Garage design terms, in plain English.

A

Acid etching

A chemical surface prep that roughens concrete with a mild acid. It is less consistent than diamond grinding and does not remove oil or old coatings.

Aggregate

Sand, stone or grit mixed in concrete, or added to a coating to provide traction. Exposed aggregate shows in polished concrete.

Anchor

A fastener that attaches shelves, cabinets or racks to a wall or ceiling, such as a lag screw into a stud or a sleeve anchor in masonry.

B

Base cabinet

A floor-level cabinet that supports a countertop. Garage base cabinets are commonly about 24 inches deep.

Base coat

The first colored layer of a floor coating system, applied over the primer and often broadcast with flake.

Blocking

Solid lumber added between studs so heavy cabinets, slatwall or racks have a strong place to attach.

Broadcast

Scattering decorative flake or aggregate over a wet coating until the surface is saturated.

Butcher block

A countertop of glued hardwood strips. It is popular for workbenches because it is tough, quiet and can be refinished.

C

Cabinet run

A continuous row of cabinets along a wall, planned as one unit with matching finishes.

Chip flake

Small colored vinyl chips scattered into a coating to give a speckled, textured, forgiving finish.

Cleat (French cleat)

A pair of interlocking angled strips, one on the wall and one on the item, used to hang tool holders and cabinets securely.

Containment mat

A mat with raised edges placed under a parked car to catch drips and meltwater.

Control joint

A groove cut or formed in concrete to control where it cracks. Joints should be filled, not simply covered, when a floor is finished.

Cove base

A coating that curves up the wall at the floor edge, creating a seamless, easy-to-clean transition.

Cure time

The time a coating needs to harden. Foot traffic, vehicle traffic and full chemical cure happen at different times.

D

Dehumidifier

A machine that removes moisture from the air, used to protect tools, cabinets and finishes in humid garages.

Densifier

A liquid that hardens the top layer of concrete, used when polishing and sealing a slab.

Diamond grinding

Using a grinder with diamond abrasives to remove the top layer of concrete and open the surface before a coating goes on.

E

Efflorescence

White, powdery salt deposits left on concrete when moisture moves through it and evaporates.

Epoxy

A two-part resin used in floor coatings. It bonds strongly to concrete and builds thickness, and is often topcoated for UV and wear.

EV charger

A wall-mounted device that charges an electric vehicle, usually on a dedicated circuit installed by a qualified electrician.

F

Floating floor

A floor, such as tiles or mats, that rests on the slab without being glued to it.

Freeze-thaw

Repeated freezing and thawing of water in concrete, which can crack and flake the surface.

G

Gauge

A measure of sheet metal thickness. A lower gauge number means thicker steel.

GFCI

Ground-fault circuit interrupter. A type of outlet or breaker that shuts off power quickly if it senses a ground fault, often required in garages.

H

Hot tire pickup

When warm tires lift or mark a floor coating that is thin, soft or poorly bonded.

I

Interlocking tiles

Rigid garage floor tiles that connect with tabs and float over the slab.

L

Lag screw

A heavy screw used to fasten shelves, racks and cabinets into wood studs or joists.

Laitance

A weak, powdery layer on the surface of concrete that must be removed before coating.

Lumen

A measure of light output. Garage lighting is planned by lumens per square foot.

M

Metallic epoxy

A decorative epoxy with metallic pigments that swirl to create marbled, three-dimensional effects.

Mini-split

A ductless heating and cooling unit with an indoor head and an outdoor compressor, popular for finished garages.

Moisture mitigation

A system of primers or barriers that controls moisture vapor coming through a concrete slab.

Moisture vapor transmission

The movement of water vapor through concrete, which can blister coatings that cannot breathe.

O

Overhead rack

A ceiling-mounted storage platform that holds bins above the cars.

P

Pegboard

A perforated board with hooks for hanging tools. Metal versions are stronger than hardboard.

Plinth

A base under a cabinet that lifts it off the floor, protecting it from water and making cleaning easier.

Polished concrete

Concrete ground with progressively finer diamond abrasives, densified and sealed for a satin sheen.

Polyaspartic

A fast-curing, UV-stable coating chemistry often used as a topcoat over flake or color for a durable, glossy floor.

Polyurea

A fast-curing, flexible coating or crack filler known for toughness.

Powder coat

A baked-on dry powder finish on metal that is harder and more scratch resistant than ordinary paint.

Primer

A thin first coat that penetrates concrete and helps the next coat bond.

PVC tile

A rigid or flexible plastic garage floor tile that resists oil and chemicals.

Q

Quartz-look top

A laminate or engineered countertop with a stone-like finish, used for garage workbenches.

R

R-value

A measure of how well insulation resists heat flow. Higher is better.

Rail system

A horizontal track screwed to studs with sliding hooks that hold ladders, bikes and tools.

Roll-out flooring

Garage flooring supplied in rolls that unroll over the slab and trim to size.

S

Sealer

A clear coating that protects concrete from stains and moisture, either penetrating or film-forming.

Seam

The line where two pieces of flooring or countertop meet.

Slab

The concrete floor of the garage, usually 4 inches or more thick.

Slatwall

A wall panel with horizontal grooves that accept hooks, baskets and shelves.

Spalling

Flaking or chipping of the concrete surface, often from freeze-thaw cycles or salt.

Stainless steel

A corrosion-resistant steel alloy used for premium garage cabinets and worktops.

Stem wall

A short foundation wall around the garage perimeter where the slab meets the walls.

Stud

The vertical framing members inside a wood-framed wall, typically 16 or 24 inches apart.

Subpanel

A secondary electrical panel fed from the main panel, often added to power a workshop or garage.

T

Task lighting

Focused light over a bench or cabinet that removes shadows where you work.

Thermofoil

A vinyl film heat-bonded to MDF to make cabinet doors with a smooth, painted look.

Tool wall

A wall of pegboard, cleats or rails that holds tools in plain sight.

Topcoat

The final clear layer of a floor system that protects the color layer and sets the gloss.

Traction additive

A fine grit mixed into or broadcast over a coating to make it less slippery.

U

Under-cabinet lighting

LED strips or bars mounted beneath wall cabinets to light the counter.

V

Vapor barrier

A membrane that blocks moisture from moving through a floor or wall.

W

Wall cabinet

A cabinet hung on the wall above counter height, typically 12 to 18 inches deep.

Wheel chock

A wedge or fixed block that holds a wheel in place, used for motorcycles and other vehicles.