by Jeff Bach | Sep 16, 2014 | Blog
A popular homeowner trend right now is to convert your garage or basement into a ‘man cave’. Some people even say that the modern home isn’t complete without a personal male sanctuary. We would have to agree. It’s a smart way to use the extra space the basement or garage provides, and gives the man of the house his own space to practice his hobbies, play video games, or even just take a minute to relax. Psychologists and doctors even say that having a ‘man-space’ in your home is good for your marriage, family relationships and your stress levels, because having a personal space to get away from it all helps you manage tension and solve problems.
If you’re looking to convert your garage into a cool and relaxing man sanctuary, we’ve made a list of five basic essentials to get you started. Bear in mind that everyone’s tastes are different, so what your space becomes is entirely dependent on what YOU need to do to relax.
1. Bar
Depending on your budget, your bar can be a fancy designer set up- or just a good fridge that has enough space for all your favorite beverages. What matters is that it keeps the drinks cold and doesn’t add too much to your electricity bill. Add a personal touch to your bar by considering choosing something to do with your favorite sports team or comic book hero. There are plenty of options out there, so keep looking until you find the right one that reflects your personal tastes (and impresses your buddies).
2. Easy chairs
One basic rule of having a man cave is that there must be a super comfortable place to hang out. Recliners are clearly the most popular choice here because they’re easy to find, super plush and of course- the gold standard for relaxing. A few standard Lay-Z Boy chairs should fit the bill, but there are of course a few hi-tech options available. Recliners with built in fridges, seat warmers or even video game consoles… the possibilities are endless.
3. Recreational gadgets
Aside from purchasing a decent sized TV and a game console for your man space, it’s also a good idea to buy at least one thing that can be used as a social activity. Things like a pool table or a dart-board are pretty solid choices. That way, if you have friends over, you can instigate a bit of male bonding that doesn’t necessarily have to revolve around watching sports or drinking.
4. A sense of humor
Got a funny poster your wife wouldn’t want you put up in the living room? Or a signed baseball jersey that was forbidden from being displayed in the bedroom? Your man cave is the perfect place for them. Don’t be afraid to decorate with things that make you laugh. There are no rules here, so let loose!
5. Custom flooring
Nothing spoils the sophisticated man cave vibe quite like old, chipped concrete flooring of your garage. A new epoxy floor coating or acid stain will update the room almost instantly. Why not do a custom floor that uses your favorite sports team’s colors? Or a slick acid stain to give the room a more distinguished, vintage look? With so many finish options- there’ll be something to suit everybody’s tastes.
by Jeff Bach | Mar 4, 2014 | Blog
As the weather starts to warm a bit and the hope of sunny days return to us here in the Pacific Northwest, there is no better time than now to schedule your garage floor for a makeover. Although we can apply our garage floor coatings all year round, the spring and summer months are by far our busiest time of year. As you roll out the car and dust off the bicycles for a ride, look down at the concrete. Is it cracked and/or stained from oil? If so, why not get rid of that unsightly mess and have Bach Custom Coatings install a new garage floor coating for you. Spills or automotive leaks will be amazingly easy to clean once we’ve installed one of our custom coatings for you. Better yet, wait until your neighbors walk by and see how beautiful you new floor looks. You’ll surely be a hit.
by Jeff Bach | Jan 5, 2014 | Blog
With all of the color and style options available today, you can really achieve a great customized look with an epoxy concrete coating. An epoxy coating can completely transform any plain concrete slab into a beautiful, stylish floor. At Bach Custom Coatings, we have been installing epoxy floors in Portland, Oregon for years. We purchase our cutting edge epoxy products from several trusted suppliers, and we have an impressive selection of styles to choose from. Below, we have listed many of the different epoxy styling and color options that are available to you. With such an assortment of options, you are sure to find something that will look great on your concrete or garage floors.
