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Pittsburgh Garage Remodeling

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Additional space is always good. It is a very rare case where adding another room to a house doesn't increase that property's market value. If you've got a growing family, are thinking of adding a home office, or just want a better place to put your car, your home could be a great candidate for a garage remodel. Though often used simply for storing a vehicle or household overflow, in many modern remodels, today's homeowner is ditching the traditional idea of what a garage is, and taking a look at what it could be.

While you can certainly take measures to improve the space and make it a nicer place to park, some people are opting to leave the car in the driveway and turn their garages into a truly useful living area. In Pittsburgh, garage remodeling is a cost-effective and relatively quick way to add living space to a property and is an option to consider for anyone who, for whatever reason, is feeling a little cramped.

Pittsburgh Garage Remodeling Options
Starting with the basics, if you're simply tired of your old, poorly functioning garage, it is very possible to turn that space into a room any car would gladly call home. For this type of garage renovation, Pittsburgh residents might consider adding a storage attic to the top of the structure to house outdoor and seasonal items. Other options include adding heating and cooling (in Iron City, a benefit if there ever was one) or simply optimizing space in such a way to accommodate a work area. You can even replace that old, noisy overhead door with a slick new model that will not only increase your home's curb appeal, but also take the headache out of protecting your car from the snow.

Those looking for a more intensive renovation should consider converting their garage into an extra bedroom, a game room, or even a guesthouse. In Allegheny county and the surrounding areas, adding onto a house can easily cost well into the tens of thousands of dollars. For many families, the price is too high to be a viable option. Pittsburgh garage remodels are significantly less expensive than building an addition, and it won't take away any yard space. Another nice thing about remodeling a garage when compared to building an addition is that many garages are already equipped with electricity and running water, making the project even easier!

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Drawbacks of Garage Remodeling in Pittsburgh
For some families in Pittsburgh, garage remodels are not the best idea in the world. Southwestern PA has hot, humid, summer days, freezing cold, winter nights, and everything in between. For households that aren't hurting for space (or for anyone maintaining a classic car), turning a garage into a spare bedroom is probably a bad thing. While there's certainly no harm in some well planned organizing, a new overhead door never hurt anyone, and many properties might do better with a finished basement (which, incidentally, is another investment that's not too shabby).

Prices of Pittsburgh Garage Remodels
For a total garage renovation, Pittsburgh residents should expect a project duration of 2 weeks to a month and a bill somewhere in the neighborhood of $10,000 (when compared to a national average of over $40,000 for an addition to an existing structure, 10k doesn't sound too bad). If you're looking to keep your vehicle safely under a roof, but optimize the existing space, garage organizers are around $1,200 installed. Finally, replacing that noisy overhead door with a sweet new model generally costs about $1,000-$2,000 (and most would say that it's well worth it).

Jon Nunan is a freelance writer who draws on his experience in construction, ranging from landscaping to log home building, for his articles on home improvement.

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