Remodeling ideas for your garage

What is the easiest way to add more space to your house? Of course the answer is
to remodel your garage. A very cost-effective way to gain more space for your
house is to remodel your garage. You can greatly expand your home's living space
especially if you no longer use your garage to park your car using your driveway
instead. A good idea would be to look into durable metal garage buildings as
they are eco-friendly and can offer a more stable structure. Remodeling your
garage can help you become more organized and stop storing everything in your
garage. This is why you have a basement.

Your garage offers a perfect environment to house your workshop, studio or home
office. Many people also find that their garage can also be used for a gym or
for another living room designed for special activities. However, remodeling
your garage does not necessarily mean that you have to sacrifice your storage
space or your parking area. Garages today have become multifunctional, allowing
cars, general storage, a workshop and even a home office all in the same place.

Because many garages are attached to the home they can benefit from the same
comfort as a home: phone wires, heating and cooling and plumbing. All you need
is a little imagination, a fixed budget and a plan.

If you think that by remodeling you might be losing too much storage space, you
can always build a small storage space behind your garage to house sporting
equipment, tools and other items.

Moreover, when remodeling your garage you should consider an addition above the
garage. Adding a room for work space and even for living, for one of your
kids(they usually love this) above the existing garage can give you additional
space and also increase the value of your home without major changes to the
floor plan.

If you feel the need to remodel your garage but you don't know exactly what you
want or need, you should consider the following ideas.

You can transform your garage into a laundry room if you have your laundry room
in the basement. By building a laundry in your garage you will eliminate the
need to go up and down the stairs.

A music studio can be a great choice for your garage remodeling plans if you or
your kids have some tendencies in this direction. The garage is the place where
many "garage bands" got their start. To avoid your neighbors' complaints
consider soundproofing your garage walls.

Another idea for your garage can be to transform it into a gym. If you have your
equipment and you don not have enough place to use it indoors you can always
move it into the garage and have plenty of place for your daily exercises and
training. Also here you will not be bothered by anyone.

Major garage transformation

One of the most commonly encountered questions when thinking about converting
your garage for a new use is the warmth of the floor. Whether you are choosing
to convert your garage into a spacious home office or to convert it into a gym
room, you have to take into consideration some improvements for your floor.

Since the garage has a concrete and uninsulated floor you should focus on making
it warmer and more resilient. Furring up the floor with wood and plywood can
accomplish both tasks. As a warning, you should use pressure-treated wood or
protect the wood which is in contact with the concrete by placing a layer of
felt paper between the wood and the concrete.

First of all measure and determine how much you want to raise the floor. All
garage floors have some amount of slope from the back wall to the wall with the
garage door in it to allow the water runoff. To achieve a level floor you will
have to adjust the joists, for this if you are placing the joists perpendicular
to the slope in the floor each of them would have to be ripped down or shimmed
up and if the joists are parallel to the slope, you can rip them on a taper or
use shims to level them.

Ok, you finished remodeling the floors, now it's time to examine your walls. You
might be surprised to find out that your walls are not even with the foundation
they sit on. They may be set back from the foundation or maybe overhang it in
other areas. Only one step will solve these problems: selecting a lumber size
that is deep enough to extend the framing past the concrete. By notching each
end of the furring strip and attaching one strip to the face of each wall stud
will result in an even wall that completely hides the foundation. Also it will
be deep enough for the R-21 wall insulation, this type of insulation being the
most common code requirement.

When remodeling the walls and the floor several obstructions may appear.
Obstructions like pipes, ducts, wires and other impediments to smooth walls may
exist. For small obstructions such as wires or small pipes you could adjust the
furring strips enough to accommodate them. The solution for larger obstructions
is to box around them. If the obstruction is a water heater or something that
you will need access to, you can frame it in and enclose it on three sides and
then provide a removable access panel for the fourth side.

A building permit may be required for a garage make over. Of course all the
methods presented here are purely theoretical and only for guidance. All garages
are different and some adjustments to the used methods or materials may be
required in order to accommodate to your garage.

Garage rubber flooring

If you are considering remodeling you garage you might consider choosing a
rubber flooring for your garage. This is an inexpensive option for general
purpose flooring: most common uses include parking vehicles on the rubber
flooring, converting the garage space into a play area or into a workout room.

Parking your car on a recycled rubber matting is the least common use for this
product because of two major inconveniences: recycled rubber tire products have
very little resistance to petroleum products so an oil leak could seriously
damage the floor; the melting point of this type of flooring is relatively low,
in extreme circumstances the heat from the tires can be sufficient to melt the
tires into the mat.

