Does the garage need a fresh coat of paint? And while you’re at it, would a new door be a good idea? Especially now, with the reduction in VAT, many people are thinking about renovating their garage. Garage expert Marko Ruscher explains what is particularly important.
Mr. Ruscher, what are the reasons for modernizing a garage now?
The reduction in VAT is of course currently a good opportunity for anyone thinking about refurbishment. You can’t save more than you can now! But garage modernization is also worthwhile regardless of this, because the value of a garage increases enormously when it is brought up to date. Of course, the first decisive factor is how much wear and tear the garage – whether brick-built or factory-built – shows and how extensively you want to refurbish it. However, it is advisable not to delay even minor repairs and ideally to tackle them before winter. If you look after your garage, you will definitely avoid major repairs in the long term.
For which types of damage is renovation absolutely necessary?
If the roof is leaking, action should be taken in any case, because once moisture enters the garage interior, further damage can occur. Repairing the garage roof is one of the most common tasks when renovating or modernizing a garage. This is usually because the roof coating on older garages eventually starts to leak and water can get in. The first signs of a damp garage roof can be a musty smell or mildew stains. With a new roof seal or alternatively the installation of a shed roof, roof defects can be rectified quickly and in the long term.
Signs of wear and corrosion on door springs or the suspension should also be removed as quickly as possible. Instead of repairing an old door, many customers opt for a complete door replacement. This is particularly because modern sectional doors are safer and more practical than classic up-and-over doors. And an electric door operator with remote control or even operation via our ZAPF Connect cell phone app can be installed at the same time if required.
What about the façade?
Cracks in the plaster cannot be ruled out over the years. If frost penetrates here, a small crack can quickly become a large one. It is then advisable to renovate the façade so that these defects can be quickly rectified. The rule here is: it is better not to wait too long, the quicker you act, the less effort is required. Discoloration or fading of the paint can occur over time, particularly on exterior walls that are directly exposed to the weather, but also on interior walls. Although these are not defects that absolutely need to be eliminated, but merely “blemishes”, a fresh coat of paint will quickly make the garage shine like new again. ZAPF also offers a large selection of colors – sure to match the adjacent home.
We’ve talked about renovations so far, but many customers also want to modernize their garage. What options are there?
The aforementioned door replacement can of course be counted as modernization. The installation of a door drive is also popular. Even if the garage could previously only be opened and closed manually, an electric drive can be retrofitted without any problems – and this applies to practically all garage models. Many customers then choose a new, modern sectional door with operator, but an operator can also be fitted to the existing door. The door can then be controlled by remote control or via an app on a cell phone.
It is becoming increasingly common for garages to be ecologically enhanced by adding green roofs. This creates a small piece of green space – even if the garage is located in the middle of the city.
How does garage modernization or renovation work at ZAPF?
The first step is always a free garage check, during which we take a close look at the building fabric and technology directly on site. Based on these findings, we then make a renovation proposal in the form of a detailed fixed-price offer, which of course also takes into account the customer’s individual wishes.
How long does a complete refurbishment take?
Even a complex renovation usually only takes a few days at ZAPF. The advantage: with us, customers receive all work from a single source, which means one contact person, one cost estimate and one invoice – and that for all the work involved. This not only saves a lot of time, but also money. The costs are significantly lower than with a conventional renovation, where all the work is carried out individually by different tradesmen. ZAPF takes care of damage to the building fabric, such as cracks, signs of wear and tear or leaks in the roof, as well as installing new elements (e.g. sectional doors, electrical installation, wallbox for electric cars) and, of course, repainting.
How important is personal contact with the customer?
This is very important, because only if we inspect the garage and the conditions directly can we provide a cost estimate that the customer can rely on. In addition, there is always a contact person on site who takes care of everything and is always available to the customer if they have any questions or problems. Garage owners who are interested in a modernization can obtain further information by calling 0921 601-700 or sending an e-mail to garagen@zapf-gmbh.de
You can find out more about the options for garage renovation at www.garagenmodernisierung.de
