CHICAGO, GURNEE, HOFFMAN ESTATES, NAPERVILLE, TINLEY PARK, IL …

As you’re tripping over paint cans and bumping into old bicycles, you may not realize that your garage could be the most functional space in the house. After all, what other room can serve as workshop, potting shed, storage locker, recycling plant, and carport all at once? A garage is also the best place to store many items that are not used on a daily basis such as holiday decorations, gardening supplies, tools and anything else that clutters the home.

Creating effective storage in the garage can be done with a bit of ingenuity and planning. The five DirectBuy clubs of greater Chicago— DirectBuy of Chicago North at 6325 North Avondale, DirectBuy of Gurnee, DirectBuy of DuPage County in Naperville, DirectBuy of Hoffman Estates and DirectBuy of Tinley Park —offer these helpful hints on creating usable working space in your garage.

When in doubt, throw it out … Clutter can take over a garage – Before you plan your storage solutions, sort through the clutter — have a garage sale, give it to charity or truly just throw it out.

Get organized … Cut down on clutter and get your garage organized by installing garage cabinets. A new set of cabinets will clear the floor of tools, supplies and athletic equipment and open new space for perhaps a workshop or potting shed. Cabinets also work well for protecting their contents from moisture and dust.

Maximize your space … Maximize available space in your garage by using narrow storage shelves or wall-mounted racks that can stack up neatly against the walls and leave room for cars.

Smart labeling … Another smart idea is to mark storage bins so they are easy to find or use clear plastic storage boxes to immediately see what you are looking for. No more wasted time searching through an unorganized mess!

“Installing effective storage solutions in your garage means you have quickly created a new room in your home. In a short amount of time and with little investment, homeowners can create a workshop, athletic storage system, potting shed, or any other working solution they may need or imagine,” said Dave Kushner, owner of DirectBuy of Hoffman Estates. “DirectBuy also gives members the opportunity to save a lot of money by buying storage solutions for their garage, directly from the manufacturer.”

DirectBuy carries a wide selection of garage cabinets to help you cut-down on clutter and get organized. A one-stop shop for all your home building and home remodeling projects, DirectBuy offers industrial quality and strength garage cabinets that can hold and organize a variety of items that would normally clutter your garage. These garage storage cabinets make a great addition to your home garage or auto shop business storing assorted parts, tools and chemicals, which can pose a threat when simply lying around.

Since 1971, DirectBuy clubs have offered members the opportunity to enjoy enormous savings on home furnishings, home improvement items, entertainment and outdoor products and accessories by buying wholesale, directly from the manufacturer. With five convenient locations in the greater Chicago area (Chicago, Gurnee, Hoffman Estates, Naperville, and Tinley Park), consumers can enjoy a comfortable, country-club setting, where they finally have the financial control of buying direct.

For more information on a DirectBuy membership, you can visit http://www.directbuychicago.com/.

About DirectBuy

Since 1971, DirectBuy has helped hundreds of thousands of families enjoy a better quality of life, enabling them to buy directly from more than 700 manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. Buying direct makes members’ hard-earned money to go much further, while having the selection and choice not available at any retail store. Access to confidential prices, local suppliers, and unparalleled selection helps make members’ dream projects a reality.  It’s a comfortable, country-club setting, where you finally have the financial control of buying direct. The five DirectBuy clubs serving the greater Chicago area are part of more than 160 locations throughout North America.

Consumers interested in becoming members may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by visiting http://www.directbuychicago.com/. 

Locations of the five DirectBuy clubs serving the greater Chicago area are: DirectBuy of Gurnee, 4081 Ryan Rd. #107, Gurnee, IL; DirectBuy of Hoffman Estates, 2200 N. Stonington Ave Ste. 150 Hoffman Estates, IL; DirectBuy of Chicago North, 6325 Avondale, Chicago, IL; DirectBuy of DuPage County, 1864 Highgrove Ste. 136 Naperville, IL; and DirectBuy of Tinley Park, 18400 S. 76th Avenue Ste. B, Tinley Park, IL.

To learn more about the superior value and benefits of a DirectBuy membership, visit www.directbuycares.com.

