Help Settle a Dispute?

[regancc]

I was reading though another thread on VCT Tiles as I am thinking of going that route (still undecided) and read this entry:

Has anyone done this with tan tiles? I have a red brick house, brown aggregate driveway, etc. While I love black and white, I think it would match the house better if it was black and tan.

I am in the middle of my garage renovation (I will update my renovation thread later after I get further down the road; read: more progress! LOL) and had a small disagreement with my bride last night...and am sure many of you husbands/significant others will understand... .

So the basic premise alluded to in the above quote by haugy (he seems to agree with my wife) is that one finishes a garage to 'match' the house. Or at least some may desire to do that.

She feels the garage should match the house style which she perceives to be a 'country' style and my garage scheme is, in her opinion, too 'contemporary'...

So, here is the house...

So, two questions:

First, do any of you see the house as 'country' in style?

How many of you actually think/thought about that or attempted to actually 'match the house style' when you set out to redo your attached garage? I think it matters that it is attached. If the garage were detached, I don't think she would care because it be a separate building.

My wife's opinion is that I am going to 'gaudy-out' the garage by going with the below paint scheme (Hat tip to Ch3No2 for the photo) and possibly black and white VCT tiles in the 2'x2' checkerboard pattern. Along with that, I plan to go with red workbenches to match the red stripe and use black granite formica countertops (from Menard's) as the workbench top surface.

Second, do you match your garage scheme to the 'house style'?

Or does this whole thread not make any sense to you at all??

 

[Gore]

With all due respect to your wife I have to say that:

1. Your house does not look country, IMO country would definitely have wood siding... but I used to live in TN and many houses were brick, so I could see your house going either way.

2. I don't see the garage needing to match the rest of the house unless you are constantly working with the door open and it is extremely visible to the neighbors and whatnot. A garage seems like its own unique space and should be whatever you want and whatever suits your needs best. How often is she in it anyway?

3. Happy wife = Happy life....nothing I say or anyone else here says will really matter in the end. Unless she is a really caring, understanding, open minded, and generous woman, she will probably want it to match the house.
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see what I did there?

 

[strnge]

The garage is like a room in the house.

You decorate it inside to the way it is going got be used.

Does every room in your house look like this:

http://www.tallahasseegrapevine.com.../Sweet South Cottage French Country Decor.jpg

I doubt it!

So my answer is not to do it how she says.

 

[Weekend_warrior]

I agree with Gore.

The garage is its own space with its own decore.... Do it how you want!

 

[HMCFab9]

It's your garage! Do whatever the hell you want to with it.
What's the deal with all the weenies nowadays that always have to do what their wife says?

 

[onewaydave]

Hoo boy, hoo boy, HOO BOY. Unt uh. Nope, Hoo boy. Not once, not ever, nope.

Dave.

 

[SGKent]

Happy marriage...... garage my way......... happy marriage ......... garage my way hmmmmmn.

One word of caution to both - garages get dusty. Walls get grinder debris on them... greasy hands oops on the walls, stuff gets piled up and that spider gets squashed on the wall. Who is going to keep this additional room clean? Is she volunteering or is that the next disagreement?

 

[pmiranda]

If she's going to do the painting then let her paint it any color she wants
Are you only allowed to buy tan cars so they match the house when they're parked?
You should push the functionality of your color scheme over style. Men aren't supposed to have style or care about colors
I say gloss white on the upper portion of the walls so they don't **** up the light, and if you want her to feel included, any color she wants that will hide dirt on the lower portion.
I think a light color on the floor is a good idea so you can find dropped parts easily.

 

[432bullet]

A mans home is his castle, his shop is his sanctuary. If you want to get your point across just start telling her how to decorate the rest of the house.

 

[Matt M PA]

Wow... good question. As nice as a checkered floor looks...I wouldn't do it in my garage.
I appreciate the retro look...but it's not for me.

