coating.

Shopping tip

An upgrade can be as simple or sophisticated as you'd like or can afford.

The cost of an interior garage face-lift can range from $100 worth of pegboard and hardware to organize gardening and yard tools, to pricey systems that include wall-to-wall flooring, wall coverings, sports lockers and gardening centers.

Affordable components by manufacturers including Rubbermaid, Stanley, Workforce, Black & Decker and Showall are available at such major stores as Lowe's (www.lowes.com), Home Depot (www.homedepot.com) and Target (www.target.com). Sears (www.sears.com) carries the Gladiator, Suncast, Snap-on and Craftsman systems.

These shelves, drawers, cabinets, bike racks and bins can make for an efficient and orderly workspace.

Maryellen Fillo, The Hartford Courant

Steer clear of latex paints that are "guaranteed not to peel." Latex paint and hot tires don't mix.

Rubber mats are easy to install, but don't offer seamless protection. Plastic and quartz tile look great, are virtually indestructible, and are easy to clean, but can be a bit pricey.

Cabinet caveats

Next come cabinets. When installing cabinets, be certain not to cut into the parking area for your car.

There are two major mistakes that people make when it comes to garage cabinets.

The first has to do with the thickness of the shelving. In our opinion, anything thinner than three-quarters of an inch is too flimsy. The other mistake is overspanning or overloading a shelf to the extent that it sags.

Besides cabinets, other means of improving storage include freestanding shelving, ceiling hung storage "lofts" and pegboard or grooved paneling.