The garage floors we install are extremely durable and resistant to many common "mess makers" however no garage floor can avoid dust, dirt, and grime build up over time. If you are someone that cleans the garage floor weekly then this may not apply, however we all know that cleaning the garage floor may happen only a couple times a year. We recommend two great products for cleaning your floor for when you do find the time to clean the garage floor:

Garage Floor Cleaning Products

Simplegreen ™ and CLR ™

Both have their unique qualities and both can be used for your common grime/dirt buildup. We recommend you use the following instructions:

1.) Simplegreen™ with Original or Lemon Scent Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner:

1. Use a 1:10 solution of Simple Green and water.
2. Apply by spraying in sections and scrub with a non-abrasive brush or sponge mop.
3. Follow with a thorough rinse to insure a residue free finish.
4. Wipe dry with a lint free cloth or towel or let air dry

2.) CLR™

CLR can be used for your heavier residues (not oil see below) and mineral buildup.

1. In a well-ventilated area while wearing household rubber gloves and standing on a non-slip surface, mix equal amounts of CLR and warm water.
2. Test the solution on a hidden area before applying to the entire surface.  Apply directly to the calcium, lime or rust stain with a brush, cloth or sponge and rinsepromptly with cold, clean water.
3. Never leave CLR on an area for longer than two minutes. If the stain does not disappear, use CLR full strength and then wipe and rinse promptly with cold, clean water.  Never mix CLR with other household cleaners or bleach and never reuse the bottle.

NOTE:
CLR™ will not remove oil from a concrete driveway or garage floor.  If CLR is mixed with oil, it will darken the concrete, which is very difficult to remove. To remove oil from concrete or blacktop, try the product CLR® Grease Magnet.

Click for more information on Garage Flooring.

Regardless of which garage remodeling ideas you finally decide upon, be assured that our garage design specialists have tons of garage remodeling ideas. Stunning cabinets, stylish furniture, evocative artwork, and exceptional entertainment units are all possibilities for your dream garage makeover. Let your imagination run free and you'll develop your own garage remodeling ideas to complement your hobbies, your lifestyle, your artistic talents, or your inner child.

Thank you very much for choosing us for your Garage  remodeling and storage needs.

9455 Chivers Avenue
Sun Valley, California 91352
Garage Envy
818 767-9870

Garage makeovers are often hard to explain so we'll let the photos tell the story because  a picture is  worth a thousand words....

Although this is a common question, it is not an easy one to answer.  Unfortunately fitting bikes in an average 2 Car Garage (20x20) is tough especially if you want to fit those 2 cars in as well!!

We at Garage Envy have several  bike storage solutions you can choose from!  Whether you decide on floor, wall or ceiling bike storage!

Bike Storing Solutions for your Garage

1.) Mounting bikes parallel to the wall

• ~ Con: They take up 6' worth of wall length which eats up potential space for cabinets
• ~ Con: Bikes may get in the way of the car doors.
• ~ Pro: They only stick out of the wall as much as the handle bars or pedals do.
• ~ Easy access for bikes that are used often
• ~ Kids are more likely to put their bikes up on the wall.   (Ask yourself, "Would my kids do that?")
• ~ Several options using wallscape/hooks or stacked bike racks (as seen above)

2.) Mounting bikes perpendicular to the wall

• ~ More for longer term storage vs every day use (will need an adult to put up)
• ~ Pro: You can stagger them and fit several in a smaller wall space
• ~ Con: They will stick out at least 3 feet

3.) Ceiling Mounting for Bikes

• ~ Long term storage that adults will have to take up and down.
• ~ Should have a 9' or higher ceiling or hang bikes over car hood
• ~ Con: For lower ceilings, it may feel constricting  (Bikes will descend at least 3' from the ceiling)
• ~ Con: Bike hoist ropes can be cumbersome and tie offs can get in the way.
• ~ Pro: Installing a hook in ceiling joist is an inexpensive DIY solution!

Click Here for  all your bike storage solutions!

Charlotte Today -WCNC-TV (NBC affiliate) Jaime Dietenofer, co-owner of Garage Envy was a guest on Charlotte Today aired 11/21/11.  His presentation helped position Jaime as a true garage storage and organization expert and his special tips include introducing Chamberlain Garage Door Openers with MyQ Technology.

About Gare Envy

Regardless of which garage storage ideas you finally decide upon, be assured that our garage design specialists have tons of garage remodeling ideas. Stunning cabinets, stylish furniture, evocative artwork, and exceptional entertainment units are all possibilities for your dream garage makeover. Let your imagination run free and you'll develop your own garage remodeling ideas to complement your hobbies, your lifestyle, your artistic talents, or your inner child.

]]> Thu, 17 Nov 2011 13:01:01 +0000 wong-car-garage Los Angeles Premier Garage Makeover and Storage Specialists

Visit us at the LA Conventions Center between November 18-27 (Including Thanksgiving weekend!)  Visit Garage Envy at Kentia Hall on the Lower Level (K-510).  Take the escalators downstairs to and from South Hall.

Garage makeover ideas not only redefine the garage space, they increase property value. A creatively decked-out garage provides a valuable highlight to the property's appeal and potential. Potential buyers see potential benefits; the male sees his own space; the female sees storage space; and the seller ultimately sees the value of showcasing the creative use of garage space.

Enter our CONTEST to win a $7500 GARAGE MAKEOVER!

Check out the sweet Shelby Cobra at our booth!

• Speak to our professionally trained designers and garage experts about storage solutions.
• Set up a FREE Consultation Appointment for us to visit your home.
• Check out our heavy duty cabinet line!
• See Flooring options for your garage!
• Give your neighbors GARAGE ENVY!!

Enter Contest

The show entrance closes one hour prior to the show closing.

TICKETS

Adults: $12

E-tickets: $10 - Valid Friday, Nov. 18 - Thursday, Nov. 24
$12 - Valid Friday, Nov. 25 - Sunday, Nov. 27

Children: 12 and under are FREE when accompanied by an adult.

Seniors (65+): $8 - Valid Friday, Nov. 18 through Thursday, Nov. 24.
Cash only and not valid with any other offer.

DISCOUNTS ONLINE!

1966’ Cobra Replica built by Superperformance autographed by Carol Shelby at our LA Auto Show Booth

LOCATION

Los Angeles Convention Center
1201 S. Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015
Kentia Hall
(Downstairs K-510)

Saturday, NOVEMBER 12th join Garage Envy and Family Classic Cars for our Grand Opening of our new showroom!  We just redid the showroom.  Added some more cool  garage cabinets.  Plus you can check out Family Classic Cars!

Car Collectors Dream Garage

Orange County entrepreneur Marc Spizzirri founded Family Classic Cars in 2001. The collection began with a Pontiac GTO convertible, a GT500 Shelby, a ’55 Chevy Bel Air, ’57 Thunderbird, ’57 Bel Air convertible and a ‘73 Pantera. It was the realization of a 20-year-long dream to build the dream garage of all garages. Vintage cars, classics, hot rods, muscle cars and exotics – all on display at one spectacular southern California location.

Marc Spizzirri joined forces with Heisman Trophy winner John Cappelletti to build the ultimate enthusiast experience. These successful partners together have become the “experts’ expert” in the classic car industry and gained worldwide recognition.Family Classic Cars is growing by leaps and bounds, having recently purchased several extremely rare collections of Duesenbergs, Rolls-Royces, Packards, Bentleys and an extremely rare and coveted Ferrari.

We invite you to look around or stop by if you’re in our neighborhood. Whether you love fancy pre-war vintage automobiles, fine European autos, muscle cars, exotics or the classics…your dream car awaits you!

Family Classic Cars
33033 Camino Capistrano
San Juan Capistrano, CA 9267

Family Classic Cars are also available for your next event!
For weddings, corporate parties ,  Bar Mitzvah etc..
Contact:  Jessica Pinon- Garcia
949-496-3000
garcia@familyclassiccars.com

Garage Cabinet Tips

1. New garage cabinets must withstand a harsh garage environment?

Using heavy duty cabinet material is a must when considering storage units in your garage. Garage cabinets are subject to heavy, wet, and harsh items that can beat up your investment over time. Using thin pressboard material will only result in the homeowner having to reinvest in the garage again and again. To survive, your cabinets must use 1”–1.5” materials, never a lesser grade ¼”, ½”, 5/8” or ¾” material.

2. Garage Cabinet backing impacts durability and longevity. Don’t be misled!

One common way companies or installers save money and keep costs low is by using thin light weight backing. However as any skilled craftsman would attest the majority of the weight in a cabinet is supported by the backing. Using ¼ or ½ inch backing, or even using small nailer plates (wood supports) can cut weight capacity by more than 50%. The backing must be at least ¾” high-density condensed wood, NEVER ½” or ¼” pressboard.

3. A cabinet box is only as sturdy and strong as its weakest link.... SCREWS.

Our cabinets are held together with the toughest “Confirmat” screws ensuring stability, as opposed to Cam Locks or other fastening options that are inferior. Confirmat screws are designed specifically to be used with processed-wood materials. Cam Locks are generally used to fasten low-grade, do-it-yourself box-store furniture.

4.  Cabinet materials can contain DANGEROUS contaminants?

Standard closet, kitchen and garage cabinets contain many harmful contaminants that can off-gas into your home for up to seven years. Insist on a cabinet manufacturer that mandates Zero to Low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) cabinets for all lines to ensure the highest indoor air quality to protect the health of a homeowner and their loved ones.

5. Garage cabinets can fall off the wall

Having a strong cabinet is only half the battle. Attaching the cabinet to the wall, and keeping it up there so it doesn’t rip off and damage cars, property or even worse you or a family member, is vital. Insist on 3” truss wood connection supports with over 250lbs of sheer weight capacity per screw.

6. Get a LIFETIME WARRANTY

Not a limited warranty, not a “maybe” warranty, not a fine print warranty, a LIFETIME TRANSFERABLE Warranty.

Problem: Cabinet buckling, warping and deterioration.

Cause: Three Basic Reasons.
1. Inferior Hardware.
2. Thin/weak sides and cabinet backing.
3. Low-grade laminate.

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.

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Problem: Moisture damage from improper installation.

Cause:
Cabinets need to be elevated off the garage floor to avoid moisture problems.
Added to the weak, low-grade pressboard shown here, the result is inevitable.

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The  Garage Envy DIFFERENCE…

1. We only use 1”-1.5” commercial-grade materials, never lesser grade thicknesses.
2. The right backing is crucial, our standard backing is a ¾” high-density condensed wood.
3. Our cabinets are secured with “Confirmat” screws, never with inferior Cam-Locks.
4. We were the first Garage Remodeling Company to insist on Zero to Low VOC cabinetry.
5. We use 3” truss head connection supports with over 250lbs of sheer weight capacity.
6. And to back it up we offer a LIFETIME TRANSFERABLE WARRANTY.

Licensed General Contractors. BBB “A+” rated.

We stand behind everything we sell!   Please don’t hesitate to ask us for references.
888.249.1766

(I-Newswire) October 4, 2011 :

No one likes to have their messy garage pointed out, but in this case, Janice Hammon of Mission Viejo wasn’t embarrassed when asked about having the messiest garage in Los Angeles. PODS Los Angeles teamed up with Garage Envy, CBS Los Angeles, KNX 1070 and KFWB 980 to award one lucky winner with a FREE garage makeover and storage system during the transformation in their recent contest to find L.A.’s messiest garage. Radio station listeners were encouraged to upload photos of their grimy garages on the website where the community could vote for their favorite.

“There were a lot of garages submitted in the contest that needed a garage makeover and some serious cleaning,” said Jamie Dietenhofer, founder and co-executive of Garage Envy, Inc. “After taking a closer look at the Hammon’s home, it was clear how much it would mean to their family to have a garage renovation and give them a fresh start.”

Both the mess and the cleanup process have been a full family effort. Hammon’s daughter, 23, heard about the contest on the radio and submitted a photo of the family’s garage in all its messy glory, hoping for help with their garage oganization crisis.

The real motivation for the cleanup is Hammon’s husband who is a  car fanatic and a remote control car collector. Taking up one third of the garage is a well-preserved Plymouth Barracuda which remains carefully covered to protect it from the surrounding clutter.

“Our garage is definitely a man cave,” said Hammon. “I’m looking forward to giving my husband an area where he can have the elbow room to work on his cars and we can also enjoy spending time with him in a well organized garage .”

Hammon and her family first moved into their home in 1987 before their daughter was born. “Our garage is full of 24 years of collecting and storing items we never could get rid of,” said Hammon.

“When we saw the Hammon’s garage, I knew what a fun challenge this would be,” said Tim Preston, general manager of PODS Los Angeles. “PODS is proud to be donating storage for this family and we are all eager to see the finished product.”

About Garage Envy

Garage Envy Inc. founded in 2002 is the leader in storage and organization designed solely for the garage. In addition to designing and installing garage systems for homeowners, GarageEnvy.com is an online source for all of the Do-It-Yourself products pertaining to the garage, i.e. cabinets, flooring, parking accessories and much more.

For more information, visit GarageEnvy.com or call 818-767-9870.

Here at Garage Envy, we spend countless hours each week inside the garage – which we know is one of the most important spaces within the home – and through our years of experience working with clients, we work hard to discover and highlight the hidden potential of these spaces across the country. We are always  actively encouraging homeowners to dream big when it comes to this important area within their home.

And in terms of garage door openers, Chamberlain is also thinking big with the launch of their new Chamberlain Battery Backup Garage Door Opener with MyQ Technology. Using a unique two-way communication that connects to other household devices and easily helps control them, this new opener adds functionality and convenience to something you already use every day – the garage door opener and its remote. Revolutionizing the way homeowners think about their garage door opener and unlocking the hidden potential of the home, this unit is also equipped with Chamberlain’s exclusive Battery Backup feature, so homeowners can rest assured that the garage door opener will continue to operate even during a power outage.

Chamberlain’s new garage door openers with MyQ Technology can do so much more and because they are engineered with this new technology, they are poised for everything that is coming in the future, like new accessories, smart apps – all easy to attain and easy for homeowners to use. Visit www.Chamberlain.com to learn more.

Check out the "MyQ to the Rescue" Contest

To help celebrate the launch of the Chamberlain® Battery Backup Garage Door Opener enabled with MyQ™ Technology – a garage door opener that does more than ever before – Chamberlain wants to help homeowners tackle other areas of the home that need a little help.

With more homeowners tackling DIY home improvement projects than ever before, Chamberlain would like to help those DIY enthusiasts with the projects that have not lived up to their true potential with “MyQ to the Rescue” Contest.

Visit Chamberlain DIY Facebook Page and click on the “MyQ to the Rescue” contest tab to upload a picture of a home/garage improvement project, a room, an appliance in your home that could use some saving. Perhaps that bathroom tile project that never really got off the ground, or the family toaster that only toasts one side the bread and burns the other, or that overstuffed garage or shed that is passed over every spring cleaning.  Chamberlain will help select ten finalists for cash prizes and the overall grand prize winner will receive $5,000 to help tackle that unfinished project as well as Jaime Dietenhofer’s professional design expertise to help along the way.

Contest starts September 6, 2011 and runs through November 29, 2011.

Check it out here: http://apps.facebook.com/myqcontest/contests/146860

(LOS ANGELES)- No one likes to have their mess pointed out, but in this case, Janice Hammon of Mission Viejo wasn’t embarrassed when asked about having the messiest garage in Los Angeles.

PODS Los Angeles teamed up with Garage Envy and CBS Los Angeles to award one lucky winner with a garage makeover and free storage during the transformation in their recent contest to find L.A.’s messiest garage. Radio station listeners were encouraged to upload photos of their grimy garages on the website where the community could vote for their favorite.

“There were a lot of garages submitted in the contest that needed a makeover and some serious cleaning,” said Jamie Dietenhofer, founder and co-executive of Garage Envy, Inc. “After taking a closer look at the Hammon’s home, it was clear how much it would mean to their family for us to renovate their garage and give them a fresh start.”

Both the mess and the cleanup process have been a full family effort. Hammon’s daughter, 23, heard about the contest on the radio and submitted a photo of the family’s garage in all its messy glory, hoping for a desperately needed makeover.The real motivation for the cleanup is Hammon’s husband who is a passionate car fan and remote control car collector. Taking up one third of the garage is a well-preserved Plymouth Barracuda which remains carefully covered to protect it from the surrounding clutter.

“Our garage is definitely a man cave,” said Hammon. “I’m looking forward to giving my husband an area where he can have the elbow room to work on his cars and we can also enjoy spending time with him.”

Hammon and her family first moved into their home in 1987 before their daughter was born. “Our garage is full of 24 years of collecting and storage for items we never could quite get rid of,” said Hammon.

“When we saw the Hammon’s garage, I knew what a fun challenge this would be,” said Tim Preston, general manager of PODS Los Angeles. “I can’t think of a family more deserving to have their garage transformed into an area for everyone to enjoy.”

Stay tuned for photos and progress updates!

About PODS Enterprises, Inc.

Founded in 1998, PODS currently provides moving and storage services to a population of more than 250 million consumers and businesses, in 48 U.S. states, Canada, Australia and the UK, through its company-owned and independent franchise network. To date, the PODS network has completed more than 330,000 long-distance relocations, exceeded 1.8 million deliveries and has over 143,000 PODS^® containers in service.

PODS^® secure containers are constructed of a steel frame and are available in three sizes: approximately 7x7x8 feet, 12x8x8 feet and 16x8x8 feet. The 12-foot and 16-foot containers have been tested to withstand winds of more than 110-mph when partially loaded.  For more information or to schedule service, visit PODS.com or call (800) 776-7637

About Garage Envy
Garage Envy Inc. founded in 2002 is the leader in storage and organization designed solely for the garage. In addition to designing and installing garage systems for homeowners, GarageEnvy.com is an online source for all of the Do-It-Yourself products pertaining to the garage, i.e. cabinets, flooring, parking accessories and much more.

Congratulations Garage Envy!

U.S. Commerce Association’s Award Plaque Honors the Achievement

NEW YORK, NY, September 22, 2011 -- Garage Envy, Inc has been selected for the 2011 Best of Sun Valley Award in the Cabinet Building & Installation category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA).

The USCA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USCA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2011 USCA Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USCA and data provided by third parties.

About U.S. Commerce Association (USCA)

U.S. Commerce Association (USCA) is a New York City based organization funded by local businesses operating in towns, large and small, across America. The purpose of USCA is to promote local business through public relations, marketing and advertising.

The USCA was established to recognize the best of local businesses in their community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations, chambers of commerce and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to be an advocate for small and medium size businesses and business entrepreneurs across America.

About Garage Envy

Garage Envy, Southern California’s original garage cabinets and organizaton specialists, operates in California, Arizona and Oregon through company-owned operations. Garage Envy’s growing line of do-it-yourself home improvement products available in our Online Store can be shipped anywhere in the United States. Garage remodeling ideas not only redefine the garage space, they increase property value. A creatively decked-out garage provides a valuable highlight to the property's appeal and potential. Potential buyers see potential benefits; the male sees his own space; the female sees storage space; and the seller ultimately sees the value of showcasing the creative use of garage space

SOURCE: U.S. Commerce Association

CONTACT:
U.S. Commerce Association
Email: PublicRelations@uscaaward.com
URL: http://www.uscaaward.com

o Visually different from ANY other system available.

o HD galvanized metal wall frame allows cabinets & all other NEOS garage cabinet modules to be moved and relocated as often as required. "CHAMELEON" is derived from NEOS being adaptable to any environment.

o Heavy duty metal construction of all components like double walled doors, Blum hinges, roller glide slides for all drawers and pull out shelves.

o Not an off the shelf product. Every job is customized to fit exactly the measurements of the customer's needs / requirements.

o Painted steel wall panels are visually nice to look at, but the main purpose is to be able to insert and attach wall modules as required to functionality increase storage space. They also hide items like pipes, damaged drywall or concrete. This will also make alignment consistent of below and above cabinets.

o Sold by a leading custom garage company based in Los Angeles.

o Currently installed in several high end automotive dealerships like BMW, MB, Ferrari, Toyota, Honda and many more across Canada. Also recently installed at Orange County Choppers in NY for the T.V series 'American Chopper' & at the owner 'Paul Sr.' home garage.

o The industrial design firm that helped Nelson develop NEOS spent 6 months consulting with automotive owners, service managers and technicians.

o All painted surfaces are powder coated with a textured finish to help reduce scuffs and scrapes and visually hide any small fabrication imperfections.

o Nelson Industrial Inc. is all about the detail of its products and the way that's it sold to offer the best possible solution available to its customers.

Click Here for more information and videos on this product.

We appreciate your business very much here at Garage Envy.  We have built our business and reputation on referrals.
We would like to reward you through our newly announced "Refer-A-Friend" Program and provide you with a $150 Dollar Cash Back Reward for any referral that leads to a full install or a $50 dollar cash back reward for any floor only jobs.

All cash back rewards are issued after the job is complete and paid in full. All records are kept confidential so if you have several friends that you would like to suggest please do so with the full confidence that Garage Envy will keep yours and your referee's information secure.

Please click on the link below and send us an email with the following information:

• Friend's first & last name
• Friends email address
• Friend's phone number
• Cash Reward Recipient (First, Last and Mailing address)

We will contact your friend with special offers to help make their garage the Envy of the neighborhood. If there are any special requests for your referee please just note it in the email and we will comply to the best of our ability.  Your cash reward will be sent promptly after the final payment of your friends project made out to whom ever you wish; please note in the email who the recipient should be.

