Home Improvement

The most vital thing to consider when remodeling your garage is how you are going to use it. Garage remodeling is when you transform that nearly neglected part of your house that your wife and children do not even dare to enter. Remodeling of garage is more efficient today because of recently developed garage organizing and storage systems. Remodeling of your garage is very vital aspect of the home remodeling. It is probably the quickest way to add much needed space to your home.

If you are considering any sort of home repair this may just be the one that should be first on your list, because it is often the most visible exterior element of a home. Its no wonder that garage remodeling is getting a closer looks from homeowners. How to deal with a cluttered garage is an issue faced by every family at some point and garage remodeling and organization are among the most well loved solutions. Therefore, the first vital step in garage remodeling is to empty out the garage completely of its contents.

The garage door is beginning to get more attention from todays homeowners as garage remodeling is becoming more vital to them. To give you some thought of what you might be looking at, a new garage door usually costs somewhere around ,000, and a garage storage system is another ,000. For garage door tips, consider changing your ancient garage door. Newer garage doors are more secure and make better use of technology for safety and security.

An ancient door and opener could be a real threat for your children playing near the garage. The door needs to be maintained every now and then to ensure its continued safe use. When a door and opener gets really ancient, periodic maintenance gets even more expensive as some worn out parts would have to be replaced. The best way to go is to replace that ancient door and opener with a new one. Aside from looking better and saving on maintenance costs, these doors and openers contain better technology than the ancient one you have right now.

Nevertheless, a home survey found that the garage door is now the most used exterior door when entering the home for both men 44 percent and women 42 percent. The front door was close behind as the second most used exterior door. Wood composite garage doors can also be embellished with stylish details such as unique trim designs, gorgeous woodgrain patterns, decorative hardware, multi planked grooves and a variety of window inserts to help bring more natural light into the garage.

But, for more extensive and lasting renovations that include insulation, flooring, soundproofing, electrical wiring and plumbing, you will probably need to hire a general contractor who can plot and oversee your garage renovation. Garages are notorious for being functional, yet unattractive, dull concrete floors, rough looking exposed beams and a general lack of organization are often the culprits. Some careful storage plotting, a small drywall and may be a bit of epoxy floor covering can truly make a less than incredible garage into something worth showing off. As part of your garage remodeling process you may wish to give attention to the garage floor.

Generally speaking, these floors are made from concrete and often detract from the appearance of the garage due to various stains. But, there are a number of methods that can be utilized to give attention to the garage floor. One of these methods can be the application of paint to the garage floor. Another method of sprucing up a garage floor is through the use of a durable garage flooring product. It is strongly suggested that if utilizing this method of refinishing the garage floor that professional installers be contracted with.

While garages main use is to store the car, you can also use the garage as a storage area. If you are thinking about expanding your garage area by diminishing the garden area, then this thought works for you. If a potential home buyer has always wanted their own work space, your garage remodel could be the thing that sells your home. The nature of your work space will determine what renovations are needed. Be sure to build a play space, whether it is a poker table, pool table, ping pong table or football table, a remodeled garage can be a mecca of home entertainment. Whether you need to de clutter the garage itself or want to use the space to transfer items out of the main part of your home, the garage is a common place for home storage.

Your garage is not only the place to keep your car, but if proper care and arrangements are made, you can make over the garage into a new place in your home. When thinking about home remodeling, we make out remodeling plans, choose proper plans and take care of basic remodeling accessories in the home. So, you need to be very careful while selecting door for your garage or your flooring materials.

While kitchen and bathroom remodeling continue to lead the way in home improvement projects, garage remodeling is beginning to come its own as more and more homeowners choose to use their garages for more than just storing their vehicles. Garage remodeling can be a home improvement strategy that provides many benefits to homeowners.

They can be remodeled into a new store place where you can make out some place for storing other homely accessories. Garages are very vital part of the house and have equal importance such as the other sections of the house. Garage remodeling is probably the quickest way to add much needed space to your home. Garage remodels do not average the same rate of return, although they do certainly increase the value of your home.

Remodeling your home can be a fantastic way to spruce up your house and your attitude! A remodeling project can be as simple as changing your color scheme or as complex and a complete home makeover. The choice is yours. In this article we will take a quick look at some of the benefits of remodeling, as well as the risks and complexities involved. We’ll look at how to get started and outline a few of the benefits and risks of various remodeling projects. Whether you want to modernize or go retro, whether your project is small or large, whether you hire a contractor or do it yourself, remodeling can be a fun and exciting way to add a small excitement.

