One key to a successful garage project is to always start with the end in mind. Building a garage involves multiple steps, which means that there are many ways things can go wrong. When starting construction on your garage, you must consider how you want it to look and how it will function. Here are some common mistakes that we often see homeowners make when building their garages.
1. Neglecting to plan out your garage layout
Neglecting to plan out your garage’s layout effectively can cause you to run into a few challenges when setting up your garage. Ideally, you should draw out your plans so you have a good idea of where everything will be—workspace, where cars or other vehicles will park, any storage areas you want to incorporate, and any additional features you might want.
Drawing this all to scale will give you a more accurate idea of what fits where and what items you need to purchase to go into the garage; otherwise, you may find that things don’t fit together quite the way you imagined.
2. Not investing in decent storage
A lack of planning out a decent amount of storage space is one mistake that can cause problems like clutter later on. Storage comes in many different shapes and forms, so don’t limit yourself to using the traditional cupboard and drawers.
In the process of planning and building your garage, think of adding helpful storage features like mezzanine flooring to add new levels and optimise storage space, or add some hooks or a pinboard to the wall to hold tools or other essentials. The goal for good storage is to use all the space you can in the garage without cluttering and affecting its functionality.
3. Not considering accessibility
Adding sufficient storage space is only the first step. You still need to ensure that the items you need are stored where they are accessible and easy to get to when needed. For instance, if you use your power drill regularly, don’t store it at the back of a cupboard behind a bunch of other stuff. You’ll be putting yourself through extra work to get it every time. Rather, plan your garage in a way that ensures your most essential items will be in easy-to-access places—this way, you can grab them quickly when needed.
You also need to consider if your garage will be easy to get in and out of. There’s no bigger deterrent to using your garage than knowing it’s a mission to get into and move around in. Ensure your storage and the actual layout of your garage is easy to enter and move around in.
4. Not getting professional help
There are amazing DIY garage setups, but in most cases, when people attempt to build and set up their garages, they tend to make costly mistakes. Another big mistake is neglecting to hire or consult a professional. Yes, hiring a professional costs extra, but they also have the expertise to ensure that your garage is built and set up well, with few to no errors that could cost you more later.
5. Choosing aesthetic over function
Another mistake we see homeowners make is prioritising the aesthetics of their garage over its functionality. Yes, having an intriguing layout and beautiful finishes will be nice, but you’re building a garage for a purpose, so think about what it needs to be used for before you focus on making it look amazing.
Ideally, you should aim to balance aesthetics and functionality well. This means utilising your wall and ceiling space well for storage, ensuring that your garage is tidy, that your tools or other items are all organised, and that you have sufficient space to work.
Hire a professional garage builder
For the best results, hiring a professional contractor is essential. One of the best garage builders in Australia is Fair Dinkum Builds. From start to finish, Fair Dinkum Builds will assist you in designing the perfect garage, getting it approved for construction, building it, and assisting with all the finishing touches.
Final Thoughts
As you tackle your garage project, whether with or without a professional, keep the mistakes above in mind so that you don’t repeat them like so many others have. You’re taking one step closer to your ideal garage by factoring in these mistakes and trying to avoid them altogether.
