Volunteers hammer away at 'Extreme Makeover' house

Durable Modular Garge Floor Coverings - Plastic floor tiles snap into place transforming a concrete floor into a beautiful, low maintenance flooring surface.

HOLT - Like a colony of ants, hundreds of blue-shirted workers swarmed on what will become the Nickless family's home. It had been only a foundation at 8 a.m. Monday. By mid-afternoon it was a full-fledged house.

"I'm just so thankful there are so many people helping," said Terry Engstrand, whose mother, Arlene Nickless, and brothers Aaron, 11; Noah, 9; and Andrew, 7, will move into the house Friday. "It's going to be a healthy, clean place where we can come spend time with our mom and not have to worry about fixing things."

On Sunday, crews demolished the 1860s house the Nickless family had been living in as part of the ABC TV show "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." The house had fallen into disrepair after Arlene Nickless' husband, Tim, became ill with hepatitis C nearly seven years ago, family members said. Tim died in January.

The family's story helped provide fuel for the long hours that began Monday, volunteers said. Crews will work around the clock until the house is finished. The work is being done by volunteers with donated materials.

Mark Hamelink of Grand Ledge started his day at around 7 a.m. building trusses. "I feel like I could go another 10 hours," he said. "You go inside and everybody is working together. You could ask anybody for a tool. On a normal job, it's just not like that."

Organizers said the volunteer workers are the key to getting the project done so quickly. At any given time, there are hundreds swarming the job site doing jobs from building to picking up trash. More than 1,600 are expected throughout the build.

"Instead of three, four, five guys, there are 45 guys," said framer Brad Durrant, 29, of Eagle. "We still bump elbows, but we all know what has to be done." Dale Hosford, owner of Hosford Bros. Concrete of East Lansing, brought a crew of 14 to the job site Monday. They poured the basement and garage floors.

"I don't think I've seen anything like it," Hosford said as the site bustled around him.

Brothers Jason and Jerome Helton spent the day working on furniture for the themed bedroom of Andrew, the youngest Nickless brother. They own a set design and art displays company in the Detroit area and donated their crew for the project.

"We've been gifted from birth," said Jason, who graduated from East Lansing High School. "The best way to be is to give back and teach others to give back."

"What we get in return is to see what happens when the kid first walks into the room," said Jerome. "It's priceless."

Garage Floor Coverings Protect Your Concrete Floors

By David Karlson

If you are thinking of protecting your garage floor with garage floor coverings then you are making a good decision. These products help protect against harmful substances such as road salt, chemicals and oil and gas. These types of things are exposed to your concrete on a regular basis, so you need something effective and durable.

Garage floor coverings are not just for the do it yourself mechanic. They are for anyone who has a garage. They keep the flooring looking great and you never know when you might sell your home, so it is also a good selling feature. There are all sorts of products on the market to keep it looking nice and clean.

Garage floor coverings can consist of floor tiles that are not quite the same as in house tiles. This specific type of tiles does not need to be glued to the concrete. They are put together end to end and the seams are sealed with a construction adhesive. Another type of floor treatment consists of a large mat that is rolled out over the entire floor or a specific portion of it. Two of the main types of tile include a PVC tile and a rubber tile. PVC interlocks very easily and is stain resistant.

If your desire is to have garage floor coverings that are only for the automobiles tires then there are specific mats available for this. Many people apply an epoxy as a floor treatment but the application is not an easy process, if not done properly, it will require several coats.

For the do it yourselfer that uses their garage as workshop or the person that has a separate workshop, keeping the floor clean from spills is a necessary task to prevent accidents and to prevent the floor from deteriorating rapidly. This is why these coverings as so important.

You can look for garage floor coverings for your workshop or garage in several places. Try your local big box home center or your local mom and pop hardware store to support local businesses. You can also do a search on the internet, as there are many reputable dealers online as well.

A garage is an important part of your home and it must be looked after just like the house. Visit our site to gather all your information on garage floor sealers, garage floor treatments, garage floor coverings and other useful information on protecting your garage floor.

Protecting Your Garage Floor From Stains, Dirt and Mayhem

By Aazdak Alisimo

Take a good look at your garage floors - what do you see? Are you floors coated with dirt, grime, and cracked cement? If so, you need to give some thought to cleaning up and protecting it.

