DREAM GARAGE

BUILDING OUT YOUR DREAM

GARAGE

WRITTEN & PHOTOGRAPHED BY: CHRISTIAN BROWN

Our garages are homes to our most treasured possessions. An overstuffed, dimly-lit, barely finished space with oil-stained floors simply will not suffice for us car enthusiasts. Today there are many great options to build out a dream garage, including larger garages at home, separate shop buildings, and even garage condo communities. One such garage condo community, Garage Ultimate, provided some tips learned from Garage Ultimate owners’ buildout experiences. These insights will help make your dream garage a reality.

PLAN YOUR FOCUS Start by assessing your needs and wants for your garage and then determining the focus of the space. Is your garage going to be primarily used for storing vehicles? How many? Do you want to display and highlight a particular vehicle? Will you be doing a restoration, getting your car track-ready, or doing any mods in your garage? Will you be working on other projects or hobbies? The more focused you can make your vision, the easier it will be to execute, so spend the time to plan. If you want ideas, browse the internet, visit other Porsche owners’ garages, or peruse the garage buildouts at a community like Garage Ultimate.

START FROM THE GROUND UP Your choice of flooring sets the tone for the entire space. Epoxy and polyurea floors are excellent options, and with a professional installer and commercial grade product you will get a gorgeous, easy-to-clean floor that will last. The key is the preparation, as thorough cleaning, diamond grinding, and acid washing are usually required. Garage floor tiles are also available and work well in many applications. Once you’ve chosen a material, select your color scheme and pattern and you’ve got the foundation for your ultimate garage.

STORAGE A dream garage requires a system for storing tools and equipment to stay clean and well-organized through the years and projects. Garage cabinets are beautiful, durable, and efficient, and they are infinitely customizable. Be sure the drawer weight capacities are sufficient for your needs. Wall storage, such as a slat wall system, also frees up valuable floor space and helps keep things neat and orderly.

LIGHTING Your lighting needs will depend on your use for the space, but plenty of good lighting is critical if you intend to use your dream garage as a workspace. LED lighting is brighter, has a more even spread, and comes on instantly. Be sure to check the color rendering index and purchase “High-CRI” bulbs with a Color Rendering Index above 85-90 if you need true colors. You can supplement with shop lights, strip lights, clamp-on lights, and under-cabinet lighting to create a great look and provide more functionality.

MAXIMIZE YOUR SPACE Some of the most rewarding garage updates are those that maximize the use of your space, such as adding a car lift or building a mezzanine. A separate building or garage condo can provide options that may not available at home, such as providing the height to allow for car lifts and a mezzanine, effectively doubling the usable space. Even at home, you may have the height for a lift, you may be able to raise the ceiling to fit a lift, or you may be able to open an attic space to allow for a second level. We love talking shop and showing off our owners’ dream garages at Garage Ultimate, so give us a call for more ideas or to tour our garage condo community. J

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