If planning to remodel for your garage and you also have changing the flooring
in mind, it is important to know the primary function that you need your floor
to fulfill. If you are going to convert your garage into a dog- house, the
rubber flooring would provide insulation against extreme temperatures of the
cement as well as an extra cushioning. Also you must consider the ease of
maintenance for this type of flooring. For a home theater, a rubber flooring is
desired to reduce the noise transmission.

Gadgets for your garage

If you spend a lot of your time at home in your garage or if you want a clean
and organized garage you need a few gadgets. Garage gadgets come in many forms
and for different purposes.

For example a stop light for parking may come in handy for someone who has a
problem with depth perception or for someone who comes home late from work and
is very tired. If you have such problems, you need this tool. It is easy to
install and use and it helps you to park the car in the same spot every time
when the motion sensors are triggered.

If you need space on the walls next to the door, you can mount a garage door
opener on the ceiling above the door to eliminate chains.

Bike storage is ideal in a garage for "hanging" your bike on a wall so you have
easy access to it with the advantage of having more clear space in the garage.

If you have a lot more items in your garage than you really have Room for or the
walls are full of shelves and cabinets, you definitely need additional storage
devices like an overhead storage system mounted directly on the ceiling.

Garage flat roof

Whether you have an old garage or if you construct a new one you should take
into consideration the quality and the type of roof that you choose for your
garage. You might encounter problems with a home inspector if you don't have an
adequate roof for your garage. He may cite your garage. And of course you want
to make sure you have a stable and reliable roof that can face a massive
rainfall.

A flat roof with sagged joists allows rainwater to pool at the center, rather
than draining toward the roof edges. This is a common problem and it affects
nearly all the so-called flat roofs. Having an insufficient roof slope promotes
standing pools of rainwater and this increases the likelihood of leakage as the
roof becomes older.

Roof drains should be installed at each low point of the roof. Since the roof
joists have sagged it seems that they were not designed to support accumulated
water. Therefore if you can add drains at the lower points of the roof it could
prolong the life of your roof.

Organized garage

The garage is that one place where we all seem to love to be disorganized,
however the sooner you get organized, the sooner you can make better use of that
space. Organizing your garage can be a tiresome task for many homeowners. When
you think about organizing your garage you should keep in mind that this
activity means to find a designated place for everything while keeping your
goods available for everyday use. The following five steps compromise a simple
system for garage organization.

Sort your garage items. First of all sort and categorize all the items in your
garage, for this you should empty your garage and start sorting everything into
categories. Separate the tools from sporting equipment, electric tools, etc. You
will realize how much stuff you have and only then you will be able to determine
the best ways to organize and store everything. Misplaced items in your garage
should be returned to their proper place. Also you should sort the things that
should be in the garage from the things that should actually be in the basement,
attic or better, sold at a garage sale. Remember to recycle everything that you
decide to throw away.

Separate seasonal items and equipment. A special rack should be installed to
hang lawn maintenance tools and to keep them accessible yet out of the way. If
it is near winter place snow related tools like snow blowers, ice scrapers, snow
shovels and also skis, snowboards and sleds grouped together. Also the items for
warm seasons should be stored in a special cabinet. Near the beginning of every
season you should plan this activity and rotate the cold and warm items places
in the cabinet. For the other sporting equipment, shelves and drawers should be
designed.

Additional shelving and cabinets. While organizing you should consider adding
additional garage storage space to help you maintain the organization. Shelves
and cabinets should be mounted on the walls. The basic principle is to store the
items that you use on a regular basis in a way that makes them accessible every
time you need them.

Create efficient working area. Installing a bench or a table would be a good
choice if you use your garage as a workshop. A sturdy tool chest and a pegboard
are great in storing your tools and keeping them easily accessible.

Relocate trash and recycling bins nearby the garage. To easily dispose unwanted
items from your garage a good idea is to relocate the trash and recycling bins
near to your garage entrance. This way you won't be tempted to keep certain
items because the trash bins are too far away.

Now would be the time to hire a handyman to have cabinets, closets and shelves
built right into your garage. Invest in some good storage units as described
before and start organizing, sorting and storing.

Planning ahead your garage

What would your dream garage look like? Some people want to have it fitted for
the car, others dream for a really nice workshop, a laundry room, a gym or a
rehearsal studio for their own musical band. Some other people only want it to
expand their living space and improve their lifestyle.

