Posted by Bradley Chazin on Mon, Mar 08, 2010
How Much Does A Garage Cost?
This is not a easy question to answer over the phone or on a web site. To answer the (how much does a garage cost) question, we should schedule a no-obligation in home consultation with one of our Garage Building Specialist to answer these and other questions.
What Type Of Roof Style Do You Want For Your New Western Garage?
- Western's Standard 4/12 Factory Truss Roof
- Our very Popular Higher Roof Pitch Storage Truss Garage Roof
- How About A 2nd Story With Our Special Room In Attic Garage Roof
- Hip Roof
- Reverse Gable Garage Roof
What Kind Of Siding Do You Want On Your Garage?
- Vinyl Siding
- Cement Board Sidings, James Hardy Hardy Plank
- LP Smart Side Sidings
- Cedar Lap or Cedar Plywood
- Stucco
What Kind Of Roof Shingles Are On Your Home? Do You Want The Same Style On Your Garage?
- 25 or 30 Standard 3Tab
- Architectural Style
- Asphalt or Fiberglass
- Steel
What Are Your Overhead Garage Door Size Requirements?
- Standard 16x7 Raised Panel Steel
- Larger Double Garage Doors 16x8, 16x9, 18x7, 18x8
- Single Garage Doors 2-9x7 or 2-9x8
- Insulated or Non-insulated
Do You Want Glass In Your Overhead Garage Door?
- Glass with A Design And What Style Grids
- Glass Without A Design
How Many Garage Windows and What Style?
- Standard Vinyl Slider Garage Windows
- Double Hung Windows
- Casement Windows
- Barn Sash Garage Windows
- What size garage Windows
Do You Need Garage Removal?
- What Size Is Your Old Garage
- What Type Of Siding Is on Your Old Garage
- Is There A Driveway Removal Needed
Do You Want Your New Western Garage To Have Electric?
- How Many Wall Receptacles
- How Many Inside Overhead Lights
- Do You Want Outside Lights And How Many
- Do You Want A Garage Door Opener
- How Far Is The Garage From Your House
How Level Is Your Land?
- Is Your Lot Flat
- Is The Alley Higher Or Lower Than The Garage
- Do You Have A Hill
Do You Want A New Driveway?
- Is Your New Detached Garage Going To Face The Alley
- Are You Going To Face The Opposite Property Line
- Do You Have A Front Drive Where You Will Come In From The Street
- Do You Want A Cement Driveway
- How About A Asphalt Driveway
Posted by Bradley Chazin on Mon, Mar 01, 2010
Some Of The Nicest Cars In Town Live In Western Garages
This is a slogan my father came up with over 60 years ago for his MN Garage Building business Western Construction. Its as true today as it was then.
In fact, Western Construction was started in a Detached Garage in Minneapolis, MN. So I started to think, what other great American Companies started in a garage?
It didn't take long to learn that the Garage, has long been at the forefront of great American Companies.
HP-Hewlett Packard Started In A Garage
Did you know that William Hewlett and David Packard Started their company in a garage. This garage was located in Palo Alto, California and is considered to be the birthplace of Silicon Valley.
Google, Inc. Had Its Start In A Garage
Sergey Brin and Larry Malseed together raised enough money to rent a garage in Menlo Park and started a company called Google, Inc.
Apple Computer Started In A Garage
Steve Jobs moved his fathers car restoration equipment out of their families garage and put in a large wooden work bench. That work bench served as Apple's first manufacturing base. That is the garage where Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs built the original Apple Computer.
I think the new slogan for Western Construction, Inc. should be,
Some Of The Largest Companies In The World Started In A Garage, Let Western Garage build One For You!
Or
Want To succeed In Business? Build A New Western Garage
Or
Want to be the next Google, HP or Apple Computer? Build A New Western Garage
I guess I need some help with my new Western Garage Builders slogan. If you have any fresh idea's I can use please reply to this post.
If you know of other Great American Companies that started in a Garage please respond to this post.
Thanks
Bradley ChazinPresidentWestern Construction, Inc. Family Owned Since 1949
Posted by Bradley Chazin on Sat, Feb 27, 2010
When Is The Best Time To Make A Home Improvement Investment?
NOW is the best time to make a Home Improvement investment.
You knew I was going to say that didn't you? Well of course you did, let me explain why I truly believe now is the best time to make that long awaited and probably needed Home Improvement.