You may be asking yourself why you would even consider fixing up your garage floors ... and the answer is simple. Chances are, you have spent a great deal of time decorating and reshaping the inside of your home, right? Well (want it or not), you also spend quite a few hours inside of your garage - don't you? Aside from parking your car, you probably use tools to create various items within your garage; store things inside of your garage; and you may even invite guests into your home through your garage. Doesn't it make sense to put down a coating to protect it?

Most people associate their garages as some foreign part of the home. Well, they are not. A person looking to buy your home is not going to discount the garage. In fact, a common tip given to home buyers is to pay close attention to the garage floor and driveway. Why? Well, much like the eyes are the paths to the soul, these surfaced tell a pretty accurate story of how the homeowner cared for and maintained the home. While the rest of the house can be spruced up at the last moment, trashed garage floors are much more of a challenge.

Irrespective of resale issues, you should endeavour to keep your flooring in good shape for another basic reason. Garage floors are typically tough, but even they can eventually fall apart. This is particularly true since a garage tends to be the area where heavy stuff is moved about, dropped and so on. Penetration of liquids, particularly water, into the foundation can lead to a host of problems such as rebar rusting, cracking and so on. All are a pain to deal with and very expensive to repair.

At the end of the day, it is important to remember your garage is part of your home and should be cared for just like other rooms and areas. Using a protective coating that is tough can go a long way to doing just that.

Questions & Answers - Garage Flooring

Transforming a cracked or old garage floor into a durable beautiful finished surface is a snap with interlocking garage floor tiles. That's the commitment you get with the twelve year warranty provided by the world's best garage floor tiles. If you have a question about installing a new garage floor, please ask. The toll-free number is 1-866-748-7940. We found this handy Q&A and want to share it on our blog:

from Excell Garage Interiors

Q: My garage floor has uneven spots and cracks. Will Swisstrax still work?
A: Yes. Swisstrax is actually the perfect solution for a floor that has cracks, chips, or uneven spots. Swisstrax tiles will conform to most surface blemishes.

Q: Does Swisstrax have any kind of warranty?
A: Yes, Swisstrax has a 12 year manufacturers warranty. Try getting that with paint or epoxy!

Q: Do I have to lift Swisstrax up to clean underneath them?
A: No. Swisstrax tiles do not have to be moved. The best way to clean underneath the tiles is to run a shop vac over the areas with heavy traffic every couple of months. You may also hose the garage out. Swisstrax tiles have channels on the backside that allow water to drain out.

Q: How do I clean the surface of the tiles?
A: Simply sweep or mop your new floor as needed. For scuffs or spills use any house hold cleaner.

Q: How does Swisstrax compare in price to other flooring options?
A: Swisstrax tiles are about middle of the road when it comes to price. While pain is the least expensive way to go, it is also the least durable. Epoxy is much more durable than paint, but it is also much more expensive. Average epoxy jobs can run $5 - $7 a square foot. Swisstrax tiles are under $5 a square foot, are much more durable than paint or epoxy, and come with a 12 year warranty.

Q: Can you put the tiles around poles, shelves, cabinets, or other obstacles that can't be moved?
A: Yes, Swisstrax tiles can be cut to fit around almost any object.

Q: Can I install my new Swisstrax flooring system myself, or do I need a professional?
A: Anyone can install a Swisstrax floor! The snap together tiles make the job easy. All that's needed for installation is a cutting tool. The best household tool is a jigsaw.

Garage Floors - Your Dream Come True

Remember the day when the garage was nothing but a shack with a dirt floor? Well, those days are long gone. Today's garage is an extension of living space. It's a place to meet with your friends or spend the afternoon doing crafts or chores. Most of us think about the garage as a place to keep our most valued possessions, our cars. But, in today's modern lifestyles, we utilize the garage space for more than just a parked car. The entire family uses today's garage. So, why not make it an extension of your living space by creating a dream room for the entire family to adore.

Garage Floors is a blog dedicated to providing information for the home owner about the latest and the greatest in flooring for a variety of home remodeling needs. We are strong believers of modular floor tiles made durable. Did you know a modular floor is a temporary fixture? Whether you own or rent your home, it means you can assemble and lay the floor until you are ready to either leave it or take it with you when you move. And, the maintenance on the "new" garage floor tiles is very easy using a leaf blower or hose and water.

If you are ready to start your garage floor project, take a little time to review the research on this blog. There's also a long list of online references on the right upper column. Click through the links to see if there's anything valuable for your upcoming garage floor project. And, one more thoought..... make your new garage floor colorful and you might never want to leave. Actually, the durable tiles shown above can easily be used as a dance floor, too. So, move over NASCAR, I'll see you on the dance floor!