Check Out What Mike Holmes Did to His Garage

Taking Garages to the Next Level

The garage is often one of the most overlooked areas of the house because it's considered to be a simple storage space for the car. Another typical use for the garage is an impromptu storage area to throw things that don't fit inside the home.

However, with a little effort and imagination, the garage can become a highlight of your home. Instead of squandering the space that you paid for, you can turn it into a place for you and your family to enjoy. Home reno TV star Mike Holmes recently decided to film a special, Mike's Ultimate Garage, in which he and his son Mike Jr. team up to create the ultimate space that breaks out of the mundane mold of the traditional, boring garage.

Interior Profile

One of the first tasks of creating Mike's ultimate garage was installing the best possible storage solutions for the space. The ProSlat garage organization system was used to take care of wall storage. The is system made of impact and water‑resistant components made from 90% recycled materials. ProSlat also include baskets and hooks; the entire system can be anchored to the wall to provide further stability. Portable, non‑screw cabinets in the workshop are on clips that make them easy to move around. An entertainment area was created featuring beautiful maple cabinets.

A trio of countertops were also installed with all three made of different materials. A bar with a quartz countertop, workshop with a bamboo countertop, and entertainment area with a walnut countertop.

The garage consists of 1,300 square feet of epoxy flooring on the bottom floor and hand‑scraped hickory hardwood on the top floor. Support beams are made of douglas fir wood that has been stained, adding to the collection of wood that make this space unique.

Throughout the garage, LEDs that can be dimmed provide the appropriate level of lighting according to needs. The spotlights installed into the epoxy floor are also LEDs. The staircase also features LEDs that help increase safety, as well as providing an aesthetically pleasing look.

Heavy hardware installed in the garage include a 30,000 BTU heater and a pair of garage lifts. The garage doors are equipped with auto‑lock and auto‑stop features that ensure safety in the event of a cable snapping.

Exterior Profile

One of the green‑friendly features of this garage are collection of solar panels that have been installed on the roof. This solar power system consists of 40 panels that create a maximum of 10 kilowatts. A series of batteries that weigh approximately 170 pounds have a storage of 1,200 amp hours apiece. Rounding out the system are two Sunny Islands and a bunch of inverters.

Solar power also runs the skylights and the outdoor lighting system. The skylight includes a sound sensor that detects rain, closing the skylight automatically when triggered. Around the garage exterior and alongside the driveway are a series of wireless outdoor lights and store the solar energy collected into batteries buried in the ground. These store enough to provide five hours of light without recharging.

The roof consists of stone‑coated corrugated panel steel with the appearance of asphalt. Durable and resistant to corrosion, the roof also earned a Class A designation in terms of fire‑rating. Joining all the metal is the installation of greenery, which helps improve the durability while reducing heating and cooling costs.

Constructed using a sound‑rated, fire‑rated Durisol Block Frame that features an insulation rating of R31, the garage is well‑protected from the elements. Through insulated concrete form construction, this frame boasts termite resistance, increased water and wind resistance and zero air infiltration without rotting or decaying like other structures. The block frame is also designed to absorb and release moisture at appropriate times to avoid conditions that lead to mold.

The exterior insulation finish system uses a pressure‑utilized compartmented cavity system that allows moisture to flow into drainage tracks, helping to further protect the garage.

As Mike Holmes' amazing garage clearly demonstrates, you can choose to turn your garage into something other than an ordinary storage space for your car and other items that aren't wanted in the home. Instead, you can build a more welcoming space that acts as a second home, where people can gather and enjoy a wide variety of activities, including working on a car, watching the big game or having a barbecue.