You might be interested in these articles too:

Material for your remodel — how to buy and save

What does it cost to Remodel?

Remodeling is not without its complexities and risks. You will do well to reckon through every project on a step-by-step basis and analyze the costs before you start. Then reckon about what could possibly go incorrect and how you can plot to avoid these problems. Remodeling can be either a joy or a nightmare. But if you reckon it through, plot it carefully, and hire the right people, your remodeling project can be sheer joy.

Where to start

There are several places to start to reckon about and plot a remodeling project. The first way to start is to reckon about what you want to change or what you need to change about your house. Make a list of the things you need to do. Then make a list of the things you want to do. This will help you prioritize the projects. A second way to start is to consider what renovations or remodeling would increase the value of your house. You can get thoughts by viewing some new homes or talking with builders or home decorators. A third way to start is to bring in a home remodeling professional to make recommendations and give advice and cost estimates. A fourth way to start to reckon about remodeling is to be aware of the sources of frustration with your house.

The top five reasons given by people who remodel their homes are:

To add space or to reallocate space

To upgrade or modernize

To improve energy efficiency

To make the home more functional for aging persons or for persons with disabilities

To increase the resale value of the home

Remodeling to add or to reallocate space can mean knocking out a wall, building a wall, adding a room, extending a room, or adding a second floor. Trends change in the way space is allocated. Homes built in the 1950s have very large “living rooms” whereas today new homes frequently have very small living rooms, large family rooms, or only a fantastic room. If your family is growing, you may need additional bedrooms or a play room or another bathroom. If you find your temper flaring while you wait for a turn in the bathroom, this might be the place to start. There can be several complexities with additions or expansions, such as the ability of the foundation or the wall supports to bear the additional weight, whether local building and zoning codes allow the kind of change you want to make. Sometimes what appears to be a simple change really ends up involving more extensive work. There are also risks that your investment will not pay off, or that you won’t like the changes, or that your life circumstances will change in ways that require further remodeling, or that you will encounter problems with the contractor or with liability or financing.

Remodeling to upgrade or modernize can take a variety of directions. First, you might want to lighten or brighten the house by adding windows or glass doors or skylights. New houses tend to have more windows and higher ceilings. These are excellent upgrades to make. The will generally increase the value of your house if done well. You may want to replace appliances with new colors or features. Upgrading kitchens and bathrooms usually brings a excellent return on the investment. A general clean-up and de-clutter renovation is an brilliant investment. But while you consider “modernizing” don’t forget that everything ancient is new again.

Renovations that improve energy efficiency tend to pay off both in the small run and in the long run. Some of these improvements are relatively affordable, such as changing windows, adding insulation, or adding heat reflecting linings to the roof. For the most part, these upgrades are not very risky, unless you hire a terrible contractor.

Making the home more functional for the elderly or for persons with disabilities can involve relatively minor and removable changes or it can involve permanent changes. For example, if you choose to install a ramp, what effect will a permanent concrete ramp have on the resale value of the house? Should you add an elevator or a glide chair for access to a second floor? In general terms, removable accessibility and safety features will protect the resale value of the home.

Renovations aimed at increasing the value of your home can also make life more comfortable immediately. The best advice in this case is to focus on things that clearly make the house more desirable. Changing paint to neutral colors is generally safe. Changing from carpet to hard wood floors may not make much difference. Lightening and brightening should pay off, as should de-cluttering and attending to landscaping.

It is always possible that you will make changes or improvements now that will come to be considered liabilities later, so be sure you want to live with the changes you make. Unless you plot to sell your house immediately, you might want to concentrate on the kind of remodeling that will make you more pleased or more comfortable.

Finally, reckon carefully about trying to do some renovations yourself. Keeping your home safe is a primary consideration.

Renovations are messy in the small run, but making the changes you want in a home or the changes your lifestyle demands, can be fun and energizing. If you have the itch to renovate, reckon it through, prioritize your needs and wants, calculate the cost, find a reliable contractor or remodeling expert, and make it happen. Remodeling can make an ancient home look and feel completely new — and you can do it on your own schedule and budget.

Copyright 2007 by ABCD Publishing

More money is spent annually on home renovation than on new construction, (nearly 0 billion in 2006). It is estimated that more than a million homes per year undergo major renovation or remodeling.

Economic and environmental realities are driving homeowners to look at how to maximize resource usage and to decrease the waste stream generated by construction projects. More of us are asking if there are better ways to remodel that can enhance health, reduce energy consumption, lower maintenance costs and minimize environmental impact. There is. It’s called green remodeling.

