How to Complete a DIY Garage Makeover

4 Steps to the Perfect DIY Garage Conversion

Maybe you've been here: It's midsummer, you're in your garage, looking for who knows what. You will have a hard time finding a relevant item in all the confusion. You haven't used this "stuff" in years either. You know what? It's time to do something. It's time to clean out your garage, and with that, it's time to redo the floors. The backyard has a full DIY garage.

Are you ready to redo your garage?

Renovating a garage is not always an easy process, but it is often a priority when renovating a home. Clearing out clutter, adding flooring and storage can even create a space you want to hang out in. At least you can find that auger or snow plow.

Throughout this post, we'll consider the pros and cons of DIY and calling in a professional for each task. To determine the best practice, we considered price, efficiency and the possibility of high-quality work. You also need to consider your DIY experience.

Step 1: Get Rid of the Junk

You probably have a lot of stuff in your garage. The list goes on, from sports equipment to lawn care products to boxes you moved out five years ago. We have found that the best way to solve this problem is to simply remove it. Placing any item in your driveway or patio, unless it's on a wall, helps restore and prepare your floor.

It also gives you the option to sell or donate items you no longer need, discard unwanted items and temporarily move the rest. We recommend doing this with family or friends and, if necessary, contacting professional services, such as waste collection. A group of people and ways to dispose of waste make this job quick and easy.

• Instructions to remove spam:
• Do it yourself (or preferably with a group). 
• Put the items away from the garage in a safe place.
• Donate unused items in good condition.
• Discard dust or damaged items.

Step 2: Preparations

Now that you have your spam out, it's time to prepare for the updates you will be making. Most of this step requires hands-on little tasks that you can complete in a few hours and maybe a trip to your local hardware store. Here are your biggest responsibilities:

• Replace old drain plugs or floor coverings - if they are rusty or worn, buy new ones. Do at least general cleaning.
• Update your garage doors - make sure they work properly and match the look you want. Replace them if they don't check those boxes.
• Remove the floor brackets - if it is not built into the wall or cemented into the ground, remove it. This includes cabinets, sinks or even appliances.
• Reschedule Home Care Projects - You want to set aside a few days where other tasks can be put on hold. Reserve time only for garage-related tasks.

Take the time to prepare your garage for flooring or other major renovation projects. This helps to increase efficiency and the quality of the finished product.

Instructions for preparing the change:

• 1. Do it yourself.
• 2. Complete all the small tasks.
• 3. Clean up the items left in the garage.
• 4. Plan major renovations.

Step 3: Flooring

The most difficult decision you will have to make during a complete garage renovation is whether you want to do the garage flooring yourself or hire a professional to do it for you. Both have advantages and both have a wide range of options. Several big box stores offer DIY epoxy garage floors, and there are plenty of online tutorials to back them up. Professional garage floor coverings offer unparalleled quality and naturally make your job easier.

Money is almost always the deciding factor why people decide to redo their garage floors themselves. In general, prices vary greatly depending on where you are in the US.

• Professional decorative boards cost $5 to $7 per square foot.
• Professionally applied solid color epoxy coatings typically cost $4 to $5 per square foot. 
• DIY kits range from $200 to $800 for 400 to 600 square feet.

DIY tools win in the short term by cutting costs by half or more, but you also have to consider the longevity of the product. As is often the case, you get what you pay for. Professionals use a high-quality product that lasts longer. The difference is visible on the first day and lasts for years. In the end, the long-term costs are about the same and may even encourage calling in a professional.

Garage Floor Instructions:

• Save money doing it yourself, hire a quality professional.
• Research the companies and/or the quality of the kits.

Step 4: Add Storage

Before you start packing the putt and golf clubs back into the garage, consider building cabinets and/or storage. It pretty much eliminates that horrible feeling we talked about at the top of the post (I spend hours digging for seemingly the one item you can't find). The decision whether to go the DIY route or call in someone with more experience depends on your personal knowledge and skills. If you can follow the video below, you can probably do it yourself.

A series of storage racks can be built relatively easily and in a short time. This will help you verticalize your garage with paint products, lawn chairs and many other thrift items.

Save Mode Instructions:

• If you have previous experience, do it yourself. 
• Plan the shelves and storage areas according to the layout of the car.
• Increase vertical space by adding hooks.