One popular epoxy floor design is the “granite flake” look. This style of epoxy can be used in both homes and businesses, and it mimics the look of having elegant granite or terrazzo floors. First a primer epoxy coat is used to cover the concrete surface. Once it has been evenly applied to the floor, you can add the color chips that give it the granite look. There are several different color and density variations available with the color chips, so you can achieve the precise look that you are going for. After the color chips have been placed over the primer coat, a clear top coat is applied to seal the color chips in place and give your floor a nice shine. The granite floor look works great for garage floors, restaurants, commercial kitchens and showrooms.
Another popular epoxy styling option is the metallic look. With this style, you can give your concrete floors a flashy metallic shine with a tremendous amount of depth and character. This kind of epoxy floor is perfect for vehicle showrooms, restaurants, casinos, hotels and any other commercial or residential property that is going for a unique look.
Last but certainly not least, quartz is another epoxy floor design that can be used in a wide variety of different settings. When you’re looking for a flooring system that’s durable, slip resistant and beautiful, the quartz system is just what the doctor ordered. There are several of color options available with the quartz system too, so finding one to match your decor is easily achieved. Quartz floors are very durable and can be used for airplane hangars, warehouses, car dealerships and garages.
With all of these options, installing an epoxy floor on your own can be a daunting task. If you don’t follow the instructions to the letter, the finished product could be very disappointing. At Bach Custom Coatings, we know everything there is to know about installing epoxy floors in Portland. With our professional help, you can achieve the precise look that you are aiming for.
by Jeff Bach | Jan 3, 2014 | Blog
Concrete coatings are a great way to enhance your concrete floors. Not only will they look better, but they will hold up better to wear and tear and will last much longer as well. That doesn’t mean they are invincible though. Over time, you may have to perform minor maintenance to keep your epoxy floor in mint condition. At Bach Custom Coatings, we install some of the highest quality epoxy floors in Portland, Oregon. We have written this short guide to help you maintain the integrity and look of your epoxy floor.
Just like any other surface, your epoxy floors need to be cleaned occasionally. Luckily, unlike pock-marked concrete floors, epoxy floors provide a smooth and even surface for cleaning. Dirt and debris can get caught in cracks and potholes in your concrete. With an epoxy floor, the dirt has nowhere to go and can easily be swept away with a broom. Oil and other substances also seep deep into concrete surfaces, but an epoxy coating acts as a shield against stains. If you do spill oil or a similar substance on your epoxy floor, you can use a mild detergent and a soft brush to wash away any spills. If you notice that your floor is scuffed or parts of it are showing signs of wear, you can reapply the topcoat and it will look brand new again. How soon you have to reapply the top coat largely depends on how you use your floor and how well you maintain it.
Untreated concrete floors are difficult to clean and maintain and are not known for being pleasing to the eye. An epoxy coating can solve all of these problems.
by Jeff Bach | Dec 30, 2013 | Blog
The success or failure of a new epoxy floor depends almost entirely on the surface preparation that was performed prior to installation. An improperly applied coating won’t last very long, and will chip and peel easily. For your garage floor, you need a surface that has been prepared with a diamond grinder or shot blaster. At Bach Custom Coatings, we have installed custom coatings on hundreds of garage floors in Portland, Oregon. Below, we talk about one of the most common problems that people run into with newly installed coatings.
There are many things that can go wrong with a do-it-yourself epoxy coating, but one that we see quite frequently when people use these kits is hot tire peel-off. When you drive your car around on a blistering summer day, your tires can get very hot. If you have an improperly installed coating or one that has not been properly prepared ahead of time, those hot tires can wreak havoc on it when your park your car. The heat from your tires weakens the bond between the epoxy and the concrete. When this happens, it can re-bond to your tires once they cool down. The next time you take your car out for a spin, the coating will peel off of your floor and onto your tires, leaving bare, ugly patches of concrete. To prevent this from happening, you have to use high quality epoxy, polyurethane or polyurea finishes. You also have to make sure that any old coatings, stains or contaminants on your concrete surface are completely eliminated. Substances like oil or old paint interfere with the epoxy’s ability to bond to the concrete.
It is a smart idea to leave this kind of project to the professionals. We will do high quality work and will offer a warranty. Here at Bach Custom Coatings, we never take shortcuts or cut corners, which is why the coatings we install are always built to last.
