How to Find the Best Garage Storage Cabinets for…

Households in the United States have, on average, 300,000 items in them. Most old and unused items eventually find their way to the garage. To keep clutter to a minimum, homeowners need an effective storage system in this part of the house.

This may involve buying storage boxes or, better yet, installing garage storage cabinets. In order to do that effectively, here are some of the factors you need to consider before acquiring garage storage cabinets.

1. Material

Garage cabinets can be made from a wide range of materials. Wood is a classic material for cabinets and is one of the popular choices due to its low cost. The biggest problem with wooden cabinets is that they absorb chemicals. They require maintenance and sealing to make them last longer in a busy garage. If you’re working with paints, enamels, or performing serious work in your garage, wood might not be the best material for you.

Another option that is affordable, but does not absorb chemicals, is plastic. Custom garage cabinets made of plastic are aesthetically pleasing and easy to clean. However, exposure to the sun or heat can quickly degrade the material.

There are also many different styles and designs for metallic garage storage cabinets. They come in different grades, and they can comfortably store heavy-duty tools. The most significant disadvantage of metal is its price.

2. Safety and Security

Your garage storage cabinets’ safety and security level depends on what you want to store in them. The weight of the equipment or the nature of chemical solutions can deteriorate the custom closet. Homeowners may also want to keep some tools from the reach of children.

Some hand tools are expensive, and they need a reliable locking system. You also ought to consider whether the storage solution can effectively organize your items. Long tools such as rakes will require tall lockers to store appropriately. Remember that the type of door you choose for your cabinets plays an important role in safety and security.

3. Space Considerations

The dimensions of your garage will determine the type of storage you choose. Custom closets allow you to utilize spaces of the garage where standard cabinets would be ineffective.

You can have additional garage storage cabinets on the wall above the shelves. Alternatively, shelving along the sidewall and fold-down benches can optimize your use of the space. For small garages, get the measurement while your car is parked to ensure the usable space in your garage is comfortable.

4. Durability and Usage

The garage is a harsh environment with heavy tools and toxic chemicals. If you use the space frequently, you will need a heavy-duty cabinet, preferably made of steel. The surface ought to be powder coated to prevent chemical damage and scratching.

5. Custom Features and Accessories

Customization can enhance the convenience and utility of your garage storage cabinets. You can tailor the shelves to take advantage of corners and other spaces within the room. You can also design them to hold specific equipment or products of various sizes, for example, screws and nuts.

There are also features to enhance the aesthetics and personalize the cabinetry. You can choose from a wide range of colors and finishes to match your garage’s interior. They can also have additional lighting, sinks, and USB charging ports.

Bottom-Line

There are many different types of garage closet organizers. They come in a wide range of materials and features. To find a suitable storage solution, you should consider space and usage of the cabinetry. Consult with the professionals at Arizona Garage and Closer Design to find the best cabinets for your garage.

3 Simple Ways to Give Your Garage a Facelift

It’s no secret that the garage, originally meant to be just for your car, has quickly become the catch-all space for storage items. It’s where you keep your power tools, your workbench, and your holiday decorations. It may even be a partial home-gym.

While there’s nothing wrong with your garage being multi-faceted, it’s all too easy to let your garage become a cluttered mess. In fact, about 25% of people with two-car garages don’t have room to park their cars inside them and only 32% have room for one vehicle.

If you’re tired to not knowing where anything is in your garage and you’re ready to give your hobbies the respect they deserve, here are a few ways to give your garage a serious makeover.

• Install built-in shelving. Nothing transforms a garage faster than a built-in shelving system for great organization. Closet designers and contractors can install sturdy shelves in your garage that utilize vertical space to neatly hold storage bins, yard tools, power tools, and hardware. Installing a pegboard can also give that additional “wow” factor, and pegboards let you display your tools in a way that’s both artistic and functional.
• Give yourself a new garage floor coating. Your garage floor has a bigger impact on the way your garage looks than you’d think. Consider how your living room floor would look if you had oil-stained concrete floors rather than hardwood or carpeting. Not a good look, right? It’s not a good look for your garage, either. A new garage floor coating can make your garage look brand new. Epoxy flooring, in particular, is not only highly durable and easy to maintain but it also comes in a wide range of colors so you can customize your garage to your style.
• Light up your garage the right way. Garages tend to be dark and spooky. This can be a problem when you’re working on your car, woodworking, or other projects that require attention to detail. The good news is that a proper lighting system with 60-watt daylight-tone bulbs can keep your garage from looking like a dungeon.

Looking to give your garage a facelift? We’ve got you covered. Arizona Garage and Closet Design offers gorgeous garage storage cabinets and garage epoxy flooring to make your garage a place you’d truly love to work in. For more information about our garage organization systems and services, contact Arizona Garage and Closet Design for a consultation today.

Epoxy Garage Floor: How To Make It Skid Resistant

One of the main issues facing epoxy flooring and other coatings for the garage is how slippery it becomes when wet. With manufacturers recommending a wide array of anti-slip additives from aluminum oxide, sand, or polymer-based grit such as shark grip, it can be overwhelming.

