"Contractor provided excellent consultation on the type of upgrades and improvements we wanted to make during our project. Jeff was excellent at suggesting improvements to our bathroom shower, entrance and new vanity and cabinets. He offered excellent contractors that we used for new granite countertops for kitchen and bath areas. He also met us at Floor and Decor store and assisted our selection of new bathroom tile and flooring that was used to replace our ugly old carpet in our living room, dining room and hallway areas. Contractor coordinated scheduling of tile, cabinet, plumbing and countertop installations with all sub contractors selected for our project. We are extremely happy with the results of their work!"
"Couldn’t be more pleased with the work Mr. Hernandez did. He made sure the new handrails were absolutely secure so my partially disabled husband would be safe. Everything was cleaned up thoroughly. I definitely would hire this company again."
"We hired Salt & Pepper to install a floating LVP floor over an existing wood plank floor. The team was on time, professional, and easy to work with. Nadav, the team lead, was very precise with a high degree of attention to detail. The quality of the installation of this floor ended up looking better than the original floor installed by the builders. Next time we need any work on our floors, we will be calling Salt & Pepper again. Highly recommend."
"After becoming frustrated with renovating our existing home—and receiving unreasonable quotes from several local builders—a friend recommended Empire Builders. From the beginning, they arrived on time, provided a fair price, and offered recommendations that saved us a significant amount of money while producing a better result. Empire Builders gave us a clear project timeline and stayed on schedule and within budget. Thanks to their knowledge and professionalism, our home on Venice Island is beautifully renovated and fully up to code. We are extremely pleased with the results and highly recommend Empire Builders."
"Angela and her crew did an amazing job. They built the garage to my specification exactly the way I wanted. All their workers were experts and what they did respectful very good people. Not only that but they navigated Charlotte county's permit process better than any contractor I have had."
"I had a great experience with Tilaka Creative! Iâ ve worked with them in the past and when I had some home renovation projects come up, they were the first company I thought to call. Very happy with the work performed and will definitely use them again the future!"
While you can technically use WD-40 to lube a garage door, it is not the best option since the oil it leaves behind can attract dirt. Instead, go to the hardware store and locate a lithium- or silicone- based garage grease. You can also search for garage door lubricant online; just make sure you get one that is made with lithium or silicone.
If you take caution around fragile garage parts, thawing methods shouldn’t cause problems. Avoid using direct sources of heat too close to the garage door, especially rubber parts.
Another spot to avoid heating is the garage door spring. This powerful metal spring can become very cold in winter. Applying heat to a cold spring increases the chances it could break.
Garage floor sealers last anywhere from one to 10 years on average, depending on the type of sealer you use and the traffic it’s exposed to. Acrylic sealers have the shortest longevity, whereas most other options can last anywhere from five to 10 years. If you use an acrylic sealant to protect against stains, reapply every one to two years. Reapply other types of concrete sealers every five years for the best results and maximum protection.
For a garage to be included in a home's official square footage, it must qualify as livable space. This generally means it needs to be attached to the home and have permanent finishings like proper insulation, finished walls and ceilings, and adequate ventilation. To be considered livable year-round, it should also have heating and cooling. The specific legal requirements can vary by location, but if a garage is converted into a finished room meeting these criteria, it may be counted toward the total square footage.
If you also have a standard door leading to your garage, install a robust deadbolt lock and reinforce the frame with security plates. Then, secure any windows with shatterproof glass or film to deter break-ins. Consider a smart garage door opener for your car entrance, enabling remote monitoring and control through your smartphone. Motion-activated lighting around the garage to deter intruders is a great way to amplify these security efforts. Lastly, educate your family on security practices, such as keeping the garage entrances closed and locked.
The Osprey, FL homeowners’ guide to garage services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Want to add value and living space to your home? Use this guide to figure out the cost to convert your garage into living space to see if it’s worth it.
For most homeowners, a garage needs to be big enough for more than parking a car. Use this guide to figure out the average garage size and how to build from there.
Weighing the options between an attached vs. detached garage? The choice is entirely personal, but we'll help you make the best decision for your property.
