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(NAPSI)-It used to be that a garage was a place to park a car. Not anymore. For many, the garage has become the new utility room-housing everything from model trains to the family Ping-Pong table.
Increasingly, however, the garage is also the primary target for home improvement projects-and for good reason. Many homeowners see renovating the garage as one of the most economical projects they can take on, offering increased utility and value at the same time.
If you are thinking of a garage makeover, here are a few tips:
• Get organized. Start by organizing loose items into containers, preferably the kind that fit snugly against the wall. Don't forget labels for the containers, in several places.
• Go to the wall. Use wall hooks to hang what you can on the walls. Lawn and garden tools such as shovels can often fit nicely there.
• Think plastic. If you are committed to storing things in your garage that can attract mold, such as magazines or newspapers, avoid cardboard boxes. Use plastic containers with a snap-on lid.
Those who want to start the makeover from the ground up may be interested in a new product line designed to protect and enhance the appearance of concrete floors.
The product line, called Quikrete Professional Concrete Coatings, is the result of a strategic alliance of Quikrete-a leader in ready-to-use concrete mix-and Valspar, a coatings manufacturer serving the residential and commercial markets. The 14 products in the line are the first complete line of concrete coatings and sealants brought to market. The products are marketed as part of a "Concrete Solution Center."
The flagship product is an epoxy garage floor coating kit that decorates and protects the garage floor. The kit includes a concentrated cleaner, water-based, low-odor garage floor epoxy and enough color flakes to do a one-car garage. The protective coating is a three-in-one degreaser, cleaner and etcher, said to promote the bond between the concrete and the coating-what the company refers to as "Bond-Lok technology." The result is a coating that is two times stronger than concrete.
The protective coatings are available in designer colors, Southwest colors and earth tones. To make application easier, step-by-step instructions are included on a DVD that accompanies the product.
The products are available through home improvement warehouse outlets, independent paint retailers and hardware stores. To learn more, visit www.quikretecoatings.com or call 1-800-458-0047.
Many homeowners see renovating the garage as one of the most economical home improvement projects they can take on.