Category Archives: Garage
Initial GPS, Where Do You Find Them
Does a GPS unit need a Garmin logo on its back to be considered an efficient device? The answer is of course not. In fact, when it comes to the retail industry, ‘name’ can often just be an excuse to add hundreds maybe even thousands more to a product’s price tag. Many consumers get caught up in the hype simply because through the television, Internet and magazines they’ve had a chance to become more familiar with the brand names. Well, there are plenty of GPS brands that are not as well-known that are still wonderful devices. This article will talk about one of them, the Initial GPS models.
Initial GPSes are some of the most hard-to-find GPS brands in the market. Perhaps this might be due to the fact that Initial Technology, the company making them, is actually a business geared towards making entertainment devices. This seems to show in a couple of Initial GPS devices, but in a good way. These models, the Initial GPS GD-72, (which costs $449.99), the Initial GPS GD-71, (which costs $469.99), and the Initial GPS GM-410, (which costs $229.99), are the only GPS units that actually offer built-in DVD players. The Initial GPS GD-72 and the Initial GPS GD-71 even look like portable DVD players. The Initial GPS GM-410, on the other hand, has an appearance typical to most GPS units.
As far as navigational capabilities, Initial GPSes are no different than any other type of GPS. The above-mentioned Initial GPS GD-72 and Initial GPS GD-71 along with the other non-DVD Initial GPSes, (including the $199.99 GM-350 GPS Receiver and the $379.99 GM-501 GPS Receiver), are pretty much the same when it comes to navigation. Their interface consists of colorized touch screens and Bluetooth technology for hands-free telephone calls. The devices include preloaded U.S. maps and 2 million points of interest. As far as directions, they are voiced, a feature common in many famous brands available on the market.
Initial GPS models offer a unique choice for those looking for more affordable GPS options. Not only are they pretty much standard when it comes to GPS navigation, but many of them even have DVD players. Such a feature allows one to save even more money, since portable DVD players by themselves can be hundreds of dollars. Truly, these types of Initial GPS models can almost be considered an all-in-one device, since they provide both GPS capabilities as well as DVD capabilities. The only challenge one will face if they do want to purchase an Initial GPS is where to buy one. The Initial Technology site doesn’t even offer the products for sale, and of the few sites that do, the more interesting Initial GPS GD-71 and Initial GPS GD-72 models tend to not be in stock. Even the average shopping comparison site seems barren when one tries to search for Initial GPSes. However, you will find that Target stores carry a full line of Initial GPS receivers. Another good source is the Internet and auction sites like eBay. No matter where you find them Initial GPS systems are easy to use and reliable.
Garage Doors-an Overview of Styles, Types, Options, and How to Choose a New Garage Door
There are an abundance of options as far as building materials and designs available in new garage doors, wood and steel being the most commonly installed. Each type of garage door will have options available for the exterior style/color, decorative windows, hardware, insulation, etc. Every garage door manufacturer will tell you theirs is best, and give you tons of reasons why you should agree. Just like any other product or service. That being said, you should keep in mind that the new garage door you are thinking of purchasing is going to be around for a long time. Garage doors usually last anywhere from 10-20 years, depending on usage and maintenance, and can possibly last longer.
Steel garage doors are the most commonly installed types. Their lower costs, maintenance, and a variety of available designs make them the obvious choice for most homeowners. No painting is required, although the doors can be painted, and most manufacturers offer different finish warranties on their garage doors. Styles include, but are not limited to, raised panel designs, flush panels, and various carriage house designs. Most have insulation options, as well. Considering the fact that most garages share an interior wall with the home, insulation inside your garage door can help conserve on heating and cooling costs.
While their not as common as they once were, wooden garage doors are still readily available in most places. They are available in the same standard styles as steel doors, and can be built to suit. Their costs are generally slightly higher than steel doors, and they will need to be painted or stained to prevent water damage. There are still benefits to having a wooden garage door. A standard model wood door can provide a better R-value than a basic non-insulated steel door. Wooden garage doors can also take a little bit more punishment than the steel types-something to consider if you have kids that play near the doors, or work in or around the garage yourself. Wood doors also have insulation options available. The versatility of wooden garage doors is probably their best point. Homeowners wanting custom garage doors for their home typically go with wooden garage doors.