Buy Low - Sell High
We've all heard that statement before. The best time to buy a stock is when nobody else is buying. The worse time to buy a stock is when its at its 52 week high.
The Same Rules For Home Improvements
A few years ago in the hey-day of home equity and a booming Home Improvement environment, prices were at their 50 year highs.
Today the cost of labor and material are nearing record lows. This makes NOW a ideal opportunity to get the best value for your Home Improvement dollar.
Is There Financing For My Home Improvement Project?
Yes, yes and again yes.
I hear all these stories about banks not wanting to borrow money for home improvements. Thats not true. Banks will borrow money but they wont if they don't think they'll get paid back.
Back in the late 70's early 80's when I started selling Home Improvements for my fathers construction company banks wanted to make sure they would get paid back.
They wanted to make sure you paid your bills, had a expense to debt ratio under 35% and you had 20% equity in you home. With these 3 things in place you could get a 18% interest rate on your Home Improvement Loan.
Let me say that again. With all the restrictions in place, the interest rates for Home Improvement loans were at 18%.
Home Improvement Financing at Record Lows 5.99%
In contrast to the 80's, Western Construction, Inc. can get you Home Improvement Financing for 5.99%. These interest rates are at record lows and you need to take advantage of them now. Rates will be going up.
Let Me Ask You A Question?
Is Now A Great Time To Invest In Home Improvements?
Please let me know your thoughts in the comment section at the bottom of this artical.
Posted by Bradley Chazin on Fri, Feb 26, 2010
Whats New For Minnesota Garage Doors In 2010
This past January I was at the International Builders Show in Las Vegas. There was a great deal of excitement in the garage door business because of the many new materials and styles of garage doors to choose from.
Forty years ago a typical Minnesota Garage Door was either a Masonite type fiber wood flush garage door or real redwood and cedar garage doors.
MN Garage Doors Materials
Todays garage doors are made 
of, steel, fiberglass, vinyl and of course real wood. The newest entry into the MN Garage Door market is taking a steel door and putting an amazingly realistic wood stamp into it. On occasion I had to knock on the door to tell weather it was real wood or steel. Some steel garage doors even have a composite wood overlay to maximize beauty without sacrificing durability.
Twin Cities Garage Door Styles
The most popular Twin Cities garage door style today is still the standard raised panel steel door garage door. It comes both insulated and non-insulated. There are several different types of panels to choose from and the glass options are endless.
If you'd like more information please fill out the contact form on the right.
Posted by Bradley Chazin on Fri, Feb 26, 2010
Let Western Garage Builders Remove Your Old Garage
Garage removal or Garage tear downs is a lot harder than it looks. Take for example a typical Minneapolis or St Paul Garage. These garages are usually located on a alley that is only 12'-14' wide. The garage to be torn down is usually 6"-12" from the side property line and 18" from the neighbor's garage. There's barely enough room to stand between the two garages much less have to tear one down.
Garage Removal Is An Art
There definitely is an art to removing a detached garage without harming the neighbors garage. First the backhoe is expertly brought into place so we can implode the garage. We start with the roof. The roof is caved in which keeps everything centered on the existing garage foot print. The walls are then carefully brought in from the sides onto the garage slab to be mulched up and lifted into the dump truck for removal from the job site. The old garage slab is then broken into small pieces for removal.
Garage Debris Removal
Your old Garage is then trucked off site to a special land fill equipped to handle construction debris.
Your old garage slab is brought to a recycle location where its ground up into small pieces, perfect for re-using as fill on other garage slabs we build.
Can We Watch The Old Garage Being Torn Down?
The short answer to that question is YES. Many homeowners will take a day off of work to stay home and watch the garage removal process. Your kids will also find it a blast to watch.
I've been in the garage business my entire life and I still enjoy watching the big machines turn old garages into landfill.
Do We Need To Be Home For The Garage Removal?
Once we have the property lines located there is no reason homeowners need to be on site for the garage removal. You'll pull your car out of the garage one last time in the morning and when you return from work you'll have a perfectly clear back yard.
For more information please fill out the contact form on the right.
Posted by Bradley Chazin on Sat, Feb 20, 2010
Why do MN Garage Builders use concrete for Garage Slabs?
