How do Prefab Garages stack up to Green Certification?

Yes, there really is a way to make sure you're doing the greenest thing for the environment even if all you need is a shed for your backyard.  When considering storage garages for sale in today's diverse prefab garage market, remember to think about how your garage could contribute to a cleaner lifestyle.  

The issue of caring for our environment concerns all of us, whether considering a small shed or a roomy double garage for cars and more.  It's more important than ever to consider what kind of environmental impact our actions have on the world we live in.

Recently the Green Parking Council published an article about new certification levels for garage structures: 

"Green Garage Certification is the world’s only rating system defining and recognizing sustainable practices in parking structure management, programming, design, and technology.
An industry-driven, field-tested road map for high-performance new and existing parking garages, Green Garage Certification recognizes forward-thinking facilities shaping the transportation network of tomorrow.
Built through the collaboration of over 200 professionals from the parking, real estate, technology and sustainability worlds, Green Garage Certification promotes a holistic approach to garage performance and sustainability and encourages the adoption of emerging smart parking and intelligent transportation tools."

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has green building advice on their website, including this information on choosing a greener garage door:

"Garage doors containing recycled content are available on the market, including ones made of composite wood or steel. Insulated garage doors are also widely available, which can help keep your garage and any adjacent rooms warmer in the winter, and improve the energy efficiency of your home. For homes in warmer climates, consider a perforated garage door, which allows ventilation and light inside the garage, while providing security and privacy."

The Amish tradition of hand built structures and gardening was a green industry long before it became evident in today's fast paced world how necessary green building practices are to assist the creation of a sustainable and healthy environment.  

We've been keeping the garage and shed building business in Lancaster County as green as possible since 1975.  Community is important to us and we keep the well-being and safety of our neighbors first.  We were quick to response in 2012, when Hurricane Sandy caused damage and destruction throughout the East Coast. We got a number of calls saying that our structures were some of the only ones still standing! For more information on the methods and materials used in we use, contact 

us here .

Top 5 Shed Organization Hacks for Your Outdoor Man Cave

Are you looking for mundane or ho-hum tricks to manage the limited space you have available in you shed? 

You're looking for brilliance! Well, we may not have brilliance but we do have a few good ideas you may not have thought of in this simple but informative blog entry; The top 5 shed organization hacks for your outdoor man cave.

1) Shelves Are a No-Brainer

Now shelves aren't so far up on the brilliance scale. You've thought of those already. But how useful are they really? Are they sturdy enough to hold all your stuff without wobbling? If they're not all that sturdy, consider screwing them to the wall. Why not? It's your shed, and everything in it, right down to the shelves should be as useful as it can be. Furthermore, make sure they're not so tall you can't use the top shelf. If they are, start thinking skinny and flat. We're sure you can come up with few of those items to stick up there.

2) Install a Tool Hanger or Two

Tool hangers to hang those pesky rakes and shovels from are just smart. If you install one of these hanger, long gone are the days of leaning them in the corner only to have to struggle to get the one you need. As well, how many times have you caught a toe on a rake only to have it knock everything else over or swing out to practically smack you in the head?

3) Peg Boards Are a Big Plus

Peg boards are so versatile since you can buy a lot of different types of hangers to plug into them. Plus, as the things you store on peg boards will change over time, you can move the hangers around to fit it all without a hitch or a hassle.

4) Wind up Cords and Hoses

Although your hose reel may be handy sitting in the yard, it takes up quite a bit of floor space in your shed. Consider a wall mount system that holds them tight against the wall. Your hose will be just as handy if you really need it during the fall and winter months. Furthermore, extension cords can be hung in the same way without getting tangled. Think about it, when you need an extension cord, you need it now. It wastes a bunch of time trying to untangle it and get the knots out just so you can string a light under your car or power up a saw for a quick cut with your saw.

5) Can You Do the Can-Can?

We bet you can. But we're not talking about dancing here. Most guys think of trash cans are only useful for trash. However, have you thought about using them for storing bagged items like pet food and bedding or driveway oil-dry? Or how about sidewalk salt, grass seed, lawn fertilizer or charcoal briquettes for the grill. You get the point. Anything that comes in a bag can be tossed in a can or bucket to make it less of a mess to deal with and take a lot less space.

Floor Space Is at a Premium

No matter how big your shed is, floor space is always going to be at a premium once you stick your hunting gear, golf clubs, lawn mower, motorcycles and ATV's inside. But think about it; if you get all the little stuff up off the floor and out of your way, you'll have tons of room for the big stuff. Who knows, with a little planning you may even have room for a comfy chair to sit on while you watch the game and enjoy a cold one after all the honey-do's are done for the day.

If you'd like more room for all the stuff you need to keep outdoors, contact us. We'll be more than happy to show you how we can help you get a lot more space in your outdoor man-cave.

