9 Things You Need to Know About Garage Restoration

A common misconception in the construction industry is that concrete can last for life. However, your garage can have many issues that would affect the concrete and cause structural damage. The problems could include delamination from chemicals, car fluids, wear and tear, destroyed soffits and columns, erosion, and ground shifts.

 

If ignored, these factors can negatively affect the life of your garage. They can lead to costly garage restoration in the future. Most people often fear the high cost of garage restoration, and they habitually wait until the damage is severe before contacting a professional for repairs. This article will examine a few things you need to know about garage restoration.

 

1. Answer the Question, Why?

 

Before you think about garage restoration, ask yourself why you must do it. There are so many reasons why you need garage restoration. Weather and constant traffic, among other factors, can lead to cracks in your floors, walls, and columns. These damages can lead to detrimental effects, such as water leaks in your garage.

 

Some common signs of structural damage include loose barrier cables, ponds of water on your surface after rain or snow, grease stains on your slab, white efflorescence hanging from the cracks on your slab, and exposed steel from your surface slab. When people come to your home, one of the things they notice is your parking space and your garage. The status of your garage creates an impression of how your entire house looks. If you’re considering selling your property, it may scare off or attract potential buyers.

 

Examining your garage’s status and learning to spot early warning signs is essential. The sooner you discover the signs, the easier and more effective your repairs will be. Any garage restoration requires a professional with experience and attention to detail. Hiring a contractor will ensure your garage restoration is done efficiently with appropriate materials and methods to ensure a longer lifespan of your garage structure.

 

2. Determine What Needs to Be Fixed

When you decide to undertake a garage restoration, establish what needs fixing. Any damage to your garage can reduce your home’s curb appeal and lead to inconveniences, lack of functionality, and security concerns. You need to consider all that when deciding your plan of action based on the damage degree you are dealing with.

 

Your garage could have cosmetic, mechanical, or foundational issues. Cosmetic issues could range from the usual wear and tear, your garage door fading or looking outdated, etc. Cosmetic issues are not expensive and are easier to fix. A garage restoration professional can install a new door for you, offer paving services, put on a fresh coat of paint, add new windows for natural light, and put aside door to make your garage more accessible.

 

Mechanical issues could range from noisy older doors, a loud screeching sound when you open your door, or your door moving slowly or not at all. The complexity of the repairs will depend on the extent of the damage. It’s a foundational issue if you notice your garage walls are saggy with significant cracks. Sadly, garages with foundational issues are past the point of saving, and you may have to replace the entire garage. Most garages develop foundational issues after 15+ years, and if your garage is in that year range, it needs to be replaced.

 

3. Set a Budget for the Restoration

 

Creating a detailed budget for your garage restoration is vital to prevent unexpected and unnecessary expenses and maintain control of your finances. You can compile a list of needed materials and research their prices from different suppliers to estimate the market prices. You can also list the tools you need and if you need to add more to the ones you have.

 

You can factor in the labor cost by acquiring quotes from different contractors or professionals. Comparing prices from suppliers and contractors will help you find the best deal possible and save you money. You can have a contingency bank if you incur unexpected price or plan changes by adding at least 10-20% of the budget as emergency money.

 

Be realistic about how much you can do by yourself to minimize your budget cost. Making your garage restoration a DIY project can be cost-effective and give you a sense of accomplishment, but it’s best to leave it to professionals to avoid costly mistakes.

 

4. Renovate or Replace Your Garage Door

 

When considering garage renovation, you may have to decide whether to renovate or replace your garage door. Your garage door can completely change your home exterior and complement your house’s architecture. The old weary look of your garage door can change the overall beauty of your home. You may have to renovate it, but if multiple panels begin to fade and rust, you’ll have to look for garage door companies to replace the door entirely.

 

Garage door damage differs from wear and tear as it involves an incident like a vehicle bumping into your door or adverse weather conditions. Significant damage can be costly to restore, and the best option for you would be to replace it. You can review the damage with garage door companies who can give the cost estimate to replace it.

 

There could be several reasons why your garage door has stopped working altogether. If it stopped working today and yesterday, it was operating efficiently; then the fix may be easier and faster. However, if your garage door has been non-operational for quite a while, the issues could be more significant, and you may have to get a replacement.

 

5. Use a WiFi-Enabled Garage Door Opener

A smart garage door opener is the way to go when considering your garage restoration. It’s a great way of upgrading your home’s security and technology. Safety and convenience is one reason you’d want to acquire a WiFi-enabled garage door opener.

 

This opener will allow you to open your garage without physically touching it, and you can control it with your smartphone. Most people leave their garage door open without realizing it, which makes their homes insecure. However, a smart garage gives you peace of mind because you can quickly know if your garage door is open and close it with a quick tap on your phone. Your smart garage door will also alert you if it has been open for too long, so you don’t have to worry about forgetting to close it.