Resinous garage floor coatings like epoxy, polyuria, and polyurethane are non-porous, which is why the surface tends to be extremely smooth. Although this type of surface works fine when dry, it becomes slippery, which can pose a threat with a mere introduction of water, oils, or mud.

So let’s help you determine whether your garage epoxy flooring needs a non-slip additive, then look at the best ways to make your epoxy floor less slippery.

Factors to Consider Before Applying a Non-Slip Additive

Before you decide whether your floor needs a non-slip additive you must consider the climate in your area. If your garage experiences excessive moisture then you need a non-skid floor. On the other hand, if you live in an arid area, a non-skid additive may not be necessary.

The primary function of the garage floor is another thing to consider. If you do projects that involve liquids such as water, oil, and chemicals that can cause harm, an anti-slip additive is needed.

How to Make Your Epoxy Garage Floor Less Slippery

1. Shark Grip

This is the easiest way to make your garage epoxy flooring slip-resistant, reduce gloss as well as fine texturing your epoxy garage. The best thing about shark grip is that you can add it to most paints and coatings. It also mixes perfectly with almost all latex and oil-based paints as well as stains.

Its lack of sharp edges makes it easy to clean, and its less abrasive texture gives it a comfortable feel even when walking on bare feet.

However, it is less effective when used on thick final coats since it will sink below the surface.

2. Aluminum Oxide Additive

This is the most ideal additive for an industrial setting where maximum grip is needed. It adds an extremely aggressive, durable, long-lasting, and tough anti-slip and texture profile when added to the garage epoxy flooring. It does not change the coating’s physical properties and bonds well into the coating.

However, aluminum oxide is coarse and not kind to the skin and feet. The coarse texture also makes it difficult to clean since it holds up a lot of dirt and mop strings.

3. Silica Sand

You can add sand on a final coating to form a bumpy skid-resistance surface. And since sand is visible when added with a clear coat, you can use a colored topcoat to make it more appealing.

However, silica sand forms small cracks after some time and can break down due to heavy traffic. This is because silica has brittle, sharp points that can easily break off especially when trampled on.

4. Using Containment Mats

If you live in an area prone to precipitation, containment mats are your ideal solution. The mats are designed to collect lots of water and you can hang them to dry faster. They are also made to absorb fluids, thus making the epoxy floor skid resistant. However, the mats offer a temporary fix, so you might need at least two sets to interchange when the wet containment mats are drying.

5. Indoor or Outdoor Carpet Runners

The best thing about these carpets is that you can choose among various colors, shapes, lengths, and widths. All these available options will help choose what fits your needs and preferences while keeping your garage flooring less slippery. Another added perk is that they are stain-resistant and easy to clean.

In Conclusion

All the above options are quick and permanent remedies to make your garage epoxy flooring skid resistant. However, the condition of your floor and your financial position will determine your choice. But if your garage floor epoxy coating becomes slippery, frequently it’s advisable to go for a permanent solution.

4 Things to Consider When Designing a Garage

Our team of designers will help you find the right garage storage systems, but there are things you should consider before choosing elements to include in your garage. Adding spacious garage cabinetry, adjustable shelving, a work bench or wall storage can completely transform your garage into a more organized and functional space. Let the team at Arizona Garage and Closet Design help you find the perfect garage organization system for your home.

Read more “4 Things to Consider When Designing a Garage” →

Storing Hockey Gear in the Garage

Garage storage is tricky for most homeowners, but can be especially difficult for winter sports athletes who want to protect their equipment until next season. We have partnered with the professionals at Pro Stock Hockey to bring expert tips to winter athletes throughout Scottsdale.

Read more “Storing Hockey Gear in the Garage” →

5 Tips for Organizing Your Garage This Summer

As the summer temperatures finally begin to cool off and we enter Fall, homeowners throughout Arizona look to their garages as more than just a place to park their vehicle. From summertime clothes and sports equipment to gardening tools and pool supplies, garage cabinets fill up quickly – especially in Phoenix when the seasons change. This can lead to what is commonly known as “organized chaos.” Fortunately, the experts at Arizona Garage & Closet Design know how to make the most of the space available and can help you create the perfect garage organization system. Here are a few tips to keep your Phoenix garage neat and clean this Fall. Read more “5 Tips for Organizing Your Garage This Summer” →

How to Turn Your Garage into the Perfect Workshop

As Phoenicians, we spend a lot of time on our garages, whether it is completing a project in the shade during the hot summer months or protecting our cars from dust and monsoon damage. Every morning, afternoon and evening, we walk through our garages to get into our houses after a long day at work or afternoon shopping. Driving into a cluttered, unorganized garage can be stressful and projects might take longer than they should if you’re constantly looking for a screwdriver, nail or hammer. Read more “How to Turn Your Garage into the Perfect Workshop” →