How much money do you have to work with? Even if you want only to remodel,
rebuild or only reorganize a small area of your garage you must have a budget.
It is imperative to have in mind a specific target and a realistic and finite
budget for it.

The first step is to carefully evaluate your needs regarding the space and your
needs. Even if it is a small garage, you can find plenty of space to use for
your work area.

Making the decision regarding whether to do the project yourself or to hire a
contractor depends on several factors, including your skills and the magnitude
of the project. Having only basic skills you can produce a great reorganization
project.

You can buy the needed furniture yourself accord ing to your needs and your
available space. Cabinets, shelves, pegs and hooks are a must have in order to
turn your garage into usable space over a weekend. If you have a greater project
in mind, maybe you should consult a plumber or an electrician.

If you are planning to convert your garage into a living area you'd better be a
professional or you'll be risking decreasing the safety and value of your own
home.

If you opt for a contractor, and this is the choice that we recommend regardless
of the project's magnitude or your skills, get one whose work you've seen and if
you have the chance, get some recommendations. It is better to see with your own
eyes the skills and some relevant work of the contractor so you can decide
whether you could be satisfied with his work or not.

Costs and construction times vary with the scope and the magnitude of the
project. If there are no structural issues, finishing and enclosing a garage and
turning it into useable room would take less than two weeks. The costs depend on
the materials that you decide to use, but keep in mind that expensive does not
necessary mean quality and that cheap does not grant you reliability every time.

Your garage can be a place to spend many happy hours for a long time to come if
you plan it right according to your needs and dreams.

Garage facelift

You would probably ask yourself why do you need a facelift for your garage. It
is only a garage! But what if you have a two or more cars garage? The garage
doors take up a significant portion of the front of the house. What is the use
in having a great design for your house but having only generic garage doors?

Nowadays the garage door trends are to incorporate the doors into the design of
the house. For example you could choose carriage-style doors(look like they open
like old-fashioned doors in carriage houses, but they open like normal garage
doors) or you could choose wood carriage doors. These wood carriage doors are
reminiscences of the horse-drawn carriage days and they are very popular. You
don't need to go as far as to order custom made garage doors because you can
find more appealing garage doors at most home improvement stores.

In addition to the doors, the floor of a garage gives style and can integrate to
the overall aesthetics of your house. You could try interlocking garage floor
tiles that come in multiple colors and patterns. They are made of polypropylene
and are easy to install and clean. Another interesting and practical flooring is
the coin shaped G-flooring.

Safety: A Garage Necessity

What do you see when you first examine a garage?

The garage door. This is the first and most important "contact" of your garage
to the world. If you want full confidence in your garage, this "contact" should
be 100% secure and safe. Also the door says a lot of you and of your taste in
design. You can have a beautiful house but if your garage door is a wooden,
plain, white one with that makes an awful sound when opened or closed, says a
lot of you and your negligence regarding style and safety.

An ageing garage door and opener could be a real threat for your children or
pets. Injuries and death are a thing of the past with the new openers and garage
doors. If you plan to remodel your garage, one of the first steps in doing this
must be changing your doors and openers.

Old garage doors have been heavy, huge, wooden colossus that rot and crack. Even
though wooden doors provide a wide range of styles and textures the problems
related to poor insulation are real and even of present times. An alternative is
the fiberglass material, inexpensive, easy to lift, resistant to corrosion and
the require little maintenance but they also provide little insulation and
security.

If you want a maintenance-free, durable and not-wrapping garage door you need
steel. They also provide good insulation, being made of two or more sheets of
steel alternating with a variety of insulating materials. The also come in
various textures, styles, shapes and colors suited to your needs. Moreover, you
can add windows including the reflective type that provide an obscure view into
the garage.

In 1991, automatic reversal doors for garage door openers have been required by
law in the United States and in since 1993 optical sensors became a requirement.
The sensor works perfect for your safety: if something gets in the way of the
sensor beam while the door is going down, the sensor sends the door back up.
Also the new design provides more security and quieter operation. Today, the
silence options include a belt-driven trolley made of Kevlar or, the cheaper
option, a screw-drive model with a plastic-lined track to lessen the noisy
contact of metal-to-metal.

Remote controls have been upgraded so you can find a remote control having
enough buttons to control the lightening or appliances in your home and garage.
Another option for your remote-control buttons are the child-safe lock-out and
the rolling security codes witch automatically change every time the garage door
opens to prevent the stealing of your opener's code.

