Do you step into your garage every morning, only to stumble over the recycling bin or trip over your child’s tricycle? Is your garage so full of gardening tools, holiday decorations and sports equipment that you have no place to park your car? You’re not alone! Garage organization systems are among the fastest growing segments of the home-improvement market, and with a little help, your garage can be transformed from a cluttered mess into a clean, usable space.

A new frontier
According to the National Association of Home Builders, almost two-thirds of all new homes have two-car garages, and nationwide, 19 percent have three-car or more garages, especially in areas where houses traditionally do not have basements. But even though garages are growing in size and are often the largest room in the house, they usually are one of the last areas homeowners address when organizing their homes.

“I call the garage the ‘forgotten room,’ because it is often the most underutilized space in the home,” says Greg Horne, president of The Garage Geek Inc. “Though more homes have larger garages than before, families also have more stuff, and rather than looking at the garage as a functional space, most people just use the floor as a giant shelf.”

Vince Magro, owner and president of Garage Plus Inc., says many homeowners are simply “garage frustrated,” meaning their garages are such a mess that they don’t know where to begin or what to do. That’s when garage organization systems, including custom storage and flooring, are useful.

“For most families, the garage is the entry into their homes, so why would they want it to be unsafe and unappealing?” Magro says. “Garage systems help reduce clutter and organize what remains, creating a space that is safe, functional and attractive.”

Getting started
“Garages are designed to function as shelters for cars; today, however, most garages ‘multitask’ as storage for gardening equipment, tools, sports equipment and much more,” says Ken Ludin, general manager for PremierGarage. “While homeowners have tackled organizing their kitchens, closets and home offices, not until recently has there been a market for garage organization.”

For a homeowner looking for help, there are numerous options, and most are more affordable than you think. Before you begin, though, it is important to think about what you need. When planning, homeowners should thoughtfully consider their lifestyles, including hobbies and leisure activities, as well as frequency of use of items stored in the garage so they can create functional work areas and storage solutions. When using a professional installer, it is important to make sure the company understands your family’s needs and that the proposal for your garage system meets these needs.

“When consulting with a client, I try to find out what is important to the family,” Magro says. “After all, a couple with no children at home and a family with three teenagers have very different needs.”

From the floor up
Developing a plan is helpful when the homeowner begins to consider garage-system components, and flooring is usually the best place to start.

There are two basic types of garage flooring—epoxy coating and floor covering. Epoxy is a paint coating that is applied in layers over the existing concrete floor following extensive prepping that includes cleaning, sanding and repairing the concrete. Epoxy coatings come in a wide variety of grades, and if they are of good quality and properly installed, they have an average 10-year life expectancy. Preparation and application time is usually 24 to 48 hours with a wait time of seven to 10 days before a car can be driven on the surface. The benefits of epoxy coating are its durability and easy cleanup; the downsides are the labor-intensive preparation and installation as well as the cost, since most epoxy coatings are pricey.

“Epoxy has gotten a bad name because of the preparation and installation time, but it is a great flooring option,” Horne says. “However, floor-surface preparation for epoxy coating is extremely important because proper preparation means better wear.”

The alternative to epoxy coating is floor covering. There are two basic types of floor covering usually used in garages: commercial-grade polyvinyl sheet flooring that is cut to fit the garage floor and adhered in key areas if desired, and interlocking commercial-grade PVC tiles. Both coverings come in a variety of colors, textures and patterns, and they can be installed and used in the same day. Floor coverings generally are easy to install, are affordable and have a non-skid surface. Depending on usage, however, punctures are possible and moisture can get underneath the covering, causing problems such as mold and mildew.

Storing your stuff
Once your new garage floor is installed, it’s time to get everything off of it. This is where cabinetry and other storage accessories come in.

Most garage cabinets are made of resin, laminated wood or stainless steel. Resin cabinets are made from a rugged plastic that is waterproof and resistant to dents.

Steel cabinets are sturdy and aesthetically pleasing, but they are more susceptible to maintenance issues such as dents and rust than other options.

The industry standard for wood cabinets is commercial-grade, laminated particleboard, which is durable. Depending on the quality, however, it can warp and split if exposed to moisture and weather.

All three options are available in a choice of colors and finishes and a variety of price ranges, so you should be able to find one that’s right for you.