One day, I plan to do VCT in my detached and I've planned on all one color or maybe a design for one color where the cars park and one for "walk ways".

My garage is done with plain old white walls...but the outside matches the house.

Thinking a bit about the OPs question...I think I'd match the house better if it were me.

 

[jlmotox]

it's MY gargage and her house....thats the way it works at my house...

and besides do you tell her how to do the laundry or cook, no probably not...so she shouldn't tell you how to design your shop!

 

[joshuaz223]

I'm hard on concrete. I can't imagine how a tile floor would fare. I have also noticed that all the people who say "be a man do what you want" have bad or no relationships. A good partnership involves compromise.

 

[crazytrain]

The garage is like a room in the house.

You decorate it inside to the way it is going got be used.

Does every room in your house look like this:

http://www.tallahasseegrapevine.com.../Sweet South Cottage French Country Decor.jpg

I doubt it!

So my answer is not to do it how she says.

If you decorate your garage like the link above you can turn in your man card now.


My wife and I have an agreement My shed/shop is mine and so is the basement I can do what ever I want in either and she can decorate the house however she likes. I don't see this agreement changing when I get a garage. It will be mine to do as I please unless she wants to give me the house. Then it will be deer heads and camo everywhere, I doubt she will have a problem letting me have the garage.

 

[JakeKohl]

Uggg...I have this grand idea that I can't get out of my head that my wife and I will see eye to eye on simple design elements or can find mutual ground. For instance, when we recently chose a bathroom door for our upstairs over-garage office (basically, my office). Instead of picking a particular style of, reasonable, affordable, ready to install doors, she wants an old barn-style door that slides side to side on wall mounted rollers. I'm looking at this thinking how difficult it will be to secure it for when you're in the bathroom not to mention how much time this is going to take. It ends with her really upset and me doing what I wanted anyway. A week later, and she likes it and compliments me on my taste. This has happened a dozen times on various things related to everything we just built...but I can't convince myself to quit asking for input - it's like a disease.

 

[justanengineer]

No offense to the OP, but I'm still confused as to why so many of you fellas go for the ugly 80s GM dealership shop look. As to adding black and white checkers, whenever I see that it screams "insert trailer queen here." No thanks. I prefer natural wood, concrete, and stone. To me its much warmer, more natural, and "man-ly" than the dealer shop/painted everything look.

As to the garage matching the house...yes it should. The house should be fairly consistent throughout. To me, the garage in the pic stuffed into the house in the other would be like walking into an obnoxiously pink room from a fairly subdued, natural looking house - just wrong.

Just my $0.02.

 

[mml665]

Well you have a nice home in what appears to be a nice neighborhood. I would design the space using colors that appeal to me. Keep in mind what you really intend to use the garage for. I see you are located in Michigan as am I, in my opinion you have to be happy with your space. If you like the look in the picture then go for it. Throw some garage art such as signs or what have you and enjoy your space.

 

[Steevo]

I don't care what color "scheme" or identity you give the garage, it is a different space than the house, even if attached.
It is NOT living space.
It is NOT part of the "decor" of the house.
Sure, the OUTSIDE should match the house for curb appeal, but good gawd, man! The inside of a garage is as different from the living room, dining room and bedrooms as the lawn is from the rugs and the driveway is from the hardwood floors.
Tell the wifey to concentrate on "her" part of the house.

 

[fringeofinsanity]

If her opinion was in regards to the outside, she has a valid point. But, you're talking about the inside. It's a garage, and should be designed as such. You're going for a polished, upscale look, nothing wrong with that, IMO.

Maybe consider a different tile design, so she feels you listened and took her input into account. There's been a few I've seen using a border type pattern with solid colors that do look pretty good if VCT is your floor of choice.

 

[KPSquared]

If she intends to work in the garage, then let her have input. Being as you are going VCT I'm guessing this isn't a working garage. If its going to be your hang out space ask her to see your side of it.

 

[rslaback]

Only you can weigh the damage it will do to your relationship (if any) if you don't compromise (which may really mean she wins). I can see both points.