Even though you have all these changes added to your garage, security and safety
are not 100% guaranteed. It is better that the installation of a new garage
door and opener be done by a professional team who can make the proper
adjustments that will allow the sensitive equipment to provide you with the
maximum amount of safety in your garage.

Tips for your garage door

The new generation of garage doors is reasonably priced, safe and easy to
install and they are no longer a convenience for only a select few. You should
consider changing your garage door if it is too old or if it has an old motor or
pulley system.

The garage doors can be selected by the type of the chain System they use:
screw-drive system, chain drive system or computer controlled system. The screw
drive system has a mechanism that moves the length of a steel rod; it is a
lifting mechanism that is mounted in your garage ceiling. The chain drive system
is made of a chain that moves the door along a pair of tracks; this is the most
common and affordable system but also has the disadvantage of being extremely
noisy. The computer drive mechanism doesn't use any screws or chains; the
system's body is mounted above the door.

The speed and the type of power are other factors used in selecting a new garage
door. A faster door means a more expensive one, but this feature reduces the
waiting time on your driveway. Even though it opens quickly, a door usually
closes pretty slow for safety. The power of the motor is important in choosing a
door because it has to have enough power to raise the door; a large motor is
likely to last longer. Also the quietness of the motor should be another
decision factor.

Enhanced security features can be found in a newer generation door that uses
random codes. A new random code is generated each time the remote control is
used to open the garage door. This security code prevents you from opening
another garage and vice versa. The remote control may be found in several
models with a different number of buttons. A multiple button remote control is
the best choice for someone who has several garages. The fixed controller is
mounted on the wall either inside or outside, near the garage door and it allows
the garage door to open without a remote controller. The keypad allows to close
the door for a specific period of time and it provides enough time to exit the
garage without running.

Safety features are present on every garage door. These features prevent the
door from crushing objects or people by reversing the direction if it hits
something. This safety feature is triggered by an electronic beam and it is
mandated by law. A computer-controlled mechanism can detect or compensate for
varying conditions, for example if the door is coming in contact with an
obstruction or is closing too fast.

Sealing a garage floor

The floor of your garage is exposed to intense corrosion and deterioration due
to road salt, oils and other auto fluids. Sealing your garage floor reduces dust
and makes cleaning and sweeping easier. A clear acrylic concrete sealer protects
the concrete from damage and stains. Also the same sealers can be used on
concrete walks and driveways or as a primer under acrylic or polyurethane floor
paints. You should take care when and where you apply a sealer because they
cannot be applied over paint or other coatings.

In order to do the sealing yourself you need several materials and tools:
protective clothing, neoprene rubber gloves, goggles, a stiff brush and a
bucket, a paintbrush, a cartridge-style respirator with organic-vapor and small-
particle filters, paint roller with extension handle and tray, medium nap roller
cover, a concrete degreaser and of course some concrete sealer. Usually 1/2 gallon
of sealer is used for approximately 100 square feet.

Before sealing you have to clean the floor because it has to be free of dirt,
grease and oil. To do this you should use a stiff scrub brush to apply the
cleaner and concrete degreaser according to the instructions. Allow the solution
to lay on the floor for 15 to 20 minutes more for stubborn stains after
scrubbing. After his you should rinse thoroughly with clear water. You may need
several applications. Many concrete sealers contain hazardous chemicals that
may be harmful to skin and eyes and the vapors are not safe to breathe but the
vast majority are acrylic. The best way to avoid damages to your skin, eyes and
lungs is to wear the protective equipment made of neoprene rubber gloves,
goggles and a respirator with both organic-vapor and solid-particle filter
cartridges. During the process of sealing the floor you should continuously
ventilate the garage by opening all doors and windows and also using a fan would
be a great idea.

After cleaning and drying the concrete, the sealer has to be applied. The sealer
should be tested in an inconspicuous area before applying. Some uneven density
in the concrete may result in light/dark appearance that may be objectionable.
By using the medium-nap paint roller with extension handle is the easiest way to
apply the sealer. Start in a rear corner continuing to work your way out of the
garage. Before doing anything else you should allow the sealer to dry as
indicated on the sealer bottle, usually for a few hours. For a driveway the
procedure is essentially the same but it would be quicker to use a garden
sprayer to apply the sealer to a large driveway. You should act with caution not
to over spray on other material due to the high risk of staining.