Vinyl garage doors are beginning to make a larger impression on the market. These doors won’t rust, and are more resistant to dings and scratches than the steel doors. Prepare to pay substantially more for these types of garage doors. Many dealers don’t carry any in stock, so a lead time of 2-4 weeks can be expected. They usually look like a steel door as far as exterior styles are concerned. Vinyl garage doors also have similar insulation options as steel garage doors.
Composite garage doors are becoming more mainstream as consumer demand for environmentally-friendly products grows. These garage doors are typically made from recycled wood. They are insulated in most cases. Again, opting for insulation on a garage door can provide a higher R-value. Composite doors can be painted, or even stained.
Our website has links to many of the large garage door manufacturer sites. Some of these sites will have a “door designer” available where you can view different color and style options for their doors. You can usually find other information on warranties or other garage door specs. When you have your new garage door installed be sure to remember to keep the invoice/receipt in a safe place, and make sure you complete any required registrations in order to have a valid warranty.
Checkerboard Floors and Collector Cars Look Great Together
Now the Internet can get you complete quotes with step-by-step instructions on how to put down the checkerboard floor you have always dreamed of. By being artistic, you can make concrete floors develop character and give you easy maintenance. All too often collectors fail to take full creative advantage of their facilities largest single surface, their floors. Epoxy coatings can not only give you the ease of maintenance associated with a class III laboratory floor surface but great individualized looks as well.
Your project will start by measuring your floors, length and width. Then decide on the size and color of the squares that you want. 24″ x 24″ squares will be less work than 12″ x 12″ and will not give that tile look. The color can be traditional black and white, but if you have a blue car, dark blue might be the answer. Naturally, if you’re going to do the work to achieve a custom checkerboard floor you want it to last. Just as with that glowing car finish, we all know that it is prep, prep, and prep that make the difference between a good job and a great job.
Ever notice how when you walk across concrete in your socks they get all dusty on the bottoms. That’s because concrete continuously deteriorates and breaks apart leaving the garage dusty like your socks. A few dips of oil on concrete might still be seen years later as the oil soaks into porous concrete. But if you seal the floor with an epoxy coating that adheres well to the concrete because your prep job was good, you can just wipe off oil, gas, and dirt with a rag. You can hose out and squeegee that garage floor to a clean shiny surface in minutes.
Your prep should include a high alkaline cleaner used with a rotary scrubber and a black pad or stiff Nilo grit type concrete brush. Your prep should include a high alkaline degreaser to bring the pH of the floor up to nearly 12 as it removes the left over adhesive and contaminants. Then you shock the concrete and contaminants into letting go by switching to scrubbing with an acidic cleaner containing water softeners, detergents, and rinse agents that bring the floor down to a pH of 3.5. This jump in pH will force contaminants and vulnerable cement particles to release from the floor. The acidic cleaner also opens the floor up to allow the epoxy top coats to create a strong long-lasting bond. A final scrub rinse and the floor is ready to dry and start accepting repairs and artistic coloring.
First you should coat the entire floor with two coats of your light color. You can screen between coats with your scrubber to remove any sand, bugs or contaminants that fell into the first coat. Next pull a chalk line diagonally through the widest part of your floor to set your pattern. Now lay down any size template squares side by side in two rows along the chalk line, and remove every other one. Using blue tape, place paper that is cut one inch smaller than your templates, setting them in the open squares. Tape the paper masking down with blue tape and move on. Once complete, you just walk on the paper and use a roller and brush to fill in the open squares. Note that for best results, brush from the tape towards the center to avoid getting epoxy leaking under your tape. One coat of your dark color should be sufficient. Once you have filled in all the open squares with your dark color be sure to remove the tape and masking paper. You don’t want to glue that tape to your floor.
Durall Industrial Flooring supplies kits of materials including checkerboard templates in 24″ x 24″ size that are customized to owner specification and delivered directly to the job site. Kits include full directions and 24/7 help lines staffed by seasoned flooring experts, so professionals and amateurs alike can successfully install a quality floor.
