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When it comes to flooring application choices, Granitex flooring systems are a DIYer’s dream. Whether applied to concrete, wood, tile, fiberglass or primed metal, Granitex provides a natural stone-like professional finish. Granitex garage floor coatings have become a favorite flooring system application for a number of reasons.

Granitex coatings have a wide variety of uses, from garage floors and patios to driveways, decks, porches and balconies. Whenever flooring requires a safe, non-slip coating, Granitex delivers. It also meets the stringent requirements of both the FDA and the USDA so that it is safe to use for foodservice applications such as commercial kitchens. It can match almost any decor because it is available in more than 250 different color and custom color choices, making it the perfect choice for residential, commercial or industrial indoor or outdoor floor coating needs.

Granitex coatings provides a durabiity and ease of maintenance that is hard to match by any other floor coating system. Granitex resists moisture, staining from most chemical cleaners, as well as oil, gasoline, transmission fluid, antifreeze and grease, making it a popular flooring choice for garages. As a water-based solution, it is an environmentally friendly flooring application that is also low odor.

Even when the outside temperature is below 50 degrees F, Granitex coatings are easy to apply. Granitex remains stable even when exposed to the UV rays of sunlight. Any flooring surface coated with Granitex is ready to use within 24 hours of application. DIYers especially like the fact that Granitex coatings are very easy to clean and keep looking like new. A garden hose and water handles most cleaning jobs, or a little mild detergent and water to remove surface dirt.

Properly applied and maintained, floors with Granitex coatings can last as long as 15 years before needing a replacement coating. For durability, versatility and appearance, Granitex coatings consistently perform to the highest standards.

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You probably are one of those guilty people that have made their garage into a huge dumping ground. You may not have noticed it until the day that you find out you can no longer fit your car inside your garage. By creating a garage storage system based on your daily lifestyle, or even based on the activities that you do occasionally, you can make plenty of room in your garage for the things that desperately need storing up. Even your car will find its way back to its old home.

When organizing your garage space, you should let your common sense rule. For example, when storing your garden tools, you should place them near the doorway that leads to your backyard. If gardening is a great passion, or if you live in a region where the weather calls for continuous garden maintenance, it would be wise to invest in a rolling garden tool organizer. This tool organizer is very convenient when it comes to storing rakes, shovels, and other hand tools needed for gardening. You can easily tag this cart along to the garden, which means that you can bring all the necessary equipment in one go.

For sports gears, you can either hang or hook them up on the wall. There are great wall storage systems for this. Resist the urge to just prop them up against the garage wall. This careless approach doesn’t save up space and you could end up with a damaged gear the next time you pick it up off your floor. To create an organized space, you should have a system for classifying things. You can systematize them according to their uses and how often they are needed. A pulley system would make it easier for even the youngest person in your house to access heavier sport equipment like a bicycle.

Photo by closet factoryRemember to always keep a garbage can in your garage so you don’t have to leave your trash lying anywhere inside your garage. You can use a garbage can with working wheels for an easier transport when you have to take it out to the curb.

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Laying down a garage floor covering helps to protect and prolong the life of your garage floor. There are different options to choose from such as epoxies, paint or rubberized covering that lock together. Costs will vary for covering your garage floor depending on the size of your particular floor and the type of covering you choose.

Epoxies are a great way to protect your floor. They come in different colors and make your floor smooth and clean looking. They make the floor very easy to clean such as mopping up oil spills or fluids. Preparation and application are usually very easy though it can take some work. You should first clean your floor of any impurities with muriatic acid or other equivalent material. Once floor is clear of items and clean, you can apply the epoxy. It takes a couple gallons at about 100 dollars to do a 800 squarefoot garage floor though cost will vary depending on size. Epoxies usually take about 24 hours to cure enough to walk on and 48 to drive your car on.

