Want more space, but you can't add on to your home? If you have a garage, a new floor and other amenities can turn it into a party place.
"If you are looking to expand your entertainment space and want to use your garage, the first thing you want to consider is adding drywall or paneling just to make your garage feel more finished and homey," said Angie's List founder Angie Hicks.
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Finished walls will also allow you to get a lot of items off the floor. Cabinets or shelving are a nice touch, but the most eye-catching upgrade is what's below your feet.
"Adding new flooring can really improve the look and feeling of your garage. A low-cost option is an acrylic sealer that's going to require more maintenance and won't last as long. An alternative is an epoxy flooring or mats,
which will last much longer and are low maintenance," said Hicks.
"The main reason people do it is to beautify their garage, but really the biggest advantage is how it protects the concrete and a lot of people don't realize that," said epoxy floor specialist Fritz Klooz.
In a typical two-car garage, a quality epoxy floor with no volatile organic compounds can be installed for $1,200 to $1,700 and could last up to 20 years.
"When talking to your contractor about an epoxy floor, you want to be sure they are using 100 percent epoxy and also you want low-to-no V.O.C. And when they apply the floor, you want to make sure they are going to put at least three layers of the epoxy on the floor," Hicks added.
If you really want to be the envy of your friends and neighbors, add a custom-made screen that allows the breeze to blow in, but keeps bugs and critters out.
"They just really love it because we're able to entertain and have get-togethers and fellowship without being outside in the weather, so it's a really good, practical thing to have," said homeowner Rodney Anderson.
A custom-made garage screen runs about $150. As for epoxy flooring, Hicks cautions against using a do-it-yourself kit. If it has low-grade epoxy and isn't applied correctly, it could come off within a matter of months.