Garage Basics

Garage Floor Coating Helps Protect Concrete

2007-04-29T07:37:00.000-07:00

In years past a garage was a place to park a car or store items not currently in use. They were generally messy detached outbuilding that attracted very little attention. Today they have graduated to being part of the house and homeowners are as interested in a decorative, as well as a functional garage floor coating.

Whether the garage is used just for parking the car, as an organized workshop or for occasional entertaining, a quality and decorative garage floor coating can give you the look you are after. It can be a single color scheme or have many different designs painted on it, to make it seem more a part of the home than an afterthought.

Painting a garage floor is the easiest and most economical means of updating the look of the garage. With so many types and colors available finding a garage floor coating to do what you want it to do, should be no trouble. Whether you just want a functional garage floor coating to protect the concrete from stains and tire marks, or one that lends itself to being aesthetic, it can be found.

Protection From Damages Is Key

Preparing the floor prior to using a garage floor coating is the main part of a good-looking floor. A cleaner degreaser should be used to remove surface dirt and grease, thoroughly rinsing before proceeding to the next step. A concrete etching product will remove heavy stains as well as rust and also needs to be thoroughly rinsed and completely dry prior to putting down any garage floor coating.

Failure to fully clean and remove and grease and stains will cause the garage floor coating to fail to adhere to the concrete and it a short time the garage floor coating will start to bubble and wear off.

Daily cleaning with a dust mop or light broom is also recommended as dirt brought in on the car tires can scratch and ruin the top finish. It is recommended a weekly, more intense, cleaning schedule is also followed. This time spent caring for the floor will help the garage floor coating last longer.

To maintain the appearance of plain concrete you can also obtain garage floor coating that is clear. Usually this is an epoxy-based product that allows the finished concrete to show through without any color. However, once you have applied the desired garage floor coating follow the manufacturer's recommended drying time before using it to protect the finish.

Learn more about garage floor coating at http://www.GarageBasics.com

Examples Of Needed Garage Equipment

2007-04-21T08:18:00.000-07:00

For the do-it-yourselfer, garage equipment may be a necessity for doing many jobs around the house on your own. Whether you work on your own car, or do periodic checkups, there are some items you will want to own.

A rolling jack is a must-have piece of garage equipment for jacking up your car without digging it out of the trunk or other storage spot. They are easy and quick to use and can be useful for a variety of tasks like rotating tires, changing oil or getting under it for general maintenance. When using any type of jack, before sliding under it, make sure the vehicle if held up by jack stands to prevent it from falling down on you.

An air compressor may be another piece of garage equipment you will want to have on hand, whether just for inflating your tires, of to use with air tools, a quality air compressor with the correct attachments can aid in a variety of household chores. A power washer is another almost essential piece of garage equipment to have around. It can help clean your vehicle, your sidewalks and the garage floor after you have worked on your car. They also work well in cleaning gutters.

Think Of Equipment Needed For Car Care

When you think about what garage equipment you want to stock, remember how much you care for your vehicles. Washing can be done with the help of the pressure washer but waxing can be tiring on your arms and hands. One piece of garage equipment that can help is a power buffer. Normally a small one can be picked up for under $30 and can make buffing the newly applied wax a lot faster and easier.

A paint sprayer, either a separate unit or one that attaches to your air compressor can be another useful piece of garage equipment to have around, especially if you plan to paint your car or outside furniture. They can also be used to apply protective coatings to your wood deck and in painting just about anything.

For those who do heavy work on vehicles, a parts washer is another piece of garage equipment you can't do without. It holds even the smallest parts for cleaning and allows for proper drainage of the cleaning chemicals to avoid spills on your garage floor and to meet strict disposal standards set by the Environment Protection Agency.

Learn more about garage equipment at http://www.GarageBasics.com

Garage Door Installation: Do-It-Yourself Or Hire Someone?

