There’s a home improvement project this year that not only adds value and curb appeal to your home, but saves energy and offers up to a $1,500 federal tax credit to homeowners. The project? A stylish new insulated garage door.

Huge tax credit
Qualifying insulated garage doors purchased in 2009 and 2010 earn a sizeable tax credit — more valuable than a tax deduction — that reduces taxes dollar-for-dollar from the bottom line of your federal tax bill.

Under legislation passed in 2008, the tax credit maxed out at $500 or 10 percent of the product cost. But under the federal stimulus legislation announced in February 2009, the tax credit tripled to 30 percent of the product cost, up to a maximum of $1,500. This means that the door helps pay for itself through the tax credit incentive.

Full details on the tax credit and qualifying garage doors can be found at GarageWowNow.com, a non-commercial Web site sponsored by the garage door industry.

Energy savings
The driving factor behind the tax credit is energy savings — another money-saver for homeowners and a positive step for the environment. Homeowners find that the room next to the garage is often the coldest room in the winter.

Older, non-insulated garage doors can allow cold air in the winter and warm air in the summer to enter the house, increasing heating and cooling costs. A new, qualifying insulated door can make a difference in the temperature of your home while helping to reduce your energy bills in both winter and summer.

New styles boost curb appeal
In the last five years, a new breed of stylish garage doors has hit the market. And adding style to your home means adding value as well.

A garage door typically makes up more than one-third of a home’s front facade. A “plain vanilla” garage door can make your home look bland and boring — especially if it looks just like every other garage door on your street.

The latest styles offer:
* The carriage house look, a throwback to yesteryear that fools the eye by echoing the hinged, swing-out door styles of quaint and charming carriage houses — yet the doors open just like any other modern garage door.
* Sleek, contemporary doors available in vibrant colors, opaque glass and aluminum, and a range of metallic finishes to complement modern homes.
* Steel raised-panel doors with a wood grain print surface that requires minimal maintenance, beautifully imitating the rich colors and patterns of real wood.

Get the job done
Don’t know where to begin in looking for new garage door styles?

A wide variety of new styles are featured at GarageWowNow.com to point you in the right direction. Before and after images on the Web site allow you to see how new garage doors have dramatically changed the appearance of homes. And if you find a door that catches your fancy, the door manufacturer is clearly listed and you can go directly to their Web sites.

And remember, installation is best left to the pros. GarageWowNow.com’s ZIP code search function will help you find a professional in your area who can install your new door in a few hours.

The first thing you are going to need to do is clear out the large, bulky items so you can see what needs to be done. That means move out the bikes, lawnmower, and patio chairs.

Now take some advice from doityourself.com and ask yourself:
* Which tools do I use the most?
* Which tools do I rarely touch?
* Which tools do I need quickly when I do need them?
* Do I really need that box of moldy, damp magazines?

Your job here is going to arrange your garage to be as convenient to your needs as possible. Assign sections of your garage to house certain items. For instance, keep all of your lawn tools in one corner or along one section of wall. This means that the pruners, the rakes, your lawn gloves and anything else you use in the yard should be in this area. Likewise, keep a section solely devoted to your hand tools like screwdrivers, wrenches and the sort. Why would you want your electric hand drill being stored in the same location as your hoses anyway?

A workbench with built-in drawers and shelves can keep your tools clean and organized. Many come with durable surfaces and hooks for hanging tools. Having everything at hand will make your future projects easier to start (and complete).

Now that you’ve invested your time clearing the floor, consider looking up to your rafters for storage options. Home stores have a variety of options to choose from:

Rack Storage

Rack storage is great for storing boxes and other packaged items. They’re easy to install as they simply get screwed into your ceiling rafters. They can hold and impressive amount of weight, but definitely check the weight limits before putting anything too heavy on them. Best of all, your stored items will still be visible, so if you need to get into that box of cable wires, you know exactly where to find them.

Storage Pulleys

Do you have a bicycle that keeps getting in your way when you’re trying to work in your garage? Storage pulleys work great for getting that bike out of the way by lifting it into the air. Install it close to the wall and maximize your floor space.

Garage Lift

Garage lifts are similar to the storage pulley systems but they are designed to handle a much heavier and bulkier load. Some can handle loads of up to 100 lbs.

Heavy Lift Hoists

For storing items weighing up to 250 lbs., install a heavy lift hoist in your garage. This unit features a hoist that raises and lowers a storage lift using a gear drive.

Large Accessory Storage Units

These units are specially-made to safely store large items like canoes, truck caps and so on. While these large items may still be somewhat obtrusive even when off of the floor, lifting them will provide you with more floor space in which to work in your garage. Just watch your head!

There are options for any budget. You can do something as simple as buy hooks for about ten dollars and hang your bike from the ceiling.

Once you’ve got everything off the floor, you might want to consider some attractive and practical flooring.

Rubber Floor Mats

Rubber floor mats are great for garage floors and you can even get them sized to order from many companies. They help reduce the amount of dirt and snow you track into your home and they offer a gorgeous finish to your garage. In addition, they are easy to clean and spills can be easily managed. If you have ever tried scrubbing stains out of your garage floor, you will appreciate that! Rubber floor mats are anti-slip, non-conductive and fire-retardant, which makes it an ideal flooring solution for a garage that doubles as a workshop.

Garage Floor Tile

Ever dream of your garage looking like a showroom? Garage floor tiles can help you get the look you want! Available in a wide range of colors, designs and styles, garage floor tiles simply interlock and remain where you put them. Some also offer self-adhesive backing. High quality tiles can stand up to chemical spills and other auto-related liquids which makes them a perfect choice if your garage really is a garage!

Containment Mats

Similar in scope to the rubber floor mats mentioned earlier, containment mats are simply smaller versions which fit right under your car. These mats are excellent during the winter months for catching the snow, slush and ice falling from your vehicle and they prevent the water from spreading all across your garage floor.

Floor Paints/Coatings

If your garage is well-insulated and you don’t have moisture problems, then a simple paint job on your floor may be all you need to give your garage a fresh look. There are a number of epoxy coatings and sealers available on the market which also come in a variety of colors. There are also some new products in stores, like industrial-grade polyurea flooring. Polyurea is an innovative 3-step application that results in an extremely durable floor, safe from cracking and chemically resistant to most common garage chemicals, even salt!

Now look around and enjoy the neatness and order you have created. Next time you need the shovel, you know where it will be – right where it belongs, with the tools. Remember–put it back!