Looking Out From the Garage

Even the best new construction garages I've found are lacking... but one day a builder will come along and turn out a proper garage.  In the mean time... until builders start coinsulting me about these things... here is a list of things that you should be ready to correct. 

• Electrical outlets - Three is not enough.  For some reason, many builders seem to want to put one outlet on each wall.  That isn't enough for ANYONE that is going to do anything in the garage.  For a two car garage, seven 110V outlets would be better (two on each side wall and three on the back wall).  Add one more for a three bay garage, and three more for a four bay garage (all on the back wall).  If you really want to amp it up, add one more above each bay for a cord reel and drop-light. 
  
• 240V outlets - The number is three... two would be ok, but three would be better.  Welder, air compressor, plasma cutter, wood-working equipment.  Actually, for a wood-worker, three would be a minimum. 
  
• Cabinetry - Nice garage cabinetry would set one builder apart from EVERYONE else.  The cost would be a couple thousand dollars, tops... but it would make a significant impact on the presentation of the property.  Even if it were just displayed in the models and offered as an option, it would help the builder stand out. 
  
• Lighting - How many times do I have to say that a 60 watt bulb (or a 18W CFL, which is WAY inadequate) over each bay is NOT lighting?  It doesn't take that much to change that over to a few 4' shop lights.  Again, it would really set a property apart. 
  
• A sink - Either have a mud room just inside from the garage (tile floor, please) or a laundry style sink in the garage.  It is indispensible for a clean-up before entering the house.  Not only will the car guy appreciate it, but the wife of the car guy will appreciate it.  The plant enthusiast will appreciate it, too.  in fact, anyone that cleans up after someone that gets really dirty will appreciate them being able to knock off a layer before the touch anything inside. 
  

Now, if we are dreaming... 

• HVAC - The garage needs a dedicated system.  We don't want to send welding smells or gas or anything else into the house.  We also want to be able to easily turn it off or have a different temperature from the house. 
  
• Compressed Air Lines - One of the absolutely essential tools for a car person is an air compressor.  And the air gets used all over the shop.  Dragging hoses everywhere is annoying... but having a nearby air oultet is wonderful.  We add them...  It would be nice to have the plumber put copper air lines in the wall before the sheetrock goes up... 
  

As the garage gets bigger, some of these get more important, others get less important.  And of course, the demographics can have a lot ot do with it.  Detached garages need more equipment than attached garages. 

If you are a builder around Gwinnett County... call me.  We'll talk.  If you are a buyer around Gwinnett County, GA, and you are a car person, call me... I know what you are looking for.

Image by genevievepan via Flickr

There are basically three kinds of garages...

1. Places to store stuff
2. Places to work on stuff
3. Places to display stuff

Most garages are storage sheds. They hold tools, lawn mowers, cars, sporting goods, cleaning supplies and overflow food in the chest freezer.

The next most common group are working garages. Whether it is building a hot rod or keeping the family rides in tune, they have tools and parts and more tools.

Finally, there are the showplaces. These are less garage and more gallery of mobile art. And some of them are incredible. They are limited only by imagination and budget... and some are limited much at all.

I'd love to have one of each...

But what makes it inspirational?

I would say that what makes it inspirational is as different as the person that is inspired. For me, a garage that allows me to get dirty and throw some sparks is what inspires me. While I would love to have an incredible showroom for a bunch of cool toys, I love to get out there and weld and grind and paint and wrench. I like not having to worry about dropping a wrench on the floor and chipping the marble or scarring the textured walls.

But, for others, having someplace that looks like a stable to house their prancing horses or a full-on NASCAR shop is their dream, with checkerboard tiling and powder-coated tool benches.

The first step... Figure out what you want. Are you going to store, build or display?

The second step... Decide on your style. Do you like acid-etched, polished concrete? Epoxy Coatings? Powder-coated cabinetry? Stained wood cabinets?

The third step... Make a budget.

The fourth step... Make a plan. Even with a modest budget, there are ways to minimize the out-lay while maximizing the impact. Like Craigslist... Discarded kitchen cabinets are a great way to add attractive storage to the garage. And everything doesn't need to be done at once, it can be done in stages.

The fifth step... Pull it all together.

A couple of tips...

• If you are going to work in the garage, put anything on the floor on wheels. If it is mobile, you can move it to clean behind it.
• If it isn't on wheels, get it off the floor. If it is off the floor, you can sweep and/or hose under it. Wall mounted cabinetry is very cool.
• Floor coatings don't stand up to welding and plasma cutting. Stick with polished or acid-etched concrete.

And here is a cool place to check out... DreamGarage.com

Could it really be about anything else?  I am a garage specialist, so of course not.  

First, let's get this out of the way.  Single car garages are made to store lawn tools and maybe a motorcycle.  Two car garages are the minimum an auto enthusiast would consider.  Three car garages are starting to get there.  When you have indoor parking suitable for six or more, you are in the zone. 

Let's talk about attached vs. detached garages.   

I recommend both (why can't I put a smiley here?).  But, seriously, having both is great.  In fact, I'd call it essential if one is going to do much serious work.  From both safety and comfort standpoints, the detached garage is better for hard working spaces.  Air compressors and tools make a lot of noise.  Welders and grinders make dust and sparks.  None of these are things that really belong in the house.  Also, there are increased fire hazards from welding, plasma cutting, grinding and using torches.  

But, the great thing about an attached garage is the convenience.  It's right there.  No walking in the rain to get to the garage.  So, I recommend that enthusiasts have one of each.  The daily drivers and the lawn equipment go in the attached garage, and the play toys go in the real garage.  All of the heavy tools and heavy work are kept away from the house.  

What about style? 