Garage storing -- shelves

A garage is the perfect home for all sorts of items and activities from storing
sporting equipment to tools and machines; and it's original purpose for car
parking to activities like a home-office, a gym or a workshop. If your garage is
only used for storage rather than other activities it really needs some shelves
for organization.

Usually garage shelves can be found in two main forms: site-built and
prefabricated. Site-built shelves are usually less expensive and allow you to
adapt the sizes to the space available. You can find everything that you need at
the local home center, lumber yard, discount store or hardware store.

One of the basics of the garage shelves is made of a simple piece of 1/4" plywood
or a length of 1x or 2x lumber on a set of heavy-duty shelf brackets. This is
mounted by attaching the brackets to the studs directly using long screws then
by attaching the shelf to the brackets. To strengthen the shelf you can add a
brace at each stud.

Another type of shelves are the floor-supported ones. One method is to run
vertical 2x4s every 50 inches and resting them on the floor and attaching them
to the rafters or ceiling joists at the top. In addition, the 2x4s are run
horizontally on edge between the uprights then a particleboard is used to create
the shelve. The most commonly used dimensions are 19-25 inches for depth and the
spacing between 2x4s is usually on 25 inches but of course, these sizes can be
changed to accommodate the size of the items that you are storing.

For storing small items you should take into consideration the space between the
studs. By attaching a series of 1x2 strips horizontally to the inside edges of
two adjacent studs approximately 6 inches apart, cutting some 1x4 and 1x6 pieces
of lumber and fitting them between studs and slipping them on top of the 1x2s
you can create some small adjustable shelves. These are great for jars, cans and
bottles and also for other small and light items. The small shelves are great
for organizing and storing screws and nails.

The best choice when building prefabricated garage shelves is Steel shelving.
Plastic shelving may be enough for storing light Weight items but in time you
may need something more resistant for storing heavier items. One disadvantage of
the steel shelving is that they cannot be cut to size so they have standard
widths, depths and heights so you have to choose something that fits within your
available space.

Adjustability is another important consideration in prefabricated shelving.
Prefabricated shelves sho uld be adjustable to at least two different locations
within the shelving framework and also the pins for adjusting should be heavy
duty and should have something in place for preventing them from working loose
or becoming accidentally dislodged.

Another thing to be taken into consideration when opting for prefabricated
shelves, especially those designed for heavy loads, is that they may require a
wall attachment or other support against tipping.

Insulating you garage

You recently bought a house that has a bedroom addition above the garage but it
is not insulated. Adding insulation should make those rooms more comfortable and
save on energy bills. There are several options for insulating above the garage.
Depending on the local building codes, the size of the area, whether you decide
to hire a professional or do it yourself and maybe the most important factor is
your budget.

If you have a sheet rocked garage, the fastest way would be to have blown-in
insulation installed behind the sheetrock. A fair warning here, the blown-in
insulation may be expensive if your garage is small. If your garage is not sheet
rocked you have to install lame-spread rated batt insulation and cover it with
sheetrock. First check your local building codes for the requirements of the
thickness of the sheetrock for garages including fire safety rules. The lack of
smoke detectors in a garage and the possible storage of flammable and
combustible liquids can cause a garage to be considered a hazardous space. This
is the reason why you should contact a local contractor to help you in
insulating this space.

The G-floor

During the last years, the garage has become an important extension of the
house. More and more people remodel their garage giving it a new purpose, for
example transforming it into a home office, a workshop, a music studio and even
adding a new room on top of it. If you are the type that needs to have a
workshop in his garage and you also want to park your car inside it you
definitely have to install a G-floor.

This type of flooring keeps your garage looking new whatever activities you
choose to do inside and also does a great job in hiding cracks and stains while
protecting the floor from oil, battery acid, grease, brake fluids, salt,
antifreeze, mud or other dirt that finds its way into the garage. If you are
living in a colder climate , you definitely know what a mess winter snow and
salt make in your garage, this floor is easy to clean , you just have to hose it
off.

If you are thinking of remodeling your garage, you must consider the option of
installing a G-floor for several reasons: the coin-pattern flooring is easy to
install, rather cheap, durable and gives a great look to your workshop-garage.

Garage spring cleanup

Imagine a beautiful spring day. You want to go biking, go fishing or even enjoy
a picnic with your family. When you enter your garage to gather your gear and
head to having fun you have a tremendous surprise: your stuff is all over the
place, on the floor, messed up in corners, misplaced in various drawers.
Organizing your garage is as easy as figuring out where to start. The first
thing is to purchase some cabinets, some shelves and hammer a series of nails
into the walls.