I do get a kick out of the guys who are saying "it is a garage etc. and should be decorated as such." There are lots of people in the world who would look at the idea of painted walls and tiled floors as not belonging in a garage period.

 

[InsanePyro]

It's a garage! If you use it right you're gonna end up spilling god knows what in there at some point or another...the hell is point of playing interior decorator with it?

 

[hchinaski]

"It is the pervading law of all things organic and inorganic,
Of all things physical and metaphysical,
Of all things human and all things super-human,
Of all true manifestations of the head,
Of the heart, of the soul,
That the life is recognizable in its expression,
That form ever follows function. This is the law"

- Louis Sullivan, 1896. Mentor to Frank Lloyd Wright.


"Less is more" - Mies van der Rohe

In my opinion, the garage/shop should be functional space. The best designs I've seen on here all put functionality first, and the aesthetic follows from that. Usually, the aesthetic that follows is very attractive. When it starts turning into a "man-cave" full of oil can collections, reproduction vintage signs, and other useless ****, the functionality is hindered and the whole thing suffers.

 

[KPSquared]

I agree with the above post.

Checkerboard floors and shiny paint don't seem any more functional than beige country style. . .

I'd be more concerned if she said you couldnt have a tool box or a drill press. . .

 

[55chevy]

I did not tell her how to do the kitchen, she did not tell me how to do the garage.

 

[JimVonBaden]

Only you can weigh the damage it will do to your relationship (if any) if you don't compromise (which may really mean she wins). I can see both points.

I do get a kick out of the guys who are saying "it is a garage etc. and should be decorated as such." There are lots of people in the world who would look at the idea of painted walls and tiled floors as not belonging in a garage period.

I agree. I'll also take it a couple steps further.

First, I suggest you try hard to compromise. You can get the basic look of what you like, but with a compromise in colors that she can live with. Since your garage faces the road (so it appears), she does have a point about matching. Maybe a light cream color on top, and a chocolate on bottom, with a dark brown stripe? Then go with a checkerboard in browns instead of black and white. It would be more cleanable than B&W, and again match the house.

Lastly, although I have VCT, I would go with porcelain tile. It is a lot less maintenance, and more durable. It wouldn't cost much more than VCT, and it can be less slippery.

Jim

 

[NUTTSGT]

Seriously, make this deal with her. She gets to decide the rest of the house and you get the garage. The one exception is the family room, you both agree on that one. The one exception is if the family room is a fixed up basement room. you get that one.


BTW, this is why alot of guys prefer to have a detached bldg for a shop.

 

[cderalow]

I agree. I'll also take it a couple steps further.

First, I suggest you try hard to compromise. You can get the basic look of what you like, but with a compromise in colors that she can live with. Since your garage faces the road (so it appears), she does have a point about matching. Maybe a light cream color on top, and a chocolate on bottom, with a dark brown stripe? Then go with a checkerboard in browns instead of black and white. It would be more cleanable than B&W, and again match the house.

Lastly, although I have VCT, I would go with porcelain tile. It is a lot less maintenance, and more durable. It wouldn't cost much more than VCT, and it can be less slippery.

Jim

unless you score some excess porcelain, I'll have to say VCT and tile will not cost the same.

VCT (even the glue down type) is around $3/SF. Porcelain tile should be between $9-22/SF.

 

[KPSquared]

My porcelain was $0.59/sq ft. There are lots of tile jobs on here. . .none were $9 - $22/sq ft.

I just don't understand VCT. High maintenance, low strength, slippery as hell. What's the appeal?

 

[JimVonBaden]

unless you score some excess porcelain, I'll have to say VCT and tile will not cost the same.

VCT (even the glue down type) is around $3/SF. Porcelain tile should be between $9-22/SF.