2007-04-14T07:48:00.000-07:00

Garage door installation doesn't have to be such a stressful situation. If you just bought a new garage door and don't know if you should do it yourself or hire someone, you should do whatever feels right. If you feel as though you can do the job, then do it. You might as well, you'll save money on labor costs if nothing else. If, however, you're not very technically proficient, then let someone who knows what they're doing handle the job. You want the job done right the first time, don't try to install it yourself only to have to hire someone later.

The Internet Has All Kinds Of Do-It-Yourself Information

If you know what you're doing or even if you just want to learn how, turn to the internet. The internet is filled with information on all sorts of subjects and, chances are, there's a site out there dedicated to garage door installation. You can find how to do it, what tools you'll need and even tips and warnings. Do your homework and make sure that you're comfortable before you start climbing a ladder and installing the garage door yourself.

If you are going to hire someone, make sure that you go with a reputable company. It's best, if you're going to pay for it, to get someone who's done it before. Don't just hire anyone to install your garage door. It may seem like a simple job but, let's face it, if you're hiring someone to do the job, you probably can't do it yourself. Make sure the job is done right. Think about it, you get home and you push the button on your garage door opener. The garage opens and the door falls right on the hood of your car. Don't let this happen to you. When it comes to garage door installation, make sure the job is done right.

Garage door installation doesn't have to be a daunting task. It could be a great way to learn how to install garage doors. If you're not sure about what you're doing, however, and you don't want to risk doing a bad job, find someone else to do the job. The money will be well spent when you know that the job was done correctly the first time around.

Garage door installation, whether electric or regular is no small job and should be done by a professional. However, if you're technically proficient, then, by all means, try to do it yourself. It will be a fun and rewarding experience.

Learn more about garage door installation at http://www.GarageBasics.com

How To Choose The Perfect Garage Cabinet

2007-04-07T08:57:00.000-07:00

Most of the time, the garage turns out to be much more than that; it usually is used as a storage place, workshop, after school band practicing stage, and, of course, storing your car. Whether you are using your garage for one or all of the above purposes, you need to do one thing in the first place and that is get it organized.

The better your garage is organized the more activities you can conduct in it without having to mishandle any of the existing tools and space.

Organizing Your Garage

In order to get your garage organized you will need a garage cabinet or more depending how many activities are being carried out in that space. Usually, the main activity that takes place in the garage is the workshop and men generally (not always) like to leave tools around to either finish the job next day or simply because that is their working space.

However, in order for more than one activity to take place in the garage or even for the simple reason that you want to find your tools next time you need them, I suggest to invest in a garage cabinet.

Garage cabinets come in all sizes, therefore, depending on how many tools you have, you will want to pick the appropriate size garage cabinet; I would suggest a slightly larger one even if you don't need it now, you will in the future as men always enjoy adding to their toy collection.

Garage cabinets also come in different shapes in order to match your garage and to take up the least amount of space. My favorite type of cabinet is on wheels. It is extra slim and about 4 -5 feel tall; the reason behind it is that it can be used as a table when needed, fits all the tools and has space for others when they make their way home, as it can be moved wherever I need to perform some work, I don't need to take tools out and return them each time I need something else.

Which Is The Right Garage Cabinet For You

In order to get the answer to that question you need to consider the following points: the size of your garage and where you are going to place the cabinet; the amount of tools you have and what is the rate you add tools to your collection as well as how often do you use your tools.

Garage cabinets are usually expensive but a great investment in any household, which can be passed from father to son for generations to come.

Learn more about garage cabinets at http://www.GarageBasics.com

Garage Door Springs Provide Lifting Help

2007-03-08T08:15:00.000-08:00

Every once in a while it may become necessary to replace your garage door springs, as they will become weak over time and fail to provide adequate help in raising the garage door. A garage door usually is not light and the springs can save your back if you have a manual lift door or the electric opener.

