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Recent Blog Posts
Is it Time to Update Your Garage’s Windows?
There are many ways you can update an existing garage and improve the usefulness and value of your home. By adding new windows or replacing your old ones, you can freshen up your garage, lighten up the interior, and provide better protection. While replacing existing windows is a common option, a garage renovation expert may be able to help determine if you could enlarge the existing windows or even add new windows to your existing garage. Whatever window option you choose, there are many benefits to updating your garage's windows.
- Let in a breeze – Ventilation in a garage is always important, especially during a hot Chicago summer. You can choose hinged casement or awning windows that both operate on a crank or double-hung windows which slide up and down. Either way, more air circulating through your garage will make it more comfortable.
- Bring in the Light – Newer windows with larger panes of glass can provide additional natural light into your garage. Additional windows or enlarging existing windows is another option. To allow for additional light but also provide privacy for your valuable possessions inside, frosted glass or a plastic coating is also available. Windows on a garage, whether it is attached or stand-alone, can match the existing windows on your house. It is important to check with an expert on whether adding additional windows to your garage or enlarging the existing ones is structurally possible.
Is it Time to Replace my Garage’s Roof?
Just like the roof on your house, your garage's roof does an important yet unheralded job of protecting your valuable assets. Especially if your garage is detached, you may overlook its condition. However, the impacts of a leaky roof could be enormous. Leaks could damage your vehicles, lawn care tools, sporting equipment, or other valuable property. If the garage is attached, water damage could affect the living areas of your house. To catch roofing problems on your garage before they start, look for these signs and if any are present, call Blue Sky Builders, Inc. for a free estimate.
- Shingles that are curled or cracked – As shingles age and endure the elements, they can begin to curl at the edges or develop cracks. This can allow moisture to seep through and eventually create leaks. Individual shingles can be replaced and cracks can be filled in with roof cement, but if a large number of shingles are all curled or cracked, it is likely time for a new roof. Similarly, a few missing shingles can be replaced, but a large number of damaged shingles calls for a new roof.
Keep Your Pets Safe in Your Garage
During warmer months when foot traffic increases through your garage, it is important to keep your garage safe for children, other members of your family, and anyone else who may enter. However, it also is essential to keep an eye on potential hazards to your pets. Keeping a well-maintained and clean garage will keep them safe too.
Make sure your garage floor is free from any spills, leaks, or even old chemical stains. Your pet may be tempted to drink or lick anything that is on the floor. The most common source is from your car, truck, or other vehicles, so make sure you check under them carefully. Antifreeze has a sweet smell and taste that may be attractive to pets, but it can be extremely dangerous. Petroleum Projects, such as gasoline, paint thinner, and motor oil are also commonly found in garages and can be harmful if ingested or even inhaled by your pet.
Pesticides and other lawn chemicals can also be particularly harmful to human and pet populations alike. Prevent spills and keep them high up on shelves away from curious mouths and paws. Many lawn chemicals also come in small, granular forms and can be easily spilled before or after application. A good sweeping or hosing down of the floor of your garage can help eliminate the threat.
Is It Time to Replace Your Garage Door Opener?
Nothing can stop you in your tracks like a malfunctioning or broken garage door opener.Garage door openers can perform consistently for years, but they will eventually need to be replaced or repaired. If you see or hear any of the following signs with your garage door opener, it may be time to call in a professional.
Signs it is Time to Replace Your Garage Door Opener
- The Door Won't Open or Close – This seems like the obvious place to start. If your garage door opener won't respond when you press the button and there is nothing else stopping the door, it may be time to look for a replacement.
- The Garage Door Only Works Intermittently – This situation can not only be frustrating but also dangerous. If the batteries in your remote are OK, there could be something more seriously wrong. Faulty wiring or other mechanical issues may be causing the door to behave erratically. The door opening and closing unexpectedly is another bad sign.
Have You Outgrown Your Garage?
Your garage is an extension and reflection of your home. If you set it up well, it is a haven where you can not only park your cars, but also enjoy your hobbies, pursue your favorite projects, and even establish an inviting home office. So now that we are well into spring-the season of new beginnings-it is the perfect time to consider whether to remodel or rebuild your garage to make it an even bigger part of your overall lifestyle.
Does Your Garage Still Have What It Takes?
What is the physical condition of your present garage? Home garages can typically stand up to a lot of wear and tear over the years. But eventually, there may come a time when your garage becomes less useful or pleasant to be in. Has yours fallen into disrepair? Does it need any structural work? Is the roof starting to sag, or are the boards rotting? Has the lighting become less adequate for the tasks at hand? Has it become unsafe in any way? Or just outdated? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this may be the time to consider remodeling or replacing your garage.
