Your garage is much more than just a place to park cars. It's a warehouse, a toyshop, a workshop and quite possibly, your favorite place to hang out. This collection of great garage tips will help your garage work smarter so you can do everything you want there—including park your car!
If your garage isn't big enough for your car and a workbench, you could get a smaller car or you could build a fold-down workbench. This one sets up in seconds and eats up zero floor space when not in use. The only things you'll need are a 2x4, a pair of beefy hinges, a couple of threaded pipes and flanges, and a handful of screws (about $30 altogether).
For a work surface, we used a 30-in. solid-core door ($50), but you can use other materials such as two layers of 3/4-in. plywood glued together. To set up the workbench, just screw the pipes into the flanges.
Don't waste floor space on your wheelbarrow—hang it on the wall.
Special hardware is available at some home centers, but you can easily build it yourself. Substitute a scrap of 1x4, a pair of mending plates and screw hooks that act as latches.
Then you can easily lock the wheelbarrow against the wall
Most electrical codes require just one outlet in the garage. And that's just what most builders give you—one measly outlet for all your tools and toys. If you have open studs, you can easily run wire and add outlets as long as you follow a few basic rules (find articles about garage wiring here).
If your walls are covered, you don't have to cut into them to run wires. Instead, you can mount metal or plastic wiring channels and outlet boxes right on the wall.
Hang ladders from the ceiling so they don't hog prime storage space. The rollers on this simple carriage let you easily slide in one end of the ladder, then the other. The materials you'll need cost about $20 at home centers.
Fasten the corner braces to ceiling joists with 2-in. lag screws. Secure the ladder with an elastic cord so it can't roll out and fall.
Whether you need more storage space or more work space, the ultimate solution for a too-small garage is an addition. In many cases, you can knock out a section of garage wall. Install a header to support the weight of the roof, and build a large “bump-out.”
Have the necessary tools for this DIY project lined up before you start—you’ll save time and frustration.
Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time. Here's a list.
