Giving Small Homes in Ajax More Space with a Garage Renovation
We probably don’t have to tell you that the GTA’s real estate market is insanely competitive. It’s pretty much the most expensive Canadian market, and Ajax is the fastest selling city in the GTA right now.
These sky-high prices mean that people in the GTA have the biggest disconnect between the amount of living space they want, compared to the amount of living space they actually have.
33% of Toronto residents surveyed live in homes under 1,000 sq. ft. in size. But, 28% feel that an ideal home should be more than twice that size at 2,500 sq. ft.
If you want a home in the GTA, you may have to make concessions about the square footage you’re looking for. But, that doesn’t mean you need to give up the lifestyle that you’re looking for.
Here’s how to use your garage to extend your living space.
Prepare Your Garage For Ajax’s Crazy Weather
The first thing you need to do is make sure your garage is habitable and comfortable during Ajax’s sweltering summers and damp winters.
Last January, temperatures in Ajax dipped as low as -27 C in January and sizzled to over 40 C in July. This means that you are likely going to have to step up your garage’s insulation and climate control.
Your home’s previous owners may have had different uses in mind for this space, so you may not have a very well insulated garage door. Or, if it’s a new build, you may have a more modern door, but you still want to be sure it offers the insulation or R-Value that you will need.
Your first step should be to contact the residential garage door installation services experts in Ajax. We know exactly what garage doors in the area need to stand up to, and we can let you know exactly what you will need.
We provide a completely free initial consultation on the first visit, with absolutely no pressure to buy. If we see that you already have a well-insulated garage door, we won’t try to sell you another. However, we will happily check to make sure that it’s still making a tight seal at the bottom or make recommendations on how you can keep it that way.
We travel to all of the GTA and offer garage door installation services in Ajax as well as other parts of Southern Ontario. You can also find us in Guelph, Hamilton, Kitchener, Maple, Markham, Milton, and many more areas.
Rethink Your Garage
Think of the empty space in your garage as a blank canvas. What do you need this space to be? Do you need it to be a home office or craft room that you can escape into? Or do you need it to be a home gym or your own private yoga studio?
You don’t need to spend a lot of money to see a complete transformation of the space.
Here are some inspirational ideas:
Turning Your Garage into a Home Office
You can easily turn your garage into an office, or even a shared workspace.
To make the space as functional as possible, you basically need:
- A comfortable workstation (desk+ chair)
- Good access to the Wi-Fi
- Natural light, so you don’t feel as boxed in
In terms of decorative inspiration, check out what they’ve done here. The garage door has windows for that crucial natural lighting, while the painted beams give it an almost cottage-like feel.
Turning Your Garage Into a Yoga Studio or Gym
Whether you’re making an ‘iron palace’ for your weights or a place of solitude for your yoga, your considerations are surprisingly similar. In both cases, you will probably want to start with the floor and make sure you have adequate padding.
In the case of a gym or weight room, you will likely care less about aesthetics and just want some shock absorbing padding. If you’re lifting weights in this room, you might be OK with a bit more of an industrial feel. A “nice” floor may take a bit of a beating from your weights and kettle bells.
However, to create the warm and welcoming feeling that you may want in your yoga studio, consider the hardwood floor laminate options that you see here.
Turning Your Garage into a Play Area
If you don’t have a finished basement, you will probably really get a lot of value from turning your garage into a play space for the kids. This gives them their own safe space where they’re free to be kids, while it can give you some respite with a bit of soundproofing.
Like a home gym or yoga studio, you’re going to want to start with the flooring. Hard and cold concrete is no good for the kids. Neither is hardwood or laminate flooring because it will simply look marked up in about a week and a half. Your best bet is to fill the floor with a nice and soft carpet, or fill the space with padded floor mats.
Next, turn your attention to the walls. It’s definitely best to have finished walls in your garage. This gives you the insulation value that you need and gives you the soundproofing we mentioned earlier. If you’re turning this into a play space for the kids, you can have a lot of fun with painting and decorating the walls. This is their room, so it can be all about the kids and just straight up fun. It doesn’t have to match the décor or color scheme for the rest of the house.
You definitely want to make sure that you’re using an insulated garage door if you’re thinking about any of the 3 renovations above. This will make sure that you’re not losing money on your utility bills with your climate control leaking out the cracks.
Let Us Help You Finish Your Garage
So, let us ask you, is it time for a new garage door for your home? We can help you unlock more livable space in your home and turn your garage into your new favorite room in the house.
For the last 60 years, we have built our reputation based on trust and providing exceptional customer service. We’re proud that the Dodds name is synonymous with quality in Ajax and the rest of the GTA.
How can we help you? Feel free to click the chat window below to ask us anything. Or you can call us at 1-877-503-6337.