The storing and sorting goes as follows. Categorize each object and place it in
a place specially designed for it. For example sporting gear should be placed in
a cabinet or on some shelves, tools should be placed in drawers or hung on to
some peg boards. Be ruthless about throwing away and don't think twice before
you throw away anything that you haven't used recently or anything that's
broken. If you haven't repaired it yet, chances are you won't repair it.
Seasonal gear should also be sorted, boots and out-of- season coats should be
organized in small closets.

After you finish organizing, sorting and throwing away unwanted items you will
be surprised to see your garage floor and corners again. Maybe your car will fit
in the garage again.

Your workshop-garage heater

Why do you need a heater for your remodeled garage? The answer for this question
is pretty obvious: one of the major disadvantages of using your garage as a
workshop or a home office is that it wasn't meant for that. The garage is the
special place reserved for your car, the garage is the room where you keep your
lawn and garden accessories.

If you start using this space for other projects that you have, you need to deal
with one major inconvenience, that is warmth. During the summer you don't have
to worry too much about this but during cold seasons you might find some
difficulties in continuing your project because of the very low temperature.

You can find many ways to warm up your workshop- garage. You can try porcelain
heaters; they work great and can warm up a good area but they are not meant to
warm a large space for prolonged periods of time.

Another solution for you would be to use a kerosene heater. These heaters are
easy to turn on, most of them have an electric starter. It should have a
thermostat to be able to regulate the temperature also they have a specific
scent, they do function on kerosene! So if you think you cannot handle this
smell, a kerosene heater wouldn't be a good choice for you. They are quite
dangerous for your children, if they have access to the garage and you would
definitely want to ventilate the garage very well!

A very good and popular choice nowadays is a gas heater. Of cour se you have to
hire a professional to install it. You can find a gas heater suited to your
budget for remodeling the garage. There are many models and almost all of them
are fairly inexpensive. The main advantage of a gas heater is that it gives you
a consistently warm environment. They are available in both manual and
thermostatic control types. You would probably prefer a model that has a
thermostat, even though its price is a little higher than the price of a manual
temperature control model. The only thing that you have to do is to set it on a
desired temperature and leave it to do its job.

There are two types of gas heaters: vented and vent less. The vent less unit
uses air from the room and the vented model has a system that vents directly out
of the garage. The disadvantage of the vent less model is that you have to keep
the room vented at all times because the unit uses the air from the room where
it has been installed. The main advantage for the both types of gas heaters is
that they have a pretty low running cost compared to the kerosene and electric
heaters.

Remember that if you choose to install a more advanced heating system like a gas
heater, you must ask for a professional's help.

Garage floor remodeling

The garage is a very important part of your house. It is not only the room where
you keep your car but it can be used also as a storeroom. In the garage you keep
things that you do not use everyday or things that you want to dispose of later
on. Sporting equipment is usually stored in your garage. Also, a lot of people
use the garage as a laundry, a workshop or even as a home office. The growing 
importance of the garage has increased the number of remodeled garages through 
the past years. Garages are becoming an integral part of the house.

One of the things that need to be changed when planning to remodel your garage
is the floor. Concrete floors serve the purpose of flooring but do not look
good, even if you paint it, the floor will look bare. It is best to have a
garage expert adviser to do the job. The best type of garage floor is made of
specially formulated polyvinyl, this special material for flooring conceals
cracks and protects the floor from getting stained. This flooring protects the
floor from accidental spills: oil, battery acid, grease and any other dirt that
gets into your garage. By making a few minor changes to your garage you can
transform it into an attractive storage room.

Improved storage -- your garage

One of the most important storage areas of a home is the garage. Because the
space it offers is limited it should be used efficiently. So the garage is a
prime candidate for storage improvements. Of course you have many options for
improving the storage in your garage.

One of the options is to buy a modular storage kit. This can have parts and
components that you can mix and match together and can solve many storage
problems. Another option would be to build your own storage solution. If you
have too many items that you keep in your garage maybe a modular storage kit
cannot provide you the needed solution. The improvements made to your storage
may help you reduce clutter, store seasonal items in a more conveniently way and
improve organization.

