The garage isn’t just for parking cars.  With the right garage remodel, you can create a space that has enough room for storage, a place to park your ride and the ultimate work shop. Before customizing your garage space into a work shop, however, be aware of what are your budget constraints. You’ll also need to follow all building codes and building regulations during the entire process.

Fit a Garage Work Shop

If your garage is large enough to park your car, generally it’s large enough to fit a work shop. Adding a garage bench isn’t the only way to utilize space better. To best use your garage space, while making room for a garage bench, consider the following:

• Bike racks: To create the most space for your work shop, get bulky items off the floor. Bike storage options include horizontal racks, bike hoists and vertical bike hooks.
• Clear surfaces: Anything that can be on a shelf should not be on your garage work bench surface. Keep extra jars on shelves for screws, nails and other clutter. Attach hooks to the wall to store objects that can hang in your work shop.
• Furniture: Choose work shop furniture with wheels. Wheeled desks, benches and chairs can easily adapt to the space. With wheeled furniture, when the garage is car-free the work bench can essentially move to any area.
• Storage cabinets: High cabinets can store items you don’t need to access on a regular schedule. Be sure that the cabinets can hold the weight of what you’re storing.

Garage Work Shop Costs

Before you begin to plan and install your work bench, check your local building codes and regulations. They may determine just how custom your work shop can be. After you’re aware of what you can and can’t do, here are possible options:

• Cabinets: Prefabricated cabinets can be more budget friendly, but custom cabinets can provide the exact space you need in your work shop.
• Electrical outlets: You may need an electrician to install additional electrical outlets for your work shop.
• Flooring: Customized garage flooring can quickly add to your budget. Mats and concrete stains can be over $100 dollars. Epoxy isn’t much cheaper at an average cost of a little less than $100.
• Work bench: Garage work benches are necessary to create extra space in your garage but they aren’t cheap. In fact, a garage bench can cost up to a few hundred dollars. You can build your own work bench, but unless you’re experienced with carpentry, the process can be difficult.

With a little planning, you can transform your garage into a fully customized work shop. When planning your work shop, decide on one of many garage work benches, invest in storage cabinets and choose the right flooring.