How to Design a Garage to Store Classic Cars
Your classic car is your pride and joy, and you want to take care of it. You wouldn't leave it outside at the mercy of the weather, so designing a garage that is a perfect home for your vehicle is a necessity. It can be one of the comfiest places in your home if you build it from the ground up and have plenty of resources for additions.
You should prioritize your classic car’s safety. Your garage should ensure your vehicle is safe and protected from any outside threats, whether human or natural. Consider taking on one project at a time so you don't overwhelm yourself. Eventually, you may have the garage of your dreams to protect your ride.
Photo by Alex Suprun
1. Prioritize Ease of Cleaning
You should ensure your garage can accommodate everything you need it for. Pay attention to the floors, as they'll see the most wear and tear. For example, you might spill oil while doing maintenance work on your car. You might even show off your vehicle to friends when somebody spills a beverage. That's why choosing floors that are easy to clean is vital. Epoxy flooring is a great option, as you can easily wipe messes away.
2. Ensure Temperature Control
Cold weather can slow down cars just like it does humans. Batteries may not always charge, and you may notice that your vehicle takes longer to heat up than usual. Any water that enters can cause fuel lines to freeze, making it impossible for the engine to work correctly. A temperature-controlled garage can ensure you never have to worry about your car getting too cold or too hot.
3. Install an in-Floor Drain
A drain is a must if you plan to wash your car in your garage, eliminating the water and suds from rinsing. You won't need to worry about taking your vehicle out into the sun or dealing with the heat — you can do everything from the comfort of your garage. However, they can’t all be outfitted with a drain. You should be fine if you can remove excess water so your car isn't standing in it.
4. Include Outlets
One of the first things you should do when remodeling your garage is plan for outlets so you have electricity when you need to use it. That way, you can charge anything from power tools to your phone. Having outlets available can ensure you're ready for anything, no matter the situation.
If you have children in the home, ensure you have outlet covers for when you’re not using the power supply. Outlet covers could prevent a tragedy.
Since you may not walk by them as often to notice, you should inspect your outlets when you use them. If a switch suddenly stops working, consult an electrician immediately, as you might have unsafe wiring in your garage.
5. Enact Security Measures
A garage should keep your classic car relatively safe from theft. As long as you don't park it outside or on the street, you likely won't have anyone breaking in very easily. Unfortunately, classic cars are easy to steal and often don't have advanced security measures because owners want to preserve their integrity.
Keeping it in the garage is one of the best ways to ensure your car’s safety because thieves may not even know it's there. Even if they do, the garage can be outfitted with an alarm system and other means to notify you if it's compromised. That way, there’s less chance your car will be targeted by thieves.
You may also include a motion-sensing camera at the corner of your garage. When placed strategically, it can capture anyone walking up and looking at your car inside. The sight of a camera might be enough to deter would-be thieves from breaking into your garage. You should receive a notification whenever your camera detects movement, so you might be able to deal with the issue yourself or notice a pattern in these intrusions.
6. Consider Little Comforts
Your car will stay in the garage regularly, so tailoring things to the vehicle makes sense. However, you'll likely be out in the garage taking care of it or sitting with others to talk about it. You should also think about your comfort. Consider putting in a small fridge for drinks or other things you need to keep cool and comfortable places to sit. Consider bringing a small TV or radio into the garage if you plan to spend time alone there. In the long run, you'll be grateful you thought about yourself when remodeling your garage.
7. Try Tinted Windows
The biggest cause of faded paint in classic cars is exposure to sunlight. The sun's rays can diminish the integrity and intensity of the paint, and over time, it causes fading and flaking. If you truly want to protect your car, you'll keep it out of the sun unless you're driving it or showing it off. Tinted windows can keep most of the sunlight away from your car, which can help preserve its color.
8. Include a Workbench
You never know what projects you'll use your garage for. Whether they're car-related or something entirely different, you should have a space to take care of work. You might have a workbench outside, but building one inside your garage ensures you can tackle projects regardless of the weather. Even if you don't think you'll use it that often, a workbench can be a worthwhile investment, especially because you can store parts in it.
9. Have Storage Space
Many families typically use garages for storage, such as holiday decorations or boxes from a recent move. Items can stay in your garage if you have room. However, keep the storage area away from your car's space. You don't want storage spilling over into where you park your classic car, so it's important to make a divide.
Consider getting a large cabinet that will help you keep everything organized. You could also place a shed in your yard rather than letting storage clutter the garage. Whatever works best for your household is what you should adhere to, and as long as you aren't keeping many things, your car should be fine and in an uncluttered space.
10. Use Excellent Lighting
Lighting is everything, even in your garage. Certain lights can emphasize your car and create a dramatic look that casts shadows in all the right places. Mood lighting can work wonders for entertaining, but you also want to have lights to help you work.
You'll want the spaces you frequent to be well-lit. You don't want to be working on something at your workbench and not have the right lighting to complete a task or project. Try to have several types of lighting so you can always use the kind that fits the situation best.
Build Your Garage Step by Step
It may not be realistic for everyone to build a garage from the ground up. Sometimes, you have to work with what you have. If you don't have the budget or ability to add some of these things, prioritize your car's safety by adding an alarm system and tinted windows to your garage. The other upgrades can come later, or you can work around them to design the garage your own way.
There are an endless amount of designs you can choose from. Pick out what's most important and work to make it happen. Eventually, you'll have the best garage possible for the car you love.
Author Bio: Jack Shaw is a freelance writer working in the men’s lifestyle industry. You’ll find his byline in the automotive, interior design and outdoors niche.