Helpful Garage Storage Ideas
Garage storage is one of those spaces which is oftentimes troublesome to coordinate. What ought you stash away in the garage? What ought you not stash away in the garage? What is the method you understand when you are trying to put in too much in the garage? How can you find complete garage storage ideas? Your garage does not need to be a problematic site to get organized. You just may want a little help.
Understanding what you should not store in a garage is just as essential as understanding what you ought stack away in one. Garages lean to being dirty, hot sites so you have to keep that in your brain before you put anything out there. While stashing away lawn and garden tools out there is okay, you in all probability do not want to stash away good linens or anything of sentimental value in that location. It will most likely get grimey and creatures may get into it and destroy it. It is also important not to store anything in your garage which would get ruined by being too hot or too cold. Any odd paint and other chemicals cannot be stored above or below a particular temperature. Preserve that in your mind with your garage storage ideas.
So what should go in your garage? It is optimal to keep items which are not troubled by temperature extremes or dirt in the garage. Lawn equipment, tools, garden equipment, some types of outdoor chemical substances. Merely be sure to check the labels of those chemicals so you know whether or not they are troubled by temperature extreme points. If you believe some effective garage storage ideas are stacking away your holiday ornamentations or holiday dishes out there, truly think about what you possess in those boxes. If any of it could become broken by warmth, grime or animals, you might need to reconsider it. If they are well covered in well sealed plastic containers, you could trouble yourself less about dirt or beasts. But do think of what you are stacking away in your garage before you set it in there.
Be aware of setting too many items in your garage. It should not be storage from floor to ceiling unless you do not require to stack away your autos in there. If you discover yourself positioning lots of items in your garage, stop and ask yourself what is in each of those packages, why you need what is in those packages and what you are going to employ it for. All things ought to have a use. It should not be “at some point I will use this” but preferably “I will utilize this throughout the summer.” Do not store things merely to stash away them. We each possess items which we preserve for emotional reasons but perhaps it would be stronger to take a picture of that item and then just let it go.
3 Garage Floor Coverings You Will Love
Garage floor coverings may seem about as exciting a topic as your next dental visit. If you are like I was, you probably haven’t even really given that much thought to your garage floor. It’s just a common concrete floor after all. Just a space to park on, or to store some things on, right? Oh no, that’s not exactly true at all. It turns out that a garage can actually be much more than that, and the floor can actually be made to be quite attractive. When you use the right covering in your garage you can actually change the space into a place that is as nice as the rest of your house.
There are three main types of garage floor coverings that I’d like to tell you about. All have their unique purpose and place, and each one is available for the average homeowner to install or apply.
First – Concrete stains or paints are some of the more popular garage floor coverings because they are economical, comes in a myriad of colors, and can be applied easily and quickly without any special training or tools. All you really have to do is prepare the floor properly with the right cleaner or degreaser, then apply the paint or stain according to the manufacturer’s instructions. You can even get creative and tape off a pattern that will make the concrete look like tile. Second – Epoxy garage floor coverings are great products for filling in flaws that develop in the concrete, and for preventing future problems that often arise from the effects of water and impact over time. Whether it is just small pitting or larger cracks or chips, this product does the job right. You can also add color chips to get just the right flash of color to suit your personal tastes and preferences. When you use this product you really create a whole new living space in the garage. It transforms the space from a drab gray concrete “utility” type room into an attractive and useful space. When the floor is finished you will have a clear coated floor that is sealed, non-skid, and looks great. Third – Patterned rolled vinyl matting. This final one is one of my personal favorite garage floor coverings because of the diversity of options available, and the simplicity of installation. This covering is just about as easy as it gets, and you don’t have to use any glues to put it down. Just choose what size, color, and pattern you want. Usually the vinyl come in 7-10 feet wide by 14-22 feet long rolls. Common colors available are black, gray, green, blue and red, and the patterns vary between “ribbed”, “tread”, “levant”, and “coin”. With this product you get the added benefit of dampening sounds, ease of cleanup, and a cushioned surface.
I hope this brief discussion of three garage floor coverings gets you thinking, and inspires you to try something new in your garage. Whether you opt for concrete stain or paint, a nice epoxy coating with color chips, or some sort of matting, you will love the end result. Almost anything is better than drab old plain gray concrete. Good luck!