Thank you for your support.

Send Email For Refer-a-Friend Program

*Offer may not be copied, duplicated, transferred or combined with any other
offer. Minimum purchase requirements must be met in accordance with estimate
total for any cash reward on a full install or floor only job.  Not valid on any prior
purchases or orders.   License # 822025.

Offer Expires: September 30, 2011

Garage Organizaton Tips and Advice in Los Angeles

Congrats!! You’ve finally decided to tackle that garage!

I've got to tell you, as a garage organization designer, I've seen it all!

Over the years your garage has become the receptacle for all those empty boxes, half filled cans of paint, holiday decorations, bikes, toys and old tools you just can’t let go of because maybe some day, you’ll do that garage organization project you’ve been planning on before the kids came. Wouldn’t it be great to park your car in the garage again??

So where do you start my garage renovation? Garage cabinets, garage shelving, garage floor? Here's what I tell all my clients... First you need to ask yourself, “What do I want to use my garage for?”

Garage Organization Ingredients

Then we figure out what we need to achieve that goal.

1. Cabinets
2. Workbench
3. Flooring
4. Wall System
5. Ceiling Lofts
6. Garage Door Unit
7. Rewire for audio and video system
8. Electrical
9. General Construction

Then you need to consider the investment required to organize the garage:

1. Cost (Your Budget vs. Cost of Labor and Materials)
2. Time (How long to do it yourself vs. hiring someone else to do it)
3. Physical Effort (How much of a physical toll will it take on you to do it yourself?)
4. Quality of Work and Materials (Do you need heavy duty materials? Do you need professional services to install such as electrical, drywall, plumbing, insulation?)

Completing a Garage Remodel

Once you’ve decided on the scope of work, you have four options to complete the project:

1. Do it Yourself (DIY ) with Home Depot or Loew’s
2. Local Handyman
3. General Closet Company
4. Garage Organization and Storage Specialists

In this series, we will take you through the many options you will have to decide on when it comes to your garage remodel ... from what to do, who to do it and how.

Please stay tuned...

Unique Garage Shelving and Remodel Challenge

Thought we'd share one of our Garage Envy successes! Just goes to show you can turn a 2 Car Garage into stylish and usable storage space! Kevin and Leann's family is dirt bike racing family.  The name of their racing team is QFC Racing.

They called Garage Envy because they needed the following:

• A clean, efficient Garage storage cabinet  systems to organize the team members gear.
• Several garage storage options for tools and an area for bike repair.
• Garage storage shelving to display the team's winning trophies.
• A floor system that would hold up to a large amount of car and dirt bike traffic wear and tear.

Garage Organization Solution

Our garage storage experts went out and designed an efficient and beautiful solution!

• (5) 24" wide individual heavy duty cabinets space lockers for jackets and other racing gear.
• A Deep Drawer underneath with full extension glides for heavier tools and gear.
• 5' workbench area with a stainless steel top for repairs and builds with an easy wipe down clean up.
• A bank of 7 shallow drawers to organize tools.
• A stainless steel sink for quick and easy clean up before entering the house.
• Black Wallscape system to create a flexible storage and organizational system with hooks, shelves and baskets.
• Polyurea Flooring System that coats and seals the floor that is impervious to water, oils and other liquids, allowing them to hose down the garage to keep it clean and neat.

Garage Envy fulfills all of these versatile functions by supplying and installing premium quality garage cabinets which provide unique functionality.

If you are looking for the best looking garage that is still functional and user friendly Garage Envy can help you. Call our garage envy design  specialists now for an exciting garage transformation.

Testimonial from a happy client

"We thought you did an awesome job designing the garage…it’s very efficient for all of the racers.  Having the individual lockers has helped keep things organized, although it’s never spotless because it is a working garage with constant use.  The large drawers are also great for cans and spray bottles, etc. Thanks for the great service…you were there when you said and it was finished on time."   ~Kevin and Leann

 

Create more space in your garage with a tankless water heater

Garage Envy is proud to announce that we are now working with Noritz, supplier of water heaters.

"Noritz America's vision is to fundamentally alter the way hot water is viewed in America in a way that will reduce the detrimental effects to the environment.  Noritz has been developing and manufacturing the finest gas operated water heating products in the world since 1951 and is the number one manufacturer in the world for tankless technology. Increased environmental awareness, with the conservation of energy and space worldwide, has encouraged Noritz to expand globally."

TOP 6 Reasons to Purchase a TANKLESS Water Heater!

1. Endless  Hot Water!
With a Noritz tankless water heater you will get endless hot water.  Tankless water heaters heat water on demand, and that means you never have to worry about running out of hot water.  Imagine the luxury of always having enough hot water for everyone to enjoy and relax - hot tubs, showers and still have an endless supply for the rest of your household needs!

2. Hot Water For Any Size Home
Endless supply with more volume - not only can a tankless water heater provide an endless supply of hot water, it can also deliver more of it for all your hot water demands.  Only Noritz offers a multi-system set-up that can link up to 24 units, which translates to 317 gallons per minute - enough for over 126 showers at once!

With this much volume, Noritz tankless water heaters can meet any hot water demand of today’s homes.  PHOTO: Noritz multi-system

3. No Dirty Tanks
With a tankless water heater, water is heated as it passes through the unit so you will always be using a fresh supply of water.  As the years pass by, traditional tank water heaters start to rust and build-up scale inside the tank, which is where your hot water is being stored for use.  Click on the link below to see what it looks like inside an old tank heater. PHOTO: inside old tank water heater

4. Gain More Space!
Compared to traditional water heaters, one of the most obvious differences is its small size. Compact in design, Noritz tankless water heaters can be installed virtually anywhere. Our tankless water heaters mount on the wall, inside or outside.

Depending upon what your needs are, if you want fast hot water delivery, you can actually relocate the tankless heater closer to the fixtures you use most often.  Therefore, a tankless not only saves you space, but can also save you water.  Relocating a big, bulky tank to a location that makes more sense would definitely be a challenge. PHOTO: relocated to the attic

5.  Save Money! Lower Water Heating Bills
With a Noritz tankless water heater, you'll save energy and thus, money.  Our on-demand systems require no pilot light and can save about half the cost of your current water heating bill since there is no re-heating of water as with traditional water heaters.  Compared to a tank water heater's 60% efficiency, an 83%-94% energy-efficiency levels make Noritz tankless water heaters much more eco-friendly. Check out the Energy Tax Credits

6. Lasts Longer!
Noritz tankless water heaters are extremely durable, lasting longer than traditional tank-type water heaters, and requiring little maintenance over its lifetime. They are also extremely well designed. If for some reason it needs to be serviced, any single part of the heater can be replaced and fixed. Noritz wants you to feel comfortable with our tankless water heaters so we back them with one of the best warranties in the industry.  Noritz has a 12 year warranty!

Click Here to see a FULL CATALOG

This Weekend! August 19-21

Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Monterey Mazda Raceway
Pebble Beach Concourse 2011
Concourse Italiano

While the motoring crowd is sure to appear in large numbers, this week-long festival goes far beyond traditional auto racing and car shows. From 15-21 August, activities will be taking place both on and off the raceway, with celebrity visitors and glamorous parties mixed in with one of the world’s most elegant reunions of fine, vintage automobiles.

Our Garage Envy trailer will be out and about.  So look for us, stop by and say Hello!

Check out our new cabinet line, wall storage system, and beautiful garage flooring systems!

Ok people it's time to vote!

No it's not November but it is time to vote on Los Angeles' Messiest Garage Contest brought to you by PODS® and Garage Envy!

PODS® Moving and Storage and Garage Envy are looking for L.A.’s messiest garage! Someone could win a garage “transformation” from Garage Envy and six months of free storage in a secure PODS® container. This prize is valued at over $6,000!

Vote for who you think has the messiest garage from the gallery below. Three finalists will be chosen on 8/21 as the three most-voted on garages.

A panel of judges from PODS® and Garage Envy will visit the finalists and pick a winner.

Place your vote now!

Win Garage Makeover. Garage Envy and PODS launches search for Los Angeles' Messiest garage

Los Angeles radio listeners compete to win an ultimate garage makeover.

(LOS ANGELES) – Neatness not your niche? From July 25 – August 7, 2011, radio listeners of KNX 1070 and KFWB 980 in Los Angeles are invited to submit photos of their messy garages to the station websites for a chance to win a garage transformation makeover by Garage Envy and a PODS® brand container to store the stuff.

Beginning on August 8, the radio stations will post photos of the messy garage finalists and ask listeners to go online and vote for their top pick. Voting ends Monday, August 22.

The winner will receive a PODS garage makeover provided by PODS Los Angeles and Garage Envy. PODS will donate six months of free storage while the makeover is taking place.

For Rules and Regulations go to: http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2011/07/20/messiest-garage-photo-online-promotion/

For more information or to nominate a messy garage, go to:  http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/category/contests-promotions/.

About PODS Enterprises, Inc.

Founded in 1998, PODS currently provides moving and storage services to a population of more than 250 million consumers and businesses, in 48 U.S. states, Canada, Australia and the UK, through its company-owned and independent franchise network. To date, the PODS network has completed more than 320,000 long-distance relocations, exceeded 1.7 million deliveries and has nearly 143,000 PODS^® containers in service.

PODS^® secure containers are constructed of a steel frame and are available in three sizes: approximately 7-by-7-by-8 feet, 12-by-8-by-8 feet and 16-by-8-by-8 feet. The 12-foot and 16-foot containers have been tested to withstand winds of more than 110-mph when partially loaded. Newer PODS^® containers have the same steel frame construction but are completely recyclable panels made of steel skins and a high-density polyethylene core. For more information or to schedule service, visit PODS.com or call 800-776-7637.

Just to wet your appetite, here are some events Garage Envy is involved with in the next coming months...

August 19-21
Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Monterey Mazda Raceway

Pebble Beach Concourse 2011

Concourse Italiano

While the motoring crowd is sure to appear in large numbers, this weeklong festival goes far beyond traditional auto racing and car shows. From 15-21 August, activities will be taking place both on and off the raceway, with celebrity visitors and glamorous parties mixed in with one of the world’s most elegant reunions of fine, vintage automobiles.

More exciting news!

Stay Tuned for our next "Messiest Garage in LA" Contest!

Details forthcoming...oh the suspense!  All we are going to say is start taking those photos to see if your garage qualifies.

My clients can actually see their garage conversion take shape immediately during our consultation meeting!  It gives us an opportunity to make any changes to the design right there!

Making the Garage Conversion Design and Estimate Process Easier

Recently I wrote an article entitled, “Garage Remodel Estimate: What to Expect”   Well just when I thought I had it all down we, Garage Envy - the Garage Experts, go and raise the bar…again!

Garage Envy announces "Pad in the Field".

Well now, not only can we have that instant gratification of a customized garage design and the cost on the first visit, but all of our clients will have access to our photo galleries, online store, testimonials, videos of installations and much more right at their first design consultation meeting.

Starting in the Fall of 2011 our designers will be equipped with Garage Envy iPads!

 Imagine instead of listening to how your garage cabinets or Polyurea Floor will be installed, you can watch a quick video.  See how our cabinets are cut in our warehouse and assembled in your garage.   You can see in real time our A+ Rating on the Better Business Bureau’s website.  Check out all the cool organizing wall accessories on our online shop while the designer is right there with you!

Obviously, since I write this blog as well as design garages, I’m a bit of a tech junkie!  So at today’s meeting, I was teasing the owner about a Garage Envy App and he said, “we don’t have an app…yet!”

Watch out!  Garage conversion design is moving into the 21st Century!!

"Rich is a sponsored motocross rider and his sons are following in his footsteps. This California sports family has gear for everything from surfing and snowboarding to biking and skateboarding all in one cluttered mess. With the help of Bill Goldberg and the Garage Mahal team, their messy garage becomes a professional BMX/Motocross workshop complete with a custom workbench, bike ramps that double as storage and a few surprise elements."

Catch a repeat of this episode of Garage Mahal, Friday, July 8th on the DIY Network 8:00am e/p.

To watch all episodes online, click here.

Ok…you’ve decided on the scope of work. You want garage cabinets, flooring, walls and accessories. But which ones? Is there a difference? Of course there is!!

When choosing what products to install remember that we’re talking about YOUR GARAGE! Super hot in the summer, freezing in the winter, wind blowing leaves and damp when rainy! Then there’s creepy crawlies and tiny furry creatures making your garage their permanent home. Dusty, dirty, cobwebby…you get my point.

First, before we think about any products, do you need construction services? Is your walls open to the studs? Do you have an actual ceiling or is it just a few 2×4 beams crisscrossed overhead? Do you have enough electrical outlets for your tools? tv? stereo? If you work a lot in the garage you may want to add insulation and drywall. Maybe even create a window. Now of course all these things are not necessary to install cabinets and wall systems, they are attached directly to the studs. But you will need a ceiling if you want to attach drywall or put up ceiling lofts.

For garage cabinets, consider what you will be using them for. Will you be storing heavy tools, files, paint cans, 5 years of tax receipts? If so, you will need sturdier cabinets then if you were just storing luggage, decorations and art supplies. You may want a workbench, but for crafts or mechanics? And then there is the look of the garage cabinets to consider as well.

For garage flooring, how often do you park your cars in at night? Does the oil leak? Does it get wet often? Or is it more of a hang out place for you and your kids? Do you have a work area in the garage? Is there already paint on the floor? Is the garage floor cracked or damaged?

For a garage wall system and accessories, what do you want to store on your garage walls? Bikes, tools, baskets, shelving, hooks, surfboards, car tires, garden tools? Do you want a seamless look or will the peg board or metal grids work for you? Are you walls concrete or wooden studs?

Follow the links for specific details on the quality of each garage product with info on measurements, brands, materials, cost comparisons, warranties and installation.

Here's some advice I have given my clients before I go to visit their homes. I hope this is helpful!

Ok, you’ve figured out what you want to do with your garage and decided to hire a garage renovation company.

You’ve done the research and checked out:

• Better Business Bureau (Rates Businesses from an A+ to F)
• Angie’s List (Personal reviews by homeowners in your area)
  
• Contractor’s State License Board
• Make sure company is licensed, bonded and insured and avoid a world of headaches later! Protect yourself!

Now you’ve called a few companies and set your appointment for a FREE ESTIMATE.

Here's a few things you can do in preparation:

• The more the designer can see in your garage, the less chance for redesign or mistakes during installation. So clear out what you can or expect possible changes in design and/or pricing once production starts.

• Make sure there's room to walk and properly measure the areas you want to create more storage.

• Have an idea what you want the end result to be. (Don't be afraid to be specific!!)
  • I need garage cabinets for suitcases, tools, cleaning supplies and camping gear
  • I want ceiling storage for old files, holiday decorations
  • More electrical outlets for electric tools and a 2nd refrigerator
  • I want to make the garage a play area for my kids
  • I want to create cabinet storage and park both cars in the garage.
  • I need a workbench to do my arts and crafts and fold laundry
  • I need to hang my surfboards

• Have a reasonable idea of what your budget is and add 10% cushion just in case. Your designer should be able to help you design within your budget.

• Best to make sure all homeowners have a clear idea of what is needed!

• For best results, all decision makers should be present during the appointment so all questions can be answered at once.

Here are some things you should expect during your design session:

• The company should confirm your appointment the day before
• Your designer should arrive promptly or call if late or lost
• The Design Session takes up to an hour depending on how many questions you have.
• A professional designer should ask you what you want and what you need in order to create an appropriate design. You're a team!
• Ask them as many questions as you like. They ought to be knowledgeable on product, installation process, company, pricing, timing and competition.
• If they're really good, they'll offer up that info whether you ask or not!
• You should see samples of all the products.
• A design and an estimate are often available during the appointment. Don’t panic! But don’t be surprised if they ask for the sale that day!
• And if not the same day make sure you find out when it will be delivered to you and see if they're good on their word!
• These are all good indications of whether the company is trustworthy or not!

When making your decision consider the following 3 questions:

1. Do you trust the designer / company?
2. Do you like the product and design that you've worked out?
3. Is it affordable?

Feel free to ask me any questions you may have.

Good Luck!

Let me know how it goes! :)

]]> Tue, 07 Jun 2011 06:35:32 +0000 wong-car-garage

All things considered, some of the best ways to organize any garage is with a simple, easily installed slatwall system. It beautifies the garage with a "finished" look, and can add a bit of color to the garage walls without painting (for instance, Garage Envy's Wallscape offers a variety of colors such as Deluxe White, Fog Grey and Hardrock Maple).

The result is a great looking slatwall system! Via the unique but universal tongue-and-groove design, you'll find that storing items in your garage can be neat and practical!

• Want to add shelving instead? No problem!
• Want to get sports gear off the floor or shelves and into their own spot in the garage. With the Sports Rack and Basket, put all the gear into a useful organizer that allows easy access to balls, helmets, bats, skates, you name it!
• Feel the need to store your gardening gear somewhere other than the corner of the garage? Hang a few baskets to hold your trowels, gardening gloves, clippers, and other essential green-thumb items.
• For hanging long handled tools and other gear such as garden hoses, extension cords, etc... there are dozens of hooks designed for just the right job.

It's simple, attractive and useful you will never throw things into the garage again... you'll have a place for all your stuff (as George Carlin would mildly put it) that will be quick and easy to use. Simply put, there's nothing like a slatwall system to clean up a garage and make it feel like a real room again, rather than a scary storage space that you avoid venturing into.

Remember Jay Leno's garage makeover? Did you see that awesome ultimate Sports Fan Garage renovation?

Well the third season of DIY Network's Garage Mahal is even cooler than the second and Garage Envy has worked really hard to out do ourselves!

So rewatch the second season or watch the  new third season!

SEASON 2

SEASON 3

How to Find the Best Garage Cabinets

- Heavy duty to carry tools, tiles, paint cans

- Enclosed box with full back

- Easy to clean

- Low formaldehyde content

- Bear moisture and extreme temps

- Fully adjustable shelving

- European hinges and glides

Cabinet Construction

• Heavy duty core board or MDF (moderate density fiberboard) Avoid the cheap pressboard found in pre-made cabinets.

• ¾” sides and a full ¾” back to prevent warping. (Cabinets are mounted through the back, into the studs.)

• 1” thick shelving with full adjustability

• Keep cabinet widths below 48” (4 feet) in order to avoid bowing (even with 1” shelves) Most garage companies will push the 48’ wides because they don’t have to cut them down or customize them.

• Thermafused melamine coating (internal and external) easy to wipe clean

• Available in White, Grey, Maple, Metallic and Customized Colors

• European hinges and drawer glides (most hardware is made in China where quality control is almost non-existent, but cheap)

• Workbench countertops (Maple butcher block or stainless steel) Only use plastic laminate tops if you don’t use workbench for heavy duty work to save money)

• 
• Common cabinet widths (outside measurements) 24”, 30”, 36”, 48”

• Common cabinet depths (outside measurements) 17”, 24” and sometimes 30” Anything more shallow doesn’t allow much internal storage. Anything deeper is not safe to attach to walls due to the weight.

• Common cabinet heights (outside measurements) 24”, 30” 36”, 60”, 72”, 84” Anything higher makes installation more difficult and possibly dangerous. But you can stack cabinets to get more height.

• Your garage specialist should also be able to create closets as well.

Cabinet Pricing

• At most home supply stores, cabinets are priced per units ranging from $75 up to $500 per depending on garage cabinet length, depth, height, finish and drawers. This DOES NOT include labor or tax!!

• DIY online cabinets vary by price and quality. Find a detailed description of materials and see how difficult the installation will be. Sometimes with shipping and handling, you’re better off going to Home Depot or even hiring a garage specialist.

• Garage specialists and Closet system companies price their cabinets per linear foot. This is the measurement across the front of the cabs. Double the measurement if the cabs’ height is greater than 36”. This price should include labor, materials, warranties and tax but ask your designer. Price Range: $90-170 per linear foot.

In these difficult economic times most people are staying put. No more buying new houses to get that much needed room. Folks are fixing up what they have and searching for the most economical way of achieving that. Needless to say most homeowners will try to do it themselves and save some money. But when does DIY become more costly than going pro?

Here's some advice I have given my friends and clients when they are debating on whether to DIY or hire a professional.

So let's say you need more storage in your house and the only other place you can store all those holiday decorations, sports equipment and your gardening tools is the garage. You will probably need cabinets, some sort of peg board or wall system, maybe some overhead ceiling racks... Once you decide want to do with your garage, ask yourself the following questions:

• Does the job require electrical wiring?
• Am I an electrician?
• Does it require plumbing?
• Does it require concrete?
• Is it something high up that would require ladder work or more than 1 person?
• Will the makeover take more time than you have to spare?

If you answered "YES" to any of these you may seriously want to consider hiring a professional to save yourself, time and backache! Also your contractor should be licensed, bonded and insured just in case something does happen when working on your electrical or plumbing. And they should be up to date on all the code requirements and permits you may need to perform the work properly.

How to Find a Reliable Contractor - It's Research Time!

• Check out their website. Is it professional? Are there testimonials? Photos?
• Better Business Bureau (Rates Businesses from an A+ to F)
• Angie’s List (Personal reviews by homeowners in your area)
  
• Contractor’s State License Board
• Make sure company is licensed, bonded and insured and avoid a world of headaches later! Protect yourself!

