The garage is often the last place you're inspired to organize, especially once it's overrun with clutter, mismanaged tools, or hazardous materials. To cut through the mess, it takes a great plan and a system that's worth the investment. Do some systems fall short? Yes, and it's an expensive lesson. Done right, can a garage organization system change your life? Sure can!
I'm most inspired by actually seeing a garage transformation. Not only is it easier to understand how modular cabinets and accessories come together to optimize vertical space, but a solid 'before and after' is often the jumpstart I need to make a plan. As if they were reading my mind, NewAge Products reached out to showcase their partnership with Rob Mariano from The Traitors and Season 4 of Survivor fame (who you might also remember from his subsequent challenges; the guy's a legend). Rob's also a licensed contractor, and what he's done to improve the garage at his own personal residence in Florida is nothing short of cool.
From the thick stone composite flooring that holds up to 40,000 pounds of dynamic weight, to the cabinets and lockers that add necessary storage space, is this Rob's biggest win to date? You be the judge.
Design the Perfect Unit For Your Garage
Like what you see? Us too. And it doesn't take up as much space as you'd think. "A 14-piece NewAge Products Pro Series set will take up around 43 square feet (42.667 floor square footage) and 150 square feet of wall space (149.33 wall square footage)," shares Matthew Ross, NewAge Products PR and Partnerships Manager. "In most cases, budget and size are the largest constraints for customers. If your space is limited, if you’re on a tight budget, if you have never had garage cabinets before, the 7-piece set is another option."
And yes, you might have noticed that you can install an undercounter fridge. "The undercounter fridge is 24”, and it can fit in a gap that we can create between the base cabinets," explains Ross. "Or, you can leave an empty space and attach the countertop to the locker that’s next to it."
Is setup hard? Not according to Rob, but of course, keep in mind that every home is different. "There really wasn’t anything hard about installing NewAge Products! They basically came almost fully assembled. Our biggest challenge was navigating the slope of the garage and the existing foundation that protruded into the space. We figured out an easy solution because of the adjustable legs on the NewAge Products cabinets. We were able to level everything very easily and were super happy with how it turned out."
NewAge Products Used in Rob's Remodel
- Pro Series 14 Piece Set
- Workbench
- Fridge
- 48” Locker
- 42” Locker
- 5 Drawer Tool Cabinet
- Garage Stool
- Hook Kit
- Stone Composite Flooring
- PVC Slatwall
- Base Cabinet
- Wall Cabinet
- Corner Cabinet
- Worktop
- LED Light Kit
Can you put the stone composite flooring over the existing concrete?
"Yes, the biggest constraint is how even/level the existing surface is; the subfloor flatness should not exceed 3/16” per 10ft (4.7mm per 3m radius)," shares Ross. "Subfloors must be leveled before starting the installation, which is often the case."
He adds, "A successful installation requires a thorough pre-installation readiness assessment to make sure all surfaces are dry, clean and free of dust, wax, solvents, paint, grease, oils and old glue residue, and potentially sand or grind any raised areas. For best results flooring could be acclimated for 24-48 hours in the desired environment before opening the cartons. It is recommended to install the floors when the room temperature is at least 5°C (41°F) to 24°C (75.2°F)."
Will a 14-piece set fit in a two-car garage that also needs to store two vehicles?
"If the average two-car garage is 22’ x 22’, you will be able to fit two F-150s (209.4” long) and a 14-piece NewAge Products Pro Series set on the back wall, with some space to spare (approx. 31” leftover)," highlights Ross.