7 Ways to Help Your Garage Keep Its Cool
Summer is finally coming to Chicago, and you know what that means: Many days, it's going to be HOT. So if you are planning to spend time at that garage workbench, or working on your car or other garage-based projects, now is your chance to start making the temperature more bearable. Here are seven options to consider:
Open the Door. This is the cheapest and easiest way to let some of that hot air out and get some breeze in. Any moving air is cooler than still air. And if you have windows, open them as well to create a cooling cross-draft.
Let Your Vehicles Cool Outside. Instead of driving that hot car or truck right into the garage, why not let it cool off first in the driveway? This works especially well if your drive is shaded. But even if not, you can still pour some cold water over its roof to speed things up.
Put In a Ceiling Fan. If your garage ceiling is at least eight feet high, this is a simple, cost-effective measure that can help a lot. A good rule of thumb is to use a 36-to-44-inch diameter fan for garages under 225 square feet, and 52-plus inches over that. Install it seven to nine feet high and 10 to 12 inches below the ceiling. If you have windows, a window fan will also help let the hot air out and bring cooler air in.
Rough Illinois Weather? Keep Your Garage Standing Strong
If we have learned anything about the weather lately, it's that it is growing harder and harder to predict. Especially here in Illinois, there could be snow one day in April and a tornado the next. (DuPage County residents are no strangers to this, as evidenced by last summer's memorable Naperville tornado.) So this summer, you want to be sure your home can withstand whatever Mother Nature may throw at it, starting with its potential weakest link-your garage.
Ground Zero for Potential Disaster
Take a good look at your garage. What is its overall condition? Is the siding holding up? Any sign of rotted boards or other water damage? Is it standing straight? Now examine the garage's floor, roof, and walls for cracks and leaks. The time to seal these is before the flooding starts! And speaking of leaks, your garage door has a vinyl or rubber weather seal, which should be pliable to compress when the door is closed. Over time these get brittle and do not keep the water out. How is yours? Ditto for the weatherstripping along the sides and top of the door. If you see any problems, let us come out to make our own expert assessment.
What Not to Store in Your Garage This Summer
Like most people, you probably built your garage thinking what a wonderful place this would be to house your cars, serve as a perfect repair shop, crafts area, or home gym, and maybe get a few things out of your home's prime living space. But instead, this garage has become your on-site dumping ground for all of that surplus sports gear, lawn equipment, and other miscellaneous stuff you just cannot bear to part with.
Would this be the perfect time to actually recapture and reorganize this precious area by donating or ditching these space hogs once and for all? Here are a few starters that will get you in the mood to dig deeper and finally reclaim your garage for higher purposes.
- Old Sports Gear - The children have long outgrown or abandoned those old bats and balls, bikes and racquets, and you have pretty much given up on that New Year's home-fitness resolution. So why not donate whatever is in good working shape to your nearby rec center or charity, and recycle or dispose of the rest according to your local waste management authority's guidelines.
Spring-Clean Your Garage in 5 Easy Steps
Spring is here-finally-and for many Chicagoland homeowners, that means just one thing: Spring cleaning. So when you look around and size things up, what area seems most in need of decluttering and reorganizing? Yourgarage, of course! But fear not: The simplest path to an orderly garage is to clean it up in an orderly way. Here are five steps to do just that.
- Start by clearing everything out. Step One to creating order is to know what you've got. The simplest way to do that is to get everything out of the garage and put it in piles on a plastic tarp, where you can see it and sort it. (The tarp helps protect your driveway from any leaky oil or paint spills.)
- Clean the garage itself. Keep your garage door and any windows open to air out the space. Then sweep up the dirt, dust, and any accumulated salt deposits from winter, taking a hose to the garage floor for more stubborn areas. Use soap and water on your walls and shelves to rejuvenate them.
4 Reasons to Consider a New Garage This Year
As we get ready to turn the calendar over to April, it is an ideal time to start thinking about anew garage. After all, spring is the season of new beginnings. The weather will soon be warming up, and folks throughout Northern Illinois will begin planning this year's outdoor projects. For some-maybe even you-it may be time to give some thought to upgrading your garage or starting from scratch and building a new custom garage with the help of your local garage professionals.
Let's look at a few reasons why you might decide to update your garage or build a new one:
#1: Your Garage Needs Help
Perhaps the most important reason to build a new garage is that your existing garage has fallen into disrepair. The current condition of your garage might not be your fault, especially if the garage was built long before you purchased your home. However, if your garage is outdated, needs some structural work, or is unsafe in any way, a new garage may be in order.
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