Now call a few companies that pass these initial requirements and set your appointment for a FREE ESTIMATE.

Good Luck!!

See if you can spot Garage Envy's own garage expert and owner, Jaime Dietenhofer. (He also happens to be the owner of Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company whose Fine Craft Beer Selection is also available for sampling here at the Showcase!

Come visit us in our Carriage House (Garage) and see how modern day meets the late 1920's! Most of the decorative pieces and accents were found on the property! And take a look at the original floors returned to their former glory! (Oh, and ask one of our garage experts what the little door in the loft is for!!)

This is the last week you can go and see the Showcase until next year.

So park at the Rose Bowl and the shuttle will take you directly to the property. Enjoy the Southern California weather, walk around the grounds, shop, browse and enjoy this beautiful historic restoration!

We look forward to seeing you out there!

Remember Jay Leno's garage makeover?  Did you see that awesome ultimate Sports Fan Garage renovation?

Well the third season of DIY Network's Garage Mahal is even cooler than the second and Garage Envy has worked really hard to out do ourselves!

So if you'd like to rewatch the second season or catch up on the new third season before the last few episodes air.

Don't miss the last 3 episodes:

May 15, 5:30 pm

Recording Studio Garage

May 22, 5:30 pm

Golf/Motorcycle Garage

May 29, 5:30 pm

Mixed Martial Arts Garage

SEASON 2

SEASON 3

Welcome to Garage Envy, Inc., a Los Angeles firm and proud ASID LA member! We are proud to have recently participated in the design and creation of the First Certified Green Garage in the U.S!

One of our primary missions has been to introduce eco-friendly building technologies into our industry and everyday business practices, from energy efficient products, to materials that are safe for our families and our environment.

Recently recognized as the leader of the Green Garage mission, we were proud to be selected to participate in the first LEED Platinum home in the San Fernando Valley, and one of the very few in the country.

LEED certification stands for The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™. LEED, created by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices through the creation and implementation of universally understood and accepted tools and performance criteria. The Platinum rating is the highest rating of LEED.

Our Garage Envy Green Garage is equipped with:

• Energy efficient lighting
  
• Non-toxic and environmentally friendly paints
  
• Bench tops made of sustainable products
  
• European style cabinets made of wheat board
  
• Custom bamboo doors
  
• Flooring with zero VOC (volatile organic compounds) materials

ASID members and the public will be able to view the Garage Envy Green Garage as well as the many other design features of this LEED Platinum certified home in Studio City, in October. Information and exact open house dates will be made available on ASID. For more information please visit www.GarageEnvy.com or call 888.249.1766. You can also read about us in this month's Garage Style Magazine, Summer 2009 edition.

We made the LA Times!

Check out the L.A. At Home Section for mentions of yours truly!

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/home_blog/2011/04/pasadena-showcase-house.html

We're super excited!  See you all in Pasadena this month.

April 17 - May 15th, 2011.

From April 17 - May 15th, 2011, The Pasadena Showcase will be open for our viewing pleasure.

Please join Garage Envy, your local garage experts and many other talented landscapers, designers and builders in Pasadena to view the beautiful historic restoration of building and grounds.

This year, the Pasadena Showcase of Design will feature greening the garage space with garage designer to the stars Garage Envy. Ed Begley Jr. is one of Garage Envy’s clients.

Begley Jr. spoke to the Pasadena Showcase of Design, giving his thoughts on how existing, older homes can be made more sustainable.

“The one thing I like about the Pasadena Showcase house is that they’re doing as much repurposing as possible–saving as much timber and brick and stone and tile and everything and not putting it in a landfill,” Begley says in the video.

“Oh, we’re going to put up a new energy efficient home,” Begley says of the builders who aim to go green but may be wasting much in the process. “Ok, that’s good on one end that you have an energy efficient home, but how did you get there? What kind of materials did you waste in the process?”

The Pasadena Showcase House of Design is open from April 17-May 15, 2011.

Oh my God!!! The next time you go outside and look at your garage and bemoan how small it is...

"I can barely fit 2 cars in here!"

"I need more space!"

"I can't stand to be in here, I can barely walk around!"

Check this out...

o Visually different from ANY other system available.

o HD galvanized metal wall frame allows cabinets & all other NEOS modules to be moved and relocated as often as required. "CHAMELEON" is derived from NEOS being adaptable to any environment.

o Heavy duty metal construction of all components like double walled doors, Blum hinges, roller glide slides for all drawers and pull out shelves.

o Not an off the shelf product. Every job is customized to fit exactly the measurements of the customer's needs / requirements.

o Painted steel wall panels are visually nice to look at, but the main purpose is to be able to insert and attach wall modules as required to functionality increase storage space. They also hide items like pipes, damaged drywall or concrete. This will also make alignment consistent of below and above cabinets.

o Sold by a leading custom garage company based in L.A (Garage Envy).

o Currently installed in several high end automotive dealerships like BMW, MB, Ferrari, Toyota, Honda and many more across Canada. Also recently installed at Orange County Choppers in NY for the T.V series 'American Chopper' & at the owner 'Paul Sr.' home garage.

o The industrial design firm that helped Nelson develop NEOS spent 6 months consulting with automotive owners, service managers and technicians.

o All painted surfaces are powder coated with a textured finish to help reduce scuffs and scrapes and visually hide any small fabrication imperfections.

o Nelson Industrial Inc. is all about the detail of its products and the way that's it sold to offer the best possible solution available to its customers.

Epoxy Floors

(Available at Home Improvement Store-DIY or Store Subcontractor)
Cost: $109 + tax for 2 ½ Car Garage (approximately 500 square feet coverage)

My Review: These floors give “Epoxy” a bad name. But it’s cheap! Yeah, it’s cheap! Almost 75% of the floors I’ve been out to fix were these DIY floors from a can. Most were less than a year old and already the car tires were pulling up the coating, pealing, showing stains and leaving skid marks. The solid color floor always shows more dirt and debris than a speckled one. Could not find warranty information online.

Liquid Granite Floor

(Available through Garage Floor Professional only)

Cost: Starting at $4.50/sq.ft (2 car garage = $1,800) includes labor, material, tax and lifetime warranty

My Review: Also called Hybrid Polymer or Epoxy Flooring, this is the best type of flooring for your garage if you park cars in it, play in it or want a seamless surface impervious to oil, transmission fluids, etc. Liquid beads up and you can wipe it up or hose down your garage. It’s a permanent finish that will raise the value of your property should you ever resell. It’s a 4-5 layer process only done by a professional. And it has to be done right!  Ask your installer about VOC Vapors as well.  There should be practically none!

The Process
1. Homeowner must clear all personal belongings off the floors. Some companies will do this at an extra cost. Flooring specialist can work around existing cabinet but if you want the flooring under refrigerators, laundry units, tell your designer. Please note that if it’s too windy or rainy, the job may be postponed.

2. Your floor pro MUST PREP the floor! First off, if you already have paint or rustoleum on your floor, it has to be removed. Then the contractor has to diamond grind your concrete. This is done with a machine that looks like a big floor buffer with a bag attached to collect the dust. It roughens the floor up and opens the pores so that the liquid layers seep in, harden and bite down so you don’t have that peeling problem. WARNING! Beware anyone that offers to ACID ETCH your floor! It is illegal to hose this off into our California storm drains because of the environmental damage. Contractors caught doing this can be fined $10,000!! It will also stain your driveway.  Plus the floor remains smooth and you know what happens when you glue something onto a smooth surface…no stick!

3. Garage floor crack repair. Your garage designer should be able to assess floor damage as minor or major and if there are additional costs involved.  Also  keep an eye out for moisture damage.  (Often leaves white ring stains on the floor)  This could cause your new floors to bubble up in the future if not treated properly.)

4. The first layer should be an alkali moisture barrier. This keeps the moisture from the earth from coming up into the garage.

5. A layer of epoxy (if not mixed with the moisture barrier) is added.

6. Piles of vinyl chips are hand distributed to fully cover your entire garage.

7. Next day the excess is scraped off and sanded vertically and horizontally. What’s left is a textured “no skid” surface.

8. Impervious, UV clear coat is applied and left to dry. Garage door needs to be kept open for 6 hours to allow drying (depending on weather). Sometimes a smell is added so that when it dissipates, you know it’s dry.

9. Process takes 2-3 days and approximately 48 hours to dry. Some companies say 24 hours to dry that means the material dries faster during application and they may have less control.

10. Keep cars out of the garage until the drying process is over.

Stained Concrete

(Available through Garage or Concrete Specialist only)
Cost: Slightly less than the Liquid Granite Floor costs.
Stained and polished concrete can be absolutely beautiful! But staining concrete is like staining wood. You never know quite what it’s going to look like until it’s done. It depends on several things: grade of concrete, was it poured in parts or all at once, are there existing cracks, how many layers of stain do you want applied?? Have your floor specialist apply a little stain on a corner of your garage floor to get an idea before you start. Upside to this process is that it takes less time in application and drying.

Interlocking Rubber Mats

(Available through Garage Floor Professional , Stores and Online)

Cost: Starting at $3.50/sq.ft (2 car garage = $1,400) includes material, tax and manufacturer’s warranty

My Review: These floors are great in warehouses, play rooms or work areas. They are heavy duty, impervious to oil and car fluids. They add thicker cushioning than the liquid granite floors. They are interlocking 20x20 square puzzle-like pieces that come in several colors. You can create patterns and use your alma mater’s colors. You can install yourself if you have a mallet, some time and enough material. You need the squares, tapered edges and corner pieces. Installation is quicker and no chemicals like the liquid granite. The only drawback is the seams. You cannot hose down the garage without lifting up some tiles to dry out the floor underneath. Just make sure you get the industrial grade, not the ones you can get at Costco!

Paint (DIY)

If you are thinking of doing this, I have one word for you….DON’T!! The only way it’s slightly acceptable is if you never park cars in it and are not planning on selling it ever. Paint lowers the value of the garage. Hot tires will peal up paint like no one’s business!

Pressure Wash and Polish

(DIY or Handyman)

Cost: Simply the cost of renting a pressure washer and a polish kit.

This is a temporary finish that lasts a year or so depending on how you use your garage. Just remember you have to clean the garage every time, rent the pressure washer, etc etc. The downside will depend on how much oil damage and staining have already occurred. If the damage is too great, the pressure wash will be ineffective.

2011 Pasadena Showcase House and Garden Tour

April 17-May 15, 2011

Garage Envy is proud to be chosen as the Exclusive Garage Designer for The Pasadena Showcase and Garden Tour 2011!

An all-volunteer organization, Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts (PSHA) is a non-profit California Corporation whose members donate their time and talents to produce the annual Pasadena Showcase House of Design.  Founded in 1948, and formerly known as The Pasadena Junior Philharmonic Committee, they adopted the Pasadena Showcase House of Design as their annual benefit in 1965. It is one of the oldest, largest and most successful house and garden tours in the nation.

The proceeds from The Pasadena Showcase House of Design and the donations we receive allow them to fund three annual music programs, plus award gifts and grants to other nonprofit organizations that provide musically oriented programs including music therapy, music education, scholarships and the underwriting of concerts.

2011 Showcase House

Renowned architect, Paul Revere Williams, designed this English Country Manor in 1927.  Williams borrowed ideas from the past without using excessive ornamentation and, according to one critic; he was "the last word in elegant traditionalism."  This revered residence remains a celebrated illustration of English Period Revival at its best.

FormLA Landscaping looks forward to designing and building the Wanderland Tea Garden for the 2011 Pasadena Showcase House of Design.

Anchored by a giant oak and visible through the living room window, the strolling garden is equal parts through fare and destination. Meandering paths will connect the English Manor's rear courtyard garden, pool, and sports courts. Yet, there will be plenty of reason to stop and smell the proverbial roses. Striking, variable plant life will burst from the slope, inviting examination. A secluded seating area between the home and the pool will invite travelers to slow their pace or stay to take in the view of the surrounding landscape. Mood lighting will draw strollers through the space, highlighting focal points, and ensuring pathway safety well into the twilight hours.

Save the date... and keep your Jane Austen handy. After all "To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment."

TICKET TIMES

Tickets are available for House entry beginning on the quarter hour (9:00, 9:15, etc.) as follows:

• Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.

Showcase is closed on Mondays

TICKET PRICES

Prime Time:  $35 in advance/$40 at the door (subject to availability)

• Saturday and Sunday:  9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
• Tuesday through Friday:  9:00 a.m.-1:45 p.m.

Weekday Matinee:  $30 in advance/$35 at the door (subject to availability)

• Tuesdays:  2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
• Wednesday through Friday:  2:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m.

Join Garage Envy and Garage Mahal's host, Bill Goldberg join Adam Carolla's Web Radio Show "Car Cast".

Jaime Dietenhofer and Bill will be talking about our new exclusive metal cabinet line The Goldberg Series.

Stay Tuned this Wednesday, February 9, 2011.

At last, An Extraordinary, Flexible, Quality Storage System That Can Take What Life Has In Store.

This is what you have been waiting for.

It’s no longer just a “catch-all” for all of the unwanted items in your home. Your garage holds the promise of becoming so much more. With the wildly reconfigurable GOLDBERG storage system, you’ll have the ability to easily transform your existing space. You can now reclaim your garage with a premier cabinetry system designed specifically for homeowners and owners of recreational properties. For those interested in creating a space that’s not only functional but super comfortable to spend time in, the time has come. Whether a space for your hobbies, a place to hang with your friends or a sweet escape, the GOLDBERG systems by Garage Envy is the place to start.

You’ve work hard to get to where you’re at today. Talk to the Garage Experts to learn more about making your down time really enjoyable.

GOLDBERG skillfully and artfully tackles and accommodates those challenging storage dilemmas. We’ll work closely with you to detail your needs and outline your wants. We’ll then dovetail your requirements with a wide variety of attractive accessories that will shape your space to make it your own.

Here are just a few of the system modules to consider:

• Tool box
• Flat screen mounting system
• Perforated wall panels for in-wall speakers
• Wide variety of super durable and functional storage cabinets
• Hanging devices for the cabinets and garage wall
• Electric heater module
• Sink module
• Fridge module
• Hose reel cabinet
• Painted steel or stainless steel work surfaces
• In wall kegerator
• IPod Docking Station
• Specialized Lighting Options

Garage Mahal Construction

Our Warehouse Gets A Hollywood Makeover

This photo was taken the day after construction ceased. The hydraulic lifts are now occupied with magazine projects, and although the place looks huge, it's stuffed with cars that need working on, which is a good thing.

HOT ROD magazine is staffed by guys who really do work on cars. Much of the time, we wrench in our own garages and sometimes on the street when we have no place else to go. Thanks to the relocation of our office to a nice, big building with a decent-size warehouse, we now have a spot to thrash on projects that is arguably too nice for us to abuse. This is because the folks from the television show Garage Mahal, including host Bill Goldberg, transformed our plain warehouse into a shop fit for a fabricating king.

Over the course of five days, lead designer Jaime Dietenhofer and the crew installed new cabinets, flooring, toolboxes, hydraulic lifts, tools, and a totally unnecessary but cool nonetheless lounge area, complete with flat-screen televisions and a bar. It gets more outrageous: Famed painter Mike Lavallee and Bodie Stroud of BS Industries were on hand to lend their talents to the project so none of the additions were installed in stock form. In the end, the warehouse became a real shop, albeit one that's nicer than we really deserve, and we're waiting to blast the first staffer from one of the other magazines to christen the floor with ATF before we break in the shop properly with one of our own projects.

If you'd like an even better look at our new digs, tune in to the DIY Network at 8:30 p.m. Eastern December 17, 2010.

To Read the full article with PHOTOS click here...

Garage Envy

This famous car auction attracts over 200,000 visitors annually worldwide, resulting in a more than $90 million impact on the local economy (not including automobile sales), and raising millions of dollars for local charities.

Garage Envy will be there unveiling their new exclusive, top-of-the-line metal garage cabinets dubbed "The Goldberg Series" in honor of Bill Goldberg, host of DIY Network's Garage Mahal.  Garage Envy is entering their second season with Mr. Goldberg designing and renovating themed garage makeovers for such celebs as Jay Leno, Ed Begley Jr and pro NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne.

Bill Goldberg will also be hanging out with Garage Envy at Barrett-Jacksons to sign autographs from Thursday, January 20th - Saturday, January 22nd from 1pm-2pm daily.  See schedule for details. You can also follow Bill and Garage Envy in real time on Twitter.

"This year’s auction has a diverse group of cars set to cross the block. None more spectacular however, than a couple of high-profile, resto-mod (highly customized older collector cars with modern-day amenities and power train) consignments set for prime time. Lot 1286, a 1971 Plymouth Barracuda known as ‘Frankencuda,’ is a wild black-and-green 2010 SEMA, Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour show car replete with a 626 Hemi engine. This machine is featured in the upcoming Fast Five movie (the fifth installment of The Fast and The Furious franchise)."

Some other festivities at Barrett-Jackson:

• Seven mile Road Rally, Saturday, Jan. 15
• “Barrett-Jackson Night” car show, ticket sales and giveaways
• Annual “Drive the Dream” charity gala, Saturday, Jan. 15
• Family Value Day benefiting COX Charities
• Official, invitation-only Opening Night Gala, Monday, Jan. 17.

On an important historical note, the 1963 Pontiac Bonneville ambulance (Lot #1277) which carried John F. Kennedy’s casket from Air Force One, after his assassination in Dallas will sell at No Reserve.  (View vehicle documentation.)

Barrett-Jackson will have over 40 hours of live coverage on SPEED Network starting on starting Tuesday, Jan. 18 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.  Live online streaming coverage will also be available for viewing and bidding.

Come visit you favorite Garage Experts in Scottsdale and let us help you organize your garage!

Mike and Emily Price have a serious passion for racing. Their love of the sport has made them want to create a space for family and friends to come share the racing action on-screen. Bill Goldberg and The Garage Mahal team will transform this family's "organized chaos" into the ultimate racing garage complete with custom built grandstand seating, a state-of-the-art retractable screen, and one of a kind memorabilia hand delivered by racing legends.

Join pro NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne and the Garage Mahal team as we outfit a garage for extreme race fans!

Equipped with grandstand seating, food/snack bar, tv and surround sound, race inspired flooring and actual parts from Kasey’s car,  Jaime Dietenhofer from Garage Envy along with the build team transforms the garage from a mess to a masterpiece.

A Green Garage is the Name of the Game!

Ed Begley Jr. gives us a personal tour of his garage and more specifically his historic RAV-4 plug-in car.

But take a look at that good looking garage!

So guess who renovated Ed's Eco-Friendly green garage? Yup, yours truly!

So just in case you're interested in all the green materials we used, check out the following:

• FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) Wood used for ceiling lofts and slatwall system
• Eco Soy Stained floors and Concrete Polishing
• Bamboo Cabinetry
• Recycled Limestone Countertops
• Zero % VOC Paints
• LED Lighting

Give us a call if you would like to see about making your garage green!

(818) 767-9870

Every 1^st Friday of the Month!

Family Classic Cars' Classic Car Party with wine, food and music. 6 to 9pm.

A design representative from Garage Envy is there every First Friday from 12 to 9pm in our showroom displaying our products and answering all you questions. Bring your garage measurements and let’s make over your garage with efficient storage solutions and beautiful flooring ideas!

Where:

33033 Camino Capistrano

San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

(866) 906-4879 - (949) 496-3000

Any other day please call us for a private tour of our showroom!

Or for a FREE ESTIMATE call (818) 767-9870

Get a load of these Before and After photos!

"A Seaside Celebration of the Automotive Pursuit"

Featuring 200 World-Class Motorcars

Open to the Public

(Benefiting The Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation)

September 11 - 12, 2010

Garage Envy "the garage experts", will be at the 7th Annual Coastline Car Classic on Sunday September 12, 2010. We will be featuring our Custom Quality Cabinets and helpful organizational products! Our Orange County Designers will be there to answer and discuss your garage ideas, and renovations!

This is a seaside celebration of the Automotive Pursuit.

• Featuring 150 world Class Motorcars.
• Live Entertainment
• VIP Hospitality
• Public Beach Access for the day
• Food and Beverages
• Vehicle Awards Presentation
• Unique Vendor Exhibits
• FUN FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY!

LOCATED IN THE BIG CORONA DEL MAR STATE BEACH PARKING LOT. See You There!!

***

Want to see more of Garage Envy? Visit our Newly Renovated Showroom at:

Family Classics Cars
33033 Camino Capistrano
San Juan Capistrano, Ca. 92675
888-249-1766

(By Appointment Only)

We have lots to show you!

• Our new line of Photo Quality resin based cabinets. (See Photo Below) Glassed into the doors, photos of any nature even artwork can be featured across your cabinets.
• Heavy Duty Cabinets (Brushed Aluminum, White, Grey, Maple and Custom Color Finishes)
• Affordable Stainless Steel Cabinet Line - Available on our Online Shop!
• Concrete Hybrid Polymer and Rubber Tile Flooring samples and display (See the floors laid out)
• Wallscape and Accessories display and organizational ideas. (Use the wall space to hang sports, gardening, parking hooks and baskets)
  

Every first Friday of the Month from 5 to 9pm there is an event with live music, food, drinks and a unique display showing one of one of a kind exquisite refurbished vintage cars!

Please come visit the Garage Envy Showroom on this fun night! Our Designer is there to help you create the garage of your dreams and “Master the Mess”

The showroom is open by appointment only. Ring us to set a one on one personalized consultation with our Orange County designer to discuss your complete garage renovation ideas.

