garage remodeling

Hello World, Here is a quick video on our Unique Custom Built garage Storage system called the Hercules system. built strong and will last a long long time.

One of the funniest movies I ever saw was “The Money Pit” starring Tom Hanks and Shelley Long. They play a newly married couple wanting to buy a house but can’t find anything in their price range. When they find a beautiful old mansion that is selling for a ridiculous price they buy what they think is their dream house.

Once they move in the house starts falling apart everywhere and they have no choice but to remodel the entire structure. The rest of the movie is devoted to the many problems they encounter during the remodeling project. From dealing with no water to missing staircases this movie is admittedly an extreme scenario of what could happen while remodeling.

The good news is this is one example where life does not imitate art and most people that are thinking of remodeling their home will not have anywhere near the experience Tom and Shelley had if they plan accordingly.

As you are most likely not in a situation where a complete house remodeling is needed right away you will have some time to decide exactly what it is you want to accomplish. Do you need another bathroom or maybe you want to add an extra stall in your garage?

These are questions you will need to answer up front before you start any work. Write down on paper what it is you want and make a drawing you can show the contractor. You might want to consider buying some home remodeling software for your PC as these packages are reasonably priced and can be used for just about anything from building a new house to room additions.

Unless you are handy and are going to do the work yourself once you have your plan you need to find a reliable contractor. This is much easier said than done and you would be well advised to talk to at least three before making a decision. Get references and check them out and try and inspect some of their previous work. Asking your acquaintances if they can recommend someone can be a safe way to pick a contractor that you will be happy with.

Get a general project estimate from each contractor and if it’s more than you wanted to spend consider using less expensive materials or scaling down the project some. Be very suspicious of anyone that says they can do the project for an amount that is unrealistically lower than your other estimates.

Next, you need to set a realistic budget that you must adhere to making sure to pad the budget with a little extra for the inevitable problems that will crop up. Be sure to get everything in writing in case you have any serious problems during the project. By having everything spelled out as to the scope of the project and when it will be completed you will be in a better legal position if there are problems. Don’t be afraid to consult with your attorney if this is a large project with a lot of money at stake.

If you lack the cash and need to finance the project with a home equity loan you might want to ask yourself if you really need to be doing this remodeling project at this time. By waiting until you have saved up a bit more money you could save quite a bit in finance charges.

If you do your homework and plan everything up front your remodeling project should be completed on time and on budget giving you the results you desired when you first started the process.

Remodeling a garage to a room is often a cost-effective way to add living space to your home.

1. Because the foundation, roof and exterior walls are already built, you will not incur these costs.

2. You will be able to remodel the area with little disruption to the rest of your home.

3. You may already have the electrical wiring in place (most garages have lights and at least one electrical outlet) as well as plumbing.

4. Depending upon local building codes, you may not need a building permit for your project.

Why would you need a building permit? This can vary from one location to another, but the primary issues are:

* Structural soundness

* Exits

* Heating and cooling

* Windows

* Ventilation

* Insulation

* Plumbing

* Electrical

In some areas, failure to build to local code can require that you restore the space to its original condition before you sell the house.

The best place to start remodeling a garage to a room is to determine what you have to work with in terms of floor, walls, access, etc. You will likely have a cement slab floor and an adequate roof. If there are no windows, you will need to decide whether to install them, how many to install, and where you will place them. If your garage has finished walls you will need to determine whether the walls are insulated. If they are not insulated, you will need to make decisions about how you will insulate. You will need to plan for heating and cooling and adequate lighting and electrical outlets. Do you need plumbing in the room? If so, you will need to determine whether there is or is not plumbing in the area and what changes are required.

Your next decision will be whether to use the entire garage for your new room or only part of it. If you have a two-car garage, you might decide to finish only half of it into living space. In this case, you might want to pay extra attention to soundproofing.

Converted garages can serve a variety of functions. Garages can be converted into everything from a kitchen to a living room or a family room, den, home theater, home office or an extra bedroom. You might discover enough “attic” space to finish two rooms (one above the other) or to open the ceiling and design your new room with a vaulted ceiling.

The next decisions will determine the appearance of the finished room.

1. What kind of flooring will you use? You will find that a slab is conducive to almost any kind of flooring you choose to install. Be sure to seal the slab before you begin installation of any flooring materials. And, if you install carpet, you might want to invest in double padding to make the room more comfortable. You can also build a traditional joist floor over the garage slab to match the floor level in the rest of your home.

2. What kind of ceiling do you want? Depending upon the planned use of the space, you might choose a vaulted, exposed beam ceiling, a pitched ceiling, a tray ceiling, a drywall ceiling, or a drop ceiling.

3. Finally, you will need to decide on the walls. You can choose paneling or sheetrock, or you might want to consider constructing the walls of insulated board. If the room will be used as a playroom or a home office, this might be just the solution you need.

Finally, you will need to decide whether to do the work yourself or hire a contractor. You might decide to hire a contractor for some of the work, like electrical, plumbing, etc. and do the rest yourself. Either way, you’ll find that the cost of converting your garage to living space is far less than adding a room to your home.

To get a quick estimate of the cost for this project check out www.remodelestimates.com, and to help you organize your project invest in an organizer like the one at www.remodelingorganizer.com.

A garage conversion is a great remodeling project. It’s the perfect way to get the space you need at the lowest possible cost. Enjoy!

Copyright 2007 by ABCD Publishing

Accessorising Your Kitchen And Bathroom

Kitchen and bath accessories are the key to not only making these areas comfortable but also for them to look good. The right accessories and furniture can entirely transform your kitchen into the most pleasurable area of your home. The quantity, size and theme of the kitchen accessories must match with your overall decor theme and space available. Here are some tips for you:

1) Once you have decided on the colour of your walls, placing of your refrigerator, counters and cabinets, categorise all your accessories by colour, size or style and then choose them according to the scale and visual balance.

