Building or renovating a garage? While there’s a lot you’ll need to do in terms of ensuring the right overall design is used, that the proper insulation is added and more, you also need to pay attention to the type of lighting used throughout. You have quite a few options, but they’re not all the same and they don’t work in the same way. You’ll need to choose your lighting type based on your intended usage of the space in your garage. Let’s consider a few tips to make things easier on you.
Plan, Plan, Plan
First up, make sure that you plan out your garage correctly. We recommend creating an actual physical sketch of the space and how you intend to utilize it. Make sure you know where you’ll place things like your workbench, small items that can be hung up on the wall, appliances and equipment, seasonal items that need to be stored away and more.
Once you’ve created a plan, you’ll need to think about how to use the additional space over the garage door if your ceiling is tall enough. You can add plastic storage containers, shelves and more to this area, dramatically increasing your storage space.
Now that you have everything laid out, you can start planning for the type of lighting you need, and where you’ll want to place it.
Your Options in Garage Lighting
You’ll find a wide range of lighting types on the market today. Some work similar to one another, while others are dramatically different. Let’s take a look at your options and how they might be used.
Fluorescent
These are conventional tube-shaped bulbs, and you’re no doubt familiar with them. They offer passable lighting, and low electricity usage, but they’re filled with mercury, which is toxic. Usually, they mount to the ceiling, and are perhaps the most commonly used type of garage lighting.
CFL
CFL, or compact fluorescent lighting, is available in a range of shapes and sizes. These are ideal replacements for standard incandescent bulbs, and can provide good light emission coupled with reduced power usage. They also offer 10x the standard lifespan of an incandescent bulb.
Halogen
Halogen bulbs have been around for a long time, and offer bright light emission, often in a defined area. These are great for spot lights, and still manage to reduce energy usage costs compared to standard incandescent bulbs. They’re bright, produce white light, and can be used in many ways.
LEDs
LED lights have become smaller and more powerful over the years. Today, they offer dramatic electricity usage reductions, combined with good light output. They also have an incredibly long lifespan – the best in the industry. While they do cost more than other types of lighting, their extended lifespan will help you recoup that cost several times over.
Making Your Choice
Now that you know a little bit about the lighting options on the market, it’s time to make your choice. Which is really right for you, though? Many people consider standard fluorescent bulbs the best choice, but they’re actually not all that great. They offer only acceptable illumination, they buzz while operating, and you’ll need to determine the right T-number for your needs. T indicates the diameter size of the tube.
The most common size on the market is the T8, but there are also T5 and T12 bulbs out there. If you do decide to go with fluorescent lights, we recommend T8 bulbs in a four-foot length to provide the right amount of light, but reduced energy usage as compared to eight-foot lengths.
T8 bulbs also offer a few other advantages. For instance, rather than standard ballasts, they usually come with quick-start ballasts. The light produced by T8 bulbs also seems more natural, as compared to the harsh lighting created by other types.
Another consideration with fluorescent lights (and some other types) is that you’ll definitely want supplemental lighting in the areas where you work in the garage. This might be a halogen bulb aimed at your workbench, or it could be work lamps, or even LEDs positioned so that you have the right visibility for the task at hand. Of course, you’ll also want to consider exterior lighting. CFL and halogen lights are the most common for outdoor use.
What about Your Garage Door?
If you’re building or renovating a garage, chances are good that you need to replace the garage door. You might need better insulation, or perhaps you want to match the exterior style of your home. Maybe you want to install a motorized garage door opener. Whatever the case, you can contact us at 508-563-5633 to discuss your options in terms of weatherproof, high-quality, highly-insulated garage doors.
You’re welcome to visit our showroom in person and see firsthand what we have to offer, or you can request an online quote. Of course, if you’re pressed for time, our design center lets you see exactly what a particular garage door style and type will look like on your home, and our image gallery will help you decide between different design elements, window arrangements and more.
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