What is green remodeling? Essentially, it is the convergence of three basic principles:

• Increasing energy efficiency

• Improving indoor air quality

• Conserving natural resources

Perhaps the best way to describe the philosophy of green remodeling is that it is a form of applied common sense. Remodeling and renovation projects offer myriad ways to reduce, re-use and recycle. Salvaging and re-using materials can result in lower cost of materials and in the reduction of environmentally damaging waste disposal and lowering disposal-related fees. As a bonus, the use of salvaged materials, such as wood flooring, doors and antique fixtures can also add beauty and style to a newly remodeled space.

In their book, “Green Remodeling”, co-authors David Johnston and Kim Master refer to green remodeling as “Changing the World, One Room at a Time” (available at http://www.amazon.com), According to the authors, you can do this by employing green building processes and materials in remodeling projects, because going green “is more energy-efficient, more resource-conserving, healthier for occupants and more affordable to make, operate and maintain”.

Many products and practices used in remodeling a home can have negative effects on the environment. Green remodeling requires that thoughtful attention is given to minimizing or eliminating products or practices that could cause environmental hurt or that could harm occupants during construction, or after the remodeling project is complete.

Since 1993, The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) http://www.usgbc.org/ has developed and administered a Green Building Rating System. USGBC provides practical information on applying green building standards to building projects. The adoption of green practices is seen as a way homeowners can meaningfully contribute to efforts aimed toward reducing global warming. There are many green alternatives to standard practices that USGBC recommends:

• Use wood alternatives like engineered lumber, or Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified wood harvested from managed forests (http://www.fscus.org)

• Use renewable products like bamboo for flooring

• Reduce the use of paint and cleaning products containing high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOC’s)

• Use natural fiber rugs and fabrics

• When available, use recycled or high recycled-content materials

• Plant trees to provide shade and wind protection, saving money on heating and cooling costs

• Green up your yard using native plants that are adapted to local soil and weather conditions, thereby lowering maintenance and reducing the use of chemical pesticides, fertilizer and irrigation

• Shop locally. When practical, use locally produced products to reduce carbon emissions caused by long distance transportation

When plotting a remodeling project, bear in mind that it is both simpler and cheaper to incorporate green materials and strategies in the early stages, rather than adding them piecemeal, or as an afterthought, when in the thick of the project.

Here are some green remodeling strategies to consider.

Energy Conservation

Ways to increase energy efficiency can range from simply adding an insulation blanket to your water heater and insulating hot water pipes to replacing older appliances with new Energy Star-rated appliances. Replacing a standard storage water heater with a so-called tankless water heating system can result in increased efficiency and significant monthly utility savings. Additional savings can be achieved by simply switching from incandescent to fluorescent lighting, which reduces energy consumption for lighting by up to 75 percent. Thanks to the Energy Policy Act of 2005, homeowners who choose green alternatives when updating their homes could be eligible for tax credits to offset some remodeling costs. For details on available credits, go to the following website: http://www.energystar.gov.

If your remodeling project includes new exterior siding, consider having a professional evaluate the insulation in your exterior wall cavities and the energy efficiency of your doors and windows. If deficiencies are found, insulation materials such as cellulose, rock wool and some forms of foam can be installed from outside, without damaging interior wall surfaces. Adding a house wrap under new siding will markedly reduce air infiltration and exfiltration, saving on both heating and cooling costs. Tests commonly performed when evaluating the thermal efficiencies of your home can diagnose the ability of your wall, window and door systems to prevent heat loss and air infiltration. A primary technique to evaluate energy efficiency involves the use of ‘blower doors’ to test air inflow and outflow. http://www.homeenergy.org.

Replacing ancient single pane windows with insulated glass can save up to 25 percent on heating and cooling costs. The highest level of savings can be achieved by using so-called low-e glazing (for low emittance). Low-e coatings are microscopically thin, metal or metallic oxide layers deposited on window or skylight glass primarily to reduce radiative heat flow. Low-e glass units are available that promote high, moderate or low solar gain, depending on your climate.

Indoor Air Quality

When an older home is tightened up to promote greater energy efficiency, it’s imperative to assure that adequate ventilation is available in order to assure healthy indoor air and to prevent interior moisture build-up.

Current research indicates that our indoor air is often more polluted than outside air. This increased concern is prompted by the realization that most people spend 80-90 percent of their time indoors.

