A garage is primarily a place for a car. However, many people also use it to store other things. Bicycle, motorcycle, lawn mower and other gardening tools, children's sleds – the garage can be not only a "home" for the car, but also a storage room for things not needed at home or only needed outside. Therefore, it is important to properly develop the garage so that there is room for everything. So what is the best way to arrange a garage? You can read about it on this website https://bestgaragedoorrepairandservice.com/irvine/ and find out the cost of services there.

What does the development of the garage depend on?

How you can develop a garage depends primarily on its size and the size of the car. In addition, the development of the garage is influenced by what functions it is to have in addition to the "house" for the car. Everything has to be thought through already in the design phase so that there are no problems later. It is necessary to take care of the space reserve, especially if you want the garage to have other functions than storing the vehicle and you want to choose the type of gate that needs space to open. The regulations specify the basic dimensions of the garage and they are 2.7 x 5.5 m. However, such dimensions do not allow for any additional functions.


In a garage that is too small, a less fit person may have a problem getting in or out of the car. For a disabled person in a wheelchair, the minimum width of the garage is 3.4 m. It is also worth thinking about the fact that at least car accessories and tools should be at hand in the garage. For example, spare wheels, a car vacuum cleaner or tools for basic repairs and parts that are always worth having to be able to replace them quickly. By choosing 7 m in length, you can arrange a mini workshop at the back. With a width of 5 m, you can place a bicycle, motorcycle, lawn mower or garden tools next to the car.


It is also worth thinking about a reserve of space for the car itself. What if you need to buy a bigger one? In addition, it must be remembered that cars are now higher than they used to be. If you want to use the space under the ceiling, it is worth thinking about a height much higher than 2 m. It also doesn't have to be that everything will be crammed into one room. A solution consisting in separating utility rooms next to the garage is becoming more and more common.

Choosing a garage door

The type of garage door, as well as its size and the way it is opened, also affects the functionality of this room. Swing doors will be a good choice for smaller garages, as they do not limit the space inside. However, they are less comfortable. Up-and-over and sectional doors are much easier to use, but the door leaf, which hides under the ceiling, takes up space in the entrance area.


For a double garage, the best, because convenient and cheap, solution is a door with a width of 4.5 to 5 m. There is then no need to build an additional mediating post. This is an advantage, because sometimes the bollard can be an obstacle when manoeuvring cars. And two gates with dimensions of about 2.5 m mean a higher cost, but also easier space management.

Garage equipment – which racks and shelves to choose?

If you want to store various car accessories and other things in the garage, you need to invest in the right racks and shelves to have a place to put them. They will allow you to keep your garage tidy, so that there are no difficulties in finding the thing you need. The best choice for the garage will be metal racks for accessories, the price of which is several dozen zlotys. They usually have several shelves that are able to accommodate cases with power tools, car cosmetics or gardening tools. It is best to put small items such as small tools and small car parts in lockable plastic boxes so that they do not get lost and to avoid them spilling if the box is accidentally knocked off the shelf.


It is best to place the shelves next to the side or back wall and up to the ceiling to accommodate as many things as possible. Although if we are not tall people, we may have trouble reaching the highest shelves later, so the best solution will be to adjust the racks to your height. It is necessary to pay attention to the maximum load of the shelves to remember that it is better to store heavy items on the lower ones, not on the upper ones. In addition, it is more difficult to even take heavier things off the top shelves. It is worth attaching the racks to the walls to eliminate the risk of them falling over on the car or on us. It is also worth thinking about buying a rack on wheels, which can be easily driven to the workplace. This will give you convenience, because you will not have to carry tools everywhere.

Flooring – what tiles will be the best?

In the garage, not only will a very heavy car stand, but also move during exits and entrances. Therefore, the floor must be extremely strong and resistant to damage. It must be carefully and precisely made so that no free spaces are left under the tiles, because such tiles will crack. Ceramic porcelain tiles are most often chosen for garages, as they are resistant not only to abrasion, but also to moisture. However, it is worth making sure that they are non-slip.


Instead of tiles, you can also simply make a concrete screed or use epoxy resin or rubber panels. You can drop something heavy on the rubber panels without worry, because after damage you only need to replace this one damaged panel. The garage can also be used as a mini-gym and then such panels will be perfect for barbell exercises.


If you want to wash your car or bicycle in the garage wet, e.g. with a pressure washer, it is worth remembering about a trough or floor drain to the drain to the sewage system. In such a situation, however, you need to remember not to use chemicals, waste or strong detergents, so it is necessary to think about the use of cleaning agents.