When is a garage more than just a garage? When its functionality and aesthetics are empowered by state of the art designer garage cabinets. At Garage Outfitters, we offer a number of garage storage solutions; among them garage flooring, overhead storage, and a host of garage accessories including storage containers, HandiWall, and more. Our great line of products is headlined by our Signature Series garage cabinet line that increases your storage space exponentially while effectively making over your garage in a way that promises to last a lifetime. Imagine a garage in which everything is put away neatly and has its place, leaving an abundance of space with which to do what you see fit. The dream begins with our garage cabinets.

Our cabinets set the industry standard because they are constructed using the toughest building materials on the market. Our finished plywood not only looks great but sets a standard for durability and toughness, meaning you can expect your garage cabinets to carry their weight for as long as you own your home. A quick perusal of the market shows that other manufacturers often cut corners through the use of particle board, cheap plastics or steel, offering overpriced products that don’t have a chance of standing the test of time. Meanwhile, our thermo fused plywood is environmentally friendly and embodies functionality, increasing your storage space at an exceptional value.

Great construction and durability are the calling cards of our garage cabinets, but they are just the beginning of what our Signature Series cabinets include. In addition to their plywood construction and dovetail assembly, our cabinets feature a number of upgrades including steel handles, adjustable shelving, full plywood backs, and six-way adjustable hinges, to name a few. In addition, our thermo-fused finish assures that your cabinets will be scratch resistant to maintain their great appearance. And with your choice of wood grain cabinets in American Maple, Rosewood, or our new Brushed Stainless Finish, the finishes you’ll choose from are truly spectacular.

Finding additional storage space is a challenge most homeowners struggle with, yet often times the available space is right under their nose. At Garage Outfitters, we invite you to step into your garage and imagine the possibilities a series of cabinets might bring. Give your family the additional storage space it needs, and give your garage a sleek, streamlined and fashionable look in the process with our durable and affordable Signature Series of garage cabinets.

A garage is much more than just a parking place for your automobiles. Depending upon the family and the layout, the garage has become equal parts storage space, workshop, and meeting place, and the proper use of space in any of these pursuits is essential. At Garage Outfitters, we’re making the most of the space available at ground level and overhead with the finest in garage cabinets, garage flooring, overhead storage, garage accessories including storage containers, Handiwall, and more. Our garage storage solutions promote the peace of mind associated with knowing everything in your garage is in its proper place.

We’re happy to say our cabinets set the industry standard in garage cabinet design and construction. Whereas others make their storage cabinets from particle board and cheap plastics, we use durable, environmentally thermo-fused plywood as our main building component. The result of our unique modular platform is functional and plentiful storage space that is great looking, durable, and affordable. Furthermore, our overhead storage units make additional space available that you might not have even known you had. Imagine items such as luggage, coolers, holiday decorations and more out of sight and out of mind until they are necessary instead of cluttering up your garage. And for avid cyclists, our mountable bicycle racks promote convenience and order in your garage.

On the surface of things, we’ll make sure your garage floor is protected against the elements for years to come. Our garage floor coatings are available in a variety of looks and colors, and go the extra mile in coating and protecting your garage floor due to the fact that they are polyaspartic. Whereas normal epoxy coatings tend to chip, peel, and fade over time, our technologically advanced chemical coatings permanently bond with concrete, providing protection against cracks, stain, etc. and a pristine surface that will stand the test of time.

Simplifying your home life is simply a matter of making use of the tools available to you. Perhaps the most valuable, not to mentioned underused, tool in any home is space; often times because homeowners aren’t looking for it in the right place. Let Garage Outfitters show you how to make the most of the garage space at your disposal. Tools, balls, luggage, you name it… by the time we’re through it’ll all have a home, and you’ll have the extra space you need to make your garage functional and orderly. Give your garage the makeover it deserves and the space you need, and set about simplifying your life.

Garage organizers are not all created equal, not by a long shot. When you have stuff to store, but not enough space to store it in, then you know a lot about storage – or the lack of it. Many garages are used to solve this problem with simple plywood shelves. This works, but isn’t very attractive. It also isn’t very efficient. There really isn’t all that much difference between a pile of stuff on the floor and a pile of stuff on a shelf. It can be nearly as frustrating and as equally irritating. Creating a truly organized garage space takes a little bit of planning and thought. Once you’ve figured out exactly what you need to organize, then you can purchase the appropriate organization solution for your garage. Assuming that you’ve figured out your needs, here are some possible organizers for your consideration.

