Baltimore Garage Remodeling

There's a host of reasons Baltimore garage remodels are so popular in the Memorial City. For starters, with over 8,000,000 people living in a combined Baltimore-Washington metro area that ranks 4th in the nation when it comes to size, there's quite a bit of driving going on in and around the city of Baltimore. That means an awful lot of cars, too, and the best way to protect them is by parking them in a garage when they're not providing you and yours with transportation. Parking your car in the garage protects your vehicle from harsh coastal elements that include corrosive, salt laden air, heavy rains, and sometimes brutal coastal storms, as well as from the high crime rates that both Baltimore and D.C. are known for. Unfortunately, for many Baltimoreans that's easier said than done. While garages have remained a mainstay in most homes in the Baltimore metro area for the better part of a century, the uses of these valuable additions has changed with the times, making garage remodeling all the more necessary for homeowners who want to make the most out of these often overlooked and poorly utilized spaces.

The Obstacles to Baltimore Garage Renovation
As mentioned before, few homeowners use their garage solely for its originally intended purpose. At their worst, garages can become a catch all space for the rest of the house, a black hole of the home, so to speak. Littered with tools, boxes, extra refrigerators, and cluttered workbenches, many Baltimore garages become virtually unusable for any practical purpose. On the other hand, many garages are also often taken over by workshops, converted into makeshift rec rooms, or used to store more "valuable" items than the family car, such as memorabilia collections, boats, or the family collection of trikes and bicycles. While these are all understandable and creative uses of garage space, there is an even better alternative. With the right Baltimore garage remodeling plan, you can transform your garage into a space that meets all of your storage and recreational needs, including providing a valuable home for your automobile.

Garage Remodeling in Baltimore: The Possibilities
According to an article published online by Time magazine in October of 2006, garages have claimed a unique and highly popular niche in the home improvement market. Homeowners spent over $2.4 billion on garage remodeling in 2003 alone, double the money they shelled out just a decade before. So what are homeowners in Baltimore, and across the nation, spending all that money on? When it comes to Baltimore garage remodels the sky is the limit, however there are three heavyweights in the garage remodeling industry that most Baltimoreans gravitate towards.

Baltimore Garage Remodeling Additions
Additions are probably the most popular project in the garage build industry. Whether you already have a garage that's lacking in space, or lack a garage altogether, additions that expand your garage or that add a built-on garage to your home, lead the pack for good reason. The most popular complaint homeowners in Charm City have about their garages is that it's just not big enough to meet their needs. They need their garages for storage space, rec areas, and workstations more than they need a place to park their vehicles. The truth of the matter is that there's no reason your garage can't serve these valuable purposes and also be a place to park your car. Single car garages can be transformed into one and a half, double, or triple car garages, opening up room for the workbench, table saw, ping pong table, and the family SUV. And if you're without a garage to start with, adding one is sure to change your life, especially if you're a weekend handyman, auto mechanic, or craftsman (all activities which are generally discouraged in the living room).

Garage Organizing and Baltimore Garage Remodeling
While adding on extra space is the only answer for many homeowners, others just need to find a way to make the most of the space they already have at their disposal. Believe it or not, it's not uncommon for even two and three car garages to be packed so tight with odds and ends that a car is no longer welcome. Fortunately, an entire industry has risen to address just that problem. Garage organizing is a force all in itself, and a qualified contractor who specializes in this kind of work can introduce you to the wonders of built-in cabinetry, wall to ceiling storage systems, overhead storage bins, and extensive garage shelving. One of the biggest problems in many garages is that they weren't built with storage in mind. By adding any number of these innovate storage solutions you can literally change the look and functionality of your garage almost overnight.

High End Baltimore Garage Remodeling
Finally, for the real dreamers, there's an entire world of high end and luxury garage remodeling companies out there that do much, much more than make sure all your junk finds a home. In addition to optimizing storage and work space, more extensive upgrades, such as installing attractive rubber floor coatings, utility sinks, garage heaters and air conditioners, and even car lifts, can turn your garage into a fully functional, custom designed living area. By hiring the right contractor and custom developing the perfect garage plan for your needs, you'll end up with a garage that exceeds your wildest dreams.

Hiring the Right Contractor for Baltimore Garage Remodels
While most general contractors are perfectly qualified to tackle most garage additions and remodeling projects, hiring a GC to remodel your garage is a little like it would have been to bring up a star shortstop from the AAA Norfolk Tides to play in place of Cal Ripken, Jr. for the Orioles. Sure the new kid might be good, but the best is the best anyway you slice it. That being said and considering that garage remodels in Baltimore have become a specialty in and of themselves, you're wise to seek out a contractor who can pull out all the stops and who knows all the latest trends in garage work. Talk to friends, family, and neighbors who've had garage remodeling done to get a good referral, or, if you prefer the easy route, ServiceMagic can put you in contact with pre-screened garage contractors at the click of a button.