Benefits of a Garage Addition

Could you, or your family, benefit from extra space? A garage addition is a great way to add more storage space, a play room, a work room, and more. There are many benefits to building a garage addition, which include:

Benefits of a Garage Addition

Storage

The most obvious benefit of a garage addition is the extra storage. After all, when you own a home it is easy to accumulate many items. While a garage addition is an obvious place to store cars, it is a also a great location for mowers, tools, holiday decor, and recreational items such as bikes and sporting equipment. There are many storage solutions to choose from for your garage, including built-in cabinets, shelves, and the like. Be sure to ask your garage builder about storage solutions.

Protect Your Vehicles

One major benefit of a garage addition is that it protects your car from the elements. With the consistently-inconsistent temperatures in Virginia, having a garage is a great way to keep your car in the best condition possible. In addition to better maintenance, you no longer have to deal with an uncomfortably hot or cold car in the summer and winter months. This includes scraping off ice or snow while waiting for your car to warm up in the winter, and cranking the AC to have your car cool down in the summer.

Increase Home Value

While it is true that nearly any project that adds space onto a home will increase its property value, a garage addition is a great investment. After all, many potential buyers expect homes to already have garages. Thus, your home will be that much attractive when it comes time to sell.

A Workshop Space

A garage addition is a great space for any hobbies, including woodworking, gardening, crafts, and more. If needed, you can even temporarily move the car outside of the garage if you are working on a project that requires a bit more open space.

Garage Addition Specifications

Now that you know the benefits of a garage addition, it is important to start answering a few questions about what you want from your garage.

Attached vs. Detached

First, do you plan on having an attached or detached garage? Each has its own benefits. Detached garages allow more flexibility in size and location. Additionally, a detached garage keeps out dust, fumes, and dirt away from the main house. This is especially nice if you do work or hobbies that produce dust. On the other hand, attached garages don't have as much flexibility in size and location since it has to be sized to the existing home. However, an attached garage is especially convenient for those rainy, cold days when you don't want to go out into the bad weather in order to enter the house.

Air Conditioning

Another factor to consider for your garage addition is if you want it to be air conditioned. If you plan on spending a lot of time in your garage, it will make sense to install air conditioning. After all, air conditioning will make a huge difference in making the space comfortable spend time in. One suggestion would be to install a mini-split system. We covered mini-split systems in a previous blog here and we highly recommend them.

Size and Style

The overall size of your garage addition will be completely dependent upon what you plan to use the space for. If you are using the garage as a workshop space exclusively, you could probably get away with a smaller size. However, if you want to use the garage to store cars, we suggest considering the size of your car, as well as whether you want to have any additional space, to help determine the best size. As a general rule, we suggest that the garage addition match the style of your existing home-whether it be a detached or an attached garage. That way, the garage will blend seamlessly with the rest of the home.

Overall, a garage addition can provide many advantages to you and your family. If your family could benefit from a safe place to store cars, or other belongings, then consider Balducci Additions and Remodeling for your garage addition project.

4 Home Renovation Projects That Don't Increase Your Resale Value

While any home renovation project that adds value to your way of living is worth the investment, some projects may not be worth the money if your goal is to add resale value. Some of these projects might be priceless to certain homeowners; however, if you plan on moving within the next few years we recommend skipping these updates.

State of the Art Kitchen Remodel

While kitchens are typically one of the most sought after home renovation projects, overdoing it can cost you. Commercial grade appliances and top of the line countertops and tiles may be appealing, but too much of it can detract potential buyers. Selecting finishes and appliances that appeal to a broader range of people will give you more bang for your buck.

Photo: Instawares Restaurant Blog

A Sunroom Addition

While many potential buyers may yearn over the thought of a sunroom, these window-filled rooms can increase the cost of your heating and cooling bills. As you may know, windows are not the best insulators. This means that a sunroom addition would raise energy costs in the summer and winter months, which can be a turn off for buyers. However, this may not be the case if you live in an area or neighborhood with houses that typically have sunrooms.

