Five Tips For Considering A Garage Makeover
Homeowners are looking for easy tips but also want to consider green materials

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. December 11, 2007 — According to Specialists in Business Information, a division of MarketResearch.com, annual growth for the $1.25 billion U.S. garage and shed storage market is expected to climb 5 percent through 2009.

         
According to JELD-WEN’s 2006 Perfect Home Survey, almost one quarter (23.5 percent) of respondents said they plan to remodel their garages in the next year, to use it for parking and storage.

Environmentally friendly remodeling products and practices also top the list of priorities for today’s homeowners. Your reader can achieve both a stylish and environmentally sensitive garage makeover with the following tips from JELD-WEN, the world’s leading manufacturer of reliable windows and doors.
 
• Coordinate styles. 
Given how large today’s garages have become, architects are emphasizing design strategies to improve a home’s curb appeal. Carriage House and Old World looks are especially popular among homeowners and go well with Craftsman as well as Mediterranean-style homes. JELD-WEN recently expanded its Carriage House Series, giving homeowners even more options to choose from. 

• Go Green.
JELD-WEN produces wood composite garage doors with facings and trim boards made of 100 percent recycled wood fiber. JELD-WEN’s wood composite garage doors are energy efficient and perform very well, even in extreme temperatures.

• Bring in the light. 
Homeowners can choose from arched, rectangular or square window inserts for their garage doors – a popular feature that provides detailed design accents and natural light.  The window inserts are important for homeowners wanting to use their garages as living spaces such as a workshop, utility room or children’s play area. Allowing for natural light may also help reduce the need for lighting and electricity use, making it an energy conscious choice. 

• Clear your clutter. 
Join the movement toward simplification and organization. More homeowners now consider their garages to be an extension of their homes’ living space. Families are spending significant dollars to renovate their garage space for multipurpose uses including hobby and storage areas. Consider hiring a clutter consultant or purchasing a garage storage system to create additional space. Research shows the garage is the most important amenity to buyers, outranking a large kitchen, formal dining room or a big backyard. And what homeowners prize most about the garage is its storage capacity. 

•  Create a high performance space  
Garages are becoming multipurpose and serving as bonus rooms in some cases. Consider renovating your garage space to include a workout room or a recreation and play area. The key is making the garage a place that’s not only attractive for cars, but also for people. Fresh paint, clean and clutter-free zones and a light, bright environment help turn a garage from basic to beautiful.   
 
• Performance matters
Choose a garage door that’ll perform well in a multipurpose space. JELD-WEN’s wood composite technology keeps the garage doors resistant to moisture, cracking, rotting, sub-zero freezing, desert heat and the damaging effects of the sun’s ultraviolet rays. The durable material also helps prevent problems such as denting, cracking, splitting, shrinking, expanding and rusting.