Waukesha County Home

-split units offer several benefits. "Since there are no ducts involved, installation is relatively quick," he said. "There is an indoor unit that installs on a wall, and then receives power and coolant from an outdoor unit via a hole in the wall only a couple of inches around." Droegkamp added that ductless mini- split units are also more energy-efficient than central heating and cooling systems. Indoor-outdoor flexibility While installing a climate control unit for the garage is a good option for turning the garage into another indoor space, some homeowners want to use their garage as an outdoor space. "Many people want to use the garage and enjoy fresh air from outside without having to worry about the some of the downsides of the outdoors," said Wayne Walker of Joe Wilde Company in New Berlin. "That's where garage screens come in. They span the entire garage door opening, and they keep bugs and leaves out. And the screens don't interfere with the operation of the garage door. They lift up on a track, similar to the garage door." Walker explained that garage screens offer customizable options that help homeowners get the most out of their garage space. "There are standard sizes, but you can custom order them to fit your garage's dimensions. And you can get them either power-activated or manually operated," Walker said. "They can also include a retractable screen door in the middle, which is a really nice feature for keeping the garage space functional. It allows you to come in and out without either lifting the entire screen or going through the house." Flooring Finally, installing flooring on top of a garage's concrete slab floor provides mul- tiple benefits. "Salt and ice-melt products cause signif- icant damage to concrete surfaces," Riedel said. "Changing the garage floor also makes the garage look really nice. It's another thing that makes the garage a usable room." Walker lauded the customization avail- able for garage flooring today. "There are several options for flooring, including multiple materials and construction, and different colors and textures. Plastic garage tiles lock together on the floor and create a great look. You can choose from multiple colors and install the tiles in whatever pattern you want," Walker said. "With the options out there today, you can truly customize your garage space to meet your wants and needs." Riedel explained the benefits of installing an epoxy floor coating over garage floors: "These coatings will repair a concrete surface that's starting to show damage, and protect the surface from any future damage. They make the floor easy to clean, and they look great. If you want a showroom-quality garage, an epoxy floor coating is a great option." As with any room in the house, home- owners should watch for new ideas for improving the design and functionality of the garage. The garage is a room that should not be overlooked from a remodel- ing standpoint, and it can be greatly improved with just a few simple changes. HOMES PLUS JULY 2014 2 Distributed by: ©2011 by Conley Media LLC Waukesha County Homes Plus is published monthly by Conley Media - Waukesha County, 801 N. Barstow St., Waukesha, WI 53186. Contents of this publication may not be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the publisher. A publication of Conley Media Sales Director: Jim Baumgart 262/513-2621 jbaumgart@conleynet.com Editor: Dwayne Butler 262/513-2626 dbutler@conleynet.com Production: Patricia Scheel 262/513-2690 pscheel@conleynet.com Homes Plus Volume 4 ■ Number 6 ■ July 2014 Lifestyle. Value. Trust. 800.848.5306 | 262.965.2111 | www.threepillars.org We're here to get you back home. Hickory Suites Rehabilitation 239159001 2 3 6 2 8 5 0 0 3 Garages continued from Page 1 Submitted photo Garage flooring features a variety of options, including epoxy floor coating.

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