Waukesha County Home

July, 2014

Homes Plus

Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/342833

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 0 of 7

237137002 C O N T E N T S Protect your home from storms Plan ahead before buying your air conditioner Soffits and fascia underappreciated home improvement Keep an eye on your impatiens 'Garden-tainment' creates lasting memories Checklist: Prepare yourself in case of an emergency Parade of Homes next month Your Guide to Homes, Home Improvement, Lawn & Garden and MORE! A publication of the Waukesha Freeman and Oconomowoc Enterprise • July 2014 HOMES HOMES WAUKESHA + HOMES PLUS STAFF WAUKESHA — A home's garage has traditionally been viewed simply as a place to park vehicles, but the general attitude toward the garage is different today, according to experts from the Milwaukee/NARI Home Improvement Council Inc. The garage is an integral part of many houses, and there are many things homeowners can do to cre- ate a functional, customized space. Milwaukee/NARI members highlighted a few modern options for homeowners to consider for remodeling the garage. Storage Many homeowners use the garage in their home for various storage purposes, but the storage capabilities of most garages fail to meet the needs of homeown- ers. "Standard garages generally don't provide easy and conven- ient access to items stored in them," said Jim Riedel, of Mon- key Bars Storage Solutions in Elm Grove. "Most people don't know what to do from a storage standpoint to make their garages easier to use and live in, but there's a solution for every need out there." In terms of where in the garage to install storage, Riedel explained that the best solution is to focus on wall space. "Using wall space first is more comfortable for regular use, and more similar to storage in other parts of the home. You can install any combination of cabinets, shelves and hooks on your walls," Riedel said. "After the walls, ceil- ing space is a great option for installing overflow or seasonal storage." Riedel added that cabinetry and other storage solutions can be customized to meet the individ- ual needs of any homeowner. "Every garage is unique, but any space can be maximized to get the most out of the storage capabilities. With modern capa- bilities, garages can be more usable and livable than ever before," Riedel said. Climate control Garages are often not connect- ed to the home's heating and cool- ing system, but there is a simple solution for climate control in the garage, said Scott Droegkamp of Hartland-based Dave Droegkamp Heating & Air Conditioning. "A ductless mini-split unit is the best option for heating and cooling a garage," Droegkamp said. "They're especially nice because you don't have to tap into an existing heating and cooling system to install them." Droegkamp said ductless mini- Garages have changed over the years Once an afterthought, they are now a key component Submitted photo Mukwonago Remodeling created this garage for an area resident. Once looked upon as a gray place, today's garages are bigger, brighter and feature a range of flooring and cabinetry options. See Garages/Page 2

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of Waukesha County Home - July, 2014