There are two main types of garage door springs, the torsion spring and the extension spring. A torsion springs are the one that are wound onto a steel bar and are located justr above the door, one on each side. These are the ones that you will want to call a professional to replace. Numerous injuries and a few deaths have been caused by untrained people attempting to replace this type garage door springs.

However, two companies, Clopay and Wayne-Dalton have designed a torsion garage door springs that can be adjusted with an electric drill and are safer for the do-it-yourselfer to install, but to avoid any risk of injury it may still be advisable to have an experienced professional do the work. At an average price range of $75 to $150, depending on the locale, it's a small price to pay for not having a broken bone.

Extension garage door springs are the ones that hang from the top of the door and are anchored near the back of the upper tracks. These are safer for the do-it-yourself person, but there is still danger and before attempting this project, proper safety precautions are needed.

Inspect Springs For Weakness Before They Snap

Usually when garage door springs break, they do so when the door is in the down position. That's because that is when they hold the most tension. It's also a good thing because if they break when the door is in the raised position, the door could come slamming down with all its weight. That's why it's recommended to never stand under a garage door when it's opening or closing.

Visually inspect the garage door springs for signs of wear or kinks, especially in extension springs. Additionally, if one spring breaks it's a good idea to replace them both. The second one will most likely be close to breaking as well and it can save the cost of a service call in the near future. Whether you decide to risk doing the job yourself or hire a professional, once the springs are in place, spray on a light coat of oil to protect them from rust. That is the biggest contributor to broken garage door springs.

Learn more about garage door springs at http://www.GarageBasics.com

Install A Garage Door Seal: Save On Energy Costs

2007-03-06T08:49:00.000-08:00

Many people with garages don't realize that their garage door can actually make your energy costs go up. Especially if you don't have a garage door seal, if your garage is attached to your house, when you open your back door, the heat can escape out of your garage door. This makes your air conditioner or heater work overtime. If you have a garage door seal, the heat or air conditioning gets trapped in your garage. It will save you money in the long run and that alone makes it a great investment.

Garage door sealant can be found at any hardware or home improvement store. Most of them are easy to apply and you can even apply them yourself. If you want to ensure that the job is done correctly, however, hire someone to do the job for you. Garage door sealant will seal up your garage door so that there's no space between the door and the ground. This not only traps the air, it also has other benefits.

Keep Unwanted Pests Out

A garage door seal can even keep pests out of your garage. Rodents, such as mice and rats, only need about a half inch space to be able to enter your garage. Rodents can eat through your sheetrock and they can do even worse damage than that. Garage door seals can keep bats out, too. Anyone who's been attacked by a bat in their garage knows the value of a good garage door seal.

With energy costs rising so much nowadays, people are looking for any way possible to keep them as low as possible. For this reason, more and more people are paying to have garage door seals installed on their garages. Especially in the winter time, a heated garage is like no other place on earth for gathering with friends or working on your latest hobby or project. Likewise, in the summer time, there's nothing like a cool garage to work on your car or whatever else you do in your garage.

Install a garage door seal on your garage door today and see what a different it makes in your energy costs and you'll love how it keeps unwanted pests away. If you have a garage with a garage door, then you'll want a garage door seal. No garage should be without one.

Learn more about garage door seals at http://www.GarageBasics.com

Where To Shop For A Garage Door Parts

2007-03-05T07:54:00.000-08:00

Some garage door repairs must be done by a professional, but some simple things can be done at home, especially replacing or adding garage door parts.

The simplest garage door part to replace is the remote. Whether you would like a smaller remote control to replace an old clunky one or give a supplementary one to kids or guests, the only thing to do is search for replacements made by your garage door manufacturer. Replacement garage door remotes usually cost between $15 and $35.

When kids or pets are part of the household, many homeowners like to have a safety beam – an invisible beam that will cause the door to freeze if it detects anything in the doorway. This saves squished toys at the very least. If your garage door opener is equipped to hook up to a beam, this is a simple garage door part for any homeowner to add or replace. Generally, beams do not have to be made by the same manufacturer as the garage door machinery. Expect to pay less than $40 for a whole set.

