The DIY Network has a step-by-step article for painting your garage floor, but it starts with the bold assumption that your garage is already empty. For most of us, that’s not going to be the case. Even the cleanest garages usually have things in them, right?
Since the garage floor-painting project requires drying time, you need to create a plan for overnight storage, somewhere safe from the elements and neighborhood pranksters, as well as potential thieves.
Enter Helen and Kris Rasmussen’s good idea. These Burton Valley homeowners spent Thanksgiving weekend overhauling their garage, from painting the floor to installing new storage. To empty the garage, they considered two obvious rental options – POD and dumpster – before settling on a more creative and cost-effective third option that could also multi-task.
The Rasmussens rented a U-Haul truck in downtown Lafayette, and loaded it up three times:
- The first load went to the dump.
- The second load went to the Salvation Army.
- The third load stayed securely locked inside the truck overnight, parked outside their home.
The truck rental cost a little less than $115 and included both day rates and mileage. That was hundreds of dollars less than either of the other two options and a lot more hassle-free.
Tip: If you want to make the cost even cheaper, don’t use the truck for the dump or donations runs. The mileage charges can add up quickly.