01491 579975
info@garageflex.co.uk
info@garageflex.co.uk
Everyone wants a space to call their own and over the years the concept of a ‘man cave’ has evolved. Research* shows that most men spend an average of 24 days a year tinkering and pottering in a shed or garage – or even more (26 days!) if you’re aged between 45 to 55.
‘Man caves’ no longer contain the stereotypical beer fridge, barbells and basic décor – they are now just as likely to be highly versatile and carefully designed spaces.
If you are a DIY enthusiast, for example, carrying out messy repair projects on the kitchen table is usually frowned upon by the rest of the family but if you do have your own bit of space, transforming it into a DIY haven for you to escape to is easier than you might think.
Getting started
Start by taking a look at the size and shape of the available area, your aim is to create a well-organised workshop with plenty of storage and work space for all your projects. You might find it useful to separate the room into different zones and design the space accordingly. This will also help you decide if you need to rearrange any of the electrics.
In a shed or garage, you may also need to consider installing insulation and heating. A forced air heater – either gas or electric – which uses a fan to push warm air throughout the room – can be put on a time control to keep the space warm during the colder months. Make sure you think about ventilation too as garages and sheds are prone to condensation, which can cause problems with rot and mildew. Windows are most effective but fans or natural ventilation systems are also worth looking into.
Keep it clean
If you want to keep your workshop extra tidy and keep dust and debris away from your electronics, a dust extractor is a great way to keep surfaces clear.
Recycled PVC floor tiles also make cleaning much easier and are a good option as they are more comfortable than a concrete floor and provide more insulation. The tiles lock together easily and come in different colours, so you can customise them to suit your own style.
Storage
You don’t need a gigantic workshop to make the most of your projects. You just need to use your existing space wisely. A workbench with storage space is low cost and will help you keep your most frequently used tools at the ready. Organise your garage shelving by storing smaller items such as nails in small storage bins. Use a multi-tool holder to store all the small shop tools and accessories such as screwdrivers which can end up cluttering your workbench. Clear bins and baskets, mounted on our ‘FlexiTrack’ wall storage system, make it easy to quickly identify what’s inside.
Using storage space on your walls and ceiling with a specialised storage system will allow you to squeeze the most storage space out of a small room.
Light it up
Good lighting is essential and luckily, it’s not too difficult or costly to upgrade your lighting with ceiling-mounted fluorescent light fixtures. Remember, fluorescent lights are temperature dependent. If it’s cold enough in the garage, they may never come up to temperature and might not be as bright as you might want. You can solve that problem by using a reflector which will trap hot air and make them warm up. If you have a bigger budget, you could install a few long strips of adhesive-backed LED light strips throughout the area. They are temperature stable, won’t be affected by vibrations and will last for a very long time.
Get decorating
Just because your ‘man cave’ happens to be outside the main part of the house and it’s dedicated to DIY work doesn’t mean it should look bare. Pick a colour scheme for your space in order to reflect your style and how you use the space. Natural colours, especially grey are ideal for creating a more industrial, uncluttered vibe. However, if you fancy a touch of colour, then going bold is a good option. If your ‘cave’ is in a shed, use stains and varnishes to liven up the walls.
You could mount a TV on the wall if you like background noise while you’re tinkering and ensure all cables are hidden away by using a cable tidy.
There is no need to stick to basics with your ‘man cave’. Don’t be afraid to customise the space to add character.
Your cave, your rules!
Many thanks for the amazing garage floor. It is just what I wanted. Your two guys did a fantastic job. Please do thank them.
Choosing to get your garage transformed is a big ticket item, not just something you decide on in five minutes. So we asked some of our customers why they decided to have a garage installation by Garageflex, here are some of their replies.
We hope that has answered some of your questions as to why others opted for a Garageflex makeover. If you require any further inspiration click here or why not just give us a call to chat through your garage ideas and a ballpark quote.
Theres nothing more frustrating than searching through your tool box to find the right sized screwdriver. With our tool storage, you don’t have to. Our range includes tip out bins, tool holders, hooks, shelves and storage bins to help you find everything you need easily.
To see our full collection, click here to visit our e-store where you can also buy online for DIY home installation.
We’ve shown you all of our Tool Storage range, your next step is to think about how you can install this in your own garage.
To install some items in this range, you will first need to fix FlexiPanel or FlexiTrack to your wall. The items available for wall storage cannot be fixed to a standard garage wall on their own.
We’ve all been there with our bikes. Move one and they all fall over. Well what about if they were stored on a garage wall or even the ceiling, making them safely stored yet easily accessible for your next ride. Our range of Bike Storage accessories could change all that.
To see our full range including our Vertical Bike Rack, Horizontal Bike Rack and Hoists, click here to visit our e-store. Our Bike Storage range can be installed as part of our Design and Install service or you can even buy the items online for DIY home installation.
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We’ve shown you all of our Bike Storage range, your next step is to think about how you can install this in your own garage.
To install some items in this range, you will first need to fix FlexiPanel or FlexiTrack to your wall. The items available for wall storage cannot be fixed to a standard garage wall on their own. Click on one of the four options below to find out more and see how you can transform your garage.
There are always so many garden tools to store and never enough space to keep them all tidy and easily accessible. However, the Garageflex range includes racks, shelves, brackets and specific tool holders to keep them safely stored away. Making it easier to find them when you need them for a spot of garden therapy. To see our full range, visit our e-store where you can also buy online.
We’ve shown you all of our Garden Tool Storage range, your next step is to think about how you can install this in your own garage.
To install this range of storage accessories, you will first need to fix FlexiPanel or FlexiTrack to your wall. This range cannot be fixed to a standard garage wall on their own.
Find out how you can add these storage accessories to your own garage by clicking on one of the options below.
Adding hooks and brackets to your garage wall allows you to store many items neatly and safely including garden tools, ladders, clothing and pictures. To see our full range, visit our e-store where you can also buy online.
We’ve shown you all of our Brackets & Hooks range, your next step is to think about how you can install this in your own garage.
To install this range of storage accessories, you will first need to fix FlexiPanel or FlexiTrack to your wall. This range cannot be fixed to a standard garage wall on their own.
At the recent Henley House & Garden Show that took place at the end of February, our Managing Director Alastair Broom, gave a talk to attendees on ‘Making the most of your garage’. The talk was well attended and prompted a number of interesting questions. Below are a series of clips from the talk which cover not only the Q&A but also our three top tips on this important space.
In this clip, Alastair Broom looks at the difference ways to use today’s garage.
In this clip, Alastair looks at planning your garage space, in particular garage doors and plant rooms to get the most from your garage design.
Here we look at safety and give our ten top tips for making the garage a safe place for all the family.
As well as our top tips we also wanted to look at how your lifestyle can influence your garage design.
GarageTek design and install bespoke storage for your residential garage and in this clip Alastair explains who we are and how we can help.
Finally, at the close of Alastair’s talk he conducted a Q&A discussion, answering questions about the GarageTek products. Here more by clicking on our final clip.