Whether you prefer woodworking or mechanical projects, having a designated and full-equipped area for your work is essential. A garage workshop is the best place for productive, high-quality work and with a little planning and maintenance, you’ll easily be able to transform the space.

We’ve compiled a list of 6 ways that you can turn your garage into the workshop of your dreams.

1. Planned Layout

It’s important to ensure that your garage workshop fully accommodates your needs and makes good use of your space. There are a few factors to think through before you begin your workshop transformation.

• Determine Needs – The kind of work you want to be able to do (like auto repair, woodworking, metal working, etc.) will determine what layout, tools, and space you need.
• Zoning – Creating dedicated zones for different kinds or stages of work will help keep everything organized.
• Workflow – Optimizing space and time by setting up tools and materials near the spots they will be used. For instance, sandpaper and clamps near the woodworking table, not on the other side of the garage.
• Accessibility – Keep everything that is frequently used within arm’s reach and less frequently used materials further away or higher up.

2. Optimized Storage

The best way to keep and maintain your garage workshop is by optimizing the available space. Regardless of whether you have a small or spacious garage, you should make sure everything is clearly organized and utilizing available space.

• Wall Storage – Consider using peg boards, hooks, or slat walls to hang up tools and free up workbench space.
• Overhead Storage – Ceiling-mounted racks can store bulky or seasonal items to ensure they don’t take up unnecessary space.
• Shelving & Cabinets – Create dedicated shelves or cabinets for larger items or storage. Closable doors will also minimize dust collection.
• Mobile Storage – Storage solutions that have mobility, like carts or tool boxes, can improve storage and space functionality.

3. Workbench & Surfaces

No workshop is complete without the proper work spaces. Invest in good quality work areas to ensure a reliable, lasting workshop.

• Sturdy Workbench – Choose a durable workbench that is functional, spacious, and comfortable.
• Secondary Spaces – If you have determined that you need multiple zones for different projects or steps, you may want to have multiple tables in your garage workshop.
• Durable Surfaces – Ensure that your garage surfaces are able to withstand heavy weights and wear and tear. Heavy-duty shelving, epoxy coating, or wall stud reinforcement are all sturdy options.

4. Power & Lighting

To allow for any kind of work anytime, select lighting and power options that will accommodate your specific needs.

• • Overhead Lighting – To provide ample lighting day and night, install proper overhead lighting in your garage workshop.
  • Task Lighting – Ensure you have a light source, like an LED lamp, that will illuminate your work on individual tasks.
  • Electrical Outlets – Make sure that you have enough electrical outlets and that they’re located in spots that make sense for your work flow.
  • Retractable Cords –

•  Retractable cord reels maximize space and efficiency. They keep the space organized and extra cords out of the way when not in use.

5. Climate Control & Ventilation

To improve comfort and safety, make sure that your garage workshop has the right temperatures and air quality.

• Insulation – Proper insulation can help regulate the garage temperature so you can continue to use your workshop all year round.
• Heating & Cooling – Garages are known to be too hot or cold, so you may want to have space heaters or install a thermostat to improve comfort.
• Ventilation – If your work will result in fumes or dust in the air, it’s wise to install proper ventilation, like an exhaust fan or air filtration system.

6. Safety Considerations

Safety is key and should be taken seriously when building your workshop. These are some areas for consideration.

• Accessible Safety Gear – Keep all of your PPE gear, like safety goggles and gloves, in a designated, accessible location.
• Clear Pathways – To minimize tripping hazards, keep the floor and walkways tidy and free from clutter.
• Dust Collection – Maintain good air quality by having a shop vac or dust collection system.
• First Aid – It’s always a good idea to ensure you have a well-stocked and accessible first-aid kit in your garage workshop.
• Fire Safety – Keep a fire extinguisher nearby in case of an emergency.

Garage Floor Masters

Having a place to be productive or fully embrace your hobby is important. Your garage is an ideal place for a workshop and should be equipped with the right materials, tools, and areas for the best work flow.