Transform your garage in to an exciting new room!

Garage Envy is a “Full Service Garage Improvement Company” Providing you with Heavy Duty Cabinets, Wall Organization, Concrete Coatings, Storage, Lighting and General Construction.

Family Classics Cars
33033 Camino Capistrano
San Juan Capistrano, Ca. 92675
888-249-1766
(Off the 5 Fwy)

A man's home may be his castle, but usually, his wife lives there too. So when Jay finally decided to give the garage attached to his house a total makeover, he called in the big guns: Jaime Dietenhofer and Scott Siler of Garage Envy. Now the floor is covered in durable, non-scratch porcelain tile, which wipes clean in a jiffy. Everything else has been organized and hidden behind solid alder cabinets.

Take Another Look - Watch the Video

http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/segment/jays-other-garage/jays-other-garage-total-makeover/

]]> Wed, 07 Jul 2010 15:47:32 +0000 wong-car-garage And just in time for the FIFA World Cup Finals!! What better place to hang with your mates without having to battle traffic or deal with parking??

Sam and Melinda have recently moved to Los Angeles. Sam is from England and while he loves the LA weather, he misses hanging out with his mates at the local pub. Bill Goldberg and the Garage Mahal team turn this garage into the most unique pub anyone has seen on either side of the pond. This pub features a bar made from scratch, a river rock fireplace and hidden storage.

Stay tuned in for great DIY ideas and amazing garage makeovers with the garage experts!

]]> Tue, 06 Jul 2010 06:22:35 +0000 wong-car-garage

Can't stand to open that garage door?

Afraid the neighbors might think your house lacks curb appeal?

Here's a great article "7 Sins of Garage Disorganization" found on UrbanDaddies.com about how your garage became that room that you have to apologize for before opening the door.

Now granted this is specific to Canadian garages but we think the information is pertinent in the USA as well.

With internet marketing, social media and telecommuting on the rise, more of us need to have the space in our home for that office away from the office. In other words a home office. But if you're like most, space is a real challenge. So how about using the garage? 400 square feet of office space! How cool is that?

Join us this Friday when DIY's Garage Mahal and the Garage Envy experts makeover their next garage into the perfect work space for our clients Jarett and Tien.

Jarrett and Tien Brunelle have a common problem, they want a home office but don't have extra room and their garage is nothing more than a storage bin. Goldberg and the Garage Mahal team transform this wasted space into a modern work oasis. Projects include a custom two person desk connected to a wrap around counter and storage system, a loft to make use of the high ceiling, and a comfortable meeting area.

Jon "Fish" Fisher is one of the founders of the Burbank Choppers and is an avid collector of hot rods. He tries to restore the cars in his garage but it's so filled with junk, there is barely room to walk. With the help of Bill Goldberg and the Garage Mahal team, this cluttered space becomes the ultimate hot rod garage, complete with do it yourself built in cabinets, easy to install flooring and custom paint and pin stripping.

Bill is a comedy writer who is surrounded by women: his wife and two daughters. Like most guys, he wants a place where he can hang out with his buddies, watch sports and unwind. Bill Goldberg and the Garage Mahal team build the ultimate game room complete with a living room to watch all the games, a pool table that converts into a ping-pong table and a work area that any DIYer would love.

New episodes of Garage Mahal, hosted by Bill Goldberg, air every Friday 9:30/8:30c

Calling All Gamers!!

Bob is a video game reviewer who works at home. He needs a place where he can work, play, and be as loud as he wants without driving his family crazy. Bill Goldberg and the Garage Mahal team transform Bob's garage into a classic arcade with do-it-yourself soundproofing, camouflaged appliances and a custom made arcade console.

This week's episode of Garage Mahal is going to be a Video Gamer's Dream!

• Diamond Plate Walls
• Race Deck with a Diamond Plate Metal Floor
• Sound proofing is also very important
• Display cases with glass shelving
• A Washer/ Dryer Enclosure with Stainless Steel Counter Tops

But most importantly would be the custom built ultimate gaming chair tricked out with games, sound system etc! They've even thrown in an old arcade style machine that has Bill Goldberg's wrestling video game as one of the many choices!

Catch the next episode of Garage Mahal, Friday Night on the DIY Network 9:30pm/8:30C

A man's home may be his castle, but usually, his wife lives there too. So when Jay finally decided to give the garage attached to his house a total makeover, he called in the big guns: Jaime Dietenhofer and Scott Siler of Garage Envy. Now the floor is covered in durable, non-scratch porcelain tile, which wipes clean in a jiffy. Everything else has been organized and hidden behind solid alder cabinets.

Watch the Video

http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/segment/jays-other-garage/jays-other-garage-total-makeover/

]]> Tue, 04 May 2010 14:42:07 +0000 wong-car-garage

San Diego 6 TV interviews Garage Envy's Brooke Dahlgren about Garage Envy's remodeling services and the exciting projects we've been working in with the DIY Network's Garage Mahal. See some of the before and after images and hear about what went into renovating Jay Leno's garage.

Watch the Full Episode Online Now

Ok, Garage Mahal's Season opener featuring Jay Leno's personal garage is done but we've been getting a lot of inquiries:

• What products did you use?
• Where can I get them?
• How much do they cost?

So we thought we'd put together a short list of some of the materials that Jay and a lot of our clients often purchase for the organization of their garage. And if you missed the first episode you can watch it below or watch re0runs on the DIY Network.

Laser Parking Aide

Cost: $20.95

http://www.garageenvyshop.com/garage-laser-park.aspx

Park your car in the garage in the exact right spot every time!

• Laser shines onto your vehicle to precisely guide you to the correct spot.
• Helps prevent damage to your car and your garage from faulty parking.
• Installs easily. Simply attach to your garage ceiling with included hook-&-loop tape or screws.
• Automatically activates when your vehicle enters the garage.
• Powered by included 110 Volt AC adapter.
• No wiring necessary
• Unit Dimensions: 7.75" x 8.75" x 2.25"

Storage Accessories (Paper Towel Holder)

Cost: $7.04
Cost for Episode: $21.12

http://www.garageenvyshop.com/papertowelholder.aspx

Paper Towel Holder / Black / Convenient
This handy Paper Towel Holder is the perfect slatwall accessory for keeping an organized garage neat and tidy.

Place in a convenient location on the Wallscape slatwall, using the universal tongue and groove design, for quick and easy clean up of messy spills.

Workbenches

Cost: $464
Cost per episode: $2800

http://www.garageenvyshop.com/workbench_garage.aspx

• Heavy-duty steel frame workbench
• Steel or premium hardwood worksurface
• Premium 1 1/4" finished oak with rounded edges for a smooth, durable surface
• 34" fixed or adjustable work heights
• Bench Sizes: 30"x60" , or 30"x72"
• Blue or Gray powder-coated finish.
• Item Shown: Steel Top, Gray, 30"x60", and Adjustable Height

Cabinetry

Cost: $480
Cost for Episode: $8,000

http://www.garageenvyshop.com/cabinets.aspx

Polyurethane Coated Doors and Drawer Fronts in Metallic Silver Finish - Textured PVC Grey laminate over 3/4" MDF Cabinet Construction - Full extension Ball bearing Drawer Glides - 1" Fully Wrapped Edge Banded High Load Shelves - 6" Adjustable Feet and Casters - Full Line Bore Inside Cabinets for Infinite Shelf Adjustability - Base Cabinets Include Recessed Work Top Surface - Designer Quality 20mm Thick Handles/Pulls - Euro Adjustable Hinges - Radius Cabinet Profile - Much More.

Flooring

Cost: $125.11
Cost for Episode: $2500

http://www.garageenvyshop.com/flooring.aspx

EASY DO-IT-YOURSELF GARAGE FLOORING KITS:

Garage Envy’s Epoxy-Polyurethane solid color flooring system packaged in 250 sq. ft. kits for easy ordering.

Multiple floor colors available.

Coverage: 1 kit = 1 car garage = 250 sq/ft

Custom Work

http://www.garageenvyshop.com/premium-installed-products.aspx

Cost: Variable
Costs for Episode: $2400

Tile Work
Wood Working
Finish Work

Auto Accessories

http://www.garageenvyshop.com/autoaccessories.aspx

Cost: $41.95
Cost per Episode: $167.80

Wheel Hanger

Mounted to garage wall, the Wheel Hanger makes an excellent accessory for your garage. The heavy duty hanger keeps wheels easily accessible, and a great space saver for any garage.

Watch the Full Episode Online Now

The Museum of Science and Industry houses Chicago's greenest home as part of their Smart Home: Green + Wired exhibit. Bill Goldberg and the Garage Mahal team are brought in to make the garage as cool as the home. A workbench tricked out with energy efficient tools, a recycling center you can build at home, and a system to convert cooking oil into fuel are just a few of the incredible builds going into the space. The team even gets a hand from eco-friendly guru Ed Begley, Jr (see his own garage on video below.)

Air Dates:
April 23, 2010 9:30 PM e/p

April 23, 2010 12:30 AM e/p

April 24, 2010 5:00 PM e/p

May 07, 2010 9:30 PM e/p

May 07, 2010 12:30 AM e/p

May 15, 2010 5:00 PM e/p

May 25, 2010 6:00 PM e/p

So how do you follow up performing a full renovation makeover on Jay Leno's garage? Create the ultimate casino in your garage! Jaime, Bill Goldberg and the crew at Garage Mahal bring you their next theme garage, CASINOS.

Chris and his finance Cheri recently moved into their first home. Chris hosts weekly poker parties in his garage but it's sadly equipped with a cheap poker table and folding chairs. Goldberg and the Garage Mahal team transform this garage into Chris's own personal casino with pieces straight out of Vegas.

Check out the slick black cabinets / entertainment center and the cool directional lighting. We even created a false floor 2-level platform and bar area....

Ok, guess you're going to have to tune in to see exactly what I'm talking about. We even drove to Las Vegas, grabbed all the casino equipment we could get our hands on to trick out this garage!

Here's the schedule and re-air dates.

• April 16, 20109:30 PM e/p
• April 16, 201012:30 AM EST
• April 24, 20105:30 PM e/p
• May 08, 20105:30 PM e/p
• May 15, 20105:30 PM e/p
• May 24, 20106:00 PM e/p

And if you missed the 1- hour Season Premier of Garage Mahal with Jay Leno, it re-airs this Saturday, April 17 at 2PM PST.

For more information on garage makeovers or if you're in the SoCal area and want a FREE ESTIMATE for your garage go to

http://garageenvy.com/

Patrick Dempsey (Grey's Anatomy's "McDreamy") will be competing in the World Challenge race here on Sunday afternoon, which follows the main race, the IZOD Indy Car Series race.

The 36th annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, the fourth race of the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series takes place this week, with festivities running from Wednesday to Sunday as cars of all shapes and sizes tear through the streets of downtown Long Beach.

The Long Beach Grand Prix, features auto racing stars including defending champion Dario Franchitti, Danica Patrick, three-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves and more. A full weekend of racing action and fun includes American Le Mans Series and Firestone Indy Lights races, the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race, a concert featuring rock legends Cheap Trick and more. Thousands will converge on our quaint little ocean town for an event that many drivers say is the second most thrilling race in America, behind only the Indianapolis 500.

Garage Envy will be there with our trailer (#1118) with a live race feed enjoying the festivities!

For Official Ticket Information click here.

We also found a discount ticket resource which is offering discounts on 3-day passes and all day passes. Offer ends April 15, 2010. Have no idea what availability will be, but let us know if it works! Goldstar

The featured race of the event is Sunday afternoon’s IZOD IndyCar Series event, which features an international field of world-class drivers expected to include: Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves, 2009 Long Beach winner and Series champion Dario Franchitti, Danica Patrick, Marco Andretti and Scott Dixon.

Five other racing events will be run:

Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race: The 34th edition of this fan favorite race features stars from the sports and entertainment worlds battling professional drivers in
identically prepared Scion tCs. Keanu Reeves returns to defend his 2009 win along with 18 other celebrities and pros.

Tequila Patrón American Le Mans Series at Long Beach race: This race features the most technically advanced sports cars in competition. In addition, teams compete in a “Green Challenge” to determine which cars had the best overall performance while being most fuel efficient.

Firestone Indy Lights: Young drivers tackle the Long Beach race circuit in this exciting preview of open-wheel racing’s future stars.

Long Beach Team Drifting Challenge: Formula Drift, the hottest new form of motorsports, returns to the Long Beach streets with drivers sliding sideways through the tight turns of the 1.97-mile race circuit. Drivers expected to include Rhys Millen, Samuel Hubinette and Vaughn Gittin Jr. Competitors will run in teams of three.

SCCA Pro World Challenge Championships: Race-prepared sports cars from famous marques like Audi, Corvette, Dodge Viper, Ford Mustang, Lamborghini, Nissan 350Z, Porsche and Subaru battle fender-to-fender.

There are also many other events to keep fans busy including free concerts featuring Molotov and Maldita Vecindad, and Cheap Trick; the Tecate Miss Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach pageant; and the Green Power Prix-View, which features weekend-long displays of alternative energy vehicles and a wide variety of renewable energy sources, water and energy conservation and green building materials.

A full weekend schedule can be found on the Grand Prix of Long Beach website.

We've got BEFORE and AFTER photos of Jay's Garage Makeover!

Check out our new Flickr Account!

Become a Fan on Facebook!

Shop Online!

DIY Network's Garage Mahal 1 Hour - Season Premier Airs TONIGHT, 9pm EST and 6pm PST.

Seems DIY Network's Garage Mahal is getting a lot of press! We're so excited!

LA's Daily News' writes "In the Garage There's a Place for Everything"

Jay Leno stands in the spacious garage of his English Tudor-style mansion, surrounded by junk. There are piles of clothing, broken-down furniture and memorabilia.

"I've been trying to clean it up a little bit but, as you can see, it needs, well, it needs a lot," says "The Tonight Show" host beloved for his everyman persona, during the second-season premiere of "Garage Mahal."

Read More...

And Jay Leno is just the first Celebrity Makeover Garage Envy and Garage Mahal will tackle! Actor, Scott Bailey, who shares a 1925 Spanish-style home in the hills of Studio City with his fiancee, actress Adrienne Frantz of "The Young and the Restless" will also enjoy the magic of a Garage Mahal remodel!

Stay Tuned on June 4th for the fun!

http://garageenvy.com/

Check out Garage Envy's Jaime Dietenhofer hangin' with Bill Goldberg and Jay Leno!

Those are some crazy "Before" images Jay!

Watch ET's Sneak Preview of DIY Network's Garage Mahal's 1 hour Season Premier!

Goldberg and his "Garage Mahal" team sets out to transform Jay's six-car, three-room space into an incredible masterpiece: Unbelievable "his" and "hers" garages complete with technology straight out of a James Bond film!

Airs this Friday, April 9th 9PM EST, 6PM PST on the DIY Network

Stay Tuned for more details on the remodeling process, materials and products!

If you have trouble viewing this video, click on this link:

http://www.etonline.com/news/2010/04/85510/index.html

http://garageenvy.com/

New Season of Garage Mahal Hosted by Bill Goldberg Premieres with a

One-Hour Special Featuring Jay Leno: Friday, April 9 at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT

So you can guess just how excited we are over here at Garage Envy! Our co-owner Jaime Dietenhofer is the lead designer/contractor on this season's celebrity garage makeovers! And on April 9th the DIY Network airs the season premiere of Garage Mahal!

If you think your garage couldn't possibly ever be the greatest room in your house, think again. DIY Network's series Garage Mahal transforms disorganized garages into spectacular living spaces. Former NFL player, pro wrestler and car buff Bill Goldberg hosts the new season of Garage Mahal, which features unbelievable garage makeovers like a video gamer's paradise or a motocross garage complete with half-pipes that store extra tires.

So tune in and join us Friday April 9th for the season premiere and unveiling of Jay Leno's Garage!

Garage Mahal - DIY Network

Host -Bill Goldberg

Designer/ Contractor - Jaime Dietenhofer
http://garageenvy.com/

Be one of the first 50 in the door to take advantage of wholesale prices to the public!

Become a Fan on FaceBook!

Come Visit Garage Envy's Full Showroom Trailer!

Garage Cabinets, Flooring Options, Wall Storage,

Wall Accessories, Ceiling Storage...

Where: Seaside Park, Ventura County Fairgrounds

When: This weekend - March 19, 20, 21, 2010

Time:

Friday noon-6PM

Saturday 10AM-6PM

Sunday 10AM-6PM

What:

Also find stuff for the Outdoors and Indoors for your home.

Landscaping, Pools, Spas, Furniture,

Remodeling, Cabinetry, Windows & Shutters

Admission: $5 and Kids 12 and under are FREE! ($2 Coupon at http://www.capitalshowcase.com/ventura.html)

You've followed us from the beginning! Who in San Diego is going to win the San Diego 6 TV and Garage Envy's "Messiest Garage" Contest? You watched the big reveal of the winner and now here is the job all finished!

Check out the video!

Meet our winners Patty, Jeff and their 3 girls. See how their garage was renovated and organized to give everyone in the family a space of their own, creating a garage into another internal living space.

Congratulations!

Do you want to transform your garage? If you're in San Diego, Los Angeles or Central Coast, Garage Envy is waiting to hear from you! Give them a call!

Mention this contest and receive 15% off !! (Offer ends March 31, 2010)

(888) 248-8544

Epoxy Floors

(Available at Home Improvement Store-DIY or Store Subcontractor)
Cost: $109 + tax for 2 ½ Car Garage (approximately 500 square feet coverage)

My Review: These floors give “Epoxy” a bad name. But it’s cheap! Yeah, it’s cheap! Almost 75% of the floors I’ve been out to fix were these DIY floors from a can. Most were less than a year old and already the car tires were pulling up the coating, pealing, showing stains and leaving skid marks. The solid color floor always shows more dirt and debris than a speckled one. Could not find warranty information online.

Liquid Granite Floor

(Available through Garage Floor Professional only)

Cost: Starting at $4.50/sq.ft (2 car garage = $1,800) includes labor, material, tax and lifetime warranty

My Review: Also called Hybrid Polymer or Epoxy Flooring, this is the best type of flooring for your garage if you park cars in it, play in it or want a seamless surface impervious to oil, transmission fluids, etc. Liquid beads up and you can wipe it up or hose down your garage. It’s a permanent finish that will raise the value of your property should you ever resell. It’s a 4-5 layer process only done by a professional. And it has to be done right!

The Process
1. Homeowner must clear all personal belongings off the floors. Some companies will do this at an extra cost. Flooring specialist can work around existing cabinet but if you want the flooring under refrigerators, laundry units, tell your designer. Please note that if it’s too windy or rainy, the job may be postponed.

2. Your floor pro MUST PREP the floor! First off, if you already have paint or rustoleum on your floor, it has to be removed. Then the contractor has to diamond grind your concrete. This is done with a machine that looks like a big floor buffer with a bag attached to collect the dust. It roughens the floor up and opens the pores so that the liquid layers seep in, harden and bite down so you don’t have that peeling problem. WARNING! Beware anyone that offers to ACID ETCH your floor! It is illegal to hose this off into our California storm drains because of the environmental damage. Contractors caught doing this can be fined $10,000!! Plus the floor remains smooth and you know what happens when you glue something onto a smooth surface…no stick!

3. Garage floor crack repair. Your garage designer should be able to assess floor damage as minor or major and if there are additional costs involved.

4. The first layer should be an alkali moisture barrier. This keeps the moisture from the earth from coming up into the garage.

5. A layer of epoxy (if not mixed with the moisture barrier) is added.

6. Piles of vinyl chips are hand distributed to fully cover your entire garage.

7. Next day the excess is scraped off and sanded vertically and horizontally. What’s left is a textured “no skid” surface.

8. Impervious, UV clear coat is applied and left to dry. Garage door needs to be kept open for 6 hours to allow drying (depending on weather). Sometimes a smell is added so that when it dissipates, you know it’s dry.

9. Process takes 2-3 days and approximately 48 hours to dry. Some companies say 24 hours to dry that means the material dries faster during application and they may have less control.

10. Keep cars out of the garage until the drying process is over.

Stained Concrete

(Available through Garage or Concrete Specialist only)
Cost: Slightly less than the Liquid Granite Floor costs.
Stained and polished concrete can be absolutely beautiful! But staining concrete is like staining wood. You never know quite what it’s going to look like until it’s done. It depends on several things: grade of concrete, was it poured in parts or all at once, are there existing cracks, how many layers of stain do you want applied?? Have your floor specialist apply a little stain on a corner of your garage floor to get an idea before you start. Upside to this process is that it takes less time in application and drying.

Interlocking Rubber Mats

(Available through Garage Floor Professional , Stores and Online)

Cost: Starting at $3.50/sq.ft (2 car garage = $1,400) includes material, tax and manufacturer’s warranty

My Review: These floors are great in warehouses, play rooms or work areas. They are heavy duty, impervious to oil and car fluids. They add thicker cushioning than the liquid granite floors. They are interlocking 20x20 square puzzle-like pieces that come in several colors. You can create patterns and use your alma mater’s colors. You can install yourself if you have a mallet, some time and enough material. You need the squares, tapered edges and corner pieces. Installation is quicker and no chemicals like the liquid granite. The only drawback is the seams. You cannot hose down the garage without lifting up some tiles to dry out the floor underneath. Just make sure you get the industrial grade, not the ones you can get at Costco!