Prefab Garages: Advantages and Considerations

Advantages of a Prefab Garages

There several benefits for having prefab garages.  One of the main pros is their affordability. These garages are considerably more affordable than garages built from scratch. You get to select the kind of garage you want, so your garage cost depends on your budget and what you prefer.

Variety is another benefit. You can find prefab garages in a wide range of styles, sizes and designs. What’s more, you can order a prefab garage that fits into whatever space you may have.  You can easily select your garage’s roofing, siding and trim so that it matches your house.

They're also environmentally friendly. Consider that there’s less waste involved in manufacturing them.

Considerations and Warnings

• You can have the entire structure transported, at once, or have it moved in sections that will be connected once the sections arrive at your site.
• Constructing your prefab garage includes installing any extra features you may request, besides interior finishing and garage wiring.
• If your garage will be planted in a damp area, lumber can be pressure treated for an additional cost. Also, floor joists and floors can be upgraded.
• This type of garage typically meets or even exceeds standards required for earthquake safety without having to make extra modifications This is because prefab garages are constructed from materials made to withstand the stress involved in transporting them.
• You need flat, level land for your prefabricated garage. If you've already built your foundation, level out your space, using a shovel.
• When using a kit, ensure you keep up with all screws and other tiny parts. Losing a single screw can make your garage look as if it’s angled slightly to the right.
• Customizing your prefab garage can increase the cost of a basic kit. Consider that it’s less expensive than traditional garages because it’s not customized. Therefore, making adjustments in finishes and materials or adding storage space can affect cost.

Let Stoltzfus Structures help you select the best prefab garage for your property. If you have any questions about these garages, please contact us.

3 Reasons a Detached Garage is a Good Idea

Even with proper construction and ventilation, garages attached to your home can be a health and safety hazard for your family. Noxious vehicle exhaust is not the only threat to be concerned with. If you are repairing or maintaining cars, motorcycles, or four-wheeler bikes you probably have items stored in the garage such as motor oil and brake fluid. As you know, these put off fumes and are flammable. The fumes can linger for a long time. If your air ducts in your attached garage are connected to the house air ducts, these fumes can travel into the house along with lung-damaging dust particles from other repairs such as rust removal. A detached garage keeps these fumes isolated from your residence.

Many people use their garages to store fuel for lawn mowers and snow blowers, paint, varnish, thinners, degreaser, weed killers, and insect repellents. Using the correct containers and storing these combustible items properly reduces the possibility of fire. A detached garage safeguards your home and family should a fire occur.

Noise is another factor that is eliminated with a detached garage. Persons working on vehicles should be wearing ear protection, but those in the house are not. Loud noises can cause irreversible hearing loss. A detached garage will keep the clamor isolated to the immediate area.

The health and safety of your family is your highest concern. Plus, getting your tools out of the living room will delight your wife. We can help you protect your family's safety and sanity with a detached garages specifically designed for your needs, so contact us for more information.

10 Tips to Keep Bugs and Critters Out of Your Shed

Storage Sheds have become a great investment for many homeowners. It helps to declutter garages and carports and adds value to the resell of a home. Storage sheds come in many types and designs but the 3 most common are wood, vinyl or metal. An important aspect in having a storage shed is maintaining a storage shed for years of use. If a storage shed is not maintained it can become infested with insects and rodents.

Some of the insects and rodents that have been found in storage sheds are ants, roaches, termites, mice, rats, mosquitoes, bees, flies, spiders and fleas. So how do you keep your storage shed bug free?

The first step is to prepare your storage shed ahead of time. Here are things you can do.

1. Paint - If you have a wood storage shed or a shed with a wood base then paint it. Paint will act as a cover for the wood shed and the paint will help prevent wood rot for many years.

2. Seal Cracks - Check your shed inside and out for openings and cracks. Even the slightest opening will invite bugs.

3. Ventilation - Proper ventilation will prevent moisture in the storage shed. Mold and mildew has been known to attract bugs.

4. Natural Deterrents - Certain herb plants can be planted around your shed for protection. Catnip is said to repel ants, lavender repels moths, sage repels slugs, Flies hate the smell of basil and mint can repel mice.

If you have a storage shed that has been around a while you may ask how to get rid of bugs that are already in the shed? Here are some tips.

5. Rotten Wood - Fix or replace any rotten wood that your shed may have.

6. Clean - Sweep out or vacuum your shed. This should be done one to three times a month.

7. Garbage - Do not store garbage cans inside the shed. It attracts many insects.

8. Insecticides - Use bait, bug traps or insecticides to get rid of any bugs that are in your storage shed.

9. Shed Perimeter - Spray or spread insecticide around the outside perimeter of your storage shed.

10. Moth Balls - Place moth balls around the shed and under it to keep snakes and spiders away.

As you can see, keeping a storage shed bug free is not difficult and keeping your storage shed in good condition will be beneficial to the investment of your home.

