424 Ogden Ave, Downers Grove, IL 60515
630-852-8485
Recent Blog Posts
Creating the Perfect Garage Bar
Being able to host parties in the comfort of one's garage is a dream that many individuals have in common. Whether they take place in winter, summer, fall, or spring, events and get-togethers can be a great way to enjoy time with friends and family. Many people also enjoy spending personal time in their own "home away from home" that is only a few steps away. The addition of a bar is a great form of garage renovation, allowing a homeowner to rearrange the layout of the garage and add other necessities. Before the remodeling begins, discussing your options with a professional builder can help you figure out the best course of action.
Coming Up with a Plan
Having a general idea of what you would like your garage bar to look like is a good start, but there may be multiple components that you would like to add or issues that will need to be addressed. A recommended first step before any construction begins would be to clean and clear out your garage in order to visualize the planned layout for your renovations. Depending on the parties you plan to host and the other reasons you would like a garage bar, you can create a layout that meets your needs while making the best use of your space.
How to Improve Your Garage By Adding an Entry Door
Many garages today are utilized differently from how they were in the past; no longer are these structures only used to park cars, hold overflow items, or store lawn equipment and tools. Ranging from a stand-alone unit to an extension of a house, garages today are being converted into living spaces, home offices, and even "man-caves". Regardless of a garage's use, the functionality of an entry door can provide a multitude of benefits. If this type of door is not already in place, installing one can provide the following benefits:
Reducing Maintenance
Whether you need to do laundry, park a car, or access your home office, your garage door may be opening and closing more frequently than you would think. However, it does not always make sense to open this large door every time you would like to access your garage. A garage door is a delicate piece of equipment weighing hundreds of pounds. Regular use can cause wear and tear, and providing maintenance can only help so much before repairs or replacement are required. Adding an entry door to use when coming in and out of your garage can help you extend the longevity of your garage door.
Tips for Keeping Wildlife Out of Your Garage
Throughout each season of the year, animals both small and large are trying to locate food and shelter to aid in their survival. Unfortunately, garages can serve as a great living option for some of these creatures, or they may enter a family's living space looking for food. Some of the items stored in your garage, such as vehicles, laundry machines, grills, tool benches, or workout equipment, can provide shelter or a place to hide for animals lurking in the shadows, and food that is not properly stored may also attract wildlife. Dealing with animals that have entered your garage and keeping them away from your home can prove to be quite burdensome.
Common Wildlife to Look Out For
Wild animals that are often found in garages are typically looking for an easily accessible form of shelter that will provide protection from other creatures and help them avoid harsh weather environments. Raccoons, stray cats, mice, rats, squirrels, birds, bats, and insects all common suspects who may attempt to find harbor in a garage. People often do not realize that they have critters making refuge in their garage; common signs to look out for include chew marks, nests, droppings, or vomit. Along with shelter, factors such as the presence of food and moisture can also draw the attention of wild animals.
What Smart Locks Are Available for Garage Entry and Side Doors?