Paint (DIY)

If you are thinking of doing this, I have one word for you….DON’T!! The only way it’s slightly acceptable is if you never park cars in it and are not planning on selling it ever. Paint lowers the value of the garage. Hot tires will peal up paint like no one’s business!

Pressure Wash and Polish

(DIY or Handyman)

Cost: Simply the cost of renting a pressure washer and a polish kit.

This is a temporary finish that lasts a year or so depending on how you use your garage. Just remember you have to clean the garage every time, rent the pressure washer, etc etc. The downside will depend on how much oil damage and staining have already occurred. If the damage is too great, the pressure wash will be ineffective.

Along with being a full service general contractor, Garage Envy is adding a garage doors to our menu.

Hildebrandt has over 50 years of experience in manufacturing and distributing sectional garage doors. They carry warrantied panel, flush, carriage, aluminum, copper and California Wood doors. Check out there site at http://www.TheBetterDoor.com.

American Custom Lifts Joins Garage Envy

About American Lift Systems, Inc...

American Lift Systems, Inc. (DBA American Custom Lifts) offers the widest variety of hydraulic and mechanical lifts in the world. American Custom Lifts began in 1998 with a prior relationship to Advantage Lifts Systems, Inc., specializing in parallelogram lifts and mobile column lifts. Since then we have diversified to designing and marketing custom design lifts, parking lifts, car lifts, truck lifts, four-post lifts, and two post lifts and motorcycle lifts, motorcycle trailerstrailer lifts and .

Our primary business today is material handling equipment providing a wide source of material handling lifts such as scissor lifts, freight lifts, dock lifts, truck levelers, portable stacker lifts, auto transport lifts, vertical reciprocating conveyors and Automated Parking Systems.

We offer technical assistance and Engineering designs for specialty applications and can produce custom material handling equipment for virtually any industry. Our associates, distributors and representatives have experience in providing custom lift solutions, service and installation for Government agencies, major automobile manufacturers, and other industries such as aerospace, food & drug stores, museums, paper mills, steel mills, department stores and much more.

American Custom Lifts also specializes in the parking lift industry both for commercial and residential applications. We offer the widest selection of American made parking systems, including the only American made Automated Parking System. We’re also the only company in the United States that offers an American made scissors subterranean parking lift that is code compliant in every city in U.S.

We offer parallelogram lifts, mobile column lifts, four post, two post vehicle lifts and truck lifts for public-work garages, motor-home lines, railroad transit facilities, airport and ground support vehicle garages, utility fleets, school buses, construction, fire departments, mechanic shops and towing yards. We even offer a subterranean parking lift for a space-saving way to park your car beneath your home. American Custom Lifts offers every type of automotive lift needed for any of the above industries.

The staff and experience of American Custom Lifts are a testament to a company that is continuing its growth and development of new products. Because of the talented people who motorize and drive American Custom Lifts beyond the standard, American Custom Lifts now occupies the leadership in development of both hydraulic and mechanical lifting systems.

Here's a few things you can do in preparation:

• The more the designer can see in your garage, the less chance for redesign or mistakes during installation. So clear out what you can or expect possible changes in design and/or pricing once production starts.

• Make sure there's room to walk and properly measure the areas you want to create more storage.

• Have an idea what you want the end result to be. (Don't be afraid to be specific!!)
  • I need garage cabinets for suitcases, tools, cleaning supplies and camping gear
  • I want ceiling storage for old files, holiday decorations
  • More electrical outlets for electric tools and a 2nd refrigerator
  • I want to make the garage a play area for my kids
  • I want to create cabinet storage and park both cars in the garage.
  • I need a workbench to do my arts and crafts and fold laundry
  • I need to hang my surfboards

• Have a reasonable idea of what your budget is and add 10% cushion just in case. A good designer will be able to help you design within your budget.

• Best to make sure all homeowners have a clear idea of what is needed and wanted! (scope of work, colors, materials)

• For best results, all decision makers should be present during the appointment so all questions can be answered at once.

Here are some things you should expect during your design session:

• The company should confirm your appointment the day before
• Your designer should arrive promptly or call if late or lost
• The Design Session takes up to an hour depending on how many questions you have.
• A professional designer should ask you what you want and what you need in order to create an appropriate design. You're a team!
• Ask them as many questions as you like. They ought to be knowledgeable on product, installation process, company, pricing, timing and competition.
• If they're really good, they'll offer up that info whether you ask or not!
• You should see samples of all the products.
• A design and an estimate are often available during the appointment. Don’t panic! But don’t be surprised if they ask for the sale that day!
• And if not the same day make sure you find out when it will be delivered to you and see if they're good on their word!
• These are all good indications of whether the company is trustworthy or not!

When making your decision consider the following 3 questions:

1. Do you trust the designer / company?
2. Do you like the product and design that you've worked out?
3. Is it affordable?

Feel free to ask me any questions you may have.

Good Luck!

Let me know how it goes! :)

Here's some advice I have given my friends and clients when they are debating on whether to DIY (Do it Yourself) or hire a professional.

Ok, you’ve figured out what you want to do with your garage. Now ask yourself the following questions:

• Does the job require electrical wiring?
• Am I an electrician?
• Does it require plumbing?
• Does it require concrete?
• Is it something high up that would require ladder work or more than 1 person?

If you answered "YES" to any of these you may seriously want to consider hiring a professional to save yourself, time and backache! Also your contractor should be licensed, bonded and insured just in case something does happen when working on your electrical or plumbing. And they should be up to date on all the code requirements and permits you may need to perform the work properly.

How to Find a Reliable Contractor - It's Research Time!

• Check out their website. Is it professional? Are there testimonials? Photos?
• Better Business Bureau (Rates Businesses from an A+ to F)
• Angie’s List (Personal reviews by homeowners in your area)
  
• Contractor’s State License Board
• Make sure company is licensed, bonded and insured and avoid a world of headaches later! Protect yourself!

Now call a few companies that pass these initial requirements and set your appointment for a FREE ESTIMATE.

Good Luck!!

Congratulations Patti and Jeff of San Marco, CA! (Watch the video to check out some of the "Before" photos and hear a little bit of their garage makeover story.) And stay tuned for garage organizing tips and ongoing progress all the way to a $10,000 finished product.

And for all of you who entered...Thank You! And remember the following garage tips:

• Use your ceiling space if you have it
• Use your walls to get all that stuff off the ground
• Call us for a FREE Design Estimate if you get stuck and need a helping hand!

Garage Envy San Diego
(888) 248-8544
sdco@garageenvy.com

Thank You San Diego Residents!!

In partnership with San Diego 6 TV our Messiest Garage Contest has been a great success...so far!

Over 175 entries have thrown their names into the hat and await the judges decision.

Our tentative date to announce the winner will be December 24th, 2009.

We look forward to naming the lucky winner on San Diego 6 and start designing the winners new garage!

To stay updated on our Garage Renovation progress you can:

• Subscribe to our RSS Feed
• Follow us on Twitter @GarageEnvy
• Become a Fan of the Garage Handyman on FaceBook
• Watch San Diego 6!

If you are interested in Garage Envy's Remodeling Services and would like a FREE ESTIMATE, please contact us at:

(888) 248-8544

info@garageenvy.com

Thanks San Diego! Keep entering our contest!

With the efforts of San Diego6 TV and our own Brooke Dahlgren in the San Diego Garage Envy office, our Messiest Garage Contest is off to a great start! In the past couple weeks we've already received over 25 entries!

Watch our video to learn about the quality of product we carry from heavy duty garage cabinets to garage flooring that is warrantied for as long as you own your house!

If you'd like a chance to win, please submit the following information to:

MessyGarage@SanDiego6.com

-Name of the Homeowner(s)
-Address
-Daytime and Evening Phone Numbers (To be contacted if you are selected)
-3 Photos of Your Garage
-A brief story telling us why you deserve to win a Garage Makeover from Garage Envy

Contest ends December 13th.

Three (3) finalists will be notified by phone between December 14th - 18th.

Stay tuned to SanDiego6 for more updates as we get closer to choosing a winner!

Featuring a new line of Photo Quality resin based cabinets.

OC - SD County Showroom
Inside Family Classic Cars
33033 Camino Capistrano
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Showroom Hours M-S 9 to 6 p.m. Sun Noon to 5 p.m.

featuring a new line of Photo Quality resin based cabinets. Orange County, CA Glassed into the doors, photos of any nature even artwork can be featured across your cabinets. These new GarageScape cabinets are the latest edition to the Garage Envy line of products and services.

Come to our showroom, have a seat and chill!

Customize your cabinets with photos and custom colors.

Organize your work tools with our heavy duty tool chests.

Come Visit Us:
OC - SD County Showroom
Inside Family Classic Cars
33033 Camino Capistrano
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Showroom Hours M-S 9 to 6 p.m. Sun Noon to 5 p.m.
Email: occo@garageenvy.com

This fall, TV ’s San Diego 6 (The CW) in partnership with Garage Envy bring you an exclusive garage makeover contest in the San Diego area! One lucky San Diego 6 Viewer will be selected to receive a free garage remodel from Garage Envy!

San Diego Residents get out your cameras!! Impress us with your garage story!

It's On!!!

San Diego’s Messiest Garage Contest has begun!

Please submit the following information to:

MessyGarage@SanDiego6.com

-Name of the Homeowner(s)
-Address
-Daytime and Evening Phone Numbers (To be contacted if you are selected)
-3 Photos of Your Garage
-A brief story telling us why you deserve to win a Garage Makeover from Garage Envy

Contest ends December 13th.

Three (3) finalists will be notified by phone between December 14th - 18th.

Click here for complete contest details.

If you have any questions or would like to make an appointment please call Garage Envy at (888) 248-8544.

Remember someone is going to win a FREE Garage Makeover! It might as well be you!!

GOOD LUCK!

This fall, TV 's San Diego 6 (The CW) in partnership with Garage Envy bring you an exclusive garage makeover contest in the San Diego area! Stay Tuned!! We will be asking you for your submissions for the Messiest Garage! One lucky San Diego 6 Viewer will be selected to receive a garage remodel from Garage Envy!

Does your garage fit the bill?

• Do you apologize every time you open the garage door?
• Can you open the garage door?
• Do your cars sit out on the street every night pining to be indoors, safe and sound?
• Does your garage floors have cracks? Oil stains? Tire marks?
• Can you even SEE your floors??
• Do you need cabinets for storage and organization?
• How about a workbench? Drawers to organize your tools?
• Is there sufficient lighting?
• Do you need a place to put all those garden tools? Bikes? Surfboards?

Well your garage may be the perfect candidate!!

More information to come on the Garage Envy Blog and San Diego 6's Website in the near future. So make sure you are subscribed to either site to learn how you can enter our Messiest Garage Contest Giveaway! You can also watch " San Diego Living" with Greg Phillips and Renee Kohn weekdays between 9AM - 10AM for contest rules and prize winnings!

Then stay tuned for the revealing of the winner, see if thier garrage is as messy as yours and follow the entire garage renovation project from design to finish. Gain insights into your garage solutions and other tips for organization and storage along the way.

Hole in One Garage Giveaway!!

Come visit the Garage Envy Trailer at the San Diego Country Club Celebrity Golf Gala to see firsthand what your garage could look like! Enter to win our "Hole in One" Giveaway Contest.

The Adrian Gonzalez — Jim Stone Extravaganza!

YMCA Suits & Sneakers Gala

Friday, November 13th, Sheraton Hotel and Marina

5:30pm - 7:00pm Cocktail Reception/Silent Auction
7:00pm - 8:30pm Live Auction, 3 Course Dinner, Entertainment, Awards

Golf Tournament

Monday, November 16th, San Diego Country Club

10:00am - 11:00am Check in, breakfast
11:00am Shotgun start
(Food and beverages provided)
Reception, awards ceremony follow

The South Bay Family YMCA serves more than 40,000 individuals annually in the communities of Chula Vista, Bonita and
National City. With more than 450 staff and hundreds of volunteers, the South Bay Family YMCA offers various life-enriching programs including childcare, health & fitness, sports, gymnastics, as well as activities for older adults and teens.

To Become a Sponsor or See More Ticket Information Click Here...

To View the Invitation and Register Click Here...

Remember back in August, Garage Envy announced their $10,000 Garage Makeover Contest they were running with 790 TalkRadio KABC-AM-Los Angeles? Want to find out who won? How did the garage turn out? Join them for the big reveal!

On November 8th, co-founders Jaime Dietenhofer and Scott Siler will be in the KABC Radio Studio with host Leon Kaplan and the winner of this year's $10,000 Garage Makeover for a live broadcast.

Hear about what the garage was like at the beginning and how it progressed to the finished product that we have today.

So tune into 790 TalkRadio KABC-AM, Sunday November 8th between 8am-11am, live broadcast.

Exciting News: DIY Network is starting a new season of Garage Mahal! And Garage Envy going to be a part it!

"From a drive-in movie theater complete with flat-screen TVs to a Vegas-style casino that descends from the ceiling, DIY Network's Garage Mahal takes tricking out your garage to a new level. With a little ingenuity, [they] transform everyday garages into unusual, jaw-dropping spaces."

Garage Mahal begins filming their new season end of November 2009 for 13 episodes. The show is set to air next Spring 2010 with new co-hosts. Jaime Dietenhofer (Founder of Garage Envy) has been selected as lead designer. Jaime will tackle these designs along with Scott McCray (Melrose Place) and Bill “Goldberg” pro-wrestler, to reinvent the way we think of the garage. See Celebrity garages and extreme makeovers!

Stay tuned as we keep you updated and give you a designer's perspective on the various garage makeovers the new team will be tackeling. To view past garage renovation transformations such as "Garage Theater Workshop", "Home Gym Garage" and "Chesney's Wine Cellar" visit DIY Network's Garage Mahal website.

(The website currently has last season's host listed but will be updated before the show airs next Spring.)

Garage Envy is a general contractor /renovation company in Southern California that specializes in garage cabinets and other storage solutions such as ceiling lofts, slatwall, workbenches and garage flooring.

Garage Mahal airs: Fridays 10:30/9:30c on the DIY Network

_______________________________

Celebrating 25 years of giving in Venice, the 2009 Abbot Kinney Festival will be held on Sunday, Sept. 27, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Almost 150,000 people who reside in communities throughout Southern California are expected to attend the festival. Over the years, the Abbot Kinney Festival has grown to become the second largest community event of its kind in the region. Attendees and participants are best described as adults who are environmentally conscious, focused on health, love animals, enjoy bicycling, family-oriented, unpretentiously hip, and arts-minded.

Almost entirely run by volunteers, the popular event was founded by the Abbot Kinney Festival Association (AKFA), which is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation created in 1984 for the purpose of improving the quality of life for the community of Venice and showcasing the eclectic mix of more than 100 businesses on the famed Abbot Kinney Boulevard. The AKFA is passionate about promoting Abbot Kinney Boulevard as an important cultural and commercial epicenter, and strives to engage residents and visitors in enjoying the vibrant creativity that makes Venice so unique.

Direction / Parking / Transportation:
Take the 405 Freeway (north or south) and exit Venice Blvd., driving west until you reach Abbot Kinney Blvd., or if you are looking for parking, continue until you hit the beach.

• Street Parking: Look for spaces along Venice Blvd. west of Lincoln Blvd. and along Main St.

• Parking Lots (rates vary): Public parking lots are available on Venice Beach, but spaces fill up early. Several private parking lots are located near Windward and one is at Westminster Elementary School on Main St. between Brooks Ave. and Westminster Ave. Additional parking lots can be found along Electric Ave., Washington Blvd. (south of Venice Blvd.) near Venice Pier, and in Marina del Rey.

• Playa Vista Beach Shuttle: Near the festival, this free shuttle stops at Venice Blvd. and Abbot Kinney Blvd. Other stops are located on Admiralty Way, Washington Blvd., Fisherman's Village, and Playa Vista. For details, visit www.playavistatoday.com/uploads/BeachShuttleBrochurea040309.pdf.

• Big Blue Bus: Routes 1 and 2 stop near Abbot Kinney Blvd. Visit www.bigbluebus.com for details.

• Metro: Several citywide routes serve Venice. Visit www.metro.netto plan your trip.

• Bike Valet Stations: Ride to the festival and park your bicycles at the bike valet stations at either Broadway Court or Milwood Avenue, which are operated by volunteers affiliated with Cyclone Coaster. These Southern California vintage bicycle enthusiasts host free communtiy rides in Long Beach on the first Sunday of every month. To learn more, visit www.cyclonecoaster.com.

• Carpool: Drive with a friend to the festival or click on the RideAmigos widget on our website at www.abbotkinney.org to connect with people who want to rideshare and reduce carbon emissions.

Parking & Shuttle Information:

• Parking is available at Westminster School (enter from Main Street)

• Playa Vista Residents can take the Beach Shuttle – check PlayaLink for more details!

Public Parking:

• Parking is available at Westminster School (enter from Main Street) and local Public Lots.

But the thing that stumps most of my clients is "now that I have this beautiful wall storage accessories system, what do I need?"

First off, make sure you install a universal system! This means that the slats are spaced according to a universal measurement. In other words beware of companies that use their own space measurements because then you are limited to purchasing only their wall accessories. If you can use the universal accessories you will find more variety at cheaper prices online!

Now that that's taken care of and your garage looks amazing you need to use the walls for storage. There are several categories of wall accessories you can purchase.

• Tool and Garden -- rakes, brooms, smaller tools over workbench
• Bike Storage -- wall racks, ceiling pullies, side mounts for kids
• Ski, Snow and Skate - ski racks, snowboards, inline skates
• Kayak and Surf - wall and ceiling mounts
• Sporting Goods - ball baskets, fishing poll racks,
• Safety and Cleaning - paper towel holders, dome mirror, fire extinguisher
• Misc - hooks, shoe rack, baskets, shelving, tip out bins

This wall storage system is so convenient because hooks can be used to hold rakes but also to hang backpacks, bike helmets, or lawn chairs! You can move them around to different locations. So if you get a freezer or a new car and the door opens in a different place you can adjust your hooks or shelves accordingly!

Feel free to give Garage Envy a call if you would like a professional designer consultation. We cover Ventura to San Diego. And of course there's always our online store.

Jennifer Wong

Has your garage seen better days? Are you looking to increase your home’s value during this economic downturn? Do you park in the driveway because, well, your garage has turned into a storage unit – even if you wanted to pull in...there is no room!

Garage Envy has the Solution! They specialize in turning garages into storage, work and play spaces with style...and plenty of room for cars!

You’ve heard about them on the ‘Motorman’ Leon Kaplan’s show and now they are giving away a GARAGE MAKE-OVER! Just take a picture of your disaster of a garage – it is ok, you’re not the only one – and submit it here. We’ll pick the garage in most need of help as the winner!

So, SUBMIT YOUR PICTURE and get your car back into the garage with KABC and Garage Envy!

Visit 790 TalkRadio KABC-AM-Los Angeles

How To Enter To Win

Please follow the link to Visit 790 TalkRadio KABC-AM-Los Angeles and use the form to browse your computer for pictures of your Garage. Once you have completed the form, press the {Submit} button to enter for your chance to win. Good Luck!

Does your garage have what it takes to win our monthly contest?

As many of you already know, we are running our "Coolest Looking Garage" Photo Contest!

So, for all you wonderful garage enthusiasts who think you've got the most awesome looking garage in the neighborhood, (a garage that is truly enviable) we personally challenge you to enter the contest and submit the photos of your garage...

C'mon... does your garage have what it takes? Send some images our way and you could win a Gift Certificate to our Webstore at GarageEnvyShop.com!

Please read our Contest Rules carefully in order to be considered eligible for the competition!

Send your submissions to info@garageenvy.com

Good luck!

The garage is a place for storage, cars and lots and lots of stuff!

Most of us (especially here in California) don't have the luxury of storing things in a basement. So not only do cars go in the garage but the gardening tools, brooms, garbage bins, bikes, surfboards, skis, winter clothes, sports equipment, half empty paint cans, extra tile you didn't use in your bathroom renovation, maybe an extra fridge or washer/dryer are all jam packed in there vying for garage storage space. And if you like to tinker you might also have a workbench, hand tools, electric tools. The list goes on and on!!

And once you've thrown away those old boxes you've been saving for "just in case", cleaned out the cobwebs, put up garage cabinets and filled them, where else can you store the rest of your stuff??? Well there's always the walls!

So the name of the game is...

MAXIMIZE YOUR GARAGE SPACE!!! MORE GARAGE STORAGE!

So assuming you have a wooden framed garage these options should all be easy to do. If you have concrete walls, it will be harder to install, but certainly not impossible with the proper tools.

So as I see it you have 4 garage wall storage options open to you:

Nails and hooks

• Advantage: Most inexpensive way to hang various tools, bags, hoses, etc. Or buy baskets, hooks and racks and attach them permanently to the walls. Easy to install.

• Drawbacks: The nails are permanently attached to the walls and does not allow for change of location. Can carry a limited amount of weight, not aesthetically pleasing with a tendency to rust over time in a garage.

Pegboard

Advantage: Relatively inexpensive with more wall coverage and flexibility to move around hooks and accessories. Good for lightweight objects. Much more expensive pegboard can be found in plastic or metal materials. Easy to install.

