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.

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.

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 ½ 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.

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.

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. 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.

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 according 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.