For DIY enthusiasts who prefer to carry out minor repairs and maintenance themselves, instead of paying large sums in the workshop, a car ramp can come in handy.

And what about the wall?

Just like the floor, the wall should be durable and resistant to dirt and damage, but still simple. It is best to use abrasive and resistant paints, such as latex. The walls can also be covered, just like the floor, with resin. It is extremely resistant to dirt and abrasion. You can also line the wall with tiles, but they are much more expensive than paints, although it is not uncommon to buy some series ends at lower prices. If you intend to wash your car in the garage, it is absolutely necessary to remember to install lockable and waterproof electrical sockets in the wall. If you have a partially or completely electric car, it is worth thinking about a charging socket.

Lighting – a central lamp is not enough

Installing only one central lamp in the garage is a very common mistake. Especially one that has little power. It is always dark in the garage, because there is usually no window in it, so it is difficult to carry out various works, such as washing the car or some repairs. Linear lamps with fluorescent lamps are also often used, but this is also not the best choice, because they light up slowly and it is still dark when you turn them on. LED lamps in the form of ceiling lamps or others will be best. First of all, they are energy-efficient, so the bills will not be high, but they also catch fire immediately. Directional lights directed at shelves or those that can be directed over the work table or car elements that you want to work on will also be a very good choice.

Something for DIY enthusiasts

If someone likes DIY and has enough space in the garage, you can invest in a workbench and a tool board. The workbench can be used for various dirty works even for those who are not familiar with DIY. And installing a workshop board on the wall will allow you to have all the tools at hand. If you want to save costs, you can make it yourself from chipboard and hooks, but a professional board will be the most convenient. It has not only hooks, but also boxes for small items and even modular shelves that can be conveniently placed.

Wheels and tires in the garage

As you know, you need to change your tires seasonally – for winter and summer. So in the summer you have to store the winter ones somewhere, and the summer ones in the winter. And it's also worth having spare wheels. Therefore, it is worth having a place for them in the garage. Tires and wheels should be stored in such a way that they do not deform under their own weight. The tires themselves are therefore best stored vertically – one next to the other. And the tires mounted on the rims can be stacked – one on top of the other. However, it is worth thinking about a special bookcase or wheel stand. Thanks to them, you can put the tires up to the ceiling so that it does not take up space.


It is absolutely important to remember that tires must not be stored next to radiators, close to light sources or sunlight (e.g. by the window if it is in the garage). Heat accelerates the degradation of tyres and reduces the life of the tyre, especially since they only affect one side. Also, no solvents or harsh chemicals should be stored nearby, which would damage the tires if spilled on them.

Clever solutions – handles and more

You can store more than just your car in the garage. You can also keep a bike, scooter, etc. in it. However, they do not have to stand on the floor and take up space. All you need to do is buy bicycle holders or ceiling hangers, thanks to which the unicycle will hang above the ground or even from the ceiling. In the case of a hanger, special cords are used to pull the bike in and out of the hanger. However, this solution will only work in high garages. In lower grades, wall hangers will be a better choice, on which you can hang the bike by the frame or vertically, hooking it to the wheel.


Another clever solution that is worth having, especially in a small garage, are accessory holders. If you want to store, for example, gardening tools, i.e. hoes, rakes, shovels, spades, etc., they can really come in handy. Often such things end up against the wall, which generates the need to move them around to clean up or constantly rearrange them because something falls over. Handles are convenient and tidy in the garage at the same time. And the tools don't have to have eyelets for hooks. You can find handles on the market that clamp themselves on the handle of the tool. You can hang things such as lawn mowers, ladders or even skis or children's sleds on hangers.


Another cool thing is the ceiling shelves and hooks. They are ideal for storing things that are used less often or only seasonally. A kayak, a tent, a children's pool, deckchairs or a surfboard in winter, and skis or sleds in summer must have their place somewhere and wait for their season.


However, when planning to hang various equipment on the walls or under the ceiling, it is important to remember to minimize the risk of bumping the car when hanging or taking off the bike or other things. This can be done by maintaining an appropriate distance between the car and the things being hung. In the case of a bicycle, it must be at least 90 cm. You should also take care of a decent, stable attachment of all hooks, hangers, handles and the items themselves, so that nothing falls and does not damage or damage the car. So it is better not to think about saving and installing ordinary nails and hooks yourself, but to invest in professional accessories.