"Anton was easy to work with. Sent email on a Sunday. He called in five minutes and came that afternoon to look at the job. Replaced baseboard in four bedrooms and repaired a hole in the ceiling. All work was completed in two days starting that Monday. The carpenter that did the baseboards (I think his name is John) was great, neat and did a wonderful job. I will definately call Anton again. Mary Pass 4 Alta Drive Wappingers Falls NY"
"I would wager it's pretty rare that your relationship with a contractor is so smooth, so collaborative and so easy that they become a legitimate friend... but that's what happened with Dave Nessel and me. He came recommended by our architect, and we hired Dave to build our custom 3br, 3ba modern home in the woods of Woodstock, NY. He was head and shoulders above the other contractors we interviewed in terms of thoroughness, communication, availability and ease of collaboration. The home he built was within 5% of our agreed-upon budget (and that 5% wasn't even his fault — it was unknowable site complications) and we did it 3-months faster than anyone else quoted us was possible. Dave navigated massive supply chain issues without a single delay to the project through his organization and foresight. But more importantly, our home is beautiful and Dave was an absolute pleasure to work with. I simply cannot sing his praises any higher (and have recommended him to 3 different friends since)"
"A master builder with broad array of knowledge. Articulate. Willing to discuss decisions. Seeks simpler, money saving solutions. Ingenuity was impressive. He follows through and sticks to his word. If he misjudges and the job entails extra time or materials, he does not change his fee. He also has accumulated wonderful sources of material, needed in my project. Bryan is very honest and merits trust"
"Matt and Caleb did a great job, they listened to what we needed and came up with a custom window well box to fit our needs, installed two windows, repaired our deck and made sure our basement joists were solid!"
"Isak is amazing. He helped us with a quartz window sill and fixed a door hinge and he is super creative with great attention to detail. Totally honest about the process and what to expect. Highly recommend him!"
"It could not have gone any better. I wish we would have met Steve 20 years ago. He is knowledgeable, professional and his work shows his years of experience."
Sliding garage doors aren’t popular because when they can be inconvenient—they require you to leave your car—if they’re manual. But, if they’re automatic, they’re much more expensive than a conventional tilting door. Some find the sliding door less aesthetically pleasing than a tilting or barn door.
Most heat in a garage is lost through air leaks in windows, doors, and walls. This is especially true if the walls are uninsulated, which is common in garages. Consider insulating your garage before installing a garage heater to ensure the heat it generates isn’t wasted, making it less efficient.
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.
The level of insulation is determined by both the material and the thickness of the door. Some garage door materials (such as wood) have natural insulating capabilities, while other materials (such as metal) do not. No matter the material, two-layer and three-layer garage doors have a higher R-value than single-layer garage doors, as insulation is fitted between the panels.
Wood, steel, fiberglass, and aluminum are among the top building materials for a garage. Wood is highly customizable, naturally insulative, and durable in mild climates but can be expensive. Steel is lightweight, low-maintenance, and cost-effective, but it’s susceptible to rust. Fiberglass is low-maintenance and doesn’t shrink or expand in changing temperatures, but it can become brittle and crack from prolonged high winds and sun exposure.
Unlike steel, aluminum isn’t susceptible to rust and is low-maintenance, but its ultra-light weight makes it less durable than some materials, and it’s susceptible to saltwater damage, making it a poor choice for coastal homes.
The Modena, NY 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.