First, you could opt for something as basic as garage organizer cabinets that can be mounted on the wall, or put on rollers and left on the floor. These are really nice because they allow you to store items on shelves, then hide them out of site behind doors. No more embarrassment when friends and family go out to your garage. But you can do more, way more.

Garage organizers go way beyond simple shelves or even cabinets. Another one of the more popular solutions for garage storage is adjustable wall rack systems. Companies like Gladiator, Bench Solution, Flow Wall, or NewAge VersaTrac all make various wall track systems that are truly customizable and versatile. Think about all that stuff that clutters up your garage that just doesn’t fit in a cabinet or on a shelf. Hoses, rakes, shovels, brooms, roller blades, rackets, weed trimmers, etc. With a wall system you can adjust the racks and hooks so that you can make a truly functional and customizable space. Yard tools no longer have to plague your life. Don’t you hate the way they start out stacked in a corner, but somehow find a way to creep out onto the floor and invariably get in the way? Say goodbye to that little problem forever!

As a large active family, we have lots of bikes and sports equipment to manage. Rather then just have all those things rolling, bouncing, and lying around, we’ve found that overhead garage organizers are a simple, but important part of our garage. For the bikes, we bought some Prostor ceiling mount bike lifts. These allow us to use the space above, while still allowing easy access to the bikes when we want to use them. For the basketballs, soccer balls, and baseball equipment, we purchased a couple of Prostor ball and bat sport racks. These are great. They are solid steel and have a really nice smooth finish. They were easy to mount up on the wall and does exactly what we wanted them to do – keep stuff off the floor!

Garage organizers are also available for other specific items. You can get racks for golf club bags, fishing poles, ski equipment, roller blades, lawn and garden equipment, even ladders and wheelbarrows. No matter what you have to organize, you will be pleasantly surprised at your options. You truly can make sense of all that stuff. There just isn’t any excuse for clutter anymore. Go for it!

Having problems to store all your tools and equipments? Or are you looking for a suitable garage cabinet? Storage garage cabinets are made in different size, pattern and material. Do you know how to choose the most appropriate one?

Let us examine the following factors when selecting your storage cabinet.

First of all, what you must do is to categorize all your tools according to their functionality, size and work area. This will help you to decide the size you need for the garage storage cabinets. For instance, when you settle a machinery at a corner, you need to keep all tools related near to the machine for convenience purposes.

Meanwhile, you can also compartmentalize small hardware items such as drawer pulls, hinges, bolts, washers and screws. Moreover, you may need a shelf to keep equipment like power tool away from dust too.

The second thing to consider is the design of the cabinet. There are two types of cabinet. The first one is a free standing style and the other one is a mountable style. If you own both at the same time, they will definitely free out a lot of spaces in your garage.

Accessibility is also an important factor to consider. After all, you won’t want to put your tools in a cabinet that is hard to access when you need it.

The last factor consider is the materials of the cabinets. You can choose your cabinet from a variety of materials. Wood, metal or even plastic types are available in the market.

In conclusion, garage storage cabinets can be used to store tools and outdoor equipments. It can also functions as an indoor cabinet so that store things like home supplies and clothing.

I have been shopping around for some garage cabinets to help me organize my shop, and I was really impressed with the large variety of cabinets available and especially the variety of materials and finishes. I had just thought metal or pressed board, but that does not do garage cabinets justice! Though plain metal cabinets that look like you high school locker are available, there are a lot of metal options with better finishes.

Of coarse, you can get just metal garage cabinets, usually made of cold rolled steel. But the neat thing is the variety of colors that are available, you don’t have to go with institutional gray unless that what you really want. Many metal cabinets are two-tone, such as red doors on black cabinets, or silver on black, or sandstone on charcoal. If you spend a lot of time in your garage, this is a great way to customize it, especially if you ad the cool checkered garage flooring that is also available.

If you need garage cabinets that are going to get a lot of use (or abuse?) and need to stand up to some serious work, then heavy duty steel cabinets are a great option. Fully welded seams for durability, full length piano hinges and higher weight capacities make steel garage cabinets perfect for a busy shop. A powder coated finish is also great for a lot of use because it helps hide the dirt and doesn’t show fingerprints that are left behind.