2) Install the largest accessories first, keeping the aesthetic balance, right eye level and distance to the cooking area, then move on to the smaller ones.

3) A wall clock is must in the kitchen, whether you are a student, working person or a housewife, so that you can get done with cooking on time. It also helps you to monitor your cooking better.

4) Designer range hoods do not only look trendy but are also quite functional when it comes to getting rid of smoke and vapours.

5) Kitchen carts and worktables come in quite handy for a variety of reasons and can be moved or folded and slipped under the counter after use.

6) Pot racks and baker’s racks are for those with advanced culinary skills.

7) Covered trashcans are a must in the kitchen to discard all those soda bottles and boxes.

Cabinet accessories, designer sinks, faucets, knobs and pulls lend a sophisticated look to the kitchen.

9) Stools and chairs that can be stacked one on top of the other can be used and then stacked in the corner in a small kitchen.

10) Chopping blocks and countertops are a must but you may also opt for wine racks.

11) Decorate your appliances too with beautiful decorative panels.

12) Stainless steel wall shelves and backsplash accessories are the latest trend in kitchen decor.

Whether it’s shelving accessories, lighting systems, the addition of split rope topper mouldings, lattice, panels, brass grills or glass etchnigs, you can make your kitchen a place of distinction and efficiency with simple and ease to install extras. You’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish with just a few feet of wineglass moulding, fluted rosettes, or bun feet added to your favourite fixtures. Low-voltage lighting, pantry organisers, sink front tray sets, pullout trash bins, appliance garages, and shelf lift mechanisms add convenience and organisation to please even the most discriminating kitchen boss.

Most accessory stores have a full line of innovative systems that can turn your kitchen into a showcase. Best of all, most are affordable, practical solutions that are quick and easy to install.

HAVE YOUR OWN PROJECTS

Complete your own custom kitchen accessory projects. Built-in wine racks above refrigerators, mouldings to disguise soffets, and matching appliance, garages are popular kitchen accessories that add quick-access storage, or, a cabinetry display, plate rack, or bookshelf. These projects are not beyond the reach of the average woodworker or handyman or woman and can be accomplished with basic skills and tools. The possibilities are endless with today’s line of hardware, woodworking and project supplies.

Bathroom accessories are similarly worked out for pleasure and beauty.

It’s not polite to steal things from a luxury hotel’s bathroom, but now people aren’t snatching embroidered towels or miniature shampoo bottles.

Instead, consumers are taking the coordinated style associated with upscale hotels into their homes, which is one of the factors spurring the evolution of matching accessories in residential bathrooms.

Many plumbing fitting manufactures offer bathroom suites, so people can head to one company for faucets and accessories, grabbing hold of a complete, cohesive look. Matching products offer the one-stop shopping, contractors and their clients crave. “It provides convenience for the builder and consumer,” say many designers.

As the role of accessories in the bath increases, so does the range of products. Builders and remodellers now can find so much more than just the basic towel bar, including glass shelves, hotel racks, light fixtures, tumblers, soap dishes, toilet paper holders, and even wall-mounted toilet bowl brushes made to match faucets.

“Every little place now that we can think to decorate, we definitely take advantage of,” say many householders.

THE WIDER SELECTION

The wider selection of accessories gives customers a chance to personalise their baths. For example, using an oil-rubbed-bronze robe hook or a chrome wall-mounted toilet brush, homeowners can add individual flair without compromising the consistency of a look.

“You do not have to buy it exactly as you see it in a catalogue or showroom,” say homeowners. “The days of everyone on the block having the exact same look are over.” But a lot depends on the finishes available, and chrome and brushed nickel in accessories remain the most popular.

“I think that is mostly because when a homeowner goes and picks out, he goes for shine and effect.” So, revamp that kitchen and bathroom and decide to make cooking and bathing a pleasure.

Small Kitchen Remodeling Ideas

Any remodeling idea for a small kitchen must address the following issues: counter space, storage, built-ins, and pantry.

In order to make better use of your kitchen floor space, you need to put up the maximum amount of counters. Plan your design with deeper counters to cover as much of the area not occupied with appliances with counter space if the difference in floor space is a matter of a few square feet.

Squeeze as many cabinets into your design as possible. Deep cabinets that can hold plates should be located near the dishwasher, and large cabinets with slide-out drawers should be placed near the oven.

Another space-saving device is to include built-in facilities. You can have built-in ovens, microwaves and storage for small appliances. This will make your kitchen appear less cluttered. Built-in storage for foods like potatoes and onions and bread storage cabinets will also give the kitchen a cleaner look. You can also opt for waist-high, sliding shelves that hold mixers and toasters. Your small appliances can remain hidden in these shelves and still be easily accessible.

If there is no room for a pantry in your kitchen, consider converting a closet outside the kitchen area to store your cutlery, pots and infrequently used items. You can also include rollout pantries that can be pulled out to view the items you have, but rolled back into a space.

Choose a large sink. It will be easier for you to clean bigger pots and pans. Moreover, a large sink is a great place to stash your dirty pots. A large sink can also serve as a utility sink, too.

You can increase the efficiency of your small kitchen by putting a wire basket on the inside the cabinet or under the sink to hold trash bags and other frequently used items. You can mount an instant hot water heater on the sink to replace the sprayer or soap.

A tile back splash on all the walls above the counters, stove and sink make the kitchen easier to clean.