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Buy a New Concrete Garage | Unravelling Options and Accessories

It is often overwhelming, the vast amount of accessories and options available to you when purchasing your concrete sectional garage, shed or workshop. Fortunately some manufacturers through experience offer pre-bundled and discounted garage price packages which include many of the popular accessories commonly specified such as maintenance free PVC fascias and windows, brick front pillars, guttering, and decorative roofing options.

 

On the other hand, no two concrete garages have to be alike due to the array of items on offer.  

 

Back to basics, once a design of garage is chosen you maybe presented with a choice of finishes. By default a majority of concrete sectional buildings are supplied in spar wall chippings or 'pebbledash' finishes. The spar and particularly the larger Classic spar contain numerous colours that do tend to blend in well in most environments. On the other hand you may choose prefabricated and factory applied brick effect or on-site application. In these instances viewing is recommended particularly if the supplier offers only a limited choice of colours and textures.

 

Decided on a basic design and wall finish, loosely you are looking at two categories; security and lifestyle options (although the two cross-over in some instances).

 

Security is often the very reason why you have chosen to replace or add a concrete garage to your property, perhaps you have just bought a new car or motorbike or wish to move appliances and tools from the house or garden shed? In any instance some precautions can be taken without ever parting with any further money. 1/ Regardless of the number of locking points ensure that your garage door is secured within a steel fabricated frame. 2/ When selecting a brand of concrete garage make sure that the main and access doors have flush mounted and quite separate locks from the handles. 3/ Think very seriously as to whether the window and the position of window make the garage vulnerable.

 

Further security additions can frosted and wired glass windows, 4-point door and 3-point access door locking points, laminated glass and remarkably an automatic garage door motor.

 

One would imagine that a surely a luxury such as an automatic garage door opener would not be classified as a security measure? but think again. Have you ever tried to push a car when it is in gear? Take this analogy to lifting a garage door attached to a motor.

 

Lifestyle, well lets face it, maintenance free. Much of the technology which makes our life easier such as PVC windows and fascias can be added onto a new concrete garage. Likewise PVC technology allows for a variety of colours and finishes including mahogany and light-oak woodgrain and stylish white PVC. In some instances these same finishes extend to the main doors be it using a technology different to PVC. Metalwork such as the main and side doors is generally supplied in durable white powder-coated finishes which will last a lifetime. Avoid steel Plastisol finishes as the lighter colours (particular white) fade quickly and require reapplication of paint.

 

Consider changes in door style and operation, whether brick front posts and the available finishes are complimentary to your property or if you would prefer a tile effect or coloured roof. Again, a word of warning it is no coincidence that steel roofs are often supplied under-lined or with anti-condensation treatments, they may also be noisier than their fibre-cement counterparts.

About the Author

Background: The author has almost 20yrs retail experience in the concrete garage trade. As well as advising on the most suitable building per application advice is also tendered on groundwork preparation and all aspects of planning and building control. The writer resides in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK and operates from one of the regions largest concrete garage showrooms. See their website at www.4concretegarages.com

your opinions wanted please - classic car hire?

Hi Anyone/Everyone,
I am contemplating starting a classic/retro car hire business, and just wanted to gauge some public opinion on a few issues.

1. What would be your top 5 cars that you would like to drive/hire from the 70’s and 80’s
2. Do you think there is a market for cars from the 80’s, or should I stick to the classics.
3. Do you know anyone who I could talk to regarding such a business?

I am aiming the business at the 30/40 somethings, and am based in Leeds,West Yorkshire.

Any feedback would be great,good or bad!

Thanks for your time.

Paul

Paul,
The business sounds good in theory, but there may be some other things to consider.

In the 60's Hertz tried renting Shelby GT-350's. They called it theri "Rent A Racer" program. People would rent the cars and then they would take them apart and change engines, steal the cylinder heads and swap them with regular ones. Some people just stole them outright and then reported them stolen. That's the problem with high performance cars, and historic cars. People are not honest. I know it is the minority of people, but the saying goes, "There's one in every crowd" and "It only take one, to mess it up."

Good luck with the program and I hope it works for you, just be very careful with it.

Keighley Private Classic Car Museum West Yorkshire Filmed In The 90's