Shopping Around

Because garage door parts are so specialized, it is unusual to be able to go to a local home store and just pick up parts. Before the internet, the best bet was shopping in a professionals' catalog, but buying just one part might not have been possible. But the internet has revolutionized shopping for everything, including garage door parts.

Internet retailers and auction sites offer probably every garage door part anyone could need, in a way that makes it easy to search and compare prices. An internet search will bring up many retailers and auctioneers.

When shopping for garage door parts online, use the same good judgment you would buying anything else. Before ordering from a site, check out shipping costs, applicable taxes, and return policies. Look for retailers that have high ratings on independent sites like epinions.com or yahoo shopping. Ask and make sure that the parts you order are brand new with a warranty, not refurbished.

More advanced DIY enthusiasts can fix most parts of a garage door opener: gears, carriages and circuit boards. However, hiring a licensed, bonded professional is a perfectly good idea too. Working with electricity and machinery can be dangerous, or at least problematic, so plenty of people bring in a professional to do garage door work.

Learn more about garage door parts at http://www.GarageBasics.com

Adjusting A Garage Door Opener

2007-03-03T23:52:00.000-08:00

There is nothing like coming home from a hard day's work and having your garage door open automatically for you. While still some distance away from your home, at the press of a button, a radio beam is sent that activates the garage door opener. This allows for you to simply pull into your garage, close the garage door by hitting the same switch, getting out of your car and walking into your home. This convenience is especially useful during inclement weather.

Not only is a garage door opener a modern day convenience that is handy to have, but can also serve as a safety measure for the family. Imagine that no one is home and a member of the family arrives at the house during the hours of darkness. What a relief it is to know that the opener will allow for easy and safe access of that family member. Once safely inside the garage, the garage door can be shut safely by that member of the family while still secure in the vehicle. Once the door has been shut then they may safely embarked into the home.

In addition, there are certain convenient features. These features include remote controls, keyless entry pads and switches that are keyed.

When installing a garage door opener or using an opener for a period of time there may be certain adjustments that need to be made. Those adjustments include adjusting the limits of the garage door opener, adjusting the force and adjusting the safety feature.

Adjusting Limits

Sometimes the garage door opener does not allow for the garage door to fully close or open. If this is the case it may require that the limits be adjusted.

On the main panel of the garage door opener there are a number of adjusting screws. The adjusting limit screw can be turned to compensate for the garage door's lack of closing securely or not opening to the proper height.

Simply turn the adjustment screw in a clockwise direction to fully open the limits of the garage door or the opposite direction to allow for complete closure.

Adjusting The Force

Another adjustment that may need to be made with the garage door opener is adjusting the force. The force of the garage door opener needs to be adjusted if the door, while closing, does not reverse its direction when pressure. This pressure can be applied by holding onto the door. Also, if the door reverses on its own the same adjustment in force needs to occur.

The forced applied by the garage door opener needs to be decreased if the garage door does not stop its movement when held as it is opening.

Adjust The Safety Feature

The garage door openers of today have a built in reverse direction system. The safety feature is engaged when the door touches an object as it is being closed. This object could be your car, member of the family, etc. A simple test to determine the sensitivity of this feature can be accomplished by deliberately placing an object in the closing door's path. If the door stops its motion downward, but does not automatically return, simply turn the down limit screw clockwise and retest.

Continue this process till the safety feature of the garage door opener is functioning properly.

Learn more about garage door openers at http://www.GarageBasics.com

How To Install A Sectional Garage Door

2007-02-27T17:16:00.000-08:00

Two years ago you decided to remodel your home. This remodeling has included the installation of new kitchen cabinets, countertops and putting in new appliances.

Also, over these two long years, you have remodeled the bathroom. The beautiful new pedestal sink, matching toilet and whirlpool bath have been accented nicely with the new soft yellow ceramic tile.

