Your New Jersey Garage: A World of Possibilities
For many New Jersey homeowners, spring cleaning brings the garage to mind. And, since you can’t hire a maid service for this, a garage often proves to be a daunting task. Whether you need to organize your garage, remodel your garage for another use, or even need to build a garage, there is a solution for you. And, once your garage is in shape you can make it livable by fitting it with the same comforts of home: heating and air conditioning, phone wiring, even plumbing. Your New Jersey remodeling contractor can help you figure out which amenities you want to include in your new living space and determine how to best go about installing them.
1. Garage Additions
Whether you use this to shelter your car, for storage space, or want to finish it to make it livable space—or all three—a garage addition is great way to add square footage to your New Jersey home. Even if you already have a garage, adding a second story can be the perfect answer to carving out additional living space.
Many people find that a garage offers the perfect environment to house their home office, studio space, or workshop. Most garages can be easily fitted with the same comforts as a home: heating and cooling, phone wiring, even plumbing.
2. Garage Remodeling
Many people find that a garage remodel offers the perfect environment to house their home office, studio space, or workshop.
Transforming your garage doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your storage area. Many garages today have become multifunctional, allowing for cars, general storage, and a home office or workshop all in the same space.
And, if you find you will be losing too much storage space in your garage, consider building a small storage shed in your yard to house tools, sporting equipment and seasonal items. A building separate from your New Jersey home will expand your storage space, allowing you to use the garage in ways that you could not use a shed: electricity or heating, for example.
In addition to remodeling your current garage space, you could also consider an addition above the garage. Raising the roof and adding a room for work space above your existing garage can give you additional space, not to mention increase the value of your New Jersey home, without changing the floor plan.
Garage addition or remodeling ideas:
- Guest apartment
- Home office
- Laundry room
- Mud room
- Music studio
3. Garage Storage and Organization
Organizing or even contemplating organizing the garage can be a tiresome task for many New Jersey homeowners. Remember that organizing your garage is about finding a designated place for everything while still keeping your tools and sporting goods easily accessible for everyday use.
Step 1: Sort and categorize all items in your garage
First things first, empty that garage. Start by sorting everything into categories. Separate all lawn maintenance tools, sporting equipment, electric tools, etc. Once you realize how much stuff you actually have, you can determine the best ways to organize and store everything.
Also, if there are miscellaneous items that ended up in the garage by mistake, return them to their proper place.
Step 2: Separate and store seasonal items
Get a handyman to install a rack to hang lawn maintenance tools, snow tools, and sports equipment that you may use regularly in an accessible yet out of the way place. Anything that is used seasonally should be stored and then swapped out when needed.
Step 3: Add additional garage storage shelving or cabinets
If you haven’t already done so, now is the perfect time to add additional garage storage space to help you maintain your organization in the months to come. You could have shelves or cabinets mounted on the wall or, for a more inexpensive option, consider purchasing durable plastic totes and drawers.
Step 4: Create an efficient work area
If you use your garage as a work area, be sure to make the best use of this space. Install a work bench or table. A pegboard and a sturdy tool chest are a great way to store your tools, yet keep them easily accessible.
Step 5: Relocate trash and recycling bins to nearby the garage entrance
Section off an area near the entrance of your New Jersey home for trash or recycling to make it easier to dispose of these items.
Read more: http://www.servicemagic.com/article.show.3-Garage-Solutions-Build-It-Remodel-It-Organize-It.12103.html?link_id=9207#ixzz1uwnmPk9n
If you’re looking for a professional New Jersey room addition company, then give us a call today at 800-734-3737 or complete our request for a design and budget consultation.
My Dog Ate My Carpet
When building a new home or remodeling an existing home, flooring choices are everything. With pets in your New Jersey home, this becomes even more important, because pets are just as hard, if not harder, than people on flooring surfaces. What are the best flooring choices for pets in the home? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of several types of flooring to help in the decision making process. Consult your New Jersey remodeling contractor as well.
Hardwood Flooring
Though this is one of the most desired types of flooring in any New Jersey home, it is not the best choice for homes with pets. Pet urine can stain the hardwood, leaving a terrible smell and a dark spot in the wood. Even if urine accidents are cleaned up quickly after the fact, the urine may still seep into the wood, causing damage. To remove these stains, you may have to go so far as to strip, sand, and refinish the floor. If the stains are contained to one small area, this is hassle enough, but if the stains all over the place, the entire floor may need to be redone. At times, the odor and stain may reappear because of salt crystals left behind from the urine that cannot be dissolved. If this happens, completely replacing the wood may be necessary.