For resale, or to keep from running afoul of the Home Owner's association in some communities, it is generally better to keep the architectural style of the garage similar to the home.  While there are some exceptions, having a similar style keeps the flow more natural.  This is especially true when the detached garage is close to the house.  If they are not close, then it doesn't matter nearly as much.  However, a steel building will not add as much value (or cost as much) as a matching brick or sided building.  

What does an enthusiast want in the garage? 

This is a VERY tough question, because different people will have different usages planned for their space.  Here is a list of possibilities:

Lots of power available, both 120V and 220V.  If there will be a lot of fab work, 220V might be needed for an air compressor, welder, plasma cutter, lift and other high power consuming tools.

Space.  We all need space.  Floor space, loft space, attic space, shelf space... getting the idea?

Light... lots of light.  

HVAC.  It gets hot and cold out there.  Insulation, too.

A man door.  Opening a large garage door to walk in and out allows a lot of heated or cooled air to escape.  (I didn't make up the name, and women are allowed to use the same door... a standard sized door is referred to in the biz as a man door)

Nice floor.  For those not welding or torching, an epoxy floor might be perfect.  Welding a torching will kill that type of floor, but the concrete should still be sealed.

Air Compressor shed.  Those things can be loud.  Having the shop plumbed for compressed air is a great bonus.

Plumbing.  At the very least, there needs to be a sink.  A bathroom with a toilet is also handy for a detached garage.  A shower would also be nice. 

A seriously beefy workbench.  And if it has enclosed storage, that is a HUGE bonus.  It makes clean-up a breeze.   

Take a look...

The Chicago Tribune posted a story today about garages.   Here are a couple of excerpts:

Home builders, remodelers and specialized garage-organization companies see that problem as an opportunity to sell you a solution. They have plenty, including more square footage and garage-themed cabinetry. You can even find a fridge specially built for the garage, so you can always have a cold drink at hand when you're working on your wheels.

Around some homes these days, the amount of space devoted to the garage is big, indeed. Three-car garages were included in 20 percent of new homes built in 2005, according to the National Association of Home Builders. Another 64 percent of new homes had two-car garages.

and

The garage on display in a Stanley Martin model home at Coles Run Manor in Manassas, Va., is packed with nearly as many fancy upgrades as the kitchen. Their "tricked out garage" option includes raised-diamond pattern rubber-like floor protectors; a work bench; storage cabinets; tool racks; slatted wall coverings that accommodate a variety of hooks and baskets for storage; ceiling-mounted bicycle hoists; and even a 20-inch, wall-mounted flat-screen TV. Buyers can choose elements a la carte or sign up for the full slate of options for $19,500.

finally

And who knew there even was such a thing as a refrigerator specially designed for the garage? Gladiator makes the Chillerator Garage Refrigerator, which is Energy Star rated for efficiency and is designed to handle the wide variations in temperature and humidity usually found in a garage.

The Freezerator, specially designed for garage use, allows you to turn the temperature in the freezer compartment down to ordinary refrigerator temperatures, to better accommodate your stockpile of beverages. Both come in an oh-so-manly diamond-plate metal finish.

See.  I'm not crazy.  I'm just ahead of the curve.  There are a lot of us out there that appreciate a nice garage.  What goes into a great space in the garage is often something that escapes the average real estate agent.  Power consumption baffles them (what are those funny looking plugs for?).  While a work triangle in the kitchen is pretty normal knowledge, the same type of work patterns in the garage only appear to people that, ta da... work in the garage.

Just like equestrian properties, or golf properties, or waterfront properties are most often best represented by those that understand them, so are garage properties.  

Enjoy, and get out there and spin a wrench.  It's GREAT therapy to work for a couple of hours and see something accomplished when it's over.   

Garages are a specialty.  Oddly, after deciding that I really wanted to focus on fellow gear heads, I find that there is more of a need than I thought.  Personally, the garage has always been one of the first places I went to when looking at a house.  I guess I enjoy it in the same way a cook enjoys the kitchen, and a movie buff enjoys the media room.  

And then I catch a news story that garages are the new exercise room, kinda like pink is the new black.  It seems that there are a lot of people like me that enjoy the time out in the garage.  The garage make-over business has become huge.  There are tons of products to enhance the storage, clear the clutter and generally beautify the garage.  Of course, after getting it cleaned up, there are about 300 different flooring options ranging from industrial coatings worthy of a NASCAR shop, to snap together tiles that allow designs to be put on the floor.  In fact, one of the garages I was in recently had the floor faux painted to look like Italian marble.  Personally, I like the race shop look, but those coatings aren't fond of weld spatter and plasma slag (that's right kids, plasma is not just for TVs).  I'll probably end up with acid washed, polished concrete.  It looks cool, and it will stand up to most everything.  But I digress.

Back to the topic.  Garages aren't just a place to store the car for some of us.  It is more of a combination shrine, workshop and trophy room.  It's a place to work on the latest project, and hang out tossing BS with a few friends.  It's a place to recharge the spiritual batteries... and the battery from the lawnmower, occasionally.  

So, as we walk through, we look at how many receptacles there are, and where they are, how many are 220 volt, and what type of lighting there is.  We look at the layout of doors and windows, just like many would in a living room.  We look for cable or satellite jacks (I told you we like to hang out in the garage).  We look at the size of the doors (I drive a truck that is 8 1/2 feet wide, and 6 1/2 feet tall, and my last Jeep was 6' 9"... in a world of 6' 8" doors).  Just as my wife would mentally place our furniture in the family room, I place my projects, tools, and parts in the garage.  I wonder if the space will work as I need it.   

So, if you are a car buff, and looking for new digs in the Gwinnett area, look me up.  If you are an agent that has a car-centric client, keep the above in mind.  

I look forward to your comments.