Now, you want to focus your attention on the exterior of your home. The first thing you want to install is a new garage door. The old door that you have, that was made of a heavy metal that broke your garage door opener, will be replaced with a sectional garage door.

Your remodeling dreams are being accomplished because you were able to do a lot of the work your self. Saving on labor costs has cut the remodeling budget substantially. To save money as well, you have decided to install the garage door yourself.

General Guidelines

As with all do-it-yourself installation procedures, great care must be taken to strictly follow the detailed instructions that come with your sectional garage door. Also, if the old garage door utilized tension springs to open and close the unit, it is best, for safety reasons, to leave them attached. Detaching these huge coiled springs should not be removed by one individual alone.

Piecing Together The Garage Door

The sectional garage door should be pieced together using the bottom sectional piece of the garage door as the base. This bottom piece can be affixed to the garage entrance jam at such an angle so that the bottom piece is wedged firmly into place and allows for the next piece in process to be attached.

Following this step, begin to assemble the track portion of the garage door. The track portion allows for the rollers to move through the track when opening and closing the door. Once the tracks have been assembled begin to affix the rollers and the various pieces of hardware to the base section. Once this has been accomplished then insert one side of the bottom section into the track by inserting the rollers of the bottom door section. Once accomplished, repeat the same process for the opposite side.

The next step takes you to the second section of the garage door. With an assistant, lift this second section and place it into the vertical tracks by inserting the rollers. Both sides of the second piece should be inserted.

At this point, it is important to affix the hinges of the bottom section to the section above.

The following step is to simply repeat the process of installing the second section by placing the third section on top of the second. At this point, it is important to fasten securely the tracks. These tracks should be fastened to the frame and by using the mounting plates that were provided as hardware. It is also important to attach the securing brackets to the tracks by fastening them to the wooden frame of the door opening.

Following this process, it is now time to attach the overhead tracks that are curved as well as the tracks that run horizontal to the floor of the garage. The horizontal track is attached to the support brackets that have been fastened to a portion of the garage's wood frame located in the ceiling. Once installed the horizontal tracking should be checked for its being level.

Finally, once you are satisfied with the installation and the door opens and closes properly, retighten all bolts screws and fasteners.

Learn more about garage doors at http://www.GarageBasics.com

The Art Of Garage Building

2006-10-24T10:30:00.000-07:00

Today’s garage building procedure can be done with a lot of love and time, but it also takes the right tools and a general know-how to get things done properly. You can decide that building your garage is a labor of love that you will do with the passion in your heart as your guide, or you can be reasonable and realize that you will need to know what you are doing in order to build your garage properly and get it done in a reasonable amount of time. The latter is generally where most people in the former category end up after some time of trying and failing at garage building. It is necessary to have the right tools so that you can build a safe and operable garage for your home.

Getting started can be the hardest part, but make sure that you are motivated to get to work properly on your garage or you will never want to work. If you never want to work on garage building, your garage will quite simply never be finished in time for when you want it. Be diligent in your pursuit of motivation and you will find yourself ready and able to hit the hardware store and stock up on what you need in no time. Without that motivation, you won’t even get the car out of the driveway and you will continue to have that nagging suspicion that you should have hired a professional. Nobody wants to succumb to that notion.

Getting Started The Right Way

Getting started the right way is a little more complex than simply willing your garage to be constructed effectively. Garage building is a process and there are secrets to every process that need to be explored. Get a handy book to start with and explore some different designs and techniques in order to get some ideas for your garage. If you don’t know what you want it to look like, there is really no point in getting started at all. You should have a design and some blueprints ready to go before you start hammering away with the wood. This is vitally important to creating anything that involves tools.

Having a plan and getting motivated are the two most important pieces to starting your journey into garage building. Without motivation and proper planning, you are destined to fail at your job and will end up needing the help of someone that will end up being likely quite expensive. Save the hassle and prepare yourself the right way for garage building and leave the worrying to the professionals.

