Garage Basics

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

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 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

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

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

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

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