garage remodeling

Some people have no use for the double garage portion of their home. Their homes are equipped with protection from the wind on both sides and the distance is relatively short to the back door should a downpour occur at any moment. The homeowners have some creative home remodeling ideas for garages that they want to use to give them better use of the space that a automobile would typically use.

Many exercise enthusiasts can envision a home gym in the place where the automobile used to be parked. They can see bright and cheery colors being painted on the wall to encourage them to exercise to a higher degree of fitness. They can also see their exercise equipment spread out with enough room to extend legs and stretch all parts of the body without having to worry about ever running into their exercise partner.

Other people have a passion for plants and need space to grow them to share with their best friends and their little business that they operate on the internet. The creative home remodeling projects would completely remove the garage from the home and create an indoor living environment that is perfect for plants to grow in. The remodeled space would have plant lights hung by the ceilings and tables for potting the plants and others for them to sit on and grow.

Many garages can be converted to be warehouses for home businesses. The creative home remodeling projects that they plan will include a shipping department that is a step away from where the inventory is stored on shelves. A computer system can be installed in a built-in cabinet to keep dust and dirt from damaging the electronic equipment. This space will reap the homeowner great rewards on their income tax as a space devoted to business and not to be used solely to house an automobile.

Some people consider garages to be living spaces that have not been finished. Even if the garage doors are never removed, homeowners are finding creative ways to disguise them. Some homeowners paint the doors with floral arrays and arches and turn the space into a Grecian garden spot complete with hot tub and sauna. These are delightful places for couples to spend quite evenings and enjoy the evening sunset white seated in comforting waters of a brand new Jacuzzi tub.

Some couples settle for half the space in the garage to do the things that they want to. The man of the house will usually use one side to store the riding lawnmower, hoses and various tools that he uses to remodel the home with. There can be a divider wall installed in these spaces to hide the clutter from guests, and the other side can be used for creative interests such as painting or quilting projects and a large mixture of other things that are of interest to the opposite sex.

Staying up to code during remodeling can be crucial. Get tips about staying in code from ahome staging expert in this free video. Expert: Kelly Coty Bio: Kelly Coty launched Prix de Solde Home Staging in 1995. Prix de Solde has become Nashvilles premier home staging firm having worked on about 1300 projects. Filmmaker: Dimitri LaBarge

When people begin to think about remodeling, ideas will surface about tearing out walls, windows, doorways and anything having to do with major work. The idea of remodeling always tends to focus on larger projects. What about the little projects? Considering simple easy remodeling ideas can lead to as much home enjoyment at a much lesser cost.

Furnishings

One of the easiest, and more fun remodeling ideas, is to go find new old furniture to fit into your home. Many times what you have currently is beginning to look boring or past it’s prime. Using different furnishings as a remodeling idea can completely change the way any room looks. Some places to look:

- Garage sales and flea markets

- Used furniture stores, and sometimes small antique shops

- Salvation Army

Furnace and Plumbing

One of the best basic and simple remodeling ideas that are often overlooked are updating the plumbing and the furnace. Furnace – with all of the modern furnaces being energy efficient today, having a furnace that’s even ten years old will cost you more in heating bills over the next five years than updating to a new furnace now. Plumbing – old plumbing can cause a host of issues from rust to problems in the water. This can also cause the hot water heater to work harder as well. Maintaining pressure in older plumbing is also a problem. Most pipes can be easily replaced in the course of a day’s time with the right tools and fittings.

Winterizing

Winterizing should be a top priority in any home remodeling plan. Ideas for older homes can include simple cost effective methods such as:

- Putting insulation in the attic and basement ceiling with a grade of at least R-19

- Placing caulking around window frames to seal up cracks and open seams

- Placing foam strips along the door frames and inner window frames

- Sealing off the attic if not used often

- Wrapping pipes in the basement from the water heater into the house will help keep the temperature constant at a lower heating need

- Replacing storm windows and doors

- Replacing window glass which is cracked or damaged

- Sealing cracks in wall corners

Painting and Decorating

One of the most basic and simple remodeling ideas is the paint job. Painting a room can liven up any space. Painting cabinets is an easy kitchen remodeling idea. Simply changing fabrics of the furniture by using throw cushions or quilts always adds a warm comfortable touch to the room. Even a few pictures placed strategically can change room appeal.