You can also get cabinets made of medium density fiberboard (MDF) with nice laminate finishes. If you go with UltiMATE garage cabinets,they boast a unique polyurethane coated cabinet front which offers added durability and a smooth automotive finish. Their cabinets also have a rounded profile on all doors and cabinets for a nice clean look. These are great for your home garage. Though, remember, that MDF does tend to be heavy.

If you really like the nice shiny look and don’t have little kids (or you like to wipe down cabinets regularly) then stainless steel garage cabinets may be for you. Stainless steel definitely has a classy look, and it is not unusual to see these garage cabinets used in other rooms in the house. Being steel, they are strong and durable, normally the sides and backs are steel and the doors are stainless steel.

If you are concerned about rust or rot, then aluminum cabinets may be best for you. They also come in a variety of colors (from basic black or red, to green, yellow and blue) for total customization. The surface of aluminum garage cabinets usually have a satin finish (aluminum oxide) which will last for years while being maintenance free, easy to clean, and also resists discoloration and fingerprints.

Now, if you are a true automobile and motorcycle enthusiast, then I would say that you have to go with the diamond plate garage cabinets. These are heavy duty with a flashy look that is easy to keep clean.

Regardless of the look you want in your garage, you can tell that with the variety of garage cabinets available, most anything is possible. Most finishes, though from different manufacturers, are modular so that you can pick and choose what pieces you need most and what will fit. You can get tall or short cabinets of varying widths, work benches and specialty cabinets to suit all your garage storage needs. So, good luck and have fun getting you garage organized!

Storage cabinets made out of metal not only protect your stuff but also reduce the litter and confusion in the house. These days many easy-to-assemble plastic, metal or wooden cabinets are available in the market and they are durable and financially viable. These economical cabinets are an excellent storage idea for keeping your tools, spare parts and garden equipment and other home improvement tools.

Very often we find we have misplaced the screwdriver just when we had to fix something or hunt for nails to put that painting up only to realize that they are nowhere to be found. Once you have a storage for tools you no longer have to hunt for these things as they would be stored in the right places and you just have to replenish your stocks, that’s all. Allen wenches, screwdrivers and paint brushes can be stored in shallow compartmentalized drawers instead of putting them into large deep drawers. Often used tools can be hung on pegs and stored that way instead of in drawers as it saves one the botheration of opening the drawer time and time again.

Sports stuff is usually piled in one corner of the garage which keeps getting bigger and bigger and one has to dig deeper and deeper to reach down and find what one is looking for. In most cases, Murphy’s Law applies and you’ll find what you want right at the very bottom. For this purpose plastic storage cabinets are ideal as they can take a lot of beating and rough treatment. These cabinets are very durable and strong and besides they don’t dent even if things are flung in roughly.

Every individual takes pride in his wine collection and the older it is the better it is. For wines, there are different storage racks where the bottles are laid horizontally in different slots to avoid settling. If you are a connoisseur of wines you could also set up temperature control thermostats that help you savor the wine and help age it too. A well-laid out, well-stocked wine cellar is any family’s pride.

Music and movies are an integral part of our lives and they can also be placed in structured, interesting looking cabinets made up of wood, Plexiglas or glass, offering up to 100 or 1000 slots to accommodate your movie and music CD or DVD collection. It’s a great way to bring order into your audio and video collection.

Outer storage is perfect for big implements like garden equipment or electric screwdrivers or cans that don’t fit into drawers. These cabinets provide the security and ease of garage storage and they come in various sizes and fittings. Whether you want shelving that’s enclosed or open depends on your needs and what you prefer. Open shelves do help in locating things faster and one can assign a shelf for each group. A few storage cabinets in strategic places and our lives suddenly become so much more organized. All it takes is a little planning and a bit of effort.

For whatever reason, most of us seem to expect and even accept the oil spots, cracks, and stains that accumulate on garage flooring over time. The end result is a garage that looks like it belongs anywhere but attached to your otherwise beautiful home. At Garage Outfitters, we offer a number of garage storage solutions including garage cabinets, overhead storage, garage accessories including storage containers, HandiWall, and more. And in the interest of making your garage as pristine as it can be, we’re happy to protect yours with the only garage floor coating on the market manufactured by BASF.

