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Attic Ladder
Many of our field editors suggested adding a pull-down attic ladder as one of the cheapest, easiest garage upgrades. You’re more likely to take advantage of the storage space if there’s an easy way to get up there. Most attic ladders fit between 24-inch on-center trusses, so you can install them without any structural changes. Check out these garage workshop upgrades that don’t cost you a fortune.
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Tall Garage Doors
Every month, we receive at least one Great Goof letter from a reader who strapped something to his roof and wrecked the garage door. So when Joe, our set builder, created this new extra-large double garage, he wanted to drive in with a load on top of the van. This meant installing an eight-foot-tall garage door, rather than the more common seven-foot size.
If you decide to install an eight-foot door, you’ll need to build walls at least nine feet tall to accommodate it. But tall walls are better anyway. They allow you more room to maneuver 4×8 sheets of plywood and eight-foot long boards without hitting the ceiling or breaking light bulbs.
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Garage In-Floor Heating
Tom Kapikian was looking for a DIY-friendly heating system for his new garage. He was tired of crawling around on the cold garage flooring to work on his car, and wanted a system that was quiet and efficient. He decided to install a radiant in-floor heating system, and loves the results.
PEX tubing carries warm water through the slab, where it releases heat, warming the floor and garage. A warm floor means you can set the heat lower and still feel comfortable.
Materials for a DIY in-floor heat system cost a few bucks per square foot. A professionally installed system costs about twice this much. And you don’t need a boiler. You can use a conventional water heater or an on-demand one as a heat source.
To insulate the tubing and prevent heat loss through the slab, install sheets of rigid insulation board under the tubing and around the edges of the slab. And, of course, insulate the garage walls, ceiling and overhead door. Pay close attention to sealing air leaks around all the doors and windows, too.
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