Drawbacks: Most agree that pegboard is ugly and looks cheap! It's made of perforated Masonite which does not hold up well in humid settings, so not so good for garages. It's a flimsy material so it won't support heavy tools over time. And often the holes don't line up from one sheet to another.

Gridwall or Wallracks

• Advantage: Small black steel grids. Can be mounted anywhere in the garage. Holds up better to extreme hot, cold, damp or humid conditions. Easy to hang hooks and other accessories on. Can carry a good amount of weight. Adds versatility and flexibility to your storage options. Easy to install.

• Drawbacks: Can only partially cover the walls. Cannot cover a small strip or angled area whereas pegboard or Wallscape can be fit from floor to ceiling. If you have a large wall to cover, the grids will be too small to cover the entire area without costing a lot of money.

• Still limited by the grid as to where you can place the hooks.

• Some people don't like the look, say it's kinda cheesy or cheap. Most of the time it comes in black.

• May scratch car doors if installed too low on the wall.

Slatwall or WallScape™

• Advantage: Seamless, clean look for your garage! Won't scratch your car, made of 3/4" PVC plastic so it's waterproof, fire-resistant, UV protected and unbelievably strong. Color selection is white, grey, tan and maple wood. It comes in 1'x8' strips so they can be cut to fit almost any size or angle. Can be mounted on to the studs of your garage wall or inside your cabinets (if the cabs are strong enough.) Is strong enough to mount bikes, kayaks, heavy tools etc.

• Accessories are made out of stainless steel with rubberized coating. And an endless selection can be found online!

• Drawbacks: More expensive than the other options. And it's recommended that you have a contractor or handyman install for you especially if you don't have the right tools to cut to size or sink into the wall studs. May not meant for DIY'ers of the weekend warrior variety.

*A word of warning: make sure that you buy a "universal" garage wall slat system and don't get stuck with slatwall that only takes their brand of accessories

Does your garage have what it takes to win our monthly contest?

As many of you already know, we are running our "Coolest Looking Garage" Photo Contest!

So, for all you wonderful garage enthusiasts who think you've got the most awesome looking garage in the neighborhood, (a garage that is truly enviable) we personally challenge you to enter the contest and submit the photos of your garage...

C'mon... does your garage have what it takes? Send some images our way and you could win a Gift Certificate to our Webstore at GarageEnvyShop.com!

Please read our Contest Rules carefully in order to be considered eligible for the competition!

Send your submissions to info@garageenvy.com

Good luck!

CLICK HERE TO SEE CAR SHOW WEBSITE

Come see the Garage Envy show trailer along side some of the finest automobiles in the world. The Los Angeles Concours d'Elegance Car Show, Sunday June 7th (10 am-4pm), at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

In just a few short years, the Los Angeles Concours d’Elegance has become one of America’s major classic car shows. The country club venue, in the shadow of the historic Rose Bowl, is outstanding, and there’s plenty of room between all the cars enabling attendees to really see and enjoy them, and get good photos. The field is nicely assembled, with a good balance between standards and the eclectic. Given Southern California’s motorsport history, the race car categories are a welcome element. The Los Angeles Concours d’Elegance makes for a casually elegant day, and it’s for a good cause.

The Public will be admitted at 10 am. Tickets are available on the website www.laconcours.com for $25 in advance, or $30 at the gate. All proceeds go to benefit the Assistance League of Southern California.

For more information visit the California Festival of Speed website

JOIN GARAGE ENVY THIS WEEKEND

-- MARCH 14th & 15th, 2009 --

For the 3rd Annual Meguiars Orange County Get-Together

Saturday: 8am to 5pm
Sunday: 8am to 4pm

This huge indoor & outdoor event features:
• Over 2,000 All Years American Made or Powered Cars & Trucks
• Vendors & Exhibitors
• Goodguys Street Challenge AutoCross
• Live Entertainment

For online tickets, visit: OC Get Together Online Tickets

]]> Thu, 05 Mar 2009 17:51:34 +0000 mr-handyman We hope to see you all you faithful Garage Talk readers at the Santa Barbara Home Improvement Expo this weekend March 7th & 8th, 2009.

If you're in the Santa Barbara area this weekend, take a detour to the show... Here's more information from the show site:

"The Santa Barbara Home Show event provides you the opportunity to SAVE TIME & MONEY on your next project as you'll see hundreds of the latest home products and services and meet with home improvement professionals, both large and small, who are eager to help you with your repairs, enhancements and upgrades to help you beautify your home.... all under one roof! Learn more about recycling, alternative energy and sustainable living options. Meet industry experts in building, remodeling and decorating. See the latest in kitchen and baths, custom closets, window coverings, awnings, roofing, flooring, windows and custom doors. You’ll also see patios, sunrooms, spas, fireplaces, solar energy, custom greens, pool tables, games, architects in building and landscaping, stone pavers, fencing, gates, exotic trees and plants, garden furniture and much more!"

Santa Barbara Home Improvement Expo

March 7-8, 2009

(off 101 freeway - take the 101 freeway to the Las Positas exit)

Free Parking
Admission: $6 (children under 12 free)

Show Hours:
Saturday, March 7: 10:00a.m.-5:00p.m.
Sunday, March 8: 10:00a.m.-4:00p.m.

ALL TEA FIRE VICTIMS – FREE ADMISSION!

Again, if you're in the area, we would love to see you there... and please stop by and say hi to our Garage Envy show staff... they'll be happy to assist you in planning your garage remodel or be able to answer any questions about our Liquid Granite Epoxy flooring process, or our premium line of cabinets built specially for the garage, along with our unique Wallscape slat-wall system and much, much MORE!

See you there!

Please read our contest rules from our last blog post (yes, it's been awhile, but we're busy folks over here at Garage Envy... and if we didn't have so many clients hot for our products and services, I'm sure we'd be blogging all day long... Luckily, we have business during tough times).

So, for all you wonderful garage enthusiasts who think you've got the most awesome looking garage in the neighborhood, I personally challenge you to enter the contest and submit your photos of your garage... Let's see if your garage has what it takes to win our monthly contest.

Now... I will say that February did not get a contest winner... mainly due to the spo

tty submissions we received that weren't worthy of the contest according to contest

rules, so make sure you read and review them.

C'mon... if you think you really have what it takes to make your garage into something significant, then send some images our way and you might win a Gift Certificate to our webstore at GarageEnvyShop.com!

Good luck!

This is your big chance to make your garage famous!

Garage Envy is introducing a monthly contest for a $25 gift certificate to GarageEnvy Shop.com. As many of you know, Garage Envy's shopping site, GarageEnvyShop.com, is the place to go to for all your garage organization and storage needs as well as other products to help make your garage the least neglected room in the house.

Each month Garage Envy will issue a $25 gift certificate by email to the person that supplies us with the the coolest photo of a well tendered and cared for garage (the "certificate" will be in the form of a gift code that will be issued to each winner individually, one winner per month in each category below). No matter if you've had work done by Garage Envy or have created your own truly awesome garage space, what we're looking for is the coolest looking garage based on the criteria below.

Please email your photos as contest submissions to: info@garageenvy.com.

Please be sure to mark the Subject Line as "Garage Envy Photo Contest Entry"

Contest entry allowed via email only, all entry submissions to the Garage Envy Photo Contest MUST include Full Name, Date Photo Was Taken, City and State as well as a valid email address or the contest entry will be deemed invalid. Please see the Contest Standard Agreement / Terms and Conditions.

The Basic Garage Category

CLEANLINESS: A Clean Garage... This one is basic and mandatory folks... we want to see a well organized and tidy garage at the very, very least.

ORGANIZATION: We'll be taking a look at how you organize your everyday garage items... and seeing if you have a proper place for your stuff. Added consideration for inventiveness.

STORAGE SOLUTIONS: We want to see how you've come up with storage solutions for the variety of objects in the garage.. Have you considered racks for the walls or cabinets, ceiling racks or lofts, handy storage solutions for the workspace, things like that... Be as inventive as possible, and that will add to consideration of your photo submission.

The Transformed Garage

All of the above criteria apply, but you must also show:

REMODELING: Have you turned your garage into something beyond the basic... This category is for the truly "garage proud," those who see the garage as something different than a place just to store their beloved automobiles... though this category will certainly be kind to those submitting classic car garages and workshops. What we're looking for here is the extent of your remodel. Design and aesthetic quality count here.

STORAGE SOLUTIONS... Above and beyond the basics, what have you created to store items away... This item demands creativity and cleverness... How well have you hidden things away, while still maintaining storage space.

TYPE OF TRANSFORMATION: Clearly we're lumping a lot of garage categories in here, but for brevity and sanity's sake, and since this is a casual contest for readers of our Garage Talk blog, we'll take all submittals for clever garage transfomations under this particular criteria... Bascially, what have you come up with that's so amazingly cool (and/or offbeat) for a garage transformation... Is it a classic car garage showcase and workshop? Is it a 1950's type design that harkens back to the days when the car was king? Is it a home theater? A climate controlled wine storage "cellar." A kid's rumpus room or Mom's Place to hang with friends on a summer day? Show us what you've got, and we'll consider the best, most creative garage transformations each month!

TIE BREAKER RULE... This applies to both contest categories, Basic and Transformation. If and when we feel it's a tie breaker type situation (nope, we're not working with points over here, just our eyes and gut feeling on what we feel is the best submission of the month), we will break the tie by deterimining if the submission uses Garage Envy products. Let's face it, we love seeing our stuff used in a variety of ways within the garage, but we want to remain impartial on the general contest and will use this rule if we feel there's a real tie in the works for that month's submissions. We cool? We cool! :)

Here's how the contest will work month-to-month:

GARAGE ENVY PHOTO CONTEST

GENERAL RULES / STANDARD AGREEMENT / TERMS AND CONDITIONS

GENERAL RULES: First and foremost, note that all criteria items are subject to change. If we feel something is not working or perhaps we did not define the criteria item clear enough, we'll change it as needed, but it is up to you, the participant, to review all contest agreements and terms & conditions prior to entry submittal. That said, you can submit standard .jpg or scanned images only (please no other file extensions except .jpg (.JPG, .JPEG). Both embedded images or attachments may be sent by email. Image quality is only taken into consideration so that we can clearly see what we're looking at. It is up to you, the photographer and/or person submitting the photo, aka the Participant, to make sure the submission is at a decent resolution and overall image quality. However, please do not flood our email system with huge file sizes. Please try to work within the 75-150 DPI (dots per inch) parameter. That is generally the "fine" setting on most digital cameras and home scanners. Images should be a good medium size for publication. Anything between 500 x 500 -to- 700 x 700 proportional (that's pixels in width and length, folks) will be fine... Try to keep attached or embedded file sizes under 1MB, please.

You own the photo, but Garage Envy reserves the right to publish on the web at GarageEnvy.com, GarageEnvyShop.com or GarageEnvy.com/blog the photo submissions that we receive. These contest rules will act as a release in that regard. We will only credit those photos that have a significant watermark or writing on the photo itself in the lower right-hand or left-hand corner (most digital photo editing devices and some cameras may allow you personalize the image, but it's up to you to do this). If the image is not personalized we reserve to publish at GarageEnvy.com, GarageEnvyShop.com or GarageEnvy.com/blog the image with or without credit. Please do not obstruct the garage image with a watermark or personalization. For a submission to be valid it must be clear, unobstructed and unmarred. All submissions by email, and email alone, must contain the following: NAME, DATE PHOTO WAS TAKEN, CITY, STATE, EMAIL ADDRESS (if you want to get the gift certificate code upon potentially winning, you must provide an email address. Any submission without a valid email address will not be deemed valid), and lastly a traditional PHONE NUMBER (Home, cell, office, as long as we can reach you personally, that's all we are looking for). Garage Envy will protect your privacy. Any entry submissions to GarageEnvy.com, GarageEnvyShop.com or GarageEnvy.com/blog MUST include Full Name, Date Photo Was Taken, City and State or will be deemed invalid.

Special note on "House Identification." Garage Envy is not responsible for identification of your home or garage's location, geographic or otherwise, in entries submitted. If you, the Participant, have a house number clearly marked on your home or at all indicated on your entry submission, no matter how identifiable it is, you have the right to remove it prior to entry submittal; thereafter, Garage Envy is held harmless [See Item 11. RELEASE]. We understand you may have a "house number" or location number on a garage or home. Depending on your digital photo editing skills, feel free to remove "the number," and only the number from your submission by blurring, cutting or digitizing for pixelation. However, any entry submission not entirely viewable due to an overabundance of such digital editing will not be valid. The photo must show the interior of the garage to be valid for the contest. "Photoshopped" or heavily edited submissions will not be valid (be honest here folks, we understand some of you might be whizes at Photoshop, but honesty is the best policy and if you can't be honest, at least be nice and don't send us your heavily Photoshopped edited image. Let's all be fair and we'll be happier for it. And know that we're not morons and we'll spot these and simply delete them as invalid submissions). Please submit as many photos as you'd like of your garage (again, they must show the garage interior). Though we're curious, but not that interested, on what you've done with the exterior of the garage, all criteria judgements will be specifically made on the interior of the garage as a valid submitted entry. Multiple photos submitted can show off those areas that can't be seen by a wide shot of the garages interior, and since some of the criteria we will use to judge reflect inventiveness with storage and organization ideas, we'll be happy to take a look at close up shots of those areas HOWEVER, MULTIPLE PHOTO SUBMISSIONS MUST BE CLEARLY MARKED AS SUCH (all prior entry submission identification criteria apply) AND WILL BE COUNTED AS ONE (1) SUBMISSION. Once again, please keep file sizes emailed to us within reason. There will be only (1) ONE CONTEST ENTRY SUBMISSION PER PERSON (Participant) PER MONTH PLEASE (...yeah, we know, some of you might actually have multiple garages here n' there, so save them for subsequent months, please).

Now for the fine print. We'd prefer to not run roughshod with a bunch of rules and regulations, terms and conditions and yadda yadda yadda blah blah blah legalese, but we must do this, and it behooves you to read it and understand it. Garage Envy is not responsible for mistakes in common sense or lack of reading ability, so there's no claim to ignorance folks... Please read on.

1. NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.

2. APPLICABILITY: The rules and regulations laid out by this document are complementary to Garage Envy, Garage Envy, Inc., GarageEnvyShop.com and GarageEnvy.com/blog (aka Garage Talk) [herinafter this group is know by "Garage Envy" or "Sponsor" for purposes of these contest rules and submission agreement]. This is a Submission Agreement and shall be applicable to all contests held by the Garage Envy, unless otherwise stated on the contest rules, agreements, or elsewhere on the website. Garage Envy is the sole sponsor of this contest. Individuals, people, persons or other designations of contest submittal entrants are deemed as Participant(s).

3. ELIGIBILITY: The Contest is currently open only to legal residents of the United States of America. Employees of the Sponsor and its parents, subsidiaries, affiliated companies and agents, and the foregoing employees' household or immediate family members (defined as parent, spouse, child, sibling or grandparent) are NOT eligible to enter the Contest.

4. CONTEST DETAILS: Details including Awards & Prizes, Themes, Contest Criteria, Submission Period, etc. are found within the respective information for each contest

5. HOW TO ENTER: Limit one entry/submission, per month. Multiple images are counted as one entry/submission. Entry allowed via email only unless otherwise stated. To enter, during the Submission Period submit and email to info@garageenvy.com and mark the Subject Line as "Garage Envy Photo Contest Entry". Participation in the contest implies agreement to have the entry publicly displayed GarageEnvy.com, GarageEnvyShop.com and GarageEnvy.com/blog website(s), whether declared as a contest winner or not.

6. SUBMITTED ENTRIES: The Submitted Entry including image and text must be original, unpublished and truthful in all respects; does not infringe or violate any third party rights including but not limited to the rights of copyright, trademark, privacy and publicity; is not infringing, threatening, false, misleading, abusive, harassing, libelous, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, scandalous, inflammatory, pornographic, or profane material or any material that could constitute or encourage conduct that would be considered a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability, or otherwise violate any law or regulation - Garage Envy will fully cooperate with any law enforcement authorities or any court order requesting or directing Garage Envy to disclose the identity of anyone posting or transmitting any such information or materials. Garage Envy will not knowingly upload, reserves the right not to upload, and reserves the right to delete any suspect material. Garage Envy shall not be held liable for violations of laws and regulations governing the material submitted. Garage Envy will fully cooperate with any law enforcement authorities or any court order requesting or directing Garage Envy to disclose the identity of anyone posting or transmitting any such information or materials in addition to deleting the materials from public view. Copyright of Submitted Entry shall remain property of Participant, however, Participant grants Sponsor the right to use Submitted Entry as indicated in the Release (article 11). Acknowledgment and return of the Submitted Entry is at the sole discretion of the Sponsor. The entry submitted by the person is released to Garage Envy for use on GarageEnvy.com, GarageEnvyShop.com and GarageEnvy.com/blog website(s). The person submitting the contest entry will retain all rights to their original work, except for the specifics of release set forth in this paragraph.

7. PARTICIPANT: The entry is deemed submitted by the person whose email address appears on the entry form. In case of dispute or ambiguity regarding the identity of owner of the email address, Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify the Submitted Entry.

8. PRIZE: Prizes as specific to this and any other Garage Envy contest are nontransferable and must be accepted as awarded. No cash or other substitution may be made, except by Sponsor in the event that a prize, or prize item cannot be awarded for any reason; in such event, Sponsor will in its sole discretion award a substitute prize or part thereof of equal or greater value. Winners are solely responsible for any and all applicable taxes (including where applicable sales tax) due for his/her awarded Contest prize, as well as all applicable fees and expenses related to the acceptance, award and use of his/her Contest prize. Sponsor will send prizes and provide support to Garage Envy products only to countries under its management.

9. JUDGING: All eligible entries received will be judged based upon criteria that are the sole discretion of Sponsor. Judging criteria will be laid out in the Contest Rules or Information for each specific contest and shall not be open to negotiation. Participants agree to be bound by these rules, that winning is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements herein, and that the decisions of the Sponsor and/or Contest judges shall be final and binding in all respects.

10. NOTIFICATION: Each potential Winner will be notified (the "Notification") by email (or other method at the discretion of Sponsor) on or about the date indicated in the Contest Rules or Information for each specific contest. The potential Winner may be required at the sole discretion of the Sponsor to provide proof of identity and/or eligibility. The potential Winner is responsible for entering his/her correct email address at the time of submission and prizes may be forfeited if the potential Winner cannot be contacted or his/her identity cannot be verified.

11. RELEASE: By participating in the Contest and/or accepting a prize, Participant agrees to defend, release and hold harmless the Sponsor, Garage Envy, and subsidiaries, affiliates, divisions, advertising and promotion agencies, and the foregoing companies' officers, directors, shareholders, employees, representatives, agents and all others associated with the development and execution of the Contest (collectively the "Releasees") from and against any actions, claims and/or liability for injury, loss or damage of any kind (including any for the violation or infringement of any proprietary or personal right of any individual or entity) resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from participation in the Contest, and/or the use, acceptance, or possession of a Contest prize, participation in a Contest prize-related activity, and/or the publication of a Submitted Entry. By participating in the Contest and/or accepting a prize, Participant consents to and grants the Sponsor the right to use, in perpetuity, Participant's entry information, to photograph/video a Participant and a Participant's property, to copyright material in which a Submitted Entry is used in part or in whole, and to freely and exclusively use, publish and display a Participant's statements, quotes, picture, portrait, likeness, voice, video, biographical information, prize information, text, and Submitted Entry (in part or in whole, as may be adapted, edited or modified, as solely determined by Sponsor) for advertising, trade, publicity and promotional purposes in any media now known or hereafter discovered, worldwide, and on the World Wide Web, without review, notification or approval, all without additional consideration, unless prohibited by law. However, Sponsor will not participate in the direct sale of any Submitted Entry for profit and will notify and acknowledge Participant at Sponsor's sole discretion. All contest rules, descriptions, logos, artwork not including entry submissions, website design and general content remains the sole property of Garage Envy, all rights reserved. Copyrighted and trademarked where applicable. Contest void where prohibited.

However, occasionally we all must deal with the rain, and protecting the garage from such wet weather. As so many of us tend to use our garages for storage of everything from mundane items to the most important parts of our lives, it's crucial to protect against wet weather by doing a few simple things.

The Roof. Of course, this is one of the most obvious and also one of the more expensive garage projects (that's really a total home project). Unless you're doing patchwork on a 20-40 year roof, it might be time to do the entire roof over again, and you can easily spot the weakest places in the roof during wet weather months. In dry weather we all tend to neglect roof inspection and our roofs in general, but during wet weather the wear and tear of the roof becomes almost too easy to spot as water drips or pours down on carpets and floors and, more importantly, our stuff. Always consider a yearly roof inspection for your home when it really counts... during dry weather. A roof inspection can go a long way to preserving an existing roof with simple patchwork or can lead to the discovery that a new roof might be in order. Bad roof work can lead to diminished structural integrity in the beams and framing, so it's really a good idea to make sure your roof is in top shape... after all, it's what homes were made to support in the first place. Inspect the roof or have the roof inspected before wet

weather comes your way and you'll be glad you spent for the inspection. Last but not least... do not forget the good ol' rain gutters around the perimeter of the roof. They should be inspected for breakage, leaks, blockage, and general condition. If clogged, clean them immediately... you need them to direct rain away from the home. If broken, you can repair them easily with an assortment of solutions at your average hardware store or big box hardware outlet. Rain gutters are important in keeping the home (and garage) dry when possible. They don't always work out the way we want them too, but existing rain gutters not doing their job can be modified with flexible tubing and other items to direct the rainwater where you want it to go.

