Wednesday
September 18, 2024 
Porsche or Pantera? Mustang, Maserati, Triumph or Model T? Whatever your car crush, keep your vintage, classic or high-end wheels safe in style with a well appointed garage.
From flooring and finishes to display areas or a space to tinker, a luxury garage space should be designed to meet the specific needs — and desires — of the home and vehicle owner, said John Gemmi, owner of Gemmi Construction Inc. in Buckingham.
For features like indoor car wash bays or bathrooms, make sure you check with local municipal officials first.
Gemmi said municipalities may have concerns about floor drains because of the nature of automotive fluids and the risk of leaking into the environment.
“If you put a drain in a floor, it’s something you’d need to make sure you do with municipal approvals,” he said.
For those with enough space, a dedicated wash bay is another installation that requires approval from the local municipal authorities.
“You’d want waterproofing on the walls, and it may not look the same as the rest of the garage,” he said.
“The last one we did had hot and cold water hookups and an outdoor washing area so the car washing was still completed outside,” Gemmi said.
While a powder room toilet and sink or “convenience” bathroom is typically permitted, Gemmi said most municipalities don’t easily allow a full bathroom set up in order to discourage living space outside the primary residence.
Check with municipal officials before planning any renovation project.
Whole house remodeling projects may include a new garage build or an existing garage renovation — whether the garage space is attached to the home or detached from it.
For a recent project, Gemmi said an existing detached garage was connected by a new breezeway with roof cover.
“We rehabbed the garage and main house at the same time, and we were able to tie in elements so it looks cohesive,” he said.
Don’t overlook the value of “attic” space in a garage. In either a new build or renovation, ask your contractor about light storage space overhead.
For another client, Gemmi said a cable lift or “dumbwaiter” arrangement made it easy to take advantage of garage attic space.
The dumbwaiter allows for boxes or bins to be lifted to the overhead area, while a stair system provides access to the area for the property owner.
“Now this client can easily store and access their holiday decorations and other items easily,” he said.
Garages that are not attached and meant to be used year ‘round will require a heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit (HVAC) for climate control.
Gemmi recommends a mini-split system to handle heat and air conditioning. Epoxy finishes on the floor not only dress up the garage surface, they are durable, easy to clean, enhance safety and are a good looking option.
HVAC and LED lighting systems have come a long way and more options — from practical to wow-factor — are available.
Gemmi said, for one client, LED lights became a magical element on a car lift for this client’s classic Corvette.
A dog wash area in the garage with an enclosure and storage for gear is another use some clients request, he said.
For many clients — especially of the baby boom generation — keeping home security systems simple is a top priority, he said.
“Cameras they can open on their smartphones or an integrated alarm system featuring video were very important, and we’ve tied the garage into their alarm systems,” Gemmi said.
Whether or not you own an electric vehicle, a major construction project is the ideal time to prepare for the future and your home’s next owner.
“Electric vehicles are a thing — even if it’s not your thing — run the wires for the next home owner. It’s a good resale feature, because you’re not trying to fish wires or run them and it’s cheaper to do it now rather than later,” Gemmi said.
An upscale garage can include different features, like a home office.
“On a recent build we did, the clients wanted two home offices with soundproof features for video calls,” he explained.
Lounge areas remain popular with some clients, and Gemmi said for another client a cigar bar and lounge area on the lower level of the garage created a guy retreat for the homeowner and his friends.
• Zoning matters. Check with your local officials if you’re looking to add a detached garage.
• Calculate impervious surface area. When planning for any addition, it’s vital to size the new structure according to local impervious surface allowances for your property. These ratios are set and available from local municipal zoning offices.
• Aesthetics. Tying elements of any new addition and structure together is important for the overall look of your property. Do you want the new garage to stand alone and look like a barn and be different, or do you want the new structure to complement and harmonize with the existing home and any other outbuildings on the property.
• Alignment. Doors, trims and other features should align with the overall aesthetics of the property. “You may want to change out all the garage doors at the same time” if it’s been some time since the current doors were replaced, Gemmi said.
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