Painting your garage floor is perhaps the simplest covering you can do. Preparation is the same as for epoxies however floor paint can be cheaper than epoxy or other coverings. The benefits are that it is also easier to clean and dust and dirt are kept from going into the air as they adhere to the paint after it has dried. If floors are not prepared properly for paint or epoxy, the covering will tend to come up sooner. This is especially true if you have oil spills that have soaked into the cement.

Cool solutions for covering your garage floor are ribbed garage floor mats. These are large or sections mats that have ribs or circles molded into them for traction. They are usually very thin and either roll on in one large piece or can be locked into each other using smaller squares. This is by far the best and most expensive covering for a garage. It completely protects the floor from heavy equipment being moved or dropped and from the elements. It is just like carpet for your garage only the material is usually rubber. These covering retail from about 200 to 400 dollars and can be more depending on the manufacturer and the size of your garage

Photo by stevendamronNo matter what you choose there are a variety of coverings out there in the market today. Quick and inexpensive paint or epoxies can be used or more elaborate rubber coverings to extend the life and integrity of your garage floor. There is something for any budget and skill level. If you need more ideas about coverings, check out floors-web.com, and informational site with postings from users about everything flooring.

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Each sectional garage door has WOW power. The new sectional garage door designs have been the revamped, reengineered and redesigned. With the new styles and colors, almost anything is possible. These are lighter in weight, more durable, made from more materials and more popular than ever before.

Today’s garage doors come in every color imaginable and almost every style a person could think of. The old fashion carriage house look is very popular; these resemble the wooden double doors with oversized hand-made hinges of the late 1800s that opened out from the center. Faux wood doors in natural wood colors and colonial panels in various colors are in demand. Many doors have windows for added accents. Having single sectional garage doors on a two or three car garage in the great new designs and colors add sparkle and curb appeal to a normally bland area.

Wood garage doors are still available but are not near as popular as the steel, aluminum and vinyl doors. The wooden doors require a lot of upkeep, are heavy and warp where the other materials are durable and long lasting with low-maintenance. The doors can double skinned and insulated or uninsulated. The insulation is foamed-in-place polyurethane for complete coverage.

Photo by pantagrapherThese roll up on two tracks located on each side of the door and store overhead out of the way. These new sectional garage doors do not require any extra space to open as they just lift straight up. Most are equipped with an automatic garage door opener and can be opened and closed with the touch of a button. The torsion spring that operates the lift runs on electricity. A safety feature is the electronic light at the bottom that stops the movement of the door if the beam is broken by a person, child or pet moving through the garage opening.

A sectional garage door will work perfectly with anyone’s house colors and designs. It will add WOW power to the property.

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When it comes to garages, if you do not already have one attached to your home, you may be considering building one that you will either attach to your home or that will stand alone.  When you are ready to make some decisions about the garage you want, one of the decisions you will need to make is what material you will construct the garage out of.   If you are looking for an economical option that is easy to build, then you may want to consider metal garages.

Metal or steel garages are a good choice because they are inexpensive compared to building a structure out of wood.  The construction of the building is also fairly simple and goes up easily.  Basically, the garage is built using metal studs, along with sheets of metal or steel along the sides of the building that easily attach to the studs.  You can choose what kind of roof you would like on the garage – the roof can be made from metal or steel, or you can add roofing shingles.  You can have a flat roof or an angled roof.  The choice is really up to you.

Photo by SteelMaster BuildingsAnother reason that metal and steel are popular options is that they are very low maintenance.  Unlike wood, which requires painting or staining and sealing periodically, metal and steel are virtually maintenance free.  The only thing you may need to do is hose down the sides once in awhile to have them looking like new again.  You also don’t have to worry about insect or water damage.

Garages made from metal or steel can be as large or as small as you need and can be a great way to add extra storage space for your car, truck, motorcycle or any other type of vehicle or equipment.  They are a good option to consider when it is time to build a new garage.

