Your dream garage is cheaper than you think

The tools

This is often the most expensive part, but doesn’t have to be as bad as you think.

The first step is getting to know your local Kijiji or Craigslist page and newspaper. The classified ads are FULL of quality tools, just waiting for a new home. This can be anything from a socket set to a snow blower.

Buying power tools may be worrisome. You never know how many miles they have left. So always go with a trusted name.

"DIY power tool brands include Ryobi, Craftsman, Kobalt, Black + Decker, Skil, and Porter Cable. There are exceptions, as Craftsman and Skil still produce some contractor grade tools, but overall these brands are less expensive and considered light duty," wrote Timothy Dahl at Lifehacker.

"If you are buying these tools, expect to pay much less and avoid them if they look like they’ve been roughed up as they have a much shorter lifespan."

The lighting

You will see the effects of good lighting more in the wintertime, when you’re almost always going to be working after sundown.

You could always go super‑fancy and install pot lighting. But maybe make that a "phase 2" project, once you have all of your tools amassed and organized.

In the meantime, a simple fixture that houses 8‑ft. long fluorescent light tubes is inexpensive to install and maintain, will light in the cold, and has been proven to show the truest colours while you paint.

It worked for your dad and his dad. It will work for you. So keep it simple, for now.

As for the exterior, you should consider installing a sensor light outside the garage to turn on whenever someone approaches. This is still one of the best and cheapest security measures any homeowner can take.

The space

You need a clear workspace. But you’re the one who will create it, and keep it clean and organized.

So use hooks and shelves to get tools off the ground and into some sort of order. A big complex tool sorting system is fine, if you’re realistically going to use it. Don’t sink money into a storage system, only to find your tools scattered a month later.

Hooks and shelves are cheap, easy to install, and simple enough to keep using every day. Get tools up where you can see them and find them. And keep them at an accessible height. If you need a ladder to put it back, odds are you ain’t putting it back.

Also, don’t be afraid to move the out‑of‑season items to a crawl space or on the wooden beams above your workspace.

The music

The days of sinking thousands into an expensive stereo are long over. You can pick up quality Bluetooth speakers for less than $100.00—often much, much less. That way, you can run your music from a cell phone or tablet and still get amazing sound quality.

Too many people waste money here. To pump music into such a small space as your garage, you don’t need to spend a lot of money. You just need a small unit, which can be kept out of the way, but still produce a quality sound. A basic unit from Sony, Bose, or RCA should be able to do that. And these units are always on sale.

If you want to go old school, keep your eyes on classified ads for used stereo equipment, and fill your workspace with vinyl.

The garage door

This is one area you shouldn’t skimp on. Your perfect garage door should be:

• Secure (protect all those new tools)
• Reliable (You only want to make this purchase once)
• Insulated (High R‑value to keep the winter out)
• Soundproof (Your family and neighbours will thank you)

If your current door isn’t all of these things, it’s time to start shopping for a new one.

Your new garage door may also include windows, to let in a bit of natural light. You can also keep heating bills lower by letting the sun take its turn heating the garage.

Start building your dream garage door

Your garage is unique, so we treat it that way. We provide countless customization options to make sure your door is perfect for your space.

Garaga remains the industry standard for durability and reliability, as we have sold over 1.7 million quality garage doors since 1983.

You can click here to get a free quote, or click here to start by building your perfect garage door! You can also call us at 1-866-647-6071.