Concrete is the material of choice of Western Garage Builders for Minnesota Garage Slabs & Driveways. Its relatively inexpensive to install and provides an attractive, durable surface that's easy to maintain.
What Is Quality Concrete?
Quality concrete is the perfect mix of locally available materials which meet or exceeds performance expectations for its use.
No single concrete mixture is suitable for all applications. A Concrete mixture used for a Minnesota Garage Slab in the middle of summer might not be suitable for a beautiful fall day. Therefore matching the concrete properties with the conditions is a necessary first step in producing a quality Garage Slab.
What Type of Concrete Is a MN Garage Slab Made of?
Concrete, in its most basic form is a mixture of cement, aggregate and water. Concrete quality depends upon the quantity and quality of the aggregate and the paste (cement & water). The key to achieving a strong, durable Garage Slab rests in the careful proportioning and mixing of ingredients.
Cement In A Minnesota Garage Slab?
Cement, when water is added creates the paste that binds aggregate together to form concrete. Not only does the amount of cement used in a Garage slab affect performance, but also the type of cement used. There are many types of portland available for use in concrete.
Aggregate In A MN Garage Slab?
Coarse aggregates are available in a wide range of sizes and shapes. From round smooth river gravel to rough angular crushed stone. Concretes ultimate strength is affected by the type of coarse aggregate used in your Garage Slab.
Water Content In A MN Garage Slab
Less is more in a Minnesota garage slab. The quality of hardened concrete is greatly influenced by the amount of water used in relation to the amount of cement. Higher water contents dilute the cement paste (the glue of concrete).
Posted by Bradley Chazin on Sat, Feb 20, 2010
Minneapolis Home & Garden Show Garage Special
Western Construction will once again be at the Minneapolis Home & Garden Show. To celebrate We're offering a $500 discount certificate. This certificate is good for Western Construction's Detached and Attached Garages, Replacement Windows, Roofing, Siding, and Room Additions.
Please stop by our booth to pick up your $500.00 discount certificate.
Minneapolis Home & Garden Show Dates, Times and Location
The Minneapolis Home & Garden Show starts Feb 24th and runs thru Feb 28th.The show venue is once again at the Minneapolis Convention Center, 1301 2nd Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55403. The Minneapolis Convention Center phone number is 612-335-6000. To contact the Home & Garden show directly call 952-933-3850 or info@homeandgardenshow.com.
Minneapolis Home & Garden Show Hours
- Wed Feb 24 - 12:00pm-9:00pm
- Thu Feb 25 - 10:00am-9:00pm
- Fri Feb 26 - 9:00am-10:00pm
- Sat Feb 27 - 9:00am-10:00pm
- Sun Feb 28 - 9:00am-6:00pm
Minneapolis Home & Garden Show Shuttle Bus Service
Shuttle service is available Thursday, February 24th through Sunday, February 28th.
The direct service schedule is as follows with buses running on the half-hour from Ridgedale, Rosedale and Burnsville Center.
- Thursday: 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.
- Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.
- Saturday: 7:30 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.
- Sunday: 7:30 a.m.- 7:30 p.m.
Minneapolis Home & Garden Show Shuttle Bus Service Rates
- Adult Round Trip $6.00
- Adult One-Way $4.00
- Children (Age 6 - 12) $2.00
- Children (5 and Under) FREE
Minneapolis Home & Garden Show Shuttle Locations
Ridgedale Shopping Center
- Sears Auto Center off Ridgdale Drive
Rosedale Shopping Center
- Between Macy's and JCPennys at the corner of Fairview Ave and County Rd B2
Burnsville Shopping Center
- Lower level by Sears Auto Center off of Buck Hill Road
Posted by Bradley Chazin on Sun, Feb 14, 2010
Minneapolis-St Paul Winter Parking Garage Special
In a effort to help out the residents of Minneapolis and St Paul during Winter Parking Restrictions, Western Garage Builders has announced a $500.00 discount on all garage orderes reserved for spring delivery during this snow emerengcy.
How Long Will The Garage Special Be In Effect?
Acording to the City of Minneapolis, winter parking restrictions will be in effect on non-Snow Emergence Routs until April 1st 2010, or until conditions warrant a lifting of the ban. Western Garage Builders will keep the Garage Special in effect until April 1st 2010.
Why Are There Winter Parking Restrictions?
