garage remodeling

We all love to have a garage at home, but most of the time it is the area that we forget about and ends up disorganized. Sometimes it just becomes a place to dump stuff temporarily, but temporarily ends up to being a permanent situation because we never find the time to deal with the item. The sooner we get our garage in order the more we can get full use of it or use it for another purpose, especially if we need an extra room, but cannot fit an addition in our budget.

Organizing a garage could seem like a daunting task, but it really is not. If you keep in mind certain rules, it will make your task easier. The first rule is to understand that you should find a place for items, and they should be easy to retrieve when you need them. The second rule is that the items that you just found a space for should be used and not just stored. The third rule is that you get rid of everything that you truly do not use anymore. This could be tricky as you may find that you will use those golf clubs, but you have not been golfing in years. So be honest with yourself in order to get rid of some items.

Start by clearing out everything and sorting your items into categories. For example, tools, sporting equipment, and so on. You will probably find that you have many doubles of items, or more than you really use. You will also find that missing item that you thought your neighbor never returned.

Once you have categorized everything, start by eliminating things that you do not use by putting them on a separate box. Separate things that belong somewhere else, such as attic or basement. The items that are in the extra or unwanted box can be donated or sold at a garage sale for extra money or a tax credit.

Once you have the items that you will use in front of you, separate them by season. Assign a space, shelf, or cabinet to each season. If you prefer to have some categories by themselves, such as all tools together that is fine too – whatever makes your life easier as long as you can find and retrieve items with ease.

If you notice that you need some special shelves or cabinets, purchase these right away to avoid leaving items around, as you might return to a disorganized garage style if you do not put things away soon.

Important areas to create are a working space, a trash space near your garage, and any other areas that suit your needs. Do not forget to leave room for the car if you park in your garage.

You will find that organizing your garage makes your life easier and saves you time in the end.

Here in Buford, growth and change are a way of life. Many Atlanta residents who visit this area are mostly familiar with Mall of Georgia or Lake Lanier. We now have the new Gwinnett Stadium and the AAA Braves. But we’ve been here a long time. About half the homes here in Buford were built over 30 years ago.  Most homes built after 1980 will have a garage door and opener. Since about half the homes in Buford were built before that time, carports and other parking arrangements are widely found in our more mature neighborhoods.  Whatever category your home falls under, choosing to install, update, add to, or repair your existing set up can add convenience and value to any home.

For those lucky people that already have a garage door and opener it’s as simple as keeping them maintained. You may want to take a look our post on garage door maintenance. It offers 5 easy suggestions on how to keep everything in good shape. Of course, not everyone is lucky enough to already have something to maintain. For those of us who don’t, one can always be added, or repaired.

If you’ve decided its time to stop parking in the driveway under that sappy tree, you may want to simply call a local repair company. Many repairs are routine, and can usually be quoted by phone. A completely new single car garage door in the Buford area typically starts at around $400. Any repairs done should take into consideration the continued life expectancy of the mechanism versus the price of repair. Sometimes it’s best to remove the old one, and have a new one installed. You may want to take a look at our post on the different garage doors available today. It’s a good way to get your feet wet on that subject, and provides some manufacturer links to get you going. Get a few written estimates when considering a new install. As some products are a little better than others, make sure the estimates you’re provided include comparable ones. It’ll be an investment that’s around for a long time.

If you’ve got a carport, you’re halfway there already. Depending on the circumstances present, you can expect some extra costs associated with enclosing a carport before installing a garage door and opener. How much additional cost largely depends upon how many open sides there are in the carport, as well as the types of materials being used for the remodeling. Depending upon the scope of work being performed, some jobs of this nature can be completed in as little as one day. Some may be more time consuming, and can take a few extra days. Buford homeowners interested in enclosing the carport should get a few written estimates. Again, talk to the company representative, making sure that when its time to compare estimates, you’ll be comparing apples to apples and oranges to oranges. Not all models are created equal. Some are of better quality than others. Blending the remodeled portion with the rest of the exterior of the home is also very important. Make sure your cost estimates include the finishing touches, such as painting or siding. You may also think about asking for references from each company. Speaking with a previous customer, or taking a look at how their house looks after a similar job, can help paint a clear picture of what to expect.

Adding a secure, weatherproofed space to your home can be advantageous in many ways. Here in Buford, it gets plenty hot during the summer. The winters provide for some uncomfortably cold mornings. Installing or repairing a garage door can provide a dry, insulated space for the car and the extra freezer, and a secure place for your mower and tools.  Hopefully we’ve helped get you started on your way to parking the car out of the freezing cold, or heat, or rain, and on your way to having an aesthetically pleasing, safely functioning garage door.

For more information, including links to manufacturer sites, please visit our website CurbAppealCSI.com

Before beginning your garage construction it’s essential to have in mind what purpose that you’ll be using it for. Are you going to tackle your garage design so that you can park your car or so that you can have the workshop that you’ve always wanted? Maybe it’s a combination of the two. Either way, or for whatever reason, you’re going to want to know ahead of time.

You also want to be clear on your budget and exactly how much money you’re going to have to work with. Though it may not look like it at first glance, there is a profound difference between remodeling, home rebuilding, or just simply reorganizing a small area of your garage. Without a realistic budget you may quickly begin to incur costs that you never thought about.

First thing’s first. You have to figure out what you want and what your needs are for this newly revamped garage are. You may think that your garage is way too small, but even the smallest areas, if planned out correctly can be sufficient for many things.

The decision of whether or not to do the project yourself or hire a contractor depends on many factors, for instance your skill level as well as the enormity of the project. If you only possess the basic skills, you can still take on a commendable project for simple reorganizing.

You only need to buy the storage materials yourself according to how much stuff you have to store, and the space that you have at your disposal. You’ll need shelves, cabinets, pegboard, pegs, and hooks in order to transition your garage into a usable space over the weekend.

Perhaps you have a greater project in mind, one that you’re not actually qualified for. In this case you should probably consult an electrician or plumber before tackling this job.

If you’re planning to completely convert your garage into a living area be sure that you’re qualified as a professional, because you certainly don’t want to risk decreasing your homes safety, as well as decreasing the value of your own home altogether.

It’s definitely recommended that you choose to hire a contractor no matter what task you’re taking on, even the simplest of them all, no matter what your level of skill. That being said, be sure to get one whose quality of work that you’re sure of, and have seen. Getting a contractor by word of recommendation is usually a good idea, and that much better if you can see with your very own eyes the quality of work that has been performed in the past. This will show you first hand if you’re going to be satisfied with your contractors work.

You certainly don’t want to find out that your contractor isn’t qualified when he’s in the midst of your garage construction.

books.gregvan.com If you’re planning on remodeling your garage or converting it into living area, you should watch this video to get some ideas on how to deal with the building department and building permits. Some building and safety departments require a minimum space, to park a car. Usually this space is 11 feet wide by 18 feet deep, but like I said earlier, you need to check with your local building department, because some building codes are different in different areas and cities. Garage conversions can be tricky and even if you don’t plan on pulling any building permits, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to build everything to code, just in case something ever happened.