Learn more about garage building at http://www.GarageBasics.com

The Advantages Of Life In A Garage Apartment And Beyond

2006-10-23T18:50:00.000-07:00

Garage apartments, garrets, converted stores and quirky lodgings are not just for TV shows and movies. A repurposed building can be a great place to make a home.

Garage Apartments

Many houses have a freestanding garage with a second story apartment. A garage apartment can be a great place to live for several reasons. First, the homes that are wealthy enough to have a freestanding garage are likely to be in nice settings, on a big lot, maybe with some flower gardens and elegant landscaping.

Living right next to the landlord can be a convenience rather than a vexation for the right pair of people. It is easy to contact the owner for repairs, and hand in the rent check, even at the last minute. Garage apartments are small enough to maintain easily and come with small utility bills.

Furthermore, if your family is small enough to comfortably live in a garage apartment, the landlord’s address is probably a ticket to good schools for children without paying exorbitant rent. Single parents especially should search for such an inexpensive, advantageous arrangement.

But like any rental arrangement, a tenant can never build up equity or own his or her home. And a garage apartment is usually small, some would say even “tight”, but there are other bigger and more unusual places to make a home.

Converted Stores And Factories

As cities move away from manufacturing toward knowledge industries, they leave in their wake massive buildings, many quite interesting looking and livable. Developers are making good money carving up factories, mills and stores into loft apartments.

Lofts are great from an aesthetic point of view. Many have huge windows from the days when factory lighting was partially provided from the sun. Anyone with a desire to design finds a great canvas in a loft. Rooms can be set up with temporary barriers and shifted at will. Thick brick walls can support any kind of massive artwork.

However, living in an old factory or store can have its disadvantages too. Generally, these sorts of places are set in industrial areas and may be in dilapidated neighborhoods far from parks, shopping, or good schools. And just as the windows let in light, and soaring ceilings make the room feel spacious, these big spaces are hard to heat and cool. And if your loft is one big room just divided by screens, privacy can be a problem if the family is very big.

Learn more about garage apartments at http://www.GarageBasics.com

Car Garage Keeps Your Vehicle Safe And Secure

2006-10-22T16:52:00.000-07:00

To protect the investment you have in your vehicle safe from the elements and secure from damage or theft, it is recommended keeping it in a car garage, whether or not it is attached to your house.

There are many people who store so many things in a garage that it no longer accommodates a vehicle, but since a car is a fairly expensive investment, it is wise to keep it under cover when not in use. A car garage can protect it from heavy rain, sleet, snow and even from being used for target practice by neighborhood birds.

Having it attached to the house is much more convenient, allowing entry into the home without personally braving the elements, and is especially convenient if it also has an automatic garage door opener. You can enter your car garage and then the house without having to be outside.

It can be one, two or even a three-car garage and still be useful for car storage or property storage. Additionally, insurance companies often offer a discount on policies if the car is stored in a car garage rather than outside.

Climate And Crime Affects Condition

Vandals will not be able to get to your vehicle if it is secured in a car garage and, since it is usually a few degrees warmer, it can offer a climate in which snow and ice will melt. Road salt tends to accumulate on a vehicle when driven, and having it fall off in a garage is better than letting the car sit outside where it will not melt until the weather changes.

Even in the summer months when the sun is shining, keeping your car protected inside a car garage will slow the paint from fading and protect the interior from the effects of sun on its surface. It also makes it cooler getting into the car if it is kept in the shade during bright sunshine. Additionally, if you have a floor drain in your car garage, during the winter you can use your garden hose to clean the snow and ice from the vehicle.

You can build your own car garage or have a professional build it for probably far less money than the cost of the vehicle you want to protect. It will probably be the best investment you can make to protect your vehicle and help it last longer.

Learn more about car garages at http://www.GarageBasics.com