My VCT was $0.79 a SqFt, about $1 with glue and supplies. I have seen tile at similar prices, or slightly higher. This is self installed, not installed by pros.

http://www.homedepot.com/Flooring-T...0051&searchNav=true#/?c=1&Ns=P_REP_PRC_MODE|0

$0.80 a sq foot. Of course it depends on what you want, but it certainly can be done at comperable prices to VCT!

Jim

 

[JimVonBaden]

My porcelain was $0.59/sq ft. There are lots of tile jobs on here. . .none were $9 - $22/sq ft.

I just don't understand VCT. High maintenance, low strength, slippery as hell. What's the appeal?

It is less slippery, and tougher, than most think, but overall I agree. I would do porcelain tile over VCT were I to do it today. But, since I did VCT before I knew tile would be nearly as cheap, and better, I am stuck with it for a while!

Jim

 

[haugy]

Well ****, since I got dragged into this...........


Regancc Okay, first you need to know something about my particular setup, and don't let your wife kill me.

First, I have a detached shop. It's a light tan to align somewhat close to the colors of the house. But let's face it, a red brick house and tan metal shop really don't match. But the interior of my shop is nothing like any of the other colors.

It is white, black, and gray, all over. The floor is gray with black/gray/white flake. The walls are gray bottom, black stripe, and white topped.

Right after I finished painting the walls.

That is what I wanted for my color scheme for my shop. Those are my favorite colors, and that's what I went with. My wife said do what I want. Plus, those colors work for usage in the shop. The bottom gray is high-gloss to keep anything from sticking to it easily, and the dark gray would hide tire marks, dings, etc. The black stripe was an accent piece, but also runs the lines of the electrical sockets. Easy reference to where a plug is. And the white top is a semi gloss. This helps bring out the light from the T5 high bays. The floor is light enough to allow light to reflect up under vehicles, and also makes it easy to find parts tools, etc.

Now, my question that you quoted was centered around my wife's garage. Yes, that's what we jokingly call them, his and hers. This is where she parks her car, and does some of her embroidery/sewing work. That's where I'm thinking those should match the house. Since they are attached to the house. I would like to keep the flow constant, so that if the door is open (which does not face the street), while it stands out and looks great, it matches the general view. With brown aggregate in the driveway, in my opinion it would look better if it somewhat was in the same color scheme. I know I plan on selling this house, and I figured that would be a nice feature a future wife would like. The husband will be all over the shop, but this adds an appeal to the other side. IF I didn't have my detached shop, I would do this garage in my own color scheme. Since it would be my workspace. I would want it to match my style first, then worry about appeal to others. If this is truly your workspace I think you should make it suit your needs. I'm sure your wife would understand.

My wife doesn't care, thus the concern for matching. But everything I do with our home is based around our uses, and general styles and then we worry about what other people think.

Good luck with your decision, you have a beautiful home, it classical but in no way country, it's more contemporary. I'm from TN, I know country. All in all I think that a black and white scheme would look just as good, but I also like to be different.

 

[rburke65]

Huh??? $3.00 a sq. ft.?

 

[regancc]

First off, thanks to all for the responses and opinions. I know this is a quandary...mine.

Some of you made some interesting and salient points...here are my thoughts on some of the responses.

With all due respect to your wife I have to say that:

1. Your house does not look country, IMO country would definitely have wood siding... but I used to live in TN and many houses were brick, so I could see your house going either way.

2. I don't see the garage needing to match the rest of the house unless you are constantly working with the door open and it is extremely visible to the neighbors and whatnot. A garage seems like its own unique space and should be whatever you want and whatever suits your needs best. How often is she in it anyway?

3. Happy wife = Happy life....nothing I say or anyone else here says will really matter in the end. Unless she is a really caring, understanding, open minded, and generous woman, she will probably want it to match the house.
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see what I did there?

Gore, I DID see what you did here!! You are either Jesus, or have been married for 80-100 years...very wise response.

Or you are a politician...and can't come down on either side of the fence!