The Doors and Windows. Doors and windows in the garage should be inspected regularly as well... making sure there's no warpage in the doors for frame, and that windows are holding up and sealed in their casings and that all trim is holding up. Extreme changes in weather can sometimes create spiderweb cracks or other weakness within the glass... Anything noticed should be repaired as quickly as possible. Doors can also use threshold protection as well, something we'll cover more in the next paragraph, but inspect all hinges, knobs and locks as well as paint. Upkeep of exterior doors and windows in the garage adds to the protection we want for our stuff, and our special memories, holiday items, etc.

Garage Doors. The big door to the most neglected room in the house should be inspected regularly, especially if it's lifted and closed mechanically (garage door pulley system or other garage door opening system). Any of the pulleys, sheaves, forks, straps or axle bolts should be inspected for that type of system to make sure there's plenty of integrity to handle the weight of the door. For other types of systems you might refer to the manufacturer's trouble-shooting guide or contact them directly for tips. Many types of advice on maintaining garage doors (and finding garage door dealers) can be found at the Door and Access Systems Manufacturers' Association (DASMA) and the International Door Association (IDA). One item that's particularly useful for the garage door in defending against rotten weather is a Garage Door Threshold Seal. They can be applied to the bottom of the door, or directly to the floor using special adhesives. Either way, you are now keeping out rain as well as little critters and wind-blown objects. It's a must-have additional seal to cover up the gap frequently found between the door and floor.

Garage Floor. A wet concrete floor can be a hazard... it's just a good chance to slip and end up in the hospital. One way to alleviate the danger here is to simply place Garage Floor Mats down on the concrete to absorb moisture and lend traction to the floor. Likewise, treating the entire garage floor with a Liquid Granite Epoxy system or tiles such as Tuff Trax, can make the garage floor a safer place to step onto without risking a slip n' fall situation.

The project location at 319 21st. Street in Huntington Beach features "A 3-story home [that] totals 3,213 square feet with three bedrooms, three full bathrooms and two half bathrooms... [it is] energy efficient and ecologically built, demonstrating how homeowners can conserve energy and dollars by adopting and utilizing green building products and services."

This is a California Green Point Rated, Net Zero Energy Project that had Garage Envy, Inc. beating out some serious competition for providing material and services in this green home's garage. As a top-rated garage remodeling company with a strong sense for environmental and energy conservation, Garage Envy was uniquely suited toward performing the construction work that needed to be done for the garage area.

The 319 Project is the highest rated Green Point home in Southern California, offering energy efficient HVAC (with green-rated insulation), electrical work and lighting, plumbing, solar panels, and FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) rated wood for the framing and finishing of the project.

Garage Envy provided green building/construction services such as:

• Zero-VOC emission rated flooring (Liquid Granite Flooring)
• FSC-rated cabinetry specifically designed for the garage environment
• Recycled storage components such as storage bins and baskets, hooks, racks and other storage and organization accessories
• Along with other green-rated products and services

We invite you to view this home during its Open House (dates to be posted... no tentative dates yet set).

This is not only fantastic news for Garage Envy, but it's truly wonderful news for anyone wishing to explore the green possibilities of their garage! Garage Envy has the service experience, the materials and the technical know-how to help any homeowner Go Green in their garage!

Contact us today for more information: Visit the Garage Envy Website or contact us by phone, toll-free at: 1-(888) 248-8544

As noted prior, "fire safety is probably one of the key aspects of a safe home. Making sure that areas of the home are fire safe isn’t all that difficult, and precautionary measures taken well in advance can allow the homeowner to avoid a fire disaster that was easily preventable."

Use these guidelines not only for the garage, but for other areas of your home as well:

Today we're discussing fire safety for everyday household chemicals and potentially flammable products. They're literally all over the home and we tend to forget that relatively harmless items can pose a fire hazard (not to mention other hazards such as poisoning... but that's not our topic, though some of this advice certainly pertains to a general household chemical safety). Items that contain ethyl (ethanol) or other types of household non-potable alcohol products can certainly cause a fire under certain conditions... and if you don't think you store such stuff, think again-- the typical rubbing alcohol for purchase from drug stores typically contains 97.5-100% by volume of pure, concentrated ethanol. The cousin to ethanol is isopropyl alcohol, and it's just as flammable... yet we use and store it everyday without regard to fire safety.

But let's take a closer look at some other typical household items that have the potential to cause a fire hazard:

Household disinfectants that can be bought in any store often contain Phenols in the form of carbolic acid, a chemical compound that has potential for flammability.

Benzene is the basis of chemical derivatives such as phenol, toluene, and aniline chemicals, but by itself is also a highly flammable chemical compound. Some household chemicals will list benzene on their product packaging so consumers are aware that this chemical is part of the overall product's contents.

Solvents, depending on the product's overall composition and type of solvent used (for instance, water is a non-flammable solvent, technically speaking), can be highly flammable and, under the right conditions (when mixed with air) can become instantly combustible. These types of "organic solvents" are frequently found in or as detergents; paint removal chemicals such as paint thinners, turpentine, turpinoid, toluene; nail polish remover, glues of various types (especially so-called "super glue"); spot remover chemical products and even in perfumes. It's worth noting that not all these products may explode when opened and exposed to air... it usually takes certain conditions to be present and the amount of solvent material must be taken into account, but most household products are designed for safety in this regard. Nevertheless, many household chemicals with solvents as part of their chemical makeup should be considered a hazardous item and stored correctly.

Petroleum (and petrol based products) can be found just about everywhere these days... Your plastics, your Vicks VapoRub, your simple can of gasoline for the lawnmower all contain petroleum, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're combustible items (gasoline, yes... Vicks VapoRub, not so likely as it's a petroleum by-product called "petrolatum" that has lower flammability possibilities depending on the oxygen mixture... suffice to say its "flash point" is a lot less combustible than most other petroleum based products and it has little or no "fire point"). It depends on the product, and usually these items are clearly marked for consumer use for the particular level of hazard one might encounter.

Other household products to be aware of such as furniture polish, paints, stains and varnishes all may contain these base chemicals... it's always worth checking the product packaging or the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) that comes with some products depending on the amount of hazard they might present to the consumer or end-user. Another item to check is the D.O.T. HazMat labeling that might come with a product's caseload (D.O.T. = Department of Transportation, and all hazardous materials are coded for transport), though many household products may not offer D.O.T. information on the single-use product. Typical labeling may include hazard warnings for: Oxidation, Organic Peroxide, Poison, Poison Gas, Irritant, Corrosive, Flammable Liquid or Gas.

Now that we've covered some of the most common household chemical compounds we might encounter in the garage or home (and this is hardly a complete list, but it does cover some of the basic items), we can next take a look at how to safely store these items in the home or garage. Look for Part III of our safety series coming soon! And in the meantime, check out some of our safety products at GarageEnvyShop.com... We're always expanding our product line with new safety products, so check back often!

Use these guidelines not only for the garage, but for other areas of your home as well:

One of the easiest and foremost preventative measures against fire in the home is simply making sure that the home's electrical system is as up to date as it can possibly be. A licensed electrician can give a budget-minded homeowner an inspection, and the cost of an inspection can usually be waived if the electrician finds there is work needed on any electrical equipment. But don't fear the cost... this is one of the most crucial aspects of fire prevention and can secure a home for years without worry about a short in the system causing havoc. The concept is spend now, or pay a much greater cost later. Knowing that fire destroys more than homes, but can also cause emotional pain and the loss of physical memories (everything from family photos to important family documents and keepsakes), should help alleviate the momentary pain of paying a licensed electrician to make sure your home is safe from frayed or damaged electrical wiring, damaged or old equipment (circuit breaker boxes, fuse boxes, junction boxes, right to the wall outlet plates).

Yet, even with a new home and top-notch wiring in the home, there are plenty of pitfalls the average homeowner falls into that could cause inadvertent fires. Prevention of these ordinary causes is relatively easy... For instance, we all seem to be fond of overloading our poor wall outlets... we use every type of electrical gadget we can to maximize the two plugs per wall outlet and sometimes end up creating very unsafe conditions for this convenience. The best practice is simply to never overload a wall outlet. If you must extend the range of the outlet or the number of spots for the various electrical plugs you have, then only consider an extension outlet with UL rated surge protection or suppression. There's plenty of companies out there that offer these, and I personally find some of the best and most inexpensive products come from Belkin. This company makes very inexpensive devices for surge protection and suppression as well as power backups (for tech electrical equipment like computers were backup power supplies can save your information from destruction or a fried logic board) and energy saving devices. Whatever company you choose for these devices, just make sure they are always UL (Underwriter's Laboratories) rated for safety. The main reasoning behind this however, is that you simply never want to overload your home's electrical system with energy sucking appliances that could cause damage by causing circuit or fuse overload.

Another preventative measure that we sometimes overlook in our desire to hide unsightly electrical cords is the placement of long and short cords beneath household items (entertainment centers, carpets, rugs, etc). Yes, it may mean looking at cords snaking around a room, but better than than a short in a frayed cord (or even one that looks good to the eye) that will cause damage if a fire starts. However, there are plenty of cool and clever gadgets out there nowadays that help hide those cords without stashing them under carpets or smashing them under furniture (a huge no-no, by the way, if a cord is put under heavy objects you're almost asking for trouble). Simply Googling "cord and cable management" will allow you to find what you need to hide those cords and cables, at least until you can go completely wireless (yes! wireless electrical devices are slowly becoming a reality).

Be careful of attaching electrical cords to baseboards or any location with nails or staples... once you puncture a cord, you might as well toss it as it presents a real electrical hazard. Tape can do the trick and, again, cord management devices can help lay cord flat against any surface and get it out of the way and out of sight. Likewise, if you notice a frayed or damaged cord for any reason, do not wrap it in electrical tape to save it (seemingly a favorite way to extend the life of a cord, but it's the wrong way)... just throw it out. You may not save money (a few bucks, natch!), but you will save a life, or your home, or your memories. Weigh your options and make a choice.

Aside from household electrical and cords, there's the risk of household chemicals and everyday household products that could be flammable. And that's a subject for Part 2 of our fire safety series from Garage Envy.

In the meantime you can check out our line of garage safety products at GarageEnvyShop.com!

Whether you have a garage workshop, home office, kids playroom, home entertainment room or other garage remodel design, or if you just have a basic garage for cars and storage, the obvious and hidden dangers should always be taken into account for safety's sake.

If you are a Do-It-Yourself type who decides to remodel the garage, always make certain to take as many precautions as you can and, more often than not, consider hiring professional licensed contractors to do all or a portion of the work that may present any hazards such as electrical work, plumbing work or other types of major remodeling. A company such as Garage Envy, a licensed Contractor with insurance and bonding particular to the construction industry will help protect not only your home, but also may save your life from a home remodeling accident or disaster. Licensed contractors like Garage Envy can make sure to pull the proper permits, conduct safe practices on the job site, make sure that Injury and Illness Protection Programs are in place for their employees and offer you a sense of security that the job will not only get done right the first time, but also ensure that you won't have a trip to the emergency room just because you felt it possible to put in some track lighting.

Still, today's home remodeling projects are easier than ever for the true and capable Do-It-Yourself person to handle easy to moderately difficult jobs with relative ease. Today's modular systems, easy-to-assemble parts, and hand tools make many projects-- even potentially life threatening ones-- rather simple, if the correct precautions against accidents are taken.

Even after the work is done and you've organized everything and stored it all just right... there's plenty of dangers to be aware of. Storing solvents and other chemicals present their own hazards... Loose lids could create an invisible cloud of toxic fumes, for instance. Heat that affects the garage environment can easily cause combustible material to do just that, and items not stored correctly could topple or cause injury if not secured properly.

In a truly finished garage, the hidden dangers could amount to loose wiring and hidden electrical hazards, cheaper building materials prone to failure, and a variety of other potential dangers that one should always be aware of.

Mr. Handyman intends on blogging on safety tips and advice over the next year... so stick around and check back frequently...

In the meantime, be sure to check out the Safety and Cleaning items from our store at GarageEnvyShop.com

The Studio City Green Home, Sponsored by The Tree House Project

Event Address: 4065 Kraft Ave. Studio City, Ca 91604

For questions, contact Marty Meisler at 818-731-7050

Event Schedule:

Press and Businesses Networking: Saturday 10:00 am until12 noon

Public Tours run from 12 Noon until 2:00 pm.

Please note that this is an ticketed admission based event. Tickets may be purchased in advance by going to www.brownpapertickets.com.

From the Tree House Project Website:

• January 17^th & 18^th 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• January 24^th & 25^th 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• January 31^st & February 1^st 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• February 7^th & 8^th 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Garage Envy Hopes To See YOU There!

Inauguration Parade - West

Saturday Jan. 17, 2009 from 9:00am until 12:00 noon

The parade so far has booked 50+ electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids for the event, which is scheduled to begin about 9:30 a.m. (at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium) and conclude at 11:30am.

Our garage floor mats are tough and made to drive on, no tears or turn marks just a beautiful mat to cover those ugly cracks and discolorations already on your concrete garage floor.

We're offering three new styles in addition to our current line of garage floor mats, including:

Drymate Garage Floor Mats are easy to install (simply roll out... cut to appropriate size if needed). The waterproof fabric is precision die cut and features Zorb-Tech anti-flow absorbency technology (making the mats absorbent, yet waterproof). The mats are soft, stain-resistant and offer a felt-like polyester fabric on one side with a durable, special bonded waterproof backing that prevents "soak-thru" from above or below. Made in the U.S.A., these Garage Floor Mats are machine washable.

SIZES & STYLES AVAILABLE:

• Standard Size: (17' x 7'4") Fits regular sized Autos, smaller SUV's, Mini Vans. Charcoal Grey
• Large Size: (20" x 7'4") Fits large SUV's, Vans and Pick-Ups. Charcoal Grey
• Small Vehicle Mat: (8'4" x 7'4") Fits most small Autos, Motorcycles, ATV's and Motorized Gardening Equipment such as Small Tractors and Riding Lawn Mowers. Charcoal Grey

FEATURES:

• Waterproof, bonded backing
• Anti-flow absorbency technology
• Ability to protect floor and hide cracks & stains
• Reduces tracking of dirt into home
• Lightweight! Easy to Roll Out for Install and Move when required
• Durable polyester fabric that is stain resistant... Will last for years
• Easy to clean with soap and water or in washer/dryer
• Slip resistant backing keeps mat in place
• Can easily be vacuumed

These are terrific items... so check 'em out today along with other great Garage Envy products!

]]> Wed, 14 Jan 2009 10:22:19 +0000 mr-handyman Here at Garage Envy, we're big fans of local author and professional organizer John Trosko. He's the go-to-guy for well thought out tips, tricks and advice to get your home and life organized and in order.... allowing for a more efficient, safe and enjoyable home.

John is currently the 2007-2009 President of the National Association of Professional Organizers, Los Angeles Chapter, and we wish him much success this year! You can check out John's blog at OrganizingLA. It's a great way to keep up with new ideas for organizing the home (and, of course, the garage).

Garage Envy is a proud member of NAPO and our own mission to "Master The Mess" in our client's garages stands in testament to our own leadership in this new frontier of home organizing. Garage Envy strives to be THE garage organization and storage professionals and our goal for 2009 is to create "green garages" for our clients, including:

• Industrial Strength Green Board
• Non-Toxic Materials
• Renewable and/or recycled work surfaces and cabinetry
• Energy efficient lighting, insulation, heating/air
• Zero to Low VOC flooring products
• Waste-Free garage installations
• The most unique and attractive products found in the garage industry.

Contact us today for more information on "going green" and transforming your garage for 2009!

Now you can add Garage Envy to the list of "people" you follow on Twitter.com and be able to get instant updates when a new products are posted, as well as news updates, press releases, etc.

If you want to get notifications sent as a text message to your cell or smartphone, just turn "Device Updates" on for Garage Envy's Twitter page.

Just go to this page on Twitter and add us.... and send us a "tweet" when you get a chance!

Thanks!

The Team at Garage Envy, Inc.

"Sunday, January 11, 2009 from 11:00 am to 3:00 PM at the 5th Annual La Jolla Motor Car Classic, at the beautiful La Jolla Cove.

Experience this spectacular event at the breathtaking La Jolla Cove featuring a remarkable array of over 150 cars and a tribute to the art of restoration."

Tickets

$15 in advance
$20 at event
Children 13 and under free

Click here to purchase tickets online

FOR ASSISTANCE CALL 619-233-5008 and ask for Tickets to the La Jolla Motorcar Classic

And for further information check out the La Jolla Motorcar Classic Show website

"This car show promises to be one of the highlights of this year's car show schedule and is for true classic car fanatics and families too!"

We at Garage Envy hope to see YOU there! Please check out our famous Showroom On Wheels... it'll give you a real opportunity to see how Garage Envy can maximize the space in your garage and offer other sensational garage remodeling tips and ideas! You'll get a chance to see our premium garage cabinet line, as well as our Wallscape slat-wall solution for putting stuff on the walls instead of the garage floor-- speaking of which, check out our premium garage floor treatment and tile lines, too!.

(and as this show is in La Jolla, maybe we'll see Bunny Lebowski there, too!)

Let's hope this is the year that we all get ahead in life, love and prosperity!

Now... Bet you are spending part of this week (or weekend) putting away holiday gear, if you haven't gotten an early start. Many of us (like myself) may procrastinate, but far be it from us to let February 1st catch up on us without taking down the tree (and, if a formerly live one, taking it to be recycled, a program that many cities and towns offer these days), getting down each and every ornament, bit of holly and mistletoe!

It can be an awful, but very pretty, holiday clutter to go through but here's some tips for organizing and storing your objects d' holiday:

First off, that tree: Again, if a live for formerly live tree graced your home this holiday season, consider recycling if your city or town offers this type of program. Trees can usually be dumped in an area designated by city or town officials... check with your local city services bureau or town information hotline. However, if you are a proud owner of a artificial Christmas tree (never "fake," mind you), then you're probably tempted to shove it into the box it came in (good luck!) or the biggest cardboard box you can find. I say... Avoid this! That box made of even the heaviest cardboard will rot out or disintegrate over time and there's plenty of other options out there including tree "bags" that come in a variety of materials that won't fall apart for the 11 other months you plan on storing it. There are plastic tree boxes with lock-tight lids, but the bags, some made of heavy duty plastic or even canvas... The canvas types are truly great and can be found online or in stores by doing a basic web search ("Christmas tree bags"). The canvas types zip open with enough room for the folded up tree and then simply zip shut, keeping out dust, insects and other elements until it's time to put the tree back up. There are also clear and solid color storage boxes big enough for many of today's artificial trees and they are well worth a look as well. Just avoid that cardboard box and save yourself some misery down the road.

Second... those breakable ornaments: Again, this is where today's durable materials come in handy... mostly durable plastics. Yes, I know that there are heavy duty cardboard boxes slotted for organizing and storing ornaments so they will not be damaged... again, consider that even reinforced cardboard breaks down over time and that a fall of a cardboard box from a typical garage ceiling space height could easily damage the items inside.... Plastic might be the better option. The boxes come in a variety of sizes and, again, are slotted so that each ball, bulb and keepsake ornament gets its own secure slot for a year's storage. Some slots can be adjusted to hold larger or smaller ornaments as well and these type of boxes are well worth a gander to save those keepsake ornaments for future use and holiday memories.

Okay, now onto Wreaths, garland, tinsel, holly, etc. etc. etc.: After the biggest item (tree) and breakables, you'll want to move onto the little Christmas and holiday artifacts. There are clear, see-through plastic boxes for wreaths, and those wreaths-- no matter what the size-- should be kept separate in their own box... this will allow them to stay full and not appear crushed and mangled come the next holiday season. Any fixture bulbs or artificial holly (green leaves/red berries) should stay on the wreath for the next time it's pulled into action... no need to pry or pull these off, they are made to stay on as part of the wreath. This goes for all wreaths made of artificial fir or twigs, etc. Those ones the kids make in school out of plastic baggies and/or tissue paper should also be stored in their own separate box.

Other items such as long strands of tinsel and garland, can be wound against a piece of cardboard or other rigid material... only a small square or rectangular piece is needed to wind the long ropes of garland and other items around so they do not get tangled and these items should get their own box as well (small, clear plastic boxes with "lockable" lids work best). Another option for winding is to save any wrapping paper tubes (yeah, those cardboard tubes you were gonna throw out)... they are great for winding long strands of holly and garland as well as tinsel.

Store bought stockings, Santa hats and suits and other holiday clothing type articles can be stored in flatter plastic boxes as well, and sometimes it's good to toss in a cedar block or balls for freshness and to keep out moths (yes, even if its not wool, those critters might munch your stuff, so best to prepare for that too).

A special word on Christmas candles and gingerbread houses.... candles keep! Gingerbread houses (and people), consider tossing those or um... eating them if they're at all edible. They tend to attract insects and simply do not hold up well over time as a keepsake item. Candle storage? Simple... just wrap the candle in newspaper and put in an old sock... if the sock fits, store it! The candle will remain fresh, and even stay smelling Christmas fresh (if scented). As candles melt in heat, and the garage where most items are stored tends to retain heat during summer, this is the best way to store a candle even if you're putting it in the hall closet. The newspaper will absorb any candle wax that might melt, avoiding any chance to ruin other holiday items, and the sock will keep it as cool as it can be kept. Do not store candles in the attic (too hot in summer and tends to trap household heat in winter)... if you can't keep them in a hall closet, and if you must use the garage for storing them put them on the lowest storage area rather than the highest (as heat rises).