Your home’s square footage doesn’t end at the garage door. This once neglected, disregarded and, dare I say, abused space is among the largest rooms in the house. For decades it has slid into cluttered oblivion, too jam-packed with “stuff” to even park a car inside. But things are changing. Homeowners are expanding their organizing and remodeling zeal to the garage, which has become an extension of living space that has moved beyond its utilitarian origins. The garage plays an increasingly important role and can be a help or a hindrance when selling your home.

According to the National Association of Home Builders, Americans spent $2.5 billion on garage remodels in 2005. The number one garage rule: turn it into a garage. Buyers aren’t interested in garage conversions. If they needed an extra bedroom or family room, they’d look for a bigger house.

You don’t have to turn it into a show garage, but a finished garage will help sell your house. The garage is simply too big and too valuable to let its space go to waste. Function and organization are the key elements of a garage that will be an asset when you sell.

1. Capacity. The two-car garage is outdated. The trend for three-car garages began around 1992 and these days, four-car garages aren’t uncommon. Many home buyers have project cars, classic cars, RVs or boats to store. Some have teenagers who are driving. Others just want the extra storage space. Whatever the need, the added square footage is as important in a garage as it is inside the house.

2. Size. A standard-sized garage measured about 21 ft. x 21 ft. and was about 7 ft. high in the 1980s. Today’s SUVs, oversized pickup trucks, RVs, boats and trailers demand a larger garage. To accommodate bigger vehicles, the dimensions should be at least 22 ft. x 22 ft. by 9 ft. high.

3. Space. When it comes to garages, it’s all about size and space. Extra space is a bonus that can be used for storage, as a workroom or even as a playroom for the kids, especially if the home doesn’t have a basement.

4. Location. The trend for placement has come full-circle, with many garages now being located at the back of the house and even detached garages on an alley. While that creates better curb appeal out front, many home owners don’t want to sacrifice backyard living space. If the lot is wide enough, the side-load garage is still popular and can be easily disguised to look like a wing of the house.

5. Storage. Because storage is always at a premium, the garage offers another opportunity for stashing seldom-used items or tools and items for outdoor use. Organizational products can cost anywhere from $100 to $10,000, but are well worth the investment. At the minimum, add wall hooks or pegboard for hanging up garden tools and bicycles. Shelves keep clutter from accumulating on the floor. Closets are great for hiding coats and boots. Cabinets and workbenches are bonus features that can close a sale.

6. Lighting. Replace that single center bulb with an 8-ft. fluorescent light strip. If you have a workbench or bonus space, additional lighting will be necessary and can include LED task lighting, spot lights or more fluorescent strips. Don’t forget outside lighting. Place two fixtures on either side of the garage door and additional fixtures by every outside access door.

7. Flooring. The garage floor should stand up to dirt, oil, salt, paint and other debris. Flooring not only upgrades the look, but also increases resiliency to stains and tires marks and hides imperfections. Choices range from epoxy resin-based paints to rubber mats and tiles. Paints and coatings come in a limitless range of colors and are now available with a gritty element for more grip, less slip. Mats and tiles provide a vapor barrier and cushion your feet. They also reduce the amount of dirt tracked inside and act as insulation and noise reduction.

8. Access. Oversized garages benefit from a walk-through door to the back or side yard, which also increase air circulation or reduce heat loss, depending on the season. Drive-thru garage designs are convenient for moving lawn tractors, trailers and other equipment out of the garage and for families with multiple cars.

9. Doors. Particularly if the garage faces the front of the house, the door should be an attractive complement to the house’s style. Design, color and materials can make this a stylish aspect of the home’s exterior. Doors should be lightweight, secure, functional and should enhance your home’s appearance. The first automatic garage door opener became commercial in 1954. These days, the door opener is practically a must and often considered a standard feature.

10. Finished walls and ceilings. Finishing a garage makes it look clean and “complete” and prepares the space for customization. It’s one less thing a buyer will have to do. Make sure the garage is insulated before you finish it off; that will save on heating and cooling bills. Don’t expect to get 100 percent return on investment with all these garage upgrades, but these amenities are sure to make your home more appealing to buyers.