If you have a new garage, then you either moved into a home that has one for the first time, or you just added one to a home that you’ve already been living in for a while. Whatever the case may be, you obviously want to know how to get the most use out your new garage. If so, keep reading into the following paragraphs to learn how you can do just that.
First of all, gather up all the documentation that came with your garage and put it in a safe place. This goes from the warranty paperwork to instruction manuals for any individual parts and components to the receipts you get from installers, contractors, and installers. You need to go through all this because even if your new garage is in great working order to start with, it won’t stay that way forever. You need to learn how long things should last, what’s covered by warranties, how long those warranties are, and what the maintenance tasks and cycles should be.
Next, put those maintenance tasks on your calendar, be it a paper calendar or any digital way that you stay organized. Either figure out how to see to those tasks on your own, or make arrangements for a professional to come to handle them.
Whether you take the DIY maintenance route or not, you do need the contact information for several professional services in your area. Ideally, you’ll wind up with one go-to number, but they might not always be available, particularly if you need emergency service outside of normal business hours. Also, it helps to have at least three points of contact so that you can shop around for bids on major work and find the right balance of good prices and service you trust.
Keep your garage as clean as you can, but also measure it. You likely know the total square footage, and maybe even the overall width and length. However, taking your own measurements lets you take into account walking space and room for vehicles to enter and exit, as well as for doors opening and the like. Mapping this out on paper or your computer screen lets you plan on how to use the remaining space, in case you want to focus on storage, a project area, or fitness.
Think high in terms of storage. Anything you can hang from the ceiling makes use of empty airspace. Going up the walls is also a good way to add more storage capacity while still living room for vehicles.
Make sure your garage is properly secured and insulated. Being able to get in and out of your vehicle while inside part of your home should make you more physically secure, but it’s also a big point of access that can be breached by intruders. Insulating also helps lower your utility bills, as a pocket of cool air can help chill your home a little on one side in the summer. Likewise, if the inside air is a bit warmer than the outside air, it’s a useful thermal pocket for warming in winter.