Finally... Lights out! Some of us are festive year round (especially here in Southern California), and find we can leave our exterior lights up all year so long as they're designed for outdoor use and are checked from time-to-time to make sure there are no frayed cords, smashed bulbs, etc. Some folks even turn 'em on when it's not Christmas or the holiday season (birthdays, big celebratory events, parties). However, if you feel that it's time to put those lights away (according to Underwriter Laboratory those folks who put the little UL tags on electronic/electric goods, exterior Christmas lights are good for up to 90 days of continuous use... but you can leave them up if they are checked regularly for damage and bad bulbs), the very best thing you can do is once again use a wrapping paper tube or cardboard backing to wind the lights up, then you can either leave them on the tube and store that (to avoid tangles) or you can slide off the lights and you have a nice wound up, and untangled, batch of lights to store in a plastic storage container or box. This certainly can relieve the hassle of bring out those lights again at Christmastime only to find a mess of tangled green or white wire and smashed bulbs.

Tomorrow... Some neat storage tips using stackable storage systems and other storage solutions for holiday gear!

H A P P Y__H O L I D A Y S

&

M E R R Y__C H R I S T M A S

We're proud to add value to our client's homes and make their lives easier by helping them to Master The Mess in their garage. As the next few weeks roll into the hectic Christmas season, keep in mind that folks you know may benefit from a complete garage overhaul (depending on their area, if they are in Southern California, we can help them out) or they may simply benefit from any of the wonderful garage-oriented products that are carried in the Garage Envy Store. Whether it's a premium cabinet system to store things out of the way, or a slatwalls system that helps to organize and beautify the walls, Garage Envy can meet any need for creating new storage space in the garage, and even make space for you to keep the car handy!

Again... thank you, our clients and our blog readers for all your support this year! We hope that going into 2009, the future is better for us all... Now, if we could only work on Santa's garage/workshop... Hmmmm....

Consider that, even with slatwall covering most of the walls of the garage, you still might be able to find places for that most soulful of human endeavors: art.

Nothing livens up the walls of any room like fine art, or even pop art pieces designed to reflect your tastes. If the garage is the place where the auto enthusiast of the family tinkers away at all hours, then it might be perfect to hang up some nicely framed classic car pictures or paintings. If the garage is destined to become the home office, maybe some positive message posters might be what the walls need. For a kids rumpus or play room, the category of inexpensive wall art is greatly broadened with an array of artwork out there that can be rotated out as the child ages and tastes change.

The garage area does not have to be a boring and drab place, but instead can be transformed with some simple pictures or paintings into another showplace for guests who'll stop by, and it will make doing work in the garage perhaps a lot less stressful.

One of the first steps I always consider in organizing the garage spaces of homes I've worked in is the ceiling area... after all, just look at all that space... it's basically the same or exact square footage (plus or minus mouldings and/or stem walls) as the floor. Wouldn't it be great to maximize that space to it's fullest potential and not lose a bit of it for getting your stuff stowed away and out of sight (until you need it, of course)?

The ceiling area is just one of many areas (at least three other walls are the other consideration in the garage) that can be used to obtain storage space where there literally was none before.

Depending on whether the ceiling is finished or just raw beams and joists, the ceiling area is a great place to put an assortment of modular lofts (grated lofts in a variety of sizes are often available and they usually come in adjustable heights that give you the type of expansion room you'll crave over time). Other solutions would be to put a finished attic space (depending on the height of the roof beams) with an easy to use drop-down ladder that hides out of the way until you need it, as well as a truly built-in loft area that's just shy of the finished attic concept. The possibilities are endless for creating ceiling lofts that can enable you to put up to 500lbs of various items away and out of sight.

Yes, you say, but that load will be over our precious automobiles... Hey, I feel your fear there... but in all honesty, if installed or built correctly, those lofts and/or attic space will not come crashing down on the family car or Dad's fancy sports car... Always, and I cannot underscore this enough, always know your limitations as a do-it-yourself handy-person and when in doubt consider professional installation from trained and licensed contractors like Garage Envy. With professional installation you can depend on safety storing your sports, holiday, kid's toys or other equipment without fear of an accident occurring.

With the holidays rolling around once again, ceiling loft space is a great way to get out of those post-holiday blues when it seems that just chucking the stuff that formerly decked the halls back into the garage is all you can do. By getting those holiday boxes and other items off the floor and onto simple lofts or a wonderfully built-in attic, you can relieve yourself of some of that holiday stress and get on with enjoying the season to its fullest!

The website for the L.A. Auto Show is up and running at: LA Auto Show

It promises to be a spectacular event showcasing some of the finest production and concept cars of the 21st Century. Hopefully, in light of the current economy, we'll see some "greener" autos on display and less of the pumped-up SUV's of the past... Given the crisis American auto makers are in, this would seem like the best bet, but there's no doubt that going to the show will allow folks to view some cars of the future along with those we'll all be driving over the next three years.

The show will also present a number of kiosks and events highlighting accessories and must-have items specifically designed for your car or garage.

The show will be going on from November 21-30, but check out the website for more details and location directions as well as driving directions.

For automobile enthusiasts in Los Angeles, Christmas comes early once again!

Consider that your garage already has electrical hookups that, outside from a workshop or car vac, don't often see much use. Usually the garage offers a three-prong grounded dual plug outlet that can definitely handle the energy needs of today's heavy-duty appliances. When thinking of remodeling the garage, keep in mind that an area allocated for a heavy-duty appliance item like a fridge or freezer could easily be carved out while still keeping enough room for other storage needs and, of course, the family vehicles.

Nowadays, it's no longer as simple as throwing the holiday bird into the oven... Many home chefs (yes, you!) now soak their turkeys in sea salt or brine over several days to create a thoroughly moist bird that won't lose that moisture in the cooking process, aside from possibly marinating and seasoning the turkey in other ways. As it can take a few days for these types of processes to work well, and the turkey must still be kept fresh and unspoiled while conducting these activities, the only way to control the cooking experiments while still keeping things edible is to use a wide area storage location in the family fridge... and this is not always possible since most of our home refrigerators are already packed to the point where fitting in a marinating turkey simply isn't possible.

This is where an additional fridge/freezer unit in the garage becomes not just a convenience but almost a necessity. You'll probably find that once you have the additional unit, you won't know how you did without it all those years. Aside from the holiday turkey, other perishable trimmings and fixings pre-made or not, the additional unit can also be used as storage for days on end without turning away the normal, everyday fridge or freezer items.

Many high-end and mid-range units are available at a relatively inexpensive cost, and refurbished units can also be found for a bargain. Installation is as easy as having the unit dropped off by the retailer (ask for free shipping, if possible, as part of your deal) and then plugged in overnight before storing your food.

Garage Envy is adept at installing new units and adding stylish single or bi-fold enclosure doors that hide the appliance when not in use so that the garage maintains a clean, organized look while still keeping the unit accessible for holiday or even everyday use (just think of all the sodas or healthier drinks you can store for guests, kids, etc. The possibilities are endless). When your garage renovation comes up, consider a space for an additional refrigerator or freezer... you won't be disappointed with the results!

The new formaldehyde laws for wood panels make no sense at all. Without getting into the specifics of the entire issue I'll try and boil it down into the simplest cause and effect nature of what this new law does. In it's essence it raises the cost of raw material for California manufacturers but doesn't stop out of state manufacturers from selling and distributing their product within California's borders. What this will ultimately do is drive all wood component manufacturing out of California and into neighboring states. This ultimately reduces Californian jobs, reduces the amount of taxes paid into the state and creates higher priced goods for the consumer. Why may you ask? Lobbyist. What can you do about it? Write you state officials in Sacramento and demand an even playing field on a national level.

What they should be telling you is that the chemical makeup of their product will never fail. However, there are two key components of creating a rock solid garage floor, 1. the prep, & 2. the top coat (this should be a polyurethane or polyurea - not epoxy). Regardless of what product you end up using for your garage floor the preparation of the concrete is the foundation of getting a flooring product to adhere to the substrate. There are a number of ways to go about doing this, listed in order of preference:

1. [Diamond Grind] your Floor (you can either rent, buy or pay someone to do this) optimum finish grit is 150 or less. The reason diamond grinding is the best technique has to do with the finish quality and overall adhesion of your flooring product. The key to grinding is that the diamonds grind off any contaminates as well as break open the individual silica particles, leaving fresh, rough surfaces for the flooring material to mechanically bond onto. Another reason diamond grinding is top of the list is because as you run the large diamond head across your floor it also does some smoothing out of any rough spots or high points. In essence it is re-shaping your floor to a certain degree making it flatter and presumably a more desirable surface.

2. [Lead Shot Blast] - this technique takes thousands of tiny lead shot and shoots it out at your floor and tremendously high velocities. The machines that do this are much like a pressure washer except it only shoots straight down and then there are magnet trays to re-collect the shot and funnel back into the hopper to be re-shot. This technique is good and it will give your substrate a great profile but there are two major drawbacks to this method -one, is that if you are trying to remove oil or gunk off the floor it tends to drive it down deep into the pours of the concrete and not fully remove it. The second is that old concrete tends to degrade at different rates and different depths all dependant upon who originally mixed and poured the concrete. The concrete can begin to have slight variations in height much like if you sand blast a piece of wood (the hard grain doesn't get blasted away as easily as the soft wood so you end up with a very textured piece of wood). Now it's not as extreme when you are dealing with concrete but it is a possibility. All in all if you can't diamond grind - shot blast.

3. [Acid Etch] - you need to be careful using the acid etch products as well as conform to any state law that might prohibit certain products. In California it has been banned completely so check your local code before trying this process. For the most part Acid etch solvents are sold by several companies but very few are a true "Acid". Most of the time you need to go through safety training as well as have a wholesale account to get your hands on the most aggressive acids. Acid etch can work but the mix ratio has to be spot on and the amount of time it's used on the concrete needs to be timed out and washed off within the allotted time. If taken off to early you won't get good adhesion and if left on to long you will have a breakdown of your substrate that will never be repairable. The acid in many instances doesn't take off all the oils and contaminants that have built up over the years. Doing an acid etch of your concrete is much more of an art than a science to do it correctly. Much cheaper in the short run than the aforementioned methods but potentially much more costly in the long run.

4. [Off the Shelf Cleaners] - there are tons and tons of off the shelf degreasers and concrete cleaners out there that will help "clean" your concrete. This for the most part is what a majority of the Do-It-Yourself floor applicators use but unfortunately your floor will not last the test of time with this method. We grind up hundreds of floors that use this technique because you simply don't give your concrete the proper profile in which the base coats can mechanically bond onto. These are great for looks but don't do enough to the concrete to properly prep it for a long term adhesion by hybrid polymer floor applications.

If anyone has any questions or comments please feel free to shoot them our way and we would be happy to help solve your flooring needs. If you need flooring product and would like to do-it-yourself check out http://www.garageenvyshop.com/Epoxy_Garage_Flooring.aspx

Studio City, CA

Garage Envy, Inc., a Los Angeles firm and proud ASID LA member, is participating in the design and creation of the first certified Green Garage in the U.S.. Garage Envy, based in Sun Valley, CA, is Southern California's leader in storage and organization designed solely for the garage. Formed in 2002, Garage Envy has grown by delivering the highest quality products with intelligent and beautiful designs. A complete design/build firm, Garage Envy has been able to trailblaze the field of garage design and breakdown the stereotypes of how people perceive garages to look and function.

One of Garage Envy's primary efforts has been to introduce eco-friendly building technologies to their industry and everyday business practices. From energy efficient products, to materials that are safe for both the family and environment. Recently recognized as the leader of the Green Garage mission, Garage Envy was selected to participate in the first LEED Platinum home in the San Fernando Valley, and one of the very few in the country. LEED certification stands for The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™. LEED, created by the United States Green Building Council, encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices through the creation and implementation of universally understood and accepted tools and performance criteria. The Platinum rating is the highest rating of LEED.

The Garage Envy Green Garage will be equipped with energy efficient lighting, non-toxic and environmentally friendly paints, bench tops made of sustainable products, European style cabinets made of wheat board, custom doors made of bamboo, and flooring with zero VOC (volatile organic compounds) products.

ASID members and the public will be able to view the Garage Envy Green Garage as well as the many other design features of this LEED Platinum certified home in Studio City, in October. Information and exact open house dates will be made available to ASID. For more information please visit www.GarageEnvy.com or call 888.249.1766.

RHODESHOW PRODUCTIONS Presents

32nd ANNUAL KERNVILLE ROD RUN - KERNVILLE

This year it will be held on October 9th - 12th. and is sponsored by Rhodeshow Productions.

Not a lot of website information is available for this, but if you're interested, you can call (760) 376-3133 to get more information.

There will be over 350 vintage Hot Rods and Car Classics at this show... so it should be a great time for those interested in seeing some of the most amazing automotive machinery out there!

For further information check out the Kernville Chamber of Commerce website.

If you go... add your comments below... and enjoy the show!

This garage had a hybrid polymer floor done (color: Santana) as well as the solid michigan maple bench tops and Grey Melamine cabinets. The clients have turned their garage into a hang-out instead of a parking space for their car. They were a great client to have and appreciated the work done which is always nice to hear.

You could turn your garage into a weekend poker room or just another hang-living room for your kids and all their friends. Now you can keep all their junk in the garage and you don't have to worry about damage to your brand new hardwood floors inside the house.

There are endless possibilities when it comes to different ways to utilize your garage intead of it wasting away under a heap of junk. Let www.GarageEnvy.com come up with a viable design within your budget or if your a do-it-yourselfer we suggest www.GarageEnvyShop.com for all your DIY garage storage products just waiting to clean up your junk.

Why pass out in your garage after a long night of fun with your buddies when you can create your own garage man cave for pennies?

For the most part going out in your garage with your buddies and having a few drinks ends with Billy throwing Jeff down on the dirty concrete and somebody going home with a bloody lip and sore ego. Why not fix up your garage and create your own Garage Sanctuary for you and your pals to throw down in style? Garage Conversions are the hottest home improvement sector since closets came along 20 years ago. Your wife has already claimed her domain, everything else, why not set yourself up with an environment that is virtually indestructible and a great place to relax. Who knows your wife might even come visit you once in awhile out in the garage if it doesn't look and smell like Spot's arse. Check out the pic above of a recent conversion GarageEnvy.com did for this couple. It started out like every other garage you've seen, and ended up being the nicest room in the house.

Men unite and take back a little piece of your dignity and create your own room.

The car show will be held in the infield area of the park and offer professional and celebrity judges as well as a chance to see that day's thoroughbred racing at the park.

Admission is $5 (free for children under 17-years, accompanied by the parent) and parking is $4 (but not for the classic cars... heh!)

More information can be found out by calling 818-842-KING. Directions to Santa Anita Park can be found HERE. And the flyer (front and back .jpg images) for the show can be found HERE and HERE. The back portion of the flyer offers an application for entry into the competition: You can enter your own classic auto for the show and various contests by October 13th, 2008 (that's only weeks away, so start your engines and sign up!). Rules and regulations and such can be found on the back of that flyer.

Should be a great show with plenty of classic cars brought in from their hideaway garages for the day... and a fun day at the races, too!

Our friends from the Great White North seem to be doing much the same as we Americans are when it comes to our garages. They view it as the last frontier of the home, a place formerly neglected that sure could use some sprucing up if not a complete overhaul that includes increased storage space (cabinets, shelving, lofts of any size), giving them the ability to organize the space, clean it up and maybe even get a car or two in there.

In America we're already pretty hip to this concept and want our garage to be the envy of the neighborhood. After all, other than the facade of the home and the landscaping, the garage is truly representative of who we are and how we conduct our lives. It's really the first room your neighbors see, as the garage door is usually open to full view of the street, whereas other rooms in the house are usually hidden from view. There's a lot to be said about someone who can maintain a clean-looking garage, and let's face it... other than the status of having a space where you can store anything neatly, it also gives the homeowner a true sense of relief knowing that they can store and find anything they want at any time without having to sift through broken, old dusty boxes marked with a long faded felt-tip pen.

The garage, no longer a rat's nest after a professional remodel (featuring garage cabinets, slat-wall systems like Wallscape and a nice Liquid Granite epoxy flooring treatment), can truly be the landmark of the neighborhood... If done right, and with the right storage products, the neighbors might even consider it the Taj Mahal of garages as well!

For a fraction of the cost of adding on a room or storage space you can have Garage Envy or any other garage remodeling company come in add real cubic storage space at a much lower cost than full blown remodels. We have tried to convey this to our potential clients and it has worked. Homeowners across the south land have a ton of equity in their homes but they can't sell right now unless they want to take a huge pay cut for their newly bought home. What they can do is pull out equity and differentiate their home by having features such as a new garage or new landscaping that will ultimately help sell their house ahead of an identical house two feet down the road. Its not rocket science. If you want to sell your house and all the houses around yours look the same then you are either forced to reduce the price of your house to add some attraction or differentiate your house from the next one and sell for a premium.

So whether your staying put or trying to sell then one of the best options is to add a garage floor or garage cabinets to help make your garage the envy of the neighborhood and set you apart from the thousands of homes currently on the market.

The most obvious thing you should evaluate is the credibility and the track history of any potential company that you allow into your house. Some of the fastest and easiest ways to check the status of a company are through the organizations that certify them and register them. These inclue state licensing boards, better businss bureau and a number of other licensing bodies that companies will sign up with to validate their credentials. If your garage remodeling company doesn't have any of these that they will claim then you should probably take them off the list of potential candidates to do your project.

Ask, and check testimonials. Its one thing to see a testimonial written down but it's another thing to call past clients and hear it from the horses mouth. Did they do a good garage floor? Were the garage cabinets of the same quality that they sold? How was the customer service? In a matter of 5 or 10 minutes you can help weed out the bad contractors and narrow in on the people that really provide service.

Your garage should be an extension of your home so don't just let anyone in there who claims they can do a good job. Do some checking on them before you get swindled out of your hard earned money and receive inferior product in return.

If your looking for garage renovation in southern California please take a moment to get a free in home design consultation by one of our reps at Garage Envy. There are no hidden charges for a free estimate and there are no obligations. If you don't like what you see or can find a better product with better service we would be happy to know about it. We strive to provide the best customer service with superior garage products so we would love to hear your opinion. 888.249.1766

Now in its 23rd year, Central California’s Best Car Show returns to Pismo Beach, June 20th – 22nd. The Pismo Beach Classic is one of the largest classic car and street rod shows on the West Coast, as it pulls in 1000 classic cars and street rods and over 125,000 spectators over just three days. A favorite amongst the visitors is always the Hot Rod Bar & Grill – a large tent on the beach, located by the Pismo Pier that is centralized within the event; everything begins and ends at the Hot Rod Bar & Grill.

This year, the size of the tent has been expanded to include the “Gold Class”

cars that are on exhibit inside of the Hot Rod Bar & Grill. These cars are selected on the basis that they are the absolute elite cream of the crop and compete with each other for the Platinum award. The Platinum award winner is the overall winner of the Gold Class.

With fun events, lots of activities, and a live charity auction, the Pismo Beach Classic Car Show is the place to be the weekend of June 20th – 22nd. For more information on this event, call toll free: 866.450.7469, or email: pamb@thepismobeachclassic.com

When considering what type of flooring product you want to use it is crucial that you don't fall for the (home depot) single coat epoxy process. Although they say they warranty their products they don't really cover the true issues that most people find with their floors. The key complaint when dealing with this type of garage flooring product is that it delaminates from the concrete floor within months of application. There are two main reasons for this - the first is that the concrete was not properly prepped before the epoxy went down. In most cases simply pressure washing the concrete down does little good for actually creating a good mechanical bond between the epoxy and your concrete. In almost all floors that we do, regardless of the condition of the floor, we diamond grind the concrete surface in an effort to ensure the best possible adhesion of the garage flooring product. The second most common problem with a single coat epoxy floor is that the top epoxy coat does not provide a chemical barrier between a hot car tire and the epoxy. When car tires get hot they have a chemical called (Plasticine) that will chemically bond with epoxy and then when you pull your car out the following day it simply rips the epoxy off the floor. It is essential to use a top coat that is either a polyurethane or a polyurea base. Both these categories of chemicals create a true barrier to the plasticine and provide an adequate sealant for the entire floor. If you want a floor that will last it is essential to know what is involved because we at Garage Envy grind up home depot type epoxy floors on a daily basis and start from scratch with our lifetime warranty hybrid polymer flooring.

We hope this helps scratch the surface and if you have any questions please don't hesitate to either call us or visit our website.

Vendors and enthusiasts can begin signing up and making plans to showcase their wares as an exhibitor or simply enroll to be a guest for the event that will be held November 19-30, 2008. (Press days are Nov. 19-20, Public days are Nov. 21-30).

If 2007 is any indication the 2008 event is going to be big and an awesome experience... See you there!

Mr. Handyman

We have many car enthusiasts as our current clientele and they've been asking for something like this for some time now. Well, here it is - www.garageenvy.com/events.html

If you would like to place this link within your own site for your visitors to be able to have quick & easy access to the service then by all means - link-a-way.

Thanks