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Garage is a part of a house that is designed for storing a car although it can also be a place for storing tools, lawn mowers and other home equipments. Garage flooring is typically made out of concrete floors that are unfinished. It isn’t uncommon to  find garage floor tiles, or mats on ones floor. Since it is a place that can be used for many things, it can easily become dirty and this is why a garage can be one of the most overlooked areas in a house. Garage floors are also one of the most used areas in a garage which is why it needs to be constantly maintained. Here are few helpful guidelines that will definitely help in protecting your own garage floor.

There are a lot of flooring solutions for garage floors that are out in the market today. Popular products for protecting these type of floors are polyurethane, epoxy and latex paints. Polyurethane is better than epoxy because it can protect the floor from chemical spills or any type of stubborn stains although unlike epoxy, polyurethane needs an epoxy primer which will serve as the floor’s first coat. Epoxy on the other hand may be a durable coating but like any other product it may also have spin-offs because this type of coating can lose the gloss and can turn yellow especially if it is regularly exposed to the sun.

Photo by dpit Media V2Latex paints are the most affordable ones but like epoxy too much exposure from the sunlight may cause damage and this is why it is advised to apply with another protective layer of coat over it. Coating a concrete garage floor is one of the best ways of protecting it from different types of elements such as dust, dirt and many more. Basically coating includes cleaning the floor with a concrete cleaner, which is a good stain remover and when the floor is dry, the coat can finally be applied. Coating may be a difficult undertaking especially if it is not done properly. Just be sure to follow the product’s instructions and cautions for better results.

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All too often you hear the horror stories of people and their cluttered, messy and unorganized garages, being unable to park their vehicle into it, or can’t find anything they need amidst all the items.  This is where a garage organizer comes into play.

Waiting for your garage to become a chaotic mess shouldn’t be the time to invest in a garage organizer, once you have one you should have no problem keeping things in check for all your items. Organizers come in all shapes and sizes, colors and types, finding one is a matter of preference and budget. If you store a lot of items such as yard equipment, wooden projects or boxes you just haven’t gone through yet, an organizer will greatly aid in your ability to get to these items easily.

A standard garage organization system will contain an array of cabinets, drawers, perhaps a work surface and wall mounts for storing tools and equipment. Wall mounts are great for storing heavier more awkward items such as bicycles, golf equipment, hockey sticks or even water sport equipment.

Having an organized garage won’t only bring back your garage from the depths of disorganization, you’ll be very proud to leave your garage door open for anyone to see. Much like the inside of your home, a garage says a lot about a person, why should you treat it any differently from the rest of your house?

Whether you spend 5 minutes a day in your garage simply getting into your car and going to work, or a hour working on a project, there is no hurt in entering an organized garage that is functional, and more importantly safe. Many accidents happen in a garage due to neglect, don’t become apart of that statistic and be worry free with an organized garage.

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There are many options available for treating a garage floor to seal and protect it.  Although an acrylic garage floor coating will give a nice shine for a short length of time it is really not tough enough for vehicular traffic.  Acrylic floor coatings are designed for covering many types of flooring including vinyl, fired tiles, and concrete but they are designed to protect against light to medium foot traffic.

In order to get full protection for your garage floor, and also apply an added anti-slip material, your best bet would be to apply a two part epoxy coating.  Epoxy is a very tough and durable product which is composed of a resin and hardener.  For a comparison on how hard an epoxy floor coating is just think of fiberglass like pleasure boats are constructed of.  This is an epoxy resin and hardener which is applied over a woven mesh for structural support.  The actual toughness of the shell is formed by the chemical bond between the epoxy which is activated when the hardener is mixed in.

An epoxy garage floor coating is easy to apply for the weekend do-it-yourselfer and it takes about two half days of actual labor.  The first day is devoted to cleaning and degreasing the existing floor surface.  Start with a good quality degreaser product to be sure you have remnants of petroleum scrubbed off the surface.  Next, use a floor detergent and stiff floor broom to clean all other the degreaser and stains off.  At this point spray water on the surface and make sure the water does not bead up.  If it does you need to degrease and clean this area some more because the epoxy will not bond.  Now let it dry overnight, preferably with a space heater.