 

With a smart garage door, you can keep tabs on who comes and goes to your house. You’ll have a log showing how often your garage door was open. You can give access to a visitor to your home; for example, deliveries left on doorsteps are at risk of theft or adverse weather conditions, but your deliveries don’t have to be left at the door. You can keep your packages secure.

 

6. Use Waterproof Cement When Flooring

 

When considering a garage restoration for your home, waterproof cement is a great choice for your garage floor. It’s not different from regular cement. However, its high degree of durability and impermeability sets it apart from other types of cement. The waterproof alternative is completely watertight, so water and moisture can’t penetrate it.

 

One of the main reasons why waterproof cement is suitable for your garage floor is its resilience. Normal cement usually breaks down after some time due to moisture, even with enough concrete supply. Waterproof cement doesn’t have this problem. It experiences low erosion, making it easier to maintain and cost-effective.

 

Waterproof cement will give your garage floor a clean, fresh look for an extended period since it won’t deteriorate as much over time. It will also prevent mold from growing on your floor and save you money. You can also hire painting services for epoxy flooring, making your floor more durable.

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7. Is It Possible to Extend It?

If you’re thinking of garage restoration in your home and wondering if it’s possible to extend it, then yes, it is. Whether your car won’t fit in your current garage or you need extra space for another car, an extension project can be very useful in the long run. One of the things to consider before extending your garage is the size of your plot and the extra space available.

 

You should check if you have enough space on the side of your garage and if it’ll be enough for what you need. Most cities require you to establish your property a few feet away from the property line, and you’ll need to hire a professional who understands your city’s codes and measure your property to help you know how much space you’ll be able to use when you extend your garage. Another thing to consider is to ensure you have the permit before extending your garage.

 

Extending your garage is a big renovation, so the building department needs to oversee it. They’ll review your site plan depending on the complexity of your garage extension. Your plan should include the changes you’d like to make, including the flooring type, roof, etc. They’ll liaise with your contractor and determine the best way to extend your garage that is safe and in line with the building codes.

 

Your garage extension cost is also one of the things to consider before proceeding. Extending your garage can be costly when you factor in the necessary materials and labor. You may have to start from scratch, like laying a new foundation, roof, and garage door, hiring electricians for an electric panel upgrade, heavy hauler, etc.

 

These changes will vary with how big you want to extend your garage. Your contractor may also charge more because extending your garage has unique complications compared to constructing it from scratch. It will take a lot of effort and careful planning to extend your garage without damaging the rest of the house.

 

8. Ensure There’s Ample Lighting

 

Most people need more lighting in their garages, and if you’re thinking about your garage restoration, consider installing ample lighting. Look at their kelvins, lumens, and CRIs to ensure ample lighting in your garage. Watts is no longer the best way to check for the brightness of your lights; instead, look at the lumens normally printed on their package.

 

Besides that, check their kelvins which measure the color temperatures of the bulb. The Kelvin number ranges from 2200K to 6000k. Lower kelvins mean the light emitted from the bulb is softer, orange, and yellow, while higher kelvins mean the bulb emits white light. The CRI, a color rendering index, measures how accurately the bulb emits light. The higher the CRI, the brighter the bulb.

 

LED lights are perfect for your garage as they have a Kelvin score of 4,000, and try to mirror the daylight as much as possible. Effective garage lighting combines task, ambient, and accent lighting. Task lighting is used in your storage area or where you work, and you need more light to see the details in your work. Ambient lighting is used overhead, illuminating the floor and walls to ensure you pack your car and walk around safely. You can use accent lighting to highlight things in your garage, such as a high school trophy or football table.

 

9. Apply the Right Wall Lining and Insulation

Most garages are unheated spaces. If you think of garage restoration and converting it to a livable place, you must find the best way to insulate it. Before any insulation, it’s essential to assess the garage for any signs of moisture, dampness, or damaged gutters.

 

A garage wall fitted well externally and internally will ensure the garage is airtight but has a fresh air supply with enough windows, ventilation, and ac installation. It is also important correctly insulate around openings such as doors and windows because they can key sources of heat loss. There is no need to insulate the wall between your garage house and the rest of the house since there’s no drastic change in temperature between them.

 

An insulated garage retains cold when it’s hot outside and warm when cold outside; hence you can stay there for as long as you want, provided you have a working heating and cooling system. You can also safely store items that require room temperature and protect them from rust and humidity. Insulation will also protect it from noise pollution.

 

Once you understand what you need to know about garage restoration, it won’t be as complex. You must hire professionals for the work, but restoration is absolutely doable!