We at Garage Floor Masters want to help turn your garage into your dream workshop. Our epoxy flooring is durable, able to withstand your hobby of choice, and is perfectly suited for easy cleanup. Contact us to transform your garage today!

You enter your garage and suddenly notice a long, spindly line weaving through the concrete. You ask yourself: Is my garage floor cracking? How did this happen? When did it happen?

There could be a few different causes for your garage floor cracking, which we will get into. However, fret not – there are solutions that can not only seal over the cracks but leave your garage floor more durable and aesthetically pleasing than before.

1. Shrinkage

When garage floorings are first installed, they go through a process called curing. This is essentially when the wet concrete settles and dries, hardening the material. Whilst curing, the concrete loses moisture, which can cause some shrinkage. If the shrinking happens too quickly or unevenly, this causes cracking.

2. Settling

Another cause for your garage floor cracking is the ground underneath settling. Especially for new homes where the foundation hasn’t had enough time to fully compact, the dirt under the garage may shift. This creates problems for your concrete flooring. As the shifting happens, the hardened slabs of concrete will be inflexible enough to maintain its solidity and cracking will occur.

3. Extreme Temperature

If you live in a place with extreme or big changes in temperatures, then it can lead to your garage floor cracking. When it’s hotter, the concrete will expand, and when it’s colder, the concrete will shrink. This back and forth will cause cracks if there aren’t proper expansion joints installed in your flooring. 

Expansion joints join together slabs of concrete while allowing for there to be enough mobility to accommodate changing weather conditions. However, inefficient installation without consideration of temperature changes can lead to unfortunate cracking in the concrete.

4. Excessive Weight

Though concrete is generally a pretty durable material, it can still crack as a result of bearing excessive loads. Too much weight on one spot or area creates tension and stress on the flooring, resulting in the concrete breaking. If you have a heavy vehicle or store weighty equipment in your garage, this can create too much pressure on the concrete flooring and lead to cracking.

5. Poor Installation

It’s unfortunate, but still possible, that your garage floors may not have been installed or cured correctly. The wrong ratio of concrete and water can make the concrete too wet and cause the concrete to dry unevenly or be weak when it has set. Installers may have also improperly cured the concrete if they rushed to complete the work. Unless the flooring is kept moist for the first few days of drying, it can dry too quickly, leading to garage floor cracking.

6. Tree Roots

If you have ever tripped over a raised bump in the sidewalk, this was likely caused by a tree root growing underground and pushing up the concrete. This can also happen in your garage. If you have trees close to your garage, then you may have hidden roots moving things around. They can either directly push into the concrete, breaking it up, or cause the surrounding dirt to compress and shift.

What Do I Do About It?

Concrete garage floor cracking doesn’t always look the best, giving your garage an old and unkempt appearance. Not only this, but even minor cracks allow for moisture, chemicals, and dirt to get trapped, furthering the problem and leading to structural weakening.

A great solution to deal with the cracks in your flooring as well as prevent further damage is investing in epoxy garage floor coating. The cracks are first filled in and then coated with epoxy coating to cover the surface of the floor.

Benefits of Epoxy Coating

Epoxy floors are an exceptional option for protecting your garage floors from further damage. Many people choose to get epoxy coatings for their garages because of all the benefits:

 

• Resistant to chemicals
• Withstands heavy loads
• Long-lasting
• Moisture resistance
• Aesthetically pleasing
• Customizable
• Easy to clean
• Slip-resistant
• Cost-effective

Installing an epoxy floor coating gives your garage floor a polished shine, while improving the durability and lifespan of your concrete flooring.

At Garage Floor Masters, we specialize in epoxy floor services, giving you confidence in the appearance and strength of your garage floor. If you are struggling with your garage floor cracking, we can help give it the treatment it needs. As part of the coating process, we will fill in the cracks so the coating can last and have a smooth finish.

Reach out to us today to get your garage floors looking their best.