Ok, ok, so it's not a car garage... or it is, but for lots of cars. But I thought it would be fun to look at some of the weirdest parking garages around; it might make you feel better about your own oddball, weirdly thrown together garages. If nothing else, it will make for a pleasant diversion, so here we go!

Let A Robot Park It

Dubai in the United Arabian Emirates is already known for its extravagant and innovative areas, including entire islands that are man-made, but this wacky parking garage may take a prize. From the outside: a single car garage. Inside: the capacity to hold 765 cars all managed by robotic arms which can sort and handle 250 cars an hour, parking and retrieving cars for those who use this facility.

Source: http://www.popularmechanics.com/cm/popularmechanics/images/z4/parking-15-mdn.jpg

Let There Be Light!

The Parkhaus Engelenschanze in Stuttgart Germany is a palace for cars (and their owners). It features massive windows which let in a ton of light (making the garage feel a lot safer) and an interior courtyard with a waterfall, creek and plants to relax beside. It’s topped of with an innovated ramp design that means traffic going up and traffic going down never meet.

Source: http://www.popularmechanics.com/cm/popularmechanics/images/sa/parking-10-mdn.jpg

The Most Sustainable Parking Garage Ever

 The first LEED-certified parking garage can be found in Santa Monica, California. It features 900 spaces for cars, 14 spaces for electrical cars, space for bicycles, solar panels on the roof which both shade vehicles and provide enough electricity for the building to sustain itself and was built with sustainably sourced materials. This high level of sustainability is not (yet) required for parking garages, but we can certainly see that it can be done!

Source: http://www.popularmechanics.com/cm/popularmechanics/images/7c/parking-08-mdn.jpg

Showcasing Talent to Showcasing Vehicles

The Michigan Theatre parking garage in Detroit, Michigan, is fairly unique. Up until 1976, it enjoyed life as a theatre; however, the owners went bankrupt and were forced to sell. In most cases, a building is demolished when it is slated to become a parking garage. In this case however, demolition would have rendered nearby building structurally unsound. Instead, the theatre was retooled into a parking garage and its history was preserved to the best of the architects' abilities.

Source: http://www.popularmechanics.com/cm/popularmechanics/images/7i/parking-07-mdn.jpg

Cars That Float

Umihotaru is a floating car park! It was built on an artificial island and offers a beautiful view. It also gives travellers using the aqua-line-the world's longest underwater tunnel-a break from the ocean to see the world. It features not only parking, but also shops and restaurants, just like the cruise liner it's modelled after.

Source: http://www.popularmechanics.com/cm/popularmechanics/images/p2/parking-03-mdn.jpg

A Home Garage and Showcase

Finally we get to a home garage in our list. It's not a parking garage, but this one is found in a home. The KRE House garage was designed in a home to allow for nine high end cars to be parked inside. Not only that, but a car could be shown off in the living room. All this was done on a 2000 square foot plot. A mechanical platform lets the owner switch around cars to show off. The garage is actually placed at ground level and the modular home is placed on top.

Source: http://www.popularmechanics.com/cm/popularmechanics/images/KW/parking-04-mdn.jpg

So there you have it! Five wacky parking garages and one very expensive home garage. While we wouldn't endorse basing your own garages around these things, they certainly are fun to look at and if you're ever in any of the places where these garages can be found, they're worth checking out.

What to Get Rid Of When Cleaning Your Garage

If your goal is to clean your garage, you're probably going to have to be fairly stringent with yourself about getting rid of the junk. It's all too easy to convince yourself that you may need such-and-such an item when in reality, you don't need it at all. With that in mind, we've compiled a quickie list of things you will most definitely want to get rid of!

Garage Cleanup: Old Paint

You don't really need the leftovers of your last renovation job hanging around in your garage. Leftover paint need not remain your garage; it can be toxic, you won't use it anytime soon, and it could start leaking and making a mess. You can usually take old paint to a proper disposal center where it will be recycled into new products.

Garage Cleanup: Old Boxes of Clothes

If you have been using your garage as a storehouse for things like old baby clothes then it's time to pull it out and give something back to society. Old clothes are just places for insects to live and can be homes for fungus. Sort through the clothing and throw out anything which is too far gone to use, then donate the rest.