It's your garage! Do whatever the hell you want to with it.
What's the deal with all the weenies nowadays that always have to do what their wife says?

Yeah...the 'tough-guy' approach. I know, you are the 'King of your Castle when SHE is not home', right?

Are you only allowed to buy tan cars so they match the house when they're parked?

I say gloss white on the upper portion of the walls so they don't **** up the light...
I think a light color on the floor is a good idea so you can find dropped parts easily.

Excellent point! We have two black vehicles! White and black floor is perfect! I actually went with a satin white on top for light reflection. I like the dark grey on the bottom to hide dirt and grease, etc. Red stripe is to tie the workbenches in...and a light floor for dropped parts and light reflection.

I have also noticed that all the people who say "be a man do what you want" have bad or no relationships. A good partnership involves compromise.

I agree, to a point...which is why I am trying to get opinions and not be a jerk about it. I completely disagree with her that the garage should 'match' the style of the house...and I was honestly looking for your opinions on what my house 'style' was and what you thought about the whole 'matching' idea...but I will try to compromise...some...

No offense to the OP, but I'm still confused as to why so many of you fellas go for the ugly 80s GM dealership shop look.

As to the garage matching the house...yes it should. The house should be fairly consistent throughout. To me, the garage in the pic stuffed into the house in the other would be like walking into an obnoxiously pink room from a fairly subdued, natural looking house - just wrong.

Just my $0.02.

Fair points and good inputs...but I respectfully disagree. I love a two tone look and a stripe...there are some great garages on this site and many inspired me to clean mine up and paint it and keep it organized. I am not trying to build a showroom or a man cave...I just want it to look nice, clean, and be able to work on my bikes or occasionally work on the vehicles or riding mower...

I don't care what color "scheme" or identity you give the garage, it is a different space than the house, even if attached.
It is NOT living space.
It is NOT part of the "decor" of the house.
Sure, the OUTSIDE should match the house for curb appeal, but good gawd, man! The inside of a garage is as different from the living room, dining room and bedrooms as the lawn is from the rugs and the driveway is from the hardwood floors.
Tell the wifey to concentrate on "her" part of the house.

I tend to agree to the letter on Steevo's post...but 'telling' the wifey anything is a non-starter!! She is a tough cookie and as bull-headed as I am!!

If her opinion was in regards to the outside, she has a valid point. But, you're talking about the inside. It's a garage, and should be designed as such. You're going for a polished, upscale look, nothing wrong with that, IMO.

Maybe consider a different tile design, so she feels you listened and took her input into account. There's been a few I've seen using a border type pattern with solid colors that do look pretty good if VCT is your floor of choice.

Good point...and to the point, I am not yet decided on what I will do with the floor...depends on whether I have to grind the old cheap Rustoleum epoxy off to put VCT down...if I do, I will probably go with a good epoxy. If I can glue the tile to the old epoxy, I would go VCT...I have NO desire to grind the floor if I can avoid it. And I will go with a light color epoxy or tile...still on the fence there.

It's a garage! If you use it right you're gonna end up spilling god knows what in there at some point or another...the hell is point of playing interior decorator with it?

See above posts...in my humble opinion, there is nothing wrong with making it look good and still keep it a functional garage.

I agree. I'll also take it a couple steps further.

First, I suggest you try hard to compromise. You can get the basic look of what you like, but with a compromise in colors that she can live with. Since your garage faces the road (so it appears), she does have a point about matching. Maybe a light cream color on top, and a chocolate on bottom, with a dark brown stripe? Then go with a checkerboard in browns instead of black and white. It would be more cleanable than B&W, and again match the house.

Lastly, although I have VCT, I would go with porcelain tile. It is a lot less maintenance, and more durable. It wouldn't cost much more than VCT, and it can be less slippery.

Jim

Jim,

As an aside, I enjoy your posts and you are one of the more productive and humorous members on this site...so, thanks.