The next day start by mixing enough epoxy to cover about a 6’ by 6’ area and spread it in the farthest corner from the door (you don’t want to literally paint yourself into a corner).  Spread the mixture with a nap roller and when this batch is applied, cast the non-slip additive over the top as if you were feeding chickens.  Repeat this procedure for each area till you get finished.

You can walk on the floor in about a day but wait three days before driving on it.

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If you’re considering purchasing a prefabricated metal carport rather than facing the expense and inconvenience of building an addition onto your home, here are a few facts that may help you make your decision:

The metal carport offers more than just a place to park your car. As a matter of fact, metal carports can also shelter boats and campers as well as house an at home gaming playroom area, office, or work space for mechanics or other craftsman occupations and hobbies.

Metal carports offer convenience and a budget friendly way to add the extra space a homeowner needs. They help to avoid the high costs of construction to add a garage or carport area to the home and also prevent the occupants of the home from being inconvenienced by the noise, dust and extended time period construction often brings with it. Many metal carport manufacturers and distributors include erecting the structures on your property when a purchase is made. This alleviates your need to hire professionals or to have to build it on your own.

Metal carports are durable and long lasting. They can even outlast some of the homes to which they’re attached! Since they’re made of metal rather than wood, they’re termite proof, dry rot proof, won’t warp, expand or contract with exposure to temperature and the elements. They require only minimal upkeep and cleaning and are created to withstand snow and wind.

When compared to the high cost of a permanent addition to the home, metal carports are highly cost effective. In comparison to an actual construction build, metal carports are low cost to build and maintain while still bringing most of the same benefits of an addition to the home. They also reduce the price of your insurance because there is no risk of fire to the home’s structure.

Your metal carport can be manufactured to match your home and can even be painted the same color so it blends in cohesively with your current architectural style. There are various roof options, door options and window choices and in fully closed metal carports, there are also upgrades that can be purchased. These upgrades include insulation, storage and other options.

Metal carports are budget friendly, durable structures that can offer extra space, protection from the elements and even a shady spot to place your patio table and chairs when entertaining outdoors. When you’ve decided to add a metal carport to your property, as a precaution, be sure to inquire if erecting of the structure is included in the purchase price and if not, research what it may cost to have a contractor do it for you.

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Building a garage at home is an ideal choice for somewhere to store the SUV, car, motorbike or boat. If vehicles are left outside, on the road or in a driveway, they are susceptible to the ravages of the environment.

In winter, rain and hail can cause microscopic pitting of the pain surface which may eventually lead to rust. Also bird droppings can leave permanent unsightly marks due to a similar oxidization process. Problems can be faced all year round as in winter, hail and rain can cause pitting of the surface which may eventually lead to rusting.

Security is also a very important consideration. Vehicles left outside, especially overnight, on a road or driveway are at an increased risk of vandalism or worse being stolen. Therefore, building a garage to store your vehicle is a great investment.

Garages are commonly built either by traditional methods from using wood or bricks and mortar. They can, however, come as prefabricated kits. Wooden garages can come in kit form but often require carpentry skills and the necessary tools to do the job. The easiest and quickest option is to buy a metal garage building kit. They are often cheaper, easier and faster to build and do not usually require specialist tools.

A prefabricated metal building kit does not mean you have to build the garage yourself. Employing the services of a professional builder is a perfectly reasonable option. This can, very often, workout to be more cost effective. This is because the garage can usually be built quicker, saving time, and fewer, potentially costly, mistakes will be made.

Metal garages are a very good option as once constructed they produce a building that is strong and secure. They are able to withstand all that the environment is able to throw at it such as earthquakes, fire and hurricanes. For these reasons, insurance premiums are often lower also. They are also more resistant to pest attack, especially termites.

A metal garage can give other possibilities though, for storage of other items like childrens toys, tools and gardening equipment. Searching online is a good place to start to get a taste of the range of designs and styles available. You will often find, also, that many will give discounts if you negotiate.

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