Cabinets, shelves, wall-mounted racks and plastic containers are the most
popular types of garage storage and organization solutions. Cabinets work well
for protecting their contents from moisture and dust. Shelves save space more
efficiently but the most affordable solution are the wall-mounted racks. Clear
plastics containers help you to store several items and allow you to see the
contents.

Garage doors

There are four basic types of garage doors and three types of materials commonly
used to construct these doors.

If a traditional look is desired for the garage, then the side hung garage door
is the usual solution. Side-hung doors can be fitted directly on a wood frame
or on bricks.

Another type of garage door is the sectional garage door. These doors are
perfect where the space in front of the garage is limited because they open
vertically. They are perfect for a new garage that is intended to have an
aesthetic appeal.

Similar to sectional garage doors are the roller doors. The door rolls up inside
a drum above the opening of the garage door. Also there is no need to allow any
room inside or out to operate the door so it would be well suited for limited
space in front of the garage.

The last type of door is the most common one, up and over garage door. This is
the most popular type. They can be manufactured from timber, steel and GPR
materials. They can also be manual or automatic and they are relatively easy to
install.

Garage materialism is growing

Ever since the first suburbs were built, the garage became a measure of the
financial prosperity of a family. At first there was one, then two, but now four
garages are becoming the newest form of decadence in home building. A real
estate agent would say that people have a log of gear and items these days so
there is a huge demand for a place to store them. These garages, in some
instances, may be larger than many apartments, housing more cars than ever. The
third and maybe fourth family car is a necessity for families where kids stay
home longer and the restrictions on street parking are one of the factors that
point towards building larger garages.

Moreover, every man has his love for the "toys" such as boats, jet skis,
motorcycles, bikes, power tools and workbenches and these "toys" need storage. A
look into a three or four car garage may reveal tools, bikes, sporting gear, a
workshop and a 25-foot boat. This visual degradation of the suburban landscape
is an aspect of materialism that won't stop turning any time soon.

Not everybody likes this trend. Some home builders spend the extra time and
money on architectural plans that can split these huge expanses of square
footage into opposite sides of the house. A problem that appears here is the
problem of the house's design after this transformation. The most aesthetical
are the back- loading garages but they require the use of the backyard space for
turning radiuses. Side-loading garages need wider home sites but can make the
front of the house look enormous. With the current rising costs for land, in
many areas this is not feasible in the long run. This is a sign of a
mega-materialism, that is: if one is good five is better so more and more people
understand only one thing: that a garage is not good unless it is as big as a
basketball court.

When will it stop? Are we going to have the house attached to a garage ten times
bigger than the house? Maybe it would be better for everyone to think twice
before making such a commitment when buying a house attached to the garage.
Maybe it would be better if people would care about the simpler and more basic
things in life than owning a four car garage.

Your workshop-garage heater

Why do you need a heater for your remodeled garage? The answer for this question
is pretty obvious: one of the major disadvantages of using your garage as a
workshop or a home office is that it wasn't meant for that. The garage is the
special place reserved for your car, the garage is the room where you keep your
lawn and garden accessories.

If you start using this space for other projects that you have, you need to deal
with one of the major inconveniences, that is warmth. During the summer you
don't have to worry too much about this but during cold seasons you might find
some difficulties in continuing your project because of the very low
temperature.

You can find many ways to warm up your workshop- garage. You can try one of the
porcelain heaters; they work great and can warm up a good area but they are not
meant to warm a large space for a long time.

Another solution for you would be to use a kerosene heater. These heaters are
easy to turn on, most of them have an electric starter. It should have a
thermostat to be able to regulate the temperature also they have a specific
scent, they do function on kerosene! So if you think you cannot handle this
smell, a kerosene heater wouldn't be a good choice for you. They are quite
dangerous for your children, if they have access to the garage and you would
definitely want to ventilate very well the garage!

A very good and popular choice nowadays is a gas heater. Of course you have to
hire a professional to install it. You can find a gas heater suited to your
budget for remodeling the garage. There are many models and almost all of them
are fairly inexpensive. The main advantage of a gas heater is that it gives you
a consistently warm environment. They are available in both manual and
thermostatic control types. You would probably prefer a model that has a
thermostat, even though its price is a little higher than the price of a manual
temperature control model. The only thing that you have to do is to set it on a
desired temperature and leave it to do its job.

There are two types of gas heaters: vented and vent less. The vent less unit
uses air from the room and the vented model has a system that vents directly out
of the garage. The disadvantage of the vent less model is that you have to keep
the room vented at all times because the unit uses the air from the room where
it has been installed. The main advantage for the both types of gas heaters is
that they have a pretty low running cost compared to the kerosene and electric
heaters.

