Garage Makeover Ideas

For many homeowners, a garage is more than just a place to park a couple of cars. It's a place to spend time enjoying a hobby, like restoring a classic car or motorcycle or organizing collectibles. Here are some ideas to make your garage a more comfortable and enjoyable place to spend time.

Garage Heating & Cooling

When most homes are built, the garage is given minimal insulation and is not connected to the HVAC system. Before adding any supplemental heating or cooling, exterior walls, doors, windows, and attics should be properly weather-sealed and insulated to avoid wasting energy. In some cases, you may be able to connect the garage to the home's main HVAC system by adding an additional zone that's controlled by its own thermostat. If zoning is not an option, there are a few other choices, including:

• Wall-mounted gas or electric heaters
• Portable air conditioning units
• Ductless or mini-split heating and cooling systems

A ductless system is often the easiest way to add both heating and cooling to a garage. Ductless systems are compact, can be mounted out of the way near the ceiling, are energy efficient, and offer advanced remote controls.

Lighting & Electrical

Most garages are built with a basic incandescent light fixture above each stall. Adding additional electrical circuits will allow you to upgrade to additional fixtures like flush-mounted, energy-efficient fluorescent fixtures. For workspaces and under-cabinet lighting, LED lighting provides bright, color-balanced light that won't overheat. With a little planning, you can ensure that you have sufficient outlets and receptacles to power all the appliances and tools you need. When upgrading the electrical panel, consider installing 220 circuits and outlets for appliances and large power tools.

Plumbing

Having a large utility sink and faucet in a garage is a great convenience. Sinks don't have to be basic, either. Stainless steel sinks built into countertops give a clean, finished look that adds value to your home. Adding a hose reel under the sink enclosure makes it easier to store hoses when not in use. For all your plumbing, heating, cooling, and electrical needs, ABC is the only call you need to make.

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