There are many sources that can negatively impact indoor air quality. These include pollutants from the outdoor environment, and the toxic chemicals used inside the home from a variety of sources. Indoor air is often further degraded by other pollutants introduced by occupants, such as tobacco smoke, smoke or particulates emitted by home appliances that burn wood, coal, kerosene, and propane (or natural gas). Other significant sources of toxicity come from sealants, cleaning products, paint, asbestos, damp carpets or fabrics, and certain pressed-wood cabinet and furniture products that release chemicals into the air. In some areas, radon (a naturally-emitted subterranean radioactive gas found in some regions) can cause serious health problems. http://www.dspinspections.com

/radon_facts.htm

Green remodeling seeks to remedy these problems with a combination of air filtration, ventilation systems and choosing to use the least toxic product options. An overview of the problem and possible solutions are available from the Environmental Protection Agency http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/insidest.html

Reduced Material Waste and Resource Conservation

As a rule, remodeling is more eco-friendly than new construction, since fewer materials and resources are consumed to remodel an ancient house than to build a new structure. Since 30 percent of materials disposed of at landfills typically consist of construction debris, there is a lot of room for improvement in home improvement.

Even though remodeling generally uses fewer materials than new construction, it can generate a significant waste stream. This results in 136 million tons of waste annually. Plotting how salvaged materials can be used or recycled can lessen the costs and the impact of construction debris disposal. Excellent plotting can pay off. If you choose not to re-use your ancient claw foot tub, you may find a local buyer that will be very pleased to take it off your hands. The same is right about sinks, cabinets, lighting fixtures, doors, etc.

When it’s possible, using local materials, building with engineered lumber, and hiring recycling companies to remove waste all help to maximize resource use when remodeling.

Perhaps most vital of all when you are considering a remodeling project, get back to the basics. Consider the advice of Sara Gutterman, co-founder of Green Builder magazine http://www.greenbuildermagazine.com:

“In order to accomplish the most desirable sustainable outcome, it is vital to start the process of remodeling with the end result in mind. Understanding the personal impetus behind your desire to remodel is paramount so that you can optimize your new design. Reckon about how you live in your home. Consider which spaces you use and which ones sit dark and lonely for most of the year, waiting those few special evenings when partygoers enter and infuse them momentarily with life. Many modern designs do not really fit the needs of the typical homeowner. They often contain formal living spaces that remain unused because of their size and lack of intimacy. When we can know that interior space is a precious resource just like clean water, air, and soil, we can start to reckon more sustainably about it.”

Remodeling your house in Utah is fantastic, it gives you a chance to get creative and really make your house unique from any other house. The thing most people don’t realize is remodeling your home does not necessarily mean your house. You can remodel your home by remodeling your yard. This type of remodeling is usually over looked because many would not reckon of it as really being remodeling. So what is remodeling? Remodeling is just the action of change. So whenever you change something especially when it’s a drastic change it’s a remodel.

The most common type of this outdoor remodeling is usually in the back yard with the installation of a pool. Introducing a pool into your back yard is a fantastic way to remodel it. Its adding something that wasn’t there before that makes you pleased and that you can get use out of. But you don’t have to stop there remodeling by putting in a pool is a start , but what can you add to the thought of a pool that takes the remodel a small further? The answer is a deck.

A deck is a fantastic addition to go with the addition of the pool. But if you have a in-ground pool a deck will probably be of small use to you so you instead my lay tile or Astroturf around the pool in order to keep from tracking grass into it. Another often over looked remodel to the yard are flower beds.

Flower beds can make your house look gorgeous from the outside and also offer a pleasing sent. Flower beds are also probably the least expensive remodel that you can add to your home because mulch and seed hardly cost anything at all and flower beds take nearly no time to install. Also a fantastic and easy addition to any home is a basketball court. While this is usually not for show it is still considered a remodel because you still changed something.

In many way and in most cases out door remodels are much cheaper that in door remodels. The reasons for this is there is usually less to buy and less work to do and they usually take less time and don’t inconvenience anyone who may be living there while they are being installed. The last but not least out door remodel I want to talk about is paving. Many people now a days are paving their drive ways and basketball courts in order to get away from using gravel because gravel is dirty and causes unneeded filth.

Another benefit to paving your drive way is it looks nice and smooth and not scruffy and rugged. Also by paving your drive way you will notice that your vehicles stay a lot cleaner and require washing a lot less. Plus a new addition to paving is being able to have a heated driveway installed so that snow and ice can’t build up on it in the winter. These are just simple ways to remodel your outside that you probably would have never considered to be remodels, and that are fun, easy to do, and relatively inexpensive.

Enjoying a pipe in my new house that we are remodeling