The Garage: The Next Frontier of Home Improvement

With all the gadgets, clothes, furniture and other assorted purchases your family has accumulated over the years, it?s no surprise you seem to be bursting at the seams with stuff. Before you check out storage rental companies, consider turning the garage into your own mini-storage unit with these four tips. ?Garages are often the largest space in the home and yet are the most underutilized and disorganized space in the home,? says Gene Meken, owner of GarageTek of Connecticut, a company that specializes in organizing garages.

Use all available space

Since your garage is already something of a holding area for tools, equipment and chemicals, think about using every inch of wall space for shelves and cabinets. GarageTek even has overhead racks that can be mounted on the ceiling joists to store up to 300 pounds of seasonal or infrequently used items, says the Fairfield, CT garage storage systems expert.

Flexibility is key

Don?t waste money on an organizational system that can?t be adjusted to meet your family?s changing needs over the years. Invest in systems where shelves can be adjusted, accessories can be moved and still fit anywhere they need to be placed.

?At GarageTek, our patented TekPanel transforms an entire wall space into storage space,? says Meken, who is also a Fairfield, CT garage flooring professional. ?Our more than 100 accessories have sturdy full-length brackets that easily clip into the TekPanel and can easily be rearranged anywhere along the TekPanel, allowing the homeowner permanent flexibility.?

Durability matters

The garage is open to the weather in all seasons. Make sure the system you buy is waterproof, weatherproof and easy to clean and maintain. Consider resin over typical organizational materials like fiber board and melamine, which can ?warp or crack in the dampness and temperature extremes inherent in garages,? says the Fairfield, CT garage storage systems business owner. ?Our accessories are, meanwhile, constructed of heavy gauge metal and have a powder-coated finish to resist rust,? he adds.

De-clutter

Before you design or have someone design your new storage system, take the time to go through what?s in your garage and home. Meken, who has eight years experience with Fairfield, CT garage organization systems, recommends dividing the clutter into three piles ? for what you want to keep, what can be tossed, and what can be donated. Then put the items that remain into groups like garden tools, sporting equipment, and chemicals. This helps you design ?zones? for these groups and ?makes it easier to find items when you need them,? adds Meken.

magic johnson jetblue pilot solicitor general neighborhood watch dennis rodman dodgers sale tami roman