Garage Cleanup: Old Tools

No matter how expensive that lawnmower was, if it's not working, get rid of it! There are plenty of places where you can recycle your old tools and even sell the scrap metal for cash. Getting rid of old tools will give you a lot more room to work with and give you a great excuse to buy all new tools.

Garage Cleanup: Old Chemicals

You may have been storing old oil and old antifreeze to protect the environment from them, but there's no reason to keep them around the garage. There should be at least one place in your town which will recycle old oil and old chemicals, probably at your local garage or dump. Get rid of old chemicals whenever you can because you don't want anything accidently getting poisoned.

Garage Cleanup: Anything You Haven't Used Recently

If it's in the garage and it's not something like your car, tools or storage, chances are you haven't used it in a while. Anything that hasn't been used in the past six to twelve months is probably perfect to get rid of. Donate whatever you can and junk the rest.

Cleaning up the garage isn't a fun task and it is time consuming. However, when you start getting rid of things, you'll probably feel more energized, not less. Getting rid of junk is a great way to relieve a lot of the weight on your home and give you more space to work with so that you can enjoy more of your own home. Be hard on your garage and throw out everything you can; you'll be glad you did once the job

Ways to Make Garage Storage Go Green

When it comes to garage organization and storage, many people race out and buy all new bins and all new containers. That's fine if you have the cash to burn, but in our cash strapped economy, not to mention increased awareness about the importance of recycling and reusing, finding ways to organize your garage by using what you already have is really helpful. So what can you use that's already around your home to help your garage be more organized?

Old Jars

Old jam jars, old yogurt containers and old butter containers can all be retooled to hold things like screws, nails and bolts. Make sure you label each container clearly with what's inside and store them safely so that they don't tip over and spill their contents across creation! This system is far safer than just shoving everything in a drawer and it's absolutely free to you since pretty well everyone has empty containers of some sort lying around.

Old Metal Trash Cans

You know those metal or plastic trash cans that you used to have before the advent of those large rectangular garbage bins that are picked up by an automated truck? (Ok, not all towns have these, but many of them do now). If you still have old trash cans lying around, you can retool them to store things like fertilizer and compost. Just make sure to drill holes in the cans to make sure that the soil is properly aerated so that fertilizer won't go rancid.

Old Tires

Did you know that those old tires can be reused? There are actually several creative ways to turn your old wrecked tires into something useful. For example, for a bit of money and effort, you can turn old tires into rubber mulch. Rubber mulch lasts a lot longer than other kinds of mulch and works well for a variety of things. You can also repurpose old tires into gardening tools, such as places to grow flowers so that they won't interfere with the grass, or a way to grow and protect small trees. And of course, you can usually sell old tires for a bit of cash or send them a recycling plant.

Recycle Old Poisons

Things like old paint, pesticides, oil and other chemicals cannot be merely tossed away; they must be disposed of properly. Technology is at the point now where even the most toxic household goods can be safely recycled. Make sure to properly dispose of everything you are no longer using and carefully store the rest, out of reach of animals and children in particular.

There are lots of other ways to go green in your garage, but garage storage can definitely benefit from reusing what you thought was old garbage. You can create more space and have a safer area in which to work which is always a great thing!

Types of Garage Flooring

When we think of working on the garage, the flooring is often the last thing to get any attention. Certainly things like storage and proper lighting are important, but flooring is also important because a proper floor will give longer life to your entire garage, protect your items and make your garage look nicer.

There are all kind of garage flooring to consider, but above all, you should consider the following:

DurabilityEasy to Clean AffordableGoodlooking

These traits are particularly important in garages because it is a well trafficked area that is prone to stains from things like oil and dirt. The wrong kind of flooring will fall apart faster and will get incredibly stained and junky.

There are two kinds of flooring: roll-out floors which are things like huge mats that are placed over concrete or cement or a coating for your floor made from epoxy or latex paint. Both types of flooring have their advantages and disadvantages to bear in mind.

Roll Out Flooring

Roll out flooring or floor mats, is a type of flooring which is laid over the original flooring. These roll out mats or flooring are often made from things like rubber or polyvinyl.

