Cb Structures Blog

Fire Expo 2012

Don't miss Fire Expo - May 18 - 20, 2012

Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center

Stop out and see the CB Structures team at Booth #1005.  We are there to answer any questions about the construction and or additions to your public safety buildings.  We offer design-build, pre-construction, pre-planning and cooperative community relation services.  We look forward to seeing you all there.

Today's Garage Trends

In today’s real estate market more and more people will only consider purchasing houses with garages, detached or attached.  The time for using your garage to stash your “extra” stuff, OOPS!- I mean your family collectables that are only suitable for the garage dwelling, is over.  Seriously people it’s time to clean out those garages.

Did you know that homes with garages converted to living space have decreased home values?  These converted homes remain on the market longer and often sell for much less than homes with functional garages.  And “Functional” means that you can park vehicles in your garage, not just in front of them.  More often than not, home buyers base their entire home purchase decision on the type of garage that comes with the house.  Home buyers also look at the lot zoning carefully to determine if they can build their “dream garage” on site.

Garage Trends

• The two-car garage just doesn’t fit the bill anymore.  Families are growing, and more and more teenagers have their own vehicles. 
• Auto Elevators. For less than it costs to buy a used Honda, you can hire a company to install an auto elevator in your garage. It works like this: you drive into the garage, get out of the car, push a button and your car rises. Then you can park another car underneath.
• Or you can dig out the ground below to provide subterranean parking. The lift and your car will be completely concealed.
• Garages moving to the rear of the home – reminiscent of the 1950’s style. Many developments want the emphasis to be the home front not the garage.
• Detached Garages are trending because they offer endless customization advantages.  They no longer are cinder block dwelling; they can have the look and feel of your home.
• Don’t go overboard with your detached garage – it is unlikely you will see a return on your investment.

The garages built in the 70’s and 80’s, were typically about 21 feet by 21 feet and were 7-feet high.  How well do you think your SUV’s works in this space?  Consider this; the average length of today’s SUV is about 15 feet long.  This sure doesn’t leave a lot of space for lawnmowers and workbenches.  And the extended size SUV’s with a hitch extend greater than 18 feet…that just won’t fit at all.  Today’s garage needs to be a minimum of 22 feet by 22 feet and at least 9 feet high.

Today’s Garage
Garages are now an extension of living space and have moved away from a no-frills basic storage area.

• Garages today offer organizational systems featuring bins, pull-out drawers, baskets, shelving, cabinets, workbenches and closets
• Wall hooks for hanging up garden tools and bicycles keeping the clutter off the floor and eliminates the need to stack things in a corner
• Extra space in the garage that can be used as a workshop or hobby room
• Enough room to park three cars
• Painted and sealed or polypropylene tiled floors, finished walls and ceilings

CUSTOMIZE YOUR OLD BUILDING

Create a “New” appearance for a fraction of the cost to rebuild!

Doubletree comprehensive post-frame solutions offer many advantages in today’s construction industry. In times when getting access to new construction loans is few and far between the need for something in between a new building and just maintaining your old building has created the demand for “Building Facelifts” or the re-skin process.

Depending on the budget there are many ways to improve your overall building look and feel. The process is this simple. Step One; install furring strips and insulation onto the existing façade. Step Two, install the new skin and trim, Step Three – watch your utility costs decrease. The best part is the process only takes 2 – 3 days to install versus the typical construction process timeline.

This is a win-win situation for companies. Save money and down-time by avoiding the new building costs and relocation expense. The energy saving benefits from a re-skin decrease a company’s overall utility expense and help cut down on their environmental carbon footprint at the same time. By adding furring strips and insulation to an existing concrete building you increase the buildings r-value by 72%. Additional benefits to the energy saving package are an overall decrease in heat gain/loss by over 30%, an increase in overall comfort level by reducing temperature swings by 60% and it eliminates moisture issues with 100% maintenance free skin.

The Revitalization of a building comes with a limited Lifetime Building Skin Warranty on façade finishes, guarantee’s a “draft free” building by eliminating heat gain/loss infiltration, offer a change in exterior elevation without changing or altering the interior workings of the building….Bottom line you get a “NEW” building appearance at a fraction of the cost.