Home Improvement

The garage is one of the most neglected places in a home. Whether it is attached to the house, which happens with modern homes, or stands alone as with the older ones, it is important that it be kept at an even temperature. This is especially true in colder climates where there is danger of things freezing. This heat can be dispensed in a manner similar to home gas heaters.

The type of gas supply will determine what kind of unit you choose for the garage. It can be natural or bottled gas. Natural gas is, of course, pumped into the heater and is in constant supply while bottled gas must be changed when the supply runs low. There are advantages and disadvantages to both types of units.

One of the higher recommended is the infrared natural gas heater. This type of heater takes less BTUs and can provide heat for a 2 or 3 car garage. In addition, does not just radiate heat into the air but actually to an object as well.

The advertised benefits of this type of heater are its size, about that of a rolled sleeping bag, conservation of energy, the way it heats, no open flame, and no ventilation required. Most heaters put energy into the air, leaving some objects in the garage cold. It is said that, in contrast to other kinds of heaters, this type will heat everything, including the cement floor.

Butane heaters come in many different sizes and can be portable which makes it very handy if you work on cars, have a workshop or home office. The majority state that they do not require ventilation but this is something you need to check out very carefully, especially if you have very good insulation in your garage and a small window.

The butane heater, for the most part, concentrates the heat in one area while the natural gas spreads out more. Again, this depends on the type of heater you choose and the price you want to pay for this type of heat.

Garage door repair is actually quite easy for those who are knowledgeable in the aspect of do it yourself and home repairs. For those who are not, the usual answer to such a problem is to contact a person who can fix it.

The problem with asking outside help is the process of sifting through a lot of prospective candidates and knowing which one is suitable for the job. In some cases, there are companies that hire out contractual workers who specialize in home repairs such as plumbing, electrical and doors. In spite of this, some of these repairmen may not be as qualified as their company makes them out to be.

Things to Look For

One thing that helps to form an opinion of a person is to talk to that person. Many people get a feel for an individual just by observing his or her actions, the way he or she talks and what they talk about. A garage door repair man is no different. Asking about his qualifications and how the repairman has gotten to his current profession works most of the time.

Many professionals in the field of home repair are quite loquacious and willing to answer questions. If the repairman is already present at the home, the way he goes about the job can tip the home owner about how skilled he is. It is wise to note that an efficient professional will initially observe the entrance that needs repairing and checks out the basic sources of power that helps the doors function. Safety procedures are usually followed such as unplugging the mechanism from the power source before even disassembling it.

Other signs of an efficient and skilled worker may be the facts that he has brought possible remedies to the situation beforehand. Usually, many garage door repair men already have an inkling why the doors do not work. Bringing along possible solutions to the problem shows that he has had experience repairing and maintaining doors. In spite of this, some problems may require extensive work and he may not be prepared for this.

As soon as the garage door repair person has assessed the situation, it is best to ask about the cost involved in this type of situation. A rough estimate is to be expected since not all jobs turn out the way it should be and other problems may arise from it. The homeowner should have a reasonable cost in mind and be prepared regarding the budget of such repairs.

Whatever your reasons for doing so, adding a garage to your home will protect your vehicles, provide safe access to your home, increase the resale value of your home, and possibly provide a little bit of extra space for storage, a workshop, a laundry room, or any other use you can imagine.

Before you go too far imagining how you can use all of that new space, you will need to do some checking to make sure you can add a garage, what restrictions apply, and what requirements might be imposed by your homeowners association or the local government. Start by checking with the city or county and understanding all applicable building code specifications. You will also need to check on zoning requirements. These will specify how far from property lines you can build, if you can add a garage, what materials must be used, whether a garage door is required, and whether the garage can be attached, detached or either. There will possibly be requirements for minimum and maximum size and there might be stipulations about how the space above the garage can be used.

Before you start choosing materials for your garage addition, you should also check with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. It is important for the resale value of your home that you use HUD-approved construction materials.

The next step is planning the project. This step includes planning who will do the work, making decisions about the design, placement on the lot and layout of the addition. Decide on the size and use of the space, where there will be doors and windows, the roof style and the building materials. Discuss with your contractor how much preparation and leveling will be necessary to pour the concrete slab for the floor. Think carefully about where you want electrical outlets, whether you want to include a bathroom for cleanup when coming in from the yard or working in the garage, and what kind of electrical circuits you will need. And think carefully about whether you will insulate the walls of the garage.

Keep in mind when planning who will do the work that garage additions are not easy projects for most do-it-yourselfers. There will need to be some excavation work, someone to build the form for the concrete, a carpenter, a roofer, an electrician and, perhaps, a plumber. You will need someone with the necessary knowledge to build the exterior and interior walls and to install windows and doors. Other tasks necessary for garage additions include: installing vapor barrier, installing electric garage doors and openers, installing appropriate ventilation, priming drywall, painting, and designing and building access to a finished space above the garage.

Most garages built today are attached to the house and have windows on at least one side of the structure. Automatic garage door openers are also fairly standard. If you want to provide access to the attic, but don’t want to finish it, a drop-down stairway will probably be the best option. If there is space, adding some shelving or strips for hanging tools can make the garage very functional and help to keep it neat and organized.

These steps and tips should help you plan and build a functional garage addition. Properly built and organized, the new garage will be a valuable home improvement.