“In addition to budget, owners should consider their lifestyles when choosing cabinets—do they want durability, adaptability, low maintenance?—and then make the best choice for their situation,” Ludin says. It also is important to realize that cabinetry quality can vary dramatically, so you want to make sure the cabinets you purchase are a sturdy commercial grade with appropriate hardware. For example, wood cabinets should be assembled with screws, not staples, for durability.

Weighing the options
Regardless of the type of cabinets you choose, it’s important to consider the weight limits and how the cabinets are affixed to the wall. Always check to make sure cabinets have sufficient weight capacities for your needs, remembering that items stored in your garage tend to be weightier, like sports equipment and paint cans. Most professional garage system installers also recommend installing cabinets on the wall.

“Mounting cabinets on the wall and off the floor greatly reduces the possibility of water damage and pest infiltration,” Magro says. “It also aids in cleaning and helps prevent damage from children’s toys and other items running into the cabinets.”

Because of the weight of the cabinets as well as their added contents, they should be affixed into the garage’s wall studs with extra-long screws. Another option for mounting cabinets and other storage accessories is a flat wall panel, which provides exceptional strength by distributing the weight over a large surface, as well as versatility by allowing storage units to be reconfigured as needed.

“A modern-day pegboard, flat wall paneling is a large, grooved panel made from a durable PVC material that is mounted to the wall studs in multiple locations,” Horne says. “Cabinets and other storage accessories slide into the grooves, allowing the wall to be customized to the needs of the owner, and if needed, reconfigured at a later time if the owner’s needs or lifestyle change.”

In addition to cabinets, there is a wide selection of garage storage accessories available, including hooks, baskets, shelves, pulleys and overhead racks, which mount above the garage doors.

“The garage ceiling is often a forgotten space, but overhead racks are a great option when there is minimal floor or wall space to install traditional cabinets,” Magro says. “Overhead storage is a great option for seasonal or rarely used items, such as bulky sporting equipment, holiday decorations or large coolers.”

Other extras to consider when planning a garage makeover are a first-aid center; parking sensors to aid in parking in a precise, desired location; audio-visual components such as a telephone or a wall-mounted television; and lighting improvements.

Getting it done
As with most home-improvement projects, the main differences between organizing a garage yourself and hiring a professional are the willingness, the know-how and the access to quality products.

Because of the growing popularity of garage organization, most major home-improvement retailers carry a variety of products, from single pieces to complete systems. However, the products will need to be assembled and installed properly to accommodate and support your storage needs. While cabinetry tends to be easier for the do-it-yourselfer to install, flooring installation, especially epoxy coatings, can be difficult for most nonprofessionals to install properly because of the amount of prep work that is involved.

There are numerous professional installation companies that focus on helping families maximize their garage usage. Most companies send a representative to your home to consult with you about your needs and budget, and follow the visit with a proposal detailing the installation plan. Some companies sell installation packages that include combinations of flooring, cabinetry and other storage options, while other companies sell the components “a la carte,” allowing owners to pick what they need from an array of choices.

While most professional installers prefer that homeowners remove their possessions from the garage before installation, some companies will clean out the garage and provide temporary storage for an additional cost. Some companies also allow you to pay extra for junk removal, painting and electrical work.

“If someone is adamant about doing it themselves, we do offer consultation on products and assistance with planning,” Horne says. “However, I would advise homeowners who are considering doing it themselves to at least call for a price quote from a professional installer—many times professional installation is much more affordable than they realize.”

Costs to consider
There are garage systems to accommodate every homeowner and budget. Nationwide, the average cost for a professionally installed garage system, including flooring, is approximately $9 to $14 per square foot. In the Atlanta area, the average cost for professional installation for a two-car garage, including cabinets and new flooring, is $3,000 to $5,000.

Since professional installers usually keep an assortment of products in stock, most garage systems, from consultation to installation, can be completed within two to three weeks. Once the installation is complete, the key factor to making a garage system work is diligent maintenance.

“A garage system is only as good as the owner’s diligence in returning things to where they go,” Magro says. “Without proper maintenance, a garage can easily return to its former cluttered state.”


When the garage has turned into a dumping ground for junk rather than a shelter for vehicles, that’s when most homeowners realize they need help. “There is something wrong when you drive by a home with a three-car garage and the cars are parked in the driveway,” Ludin says.

“Most people don’t realize the benefits of an organized garage until it is done,” Horne says. “Transforming a messy garage not only makes it more functional and safe, but it also adds value to your home, and you can be proud to show it off to your friends and neighbors.”