Public safety is the City’s primary concern, and access for emergency vehicles is paramount. High snow accumulations can make streets narrower, which make it difficult for fire trucks, ambulances and other emergency vehicles to reach their destinations. When this happens, Winter Parking Restrictions are declared so access to Minneapolis homes and businesses is less restricted for emergency personnel.
How Can I Find Out If Winter Parking Restrictions Are In Effect For Minneapolis-St Paul?
To find out if Winter Parking Restrictions are in effect, go to the City’s Web page, tune into the City’s cable or call the 24-hour Snow Emergency hotline at (612) 348-SNOW. You can also become a fan and follower of Snow Emergency on Facebook and Twitter.
Posted by Bradley Chazin on Sun, Feb 14, 2010
Office Manager/Job Coordinator
We are currently in need of a smart, energetic, and highly motivated employee to manage our office and run the show. We have many projects active at any given time which will require the candidate to possess an excellent memory, ability to multi-task and work well under pressure.
The candidate should be able to work with clients, coordinate and schedule subcontractors and successfully track all jobs.
Requirements
You'll need exceptional client service, telephone and organization skills. You need to be experienced with Microsoft Word, Excel, Internet applications and QuickBooks for A/R, A/P and job costing.
Production Responsibilities
- · Making sure all job paper work is complete from sales staff
- · Apply for building permits
- · Order Materials
- · Schedule Crews
- · Change orders and billing
Office Duties
- · Answering phones
- · Scheduling appointments
- · Paying bills
Please e-mail resume and salary requirements to;
Brad@WesternGarage.com
Garage and Replacement Window Sales Position
Western Construction, Inc. is looking for a highly energetic, honest and ethical sales person to join our team. We are looking for the Best of the Best.
- You need excellent communication and listening skills, punctual, dependable, respectful, professional and organized.
You need to function within a team environment and have networking and lead generating skills.
1 year + experience in home improvement/construction sales with knowledge of replacement windows, siding, roofing and garages preferred.
A valid Minnesota driver’s license and reliable transportation required.
Please e-mail resume and salary requirements to;
Brad@WesternGarage.com
Posted by Bradley Chazin on Thu, Feb 04, 2010
Concrete Is Not A Perfect Material
I'm in Las Vegas at the World Of Concrete taking classes for my Master Certificate. The first class was titled "Reinforcement for Slabs on Ground".
The instructer Jery Holland is a structual engeneer who's been in the cement business for over 40 years. The first thing he say's to the class of almost 1,000 cement men and women is "concrete isn't a perfect material". Not what I thought I was going to hear at a convention titled, The World of Concrete. He went on to explain.
- All Concrete Shrinks
- It shrinks more on top than the bottom
- All slabs curl
- All concrete cracks
- That's the nature of concrete
At this point of his presentation which was only 2 minuets I already knew I really liked this guy. His next point was again outsatnding.
- A joint or saw cut in a Garage Slab is a straight crack where we want it to be.
- A hiarline crack in a Garage Slab is a crack where the concrete wants it to be.
At this point in the presentation I thought to myself, what ever it cost me to come to Las Vegas was worth it.
Someone in the class (me)raised their hand and asked the question,
Can Steel Reinforcing Prevent Cracks in a MN Garage Slab?
- No! Steel inside the Garage Slab is typically taking a nap until a crack actually occurs-then it will start taking tension and doing its job.
- However, if it's in the proper amount and location, it can keep the cracks tight and servicable.
What Type of Reinforcing is recomended for a MN Garage Slab?
- Welded wire fabric or what we call wire mesh.
- Reinforcing bars or re-bar
- Polypropylene or steel fibers
How much can I expect my Twin Cities Garage Slab to shrink?
- A typical Minnesota garage slab will shrink about 1/8" every 20'.
How Do WE Mininize Garage Slab Shrinkage?
Are Contraction Joints needed In a MN Garage Slab?
-
Yes, the American Concrete Instute (ACI) recomends 36 times slab thikness
-
The Portland Cement Association (PCA) recomends 2'-2.5' per inch of garage slab thickness
The rest of the class got pretty technical so I wont bore you with the detail. If you'd like more information about Garages or Garage Slabs contact Western Construction.
Thanks,
Bradley Chazin
President
Western Construction, Inc.
Mpls 952-920-8888
St Paul 651-644-6900
Brad@WesternGarage.com