Roll out flooring is advantageous in a number of ways: it's usually more affordable than other flooring, it is usually patterned so that dirt and mud is easily knocked off before you enter your home, and they are easy to install, clean and maintain. Roll out mats or heavy tiles which are laid down in your garage can be found in a variety of places online and offline and are a great way to spruce up your garage with very little effort.

The main disadvantage of roll out flooring is that it will wear out over time and some people will not like the designs or the make of them. For this reason, it could be that something like a floor coating will be better.

Floor Coating

Unlike floor mats or roll-out floor coverings, a floor coating is something you apply directly. Floor coatings are usually made from something like epoxy paint, polyurethane, latex paint or concrete stains.

Floor coatings are beneficial because they can protect the original flooring from damage, protect it from weather, and do things like create a non-skid surface. Many people prefer floor coatings to roll out flooring because it may look better and it will not wear out as quickly, so long as the coating is properly applied. However, coatings take a lot longer to put down and you have to make sure that your floor is properly prepared. For example, the garage floor should be clean, particularly of oil and grease, and you make sure to follow manufacturer instructions or else your coating will peel or otherwise be damaged.

Out of the various floor coatings, latex paint is the cheapest, polyurethane is the best (but pricey) and epoxy is the most durable. The decision will likely be made on account of your budget and what kind of coating you think would look best in the garage.

There is a third kind of garage flooring which you may see and that is linked tiles. These heavy tiles link together and can be set down in your garage. They are usually very durable and fairly stain resistant, though they can be expensive or hard to get. They are also more of a nuisance to put down than roll out mats but less time consuming than floor coatings, so the tiles drift somewhere in between the two major types.

Garage flooring is pretty important to consider if you are renovating your garage. Deciding whether you want roll-out flooring or coated flooring will determine how your garage looks and what manner of function you wish for it to serve (aside from protecting your floors!) Take special care to consider this aspect of your garage renovations so that you can have a great garage for years to come.

Turning Your Garage Into a Playroom? 

Not everyone wants their garage to just be a place to store junk and maybe (maybe) a car. There are many people who find that their garage is just a junk hole and want to make use of it. A good use of a garage when it is not being used for vehicles, is to turn it into a
playroom for the kids! It's surprisingly easy to convert a garage into a playroom, though of course it's a time consuming endeavour which demands some creativity and of course, the ability to enjoy yourself. The end result will be a room which kids can enjoy and free up more space for the adults.

The first thing you'll have to do of course is empty out the old garage and sort out things. You can sell anything that could possibly be purchased in a garage sale and then donate anything else and garbage the rest. Be ruthless; if it's in the garage, odds are good that it's there because you rarely or never use it anymore! Once your garage is completely empty, sweep out the cobwebs, dust and bugs and then start planning out your space. You may want to put up a 'false' wall over the garage door so that the kids don't play with it but you can then take down the wall if you want to sell your home so that it can command a greater price.

Once the space is cleaned and a false wall erected, insulate your garage to keep it warm in the winter and cooler in the summer. There are easy foam or fibreglass insulations you can use which are cheap and easy to install. Then put up your new drywall and start painting! I would suggest using chalkboard paint on at least one wall so that the kids have a place to scribble. The rest should be painted in bright colors to make the space look larger and feel cooler.

Now it's time to enlist the kids in decorating. Try your best to opt for a theme which will last a long time; something general like outer space or animals rather than something specific like a movie or book. In this way, the room can grow as your kids do and you won't have fights break out over the décor. Get things like puzzle or letter mats for the floor or use carpet ends-they are cheap and easy to clean, but still cozy. Add any furniture like a small table and chairs, storage bins and shelves and then move the toys in!

If you're worried about the temperature, you can place a small space heater in the room to keep it warm in the winter and use a fan in the summer or you have the money, you can have new heating and cooling installed. You may also want to consider beefing up your electrical outlets so that you can use things like a television, video games and movies in the room to help the kids wind down again.

Garages don't just have to be used to store a vehicle or store goods. If you find yourself with a wasted garage, take the chance to clean it out and convert it into useful space for your children. It's a fun way to exert some creative muscle and create a fun place for kids and a more kid free home for the adults in the rest of the building. Have fun with it and look forward to seeing your kids' faces light up when the project is all done.