Another thing some New Jersey pet owners forget to factor in when it comes to hardwood is the pet’s water bowl. If possible, place the water bowl on a mat of some sort to help protect the hardwood from moisture when the bowl spills. Quickly dry the spill after it happens, because moisture can soak down into the wood causing it to swell and contract.
Keeping pets nails trimmed or filed will also be necessary to avoid extraneous scratches on the flooring. As pets walk or run across the floor, their claws may damage the surface. While some owners may elect to declaw their pets, it certainly isn’t a possibility for all.
If the flooring is coated with a high quality urethane, it will be more scratch and stain resistant. Sweep the floors clean at least once a week for best maintenance.
Bamboo is harder than the hardest hardwood flooring and is one of the best pet-friendly flooring choices.
Laminate Flooring
Due to the hardness of laminate flooring, pet owners may turn to it instead of traditional hardwood. While this may work to provide the décor people want, it can be difficult for pets, especially dogs, because they will slip and slide as they walk or run through the home. This will cause their hips to move in unnatural ways, which may cause costly damage to their bodies. This is pronounced in smooth, high gloss laminate floors and can be mitigated somewhat by choosing a laminate floor with an embossed or textured finish. Laminate won’t show scratches as easily as some other surfaces, but because they are so slippery and uncomfortable to lie on, rugs are recommended throughout the home to help the pet.
Bamboo Flooring
Bamboo is an excellent choice for homes with pets, for many different reasons. It’s harder than the hardest hardwoods, meaning it will stand up to more traffic. It won’t wear out, and it’s completely renewable, so it makes a good choice for those who are trying to be green. It is stain resistant, so people don’t have to worry about accidents or spills. Due to bamboo’s hardness it will save money compared to repairing other types of flooring. For those who are trying to decide between using hardwood and vinyl flooring, choosing bamboo floors is a great compromise.
Cork Flooring
Cork is a green flooring choice good for the environment and the health of the occupants, pets included. Cork is an antimicrobial type of flooring that will reduce the growth of mold and other allergens. Cork is scratch resistant, though it should be swept regularly to prevent scratching from particles of dirt left on the floor. It is an excellent sound absorption option, so as pets walk across the floor, it will not be as loud. While the flooring is water resistant, it is a natural product, so spills should be cleaned up promptly. Discoloration of this flooring will happen over time when exposed to sunlight.
Stone Tile Flooring
This type of flooring is amazing for New Jersey pet owners because it does not scratch easily, and scratches don’t show as they do in other types of flooring. When pets have accidents on the floor, there is much less reason to worry over how this will impact the condition of the flooring. With these two factors considered, this is a good choice for pet owners, but the floors are hard and cold so they are not very comfortable to lie on, unless the floor is heated by radiant heat. Consider using area rugs and pet beds to alleviate this problem. Granite is the hardest of the natural stones and is the best choice for scratch resistance. Softer stones such as marble, slate, and travertine may require somewhat more maintenance than granite, especially if they feature a polished finish.
While most people wouldn’t think vinyl to be a very pet friendly flooring choice, the new luxury vinyl flooring is an excellent choice, and it’s great for small children, too. The flooring is scratch and stain resistant, low in allergens, easy to clean and maintain, and even quiet to walk on.
Carpet
When it comes to pets, carpet is likely the worst flooring choice one can make, simply because it is easy to destroy. Even normal wear and tear on carpet in a pet-free home happens faster than with other flooring options. If carpet is the only choice because it is the most cost effective option for home flooring, the best thing to do is choose a carpet without loops as pet nails can snag on the loops and cause the carpet to wear faster.
While budget and ease of installation will be factors impacting the flooring decisions of a home, taking time to consider the best flooring options for pets beforehand may save money in repairs and frustration in the long run. Cutting corners on flooring to save money is not a good choice if the flooring needs to be replaced in a few months or even a year due to the wear and tear from the pets.
Article Source: http://learn.builddirect.com/flooring-info/animals/pets