Remember that if you choose to install a more advanced heating system like a gas
heater, you must ask for a professional's help.

A garage addition

Does our older child need a little more liberty? Your work from home or maybe
you just feel that you need another room for a special pr oject that you want to
start? Then the solution is to construct a new addition to your garage.

By making an addition to your garage you can add to the living space in your
house, no matter what type of garage you own: detached or attached to the house.
The space above the garage can be converted into a private living space for your
older child, guests or a live-in parent. You can convert your garage into your
home office. You could very well find here the peace and quiet needed for your
work. Also, the new addition can be converted into a music studio if you put
some simple sound proofing measures into place.

In order to start planning for your garage addition, first prepare a budget and
then hire a professional because this is a complex project. Also, you may need
to hire an architect to help you with the construction plans.

Tornadoes, hurricanes, storms and garage doors

Often being the largest opening on most homes, the garage door is usually the
most vulnerable to failure under high wind pressure such as hurricanes,
tornadoes and storms in general. The pressure of the wind can destroy the garage
doors during a storm that allows water and wind to enter the house. This can
cause significant damage to furniture, electronic equipment, the contents in
general as well as the house's structure. The garage door is often overlooked
when strengthening the structure against high winds.

Massive building failures and strong winds have convinced storm-prone
communities that residents must be prepared to employ active or passive
reinforcement systems for their garage doors. An active system is that specific
type of reinforcement that must be installed before a high-wind event while
passive systems are built into the product and don't need any activation from
the owner. For the home owner in hurricane-prone areas there are only two real
options: either a new garage door with a built in passive reinforcement system
or a garage door reinforcement kit.

The option of totally replacing the garage door is usually an expensive
procedure so a garage door reinforcement kit would be a good choice if your
budget for remodeling your garage is low. Although is rather expensive, a new
garage door offers a more secure and safe option in front of a high wind.

If you'd rather choose the cheapest option, that is to reinforce your garage
door you can protect your home in one of the following ways: first of all
install pressure or impact resistant devices, such as shutters, panels,
accordion fold shutters on the garage doors or install pressure/impact resistant
garage doors that do not require shutters. If your existing door is impact
resistant but it is not wind pressure rated, install an approved garage door
bracing system to increase the wind pressure resistance. A pressure/impact
resistant rating ensures that the device meets the wind pressure and debris
impact requirements of the Southern Building Code Congress International
standards or the July 1988 wind pressure and debris impact requirements of the
American Society of Civil Engineers adopted in September 1994.

When adding a garage door bracing first ensure that there is enough and relevant
documentation that the product has been tested at a certified testing
laboratory. The product should be designed to withstand both positive and
negative wind pressure. You should contact a local garage door supplier of
approved garage door bracing systems to assist you in the selection of the
necessary system for your needs.

Music studio in a garage

Music is your hobby and you want to practice with your band. The only available
place that you can think of is your garage but you also have neighbors that must
not be disturbed while you are practicing. The only solution to use your garage
as a music studio is to soundproof it or build a small studio in one corner of
the garage. For this you need to use two existing garage walls and build another
two new walls on an angle to improve the acoustics of the studio.

After measuring the angle you will have to anchor sole plates to the garage
floor and frame the first new wall. After finishing the framing for the second
wall and adding a door to this one you have to insulate the garage walls to help
deaden the sounds. Next you will hang drywall on the new walls and patch the
seams. The final layer of sound-deadening material will be applied to the walls
and to the ceiling. This layer is made of some secondhand carpeting. After
applying these carpets you can cover them with some strip boards pinned onto the
wall with nails.

Five steps to a clean garage workshop

You park your car in the driveway and you still have to work on your projects in
the back yard. If you don't use your garage for its designed purpose, why not
turn it into a tidy workshop? Here are five steps to turn your garage in a
perfect small home workshop:

1) Create your own workbench from an old door,s ome sawhorses or scrap wood.

2) Mount a pegboard on the wall to store your tools. It would be a great idea
to mount it above your workbench. Strategically place pegs according to the type
of tools you will be placing on the board. After hanging your tools, trace
around them with a marker so you will know where each one goes.

3) Use old jars for holding nails, nuts, bolts and screws.

4) Make a storage box for the rags because they tend to accumulate in the
working area.

5) Use a small tackle box for transporting items such as screws and nails as
you move around the shop.

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