The Best Way to Add Resale Value to Your Home

Веfоrе уоu mаkе а major structural change tо уоur property, іt іs іmроrtаnt tо consider hоw thіs will affect уоur resale vаluе. 

Whіlе thеrе аrе mаnу steps thаt уоu саn tаkе tо improve уоur property, thе addition оf а detached garage mау bе the most beneficial tо уоu. It also mау drastically improve уоur resale price whеn уоu аrе ready tо sell.

Adding Square Footage tо Yоur Home: As а property owner, уоu mау bе well aware thаt оnе оf thе mоst common ways thе vаluе оf уоur property іs determined іs bу thе market rate fоr price реr square foot оf homes іn thе area. Whіlе factors suсh аs age оf thе property, condition оf thе property аnd amenities іn thе neighborhood mау affect whеthеr уоur property’s price реr square foot іs аbоvе оr bеlоw market average, thе size оf thе improvements hаs а direct impact оn property vаluе. Adding а detached garage adds square footage tо thе property, аnd а real estate agent саn help уоu tо determine thе true financial gain уоu mау experience thrоugh thіs addition.

Increasing Appeal tо Potential Buyers: Properties thаt аrе mоrе appealing tо potential buyers mау sell fоr а higher price. Whеn уоu add а detached garage tо уоur property, уоu mау bе adding style аnd function tо thе property bу adding а place tо park vehicles аnd tо store items lіkе seasonal items аnd lawn equipment. Yоu саn аlsо create а detached garage wіth а workshop оr аnоthеr functional area fоr аddеd appeal.

Transforming Existing Space: Some hоmе additions will add а detached garage tо а property bесаusе а garage wаs nеvеr constructed оn thе property, but оthеrs will bе аddеd bесаusе thе homeowner wаnts tо transform thе existing garage attached tо thе hоmе іntо а mоrе functional area. Fоr example, а nеw hоmе addition, mау turn thе existing garage іntо а living room, а bedroom оr аnоthеr functional area. Wіth thе addition оf а detached garage, thе property owner саn retain thе benefits оf hаvіng а garage whіlе аlsо improving thе functional usе оf thе main area оf thе hоmе.

Contact us to learn how you can benefit from extra storage space. 

Prefab Garages vs Stick Built Garages

There are many factors to consider when adding a garage to your home and it's not just about what it will look 

like. Perhaps the most important question of all is how much it is going to cost. That really does depend on whether you are considering prefab garages or traditionally built garages. Although they both will do a good job of protecting your vehicle and prized possessions, there's a huge difference in price.

First of all, let's talk about how much value is building a garage going to add to your home? According to Remodeling magazine, roughly 69% of the investment will be recouped. In other words, if you spend $20,000 on construction, it will add $13,800 in overall value to your home if you decide to sell. Add to that the convenience and security that a garage offers and it's clear that it is an excellent home improvement.

There are a couple of options to choose from for the construction of a garage. First is the traditional, stick built structures that everyone is familiar with. And, over the last several years, prefab garages have been more and more prevalent. Either type of construction will serve the purpose it's intended to, but when cost is taken into consideration, there is one clear front-runner.

On average, one-car garages built with traditional materials are going to start out somewhere around $10,000 and go up from there. To construct and a two-car can nearly double the price tag. In addition to the actual construction costs, there are also going to be permits, inspections and other costs to factor in. Plus, just like any other construction project, it takes time and schedules can easily be altered due to weather or crew issues. The longer it takes, the more expensive the build gets.

Keep in mind that the bigger the garage, the more square footage you'll have to use after construction for both kinds of garages. Also keep in mind that the larger the garage, the more materials and labor will be required. How big should you build? That will depend on how many vehicles you want to use it for and whether or not you need extra storage space. It's always nice to have a little extra floor space for gardening equipment, bicycles and tools, but adding just ten square feet (5' x 2') you add roughly $400 to the cost of construction.

Prefab garages, on the other hand range in price from $4,000 on up. The construction time is significantly reduced since the basic construction is done off-site. The manufacturer builds the frame, loads it up on a truck and hauls it out to your site where the pieces are fully assembled. The benefit is that it requires a minimal amount of time, compared to standard construction. Within short order, they will put it all together and all you have to do is park the car inside.

So, you know that adding a garage adds value to your home, expands your storage space and keeps your vehicle safe and out of the weather. You don't have to spend the kids college tuition or cash in your retirement savings. There is one simple way to save money while still getting a garage that suits your needs. Contact us for more information about how prefab garages offer the same stability, durability and functionality of stick-built garages, but cost less and go up much quicker.