In a report by the National Association of Home Builders, garage remodels are up 25 % from 4 years ago. This means that the car shed is almost as important as windows or decks in terms of remodeling. Why is there a big push for garage renovations? To answer this we first have to look at the garage as multi-purpose space where the car is merely one component of the total.

With today's storage requirements garages are getting bigger both in space and in the number of bays. In the past, many 2-car garages sported one car and the family boat, snowmobile or dune buggy. Now whole homes are being designed around this space to house 4 to 5 cars or a mixture of recreational equipment. In addition, with the size of the SUV's and trucks these days, the length and height have been altered. Garages now need to be at least 22 feet by 22 feet and the height tolerances increased to 9 feet. This will accommodate a large extended-cab truck and 17-foot pleasure boat while allowing the owner room for projects on his or her workbench.

1. Garage Doors

The garage door is leaping over its traditional role as a security barrier and into the realm of defining features of the homes. With the decline of alleys in most cities and towns architects had no choice but to move the lowly garage to the front of the home. It was tucked away on the side and considered a detriment to the character of the home, especially older ones. In the 1960's garages began moving outward both to gain more space in the home and to alleviate the petroleum smells that were noticed when the garage was underneath the home. In the 1970's many architects made the garage the defining feature of the home which meant that the curbside focus was on the door.

In recent years garage door design and materials have changed to meet the times. No longer are door panels made of particle board � which warp and sag over time. New vinyl and metal designs have made them lighter and stronger. As well, the look includes various window placements and accessories, some to represent carriage houses and others to blend in with the home design.

2. Storage

The country's appetite for self-storage boomed in the 1990's which made homeowners take another look at the garage as a shelters, heated storage area. Until then most garages sported old kitchen cabinets or wood-plank shelving as excess storage for camping gear, tools and sports equipment. Now, there is a whole industry devoted to garage storage from the simple, but impressive, wire-shelving to stainless-steel, floor-to-ceiling cabinets which can hold and organize an impressive amount of family possessions.

3. Work Area

Traditionally, the garage has been a work area. From the days of the dirt floors there are pictures of men lying on their backs fixing their cars or using a bench vise to file down a part under a hanging light bulb. Just like cement floors revolutionized garages pegboard did the same for tool organization and the garage became a workshop. Today, bench tops are available in stainless-steel and electricity is hardwired into the counter. This is also true for piping for compressed air and tracks for close-in work. In other words, the cabinets, benches and accouterments of a NASCAR mechanic or a professional cabinet maker are right at the homeowners' fingertips.

4. Apartment, Office and Leisure Space

Although realtors will tell you it that is not advisable many people convert their garages into living areas or home offices. This is due to the fact that the majority of home buyes want a garage. Since electrical is already in (and the electrical panel is usually in the space) most of the work is already done. Just the plumbing needs to be considered for an apartment. However, home offices take only a small outlay of funds to get going.

For older homes with detached or semi-detached garages going upstairs is an option which appeals to many homeowners. Most of the time this requires changing the roofline, strengthening the walls and routing in pipes for plumbing. However, even if the area is not conducive to a living space it can be turned into an organized storage area for building, gardening and recreational items.

Clean It!

For a better idea on what you want from your garage try a thorough cleaning out of all items including automobile supplies and tools. Now you can size up the space by marking what you need for the vehicles and workspace. You can even draw it out on the walls and floor and use this as a template for the garage renovators.

For more information on garage renovations and garage storage options contact Renovation Experts.