The difference in the coating we offer is profound. In partnership with BASF we are proud to offer polyaspartic coating, which sets a new standard in terms of strength and durability thanks to the most advanced chemical coating technologies available in today’s market. Traditional coatings are generally epoxies, which look great going on but tend to give into the elements as time passes. In other words fading, peeling, and cracking are usually inevitable. Polyaspartic coating, however, is a different story and offers a much happier ending. Our coatings work better because they literally seep into and bond with the concrete they are applied to. This bonding gives your garage floor a built-in defense mechanism against staining, chipping, hot tire wear, fading, etc. The end result is a seamless garage floor set to stay that way for years to come.

Our garage floor coatings are available in a variety of colors and finishes, and the years of style and protection they offer for your garage floor can be achieved quickly through our one-day installation. It’s simply a matter of letting our factory trained installers treat your concrete for existing stains and cracks, and then mechanically grinding and leveling the concrete surface before applying the color and texture selection you’ve chosen. And because they’re backed by one of the industry’s best warranties, you’ll have the added benefit of knowing a coating built for the long haul anyway is assured of standing the test of time.

Add value to your home and make your garage a place you actually enjoy entering and spending time in by giving your flooring a good coat of what we have to offer. A good garage makeover begins with the foundation, and our polyaspartic coating ensures a foundation built to withstand the elements and provide years of durable service. You are simply a day away from the garage floor of your dreams. Let us show you what a difference our coating can make.

Those looking to give their garage a makeover and create additional storage space can be heartened by a number of solutions available including garage cabinets, garage flooring, overhead storage, storage containers, and more. At Garage Outfitters, you’ll find the finest cabinets, coatings, and all-around solutions the industry has to offer, and you’ll also find something else. We call it HandiWall, and once you’ve installed it and seen the difference it can make you’ll call it a godsend.

HandiWall is one of the many great products offered by Garage Outfitters, and is an all-encompassing and ideal garage storage solution. Durable and versatile, each HandiWall set includes a host of accessories including shelving, hooks, bins, baskets, and various specialty storage products. The durable commercial finish of these products makes them a perfect choice for use inside as well as outdoors in any weather conditions. And because they are built for easy and instant reorganization, they offer a versatility that allows for change when you need it.

Install HandiWall as the panel system for your garage walls. Each panel is tongue and groove in style for easy installation, and is 1/2 inch thick, 12 inches high, and available in eight foot lengths. You’ll look long and hard to find a system that works so well and looks so good in your garage. It’s all about the functionality and aesthetics that are the calling card of all of our products, and that the accessories in our HandiWall line offer in spades.

HandiWall’s built-in durability makes it the perfect choice for indoor or outdoor applications including your garage. There is a reason these products are consistently chosen to be used in the toughest commercial display projects; namely a durable finish ready, able, and willing to withstand the elements and thrive in high abuse applications. Because all garages aren’t created using the same dimensions, HandiWall can also be custom cut to fit any area perfectly. And because we know that styles and tastes differ from one household to the next, we are proud to offer a number of top of the line solid core designer colors and wood grains.

Bringing a sense of order to your home via the creation of additional storage space is the dream of many a homeowner. We invite you to do so in a stylish, sensible, and affordable way, by learning more about HandiWall and everything this amazing and versatile product brings to the table.

Like any part of your house, your garage needs some organization as well. It is prone to so much clutter and mess especially since we don’t normally spend so much time out there. And even if you do, some tools tend to be left where you last use them instead of being kept with the other tools. Some just don’t have any form of organization so their garage is dirty and tools are scattered everywhere.

Upon realization that you want a tidy garage, look over the whole garage and identify the problem areas. Take note of the things that need most of the tidying up. Then plan the whole organization of your garage. Create a garage storage system that will be most helpful to you. Think where you want to put the tools, furniture and other equipment that is in your garage. Cabinets and drawers are good for eliminating your garage clutter. It’s also good to use your wall for hanging tools. Install shelves and buy boxes to store items on each shelf.

Plan what type of cabinets, panels, chests and other storage you are going to use. You can call in a professional to help you or buy a preconfigured garage storage system. It is helpful to browse around online and in stores to help you make your decision. Then after installing and storing everything, don’t forget to label each drawer, cabinet and storage box. This is important so that everything will be easy to find. Now you won’t only have a tidy garage, you will also have an efficient one.