I must say, though, I was most surprised by your above post. Specifically in that you recommended porcelain tile! I have read tons of posts on here about VCT and it not being slippery and it being easy to maintain (I was going to go with an epoxy sealer over it so I didn't have to wax it all the time)...

So, are you regretting your VCT? Am I making a mistake in considering it?

Still open to ideas. Thanks!!

My porcelain was $0.59/sq ft. There are lots of tile jobs on here. . .none were $9 - $22/sq ft.

I just don't understand VCT. High maintenance, low strength, slippery as hell. What's the appeal?

You got porcelain tile for $0.59/sq ft??! Where??! I would go consider porcelain except that I like the smooth, seamless look of VCT or epoxy...

So is VCT slippery as hell? Others have indicated otherwise. So, which is it? Opinions on that?

Again, thanks to all...keep 'em coming...still trying to decide about showing this thread to her...lol!

 

[JimVonBaden]

Jim,

As an aside, I enjoy your posts and you are one of the more productive and humorous members on this site...so, thanks.

I must say, though, I was most surprised by your above post. Specifically in that you recommended porcelain tile! I have read tons of posts on here about VCT and it not being slippery and it being easy to maintain (I was going to go with an epoxy sealer over it so I didn't have to wax it all the time)...

So, are you regretting your VCT? Am I making a mistake in considering it?

Still open to ideas. Thanks!!

Not totally regretting it. It isn't really all that easy to damage. It looks good, and is WAY better than bare concrete, and a lot cheaper than epoxy.

For you, especially if you do not do heavy machine work, and since you plan on an epoxy sealer, VCT might be a good choice. It will look great, and be tougher than mine which is only sealed with floor sealer. If you add epoxy, you can make it even less slippery with an additive, there are several. It is a slightly gritty substance specifically designed to reduce the chances of slipping, but still keep the floor shiney and easily cleaned.

All that said, I would still go porcelain. You can get it with a perfect edge so there is virtually no gap, I can't recall what the term is. It will add more cost, but not all that much difference.

Thanks,

Jim

 

[ratdoggy]

All you have to do is buy the paint get her and her friend a spa day and paint it whatever color you want while they are gone. It's easier to get forgiveness than get permission.

 

[haugy]

All you have to do is buy the paint get her and her friend a spa day and paint it whatever color you want while they are gone. It's easier to get forgiveness than get permission.

Are you married? Because there is no forgiveness in marriage. They'll hold onto that for when they need that ammo later. Trust me.

 

[dandan111]

When I did the garage I let my wife pick any color she wanted but she had to help! She stopped after the floor so I did the wall color myself(but I did show her before painting)
I wanted to do it my way but I also wanted her to like it. Find a middle ground or she will be talking about how ugly it is forever.

 

[JakeKohl]

...All that said, I would still go porcelain. You can get it with a perfect edge so there is virtually no gap, I can't recall what the term is. It will add more cost, but not all that much difference....

Rectified Tile.

 

[JimVonBaden]

Rectified Tile.

That's it!

Thanks,

Jim

 

[KPSquared]

You got porcelain tile for $0.59/sq ft??! Where??! I would go consider porcelain except that I like the smooth, seamless look of VCT or epoxy...

So is VCT slippery as hell? Others have indicated otherwise. So, which is it? Opinions on that?

Again, thanks to all...keep 'em coming...still trying to decide about showing this thread to her...lol!

VCT = waxing. That makes NO sense to me in a garage and way to much work. I want to sweep and occasionally wash out that garage with a garden hose.

As far as I've read, jackstands are a no-go on VCT. The sharp bottoms cut in.

Drag an axle across vct. . .how does it hold up?

I think if you're just parking and that's about it, VCT is a valid option athough Legacy's urethane top coat seems to be holding up well over their clear coat epoxy. That's another really reasonable option.

Based on all my reading (and the fact that I will work my garage hard) I just can't fathom VCT. There just seems to be a lot better options.

Oh, and I got my tile on a sale at HomeDepot. 13x13 Light Grey.