Extensive Landscaping and Flowers

A home can look much more inviting by keeping a well manicured lawn and maintained siding and windows. Complete the look by including some tasteful landscaping; however, don't go overboard. A tropical oasis in your backyard may "wow" any guests that comes through, but at the same time this can overwhelm some buyers. When it comes to landscaping, less is often more. This includes a few flowering shrubs, a flagstone walkway, a couple of planters, and fresh mulch.

A Custom Home Office

We understand the need for a separate home office space for those who work from home; however, most homeowners can agree that a separate room for a home office is unnecessary. Plus, technology is constantly changing. Thus, investing in advanced wiring and custom home components (such as built-ins for computers, printers, and the like) is not the wisest investment for your money. A simple desk and desk chair set up will do.

Photo: Furniture Design Gallery

Creative Driveway Ideas for Your Home

Today, there are almost a limitless number of driveway options. The type you may choose will depend on various factors including: cost, aesthetics, maintenance, and durability.

Macadam driveways, or “tar and chip,” consist of a aggregate layers of stone and a binding agent. These types of driveways are easy to install and maintain. This driveway option will also leave some change leftover in your wallet, since they are often cheaper than asphalt. Macadam driveways are a wonderful option with a timeless look. We love the look of the macadam driveway in the above photo with the stone in the home’s exterior and the addition of topiary at the entrance.

The look of grass driveways is like no other. These driveways act as a continuation of your home’s greenery. Although grass driveways are not as durable as some other options, you can add on some load bearing durability through “cellular paving.” To read more about cellular paving, click here. If you choose a grass driveway, we recommend keeping the design close to your home’s style. The above photo shows a grass driveway that is more rustic to match the cottage feel of the home.

Concrete driveways are a good middle-of-the-ground option for many homeowners. They are often more expensive than asphalt, but cheaper than stone or brick. If you are looking for a driveway option that will stand the test of time, this is one of the best. To keep a concrete driveway from looking too boring, add some intricate curves or colors. To take it one step further, focus on your curb appeal! Small details, such as the garage doors in the above photo, will make the space more aesthetically pleasing.

Asphalt driveways are an excellent alternative to concrete. They are the most cost effective of any option, which makes them very popular! Asphalt driveways are especially beneficial in the colder months since it’s flexibility can withstand the freezing of water. They can also be salted in preparation of ice. To prevent asphalt driveways from looking too “generic”, line the driveway with an intricate border or create an interesting (and efficient) shape (like the photo above).

4 Types of Decking Material You Should Know About

A deck can be the perfect way to add some living space to your home without the cost of an addition. Fortunately, decks tend to add value to your home as well. According to Remodeling Magazine’s 2016 Cost vs. Value Report, decks can add up to 75% return on investment. When designing your deck, the first thing to decide is the type of decking you wish to install. Nowadays, there are more options than you can imagine. To make things a little easier, we have compiled some information about wood, plastic, composite, and aluminum decking.

WOOD

Wood decking is the most traditionally used of any decking materials. Additionally, wood continues to come in as the cheapest decking option on the market. Although it is the most common, it also requires annual maintenance-which takes up more time and money in the long run.

PLASTIC

This type of decking is the most weather resistant. Beware that some versions can look cheap and can be slippery. It is best to look at as many options as possible if you choose plastic decking in order to more closely examine the design.

ALUMINUM

If slip resistance is important to you, aluminum decking may be the way to go. In addition, aluminum decking is durable and will often stand the test of time in the right weather. Aluminum decking is also about three times lights than most other decking options. Unfortunately, it will also make the biggest dent in your wallet.

COMPOSITE

Want the look of wood without the upkeep? Composite decking combines wood fiber and plastic to create a traditional wood look. However, this material may be on the slippery side and can stain easily. In addition, composite decking tends to be on the pricier side.

Overall, there are many many decking options to choose from. Ultimately, the biggest factors that influence which type you end up choosing are your budget and time you can devote to up-keeps. Other factors, such as your home’s design should also be taken into consideration. If you have any further questions choosing a decking material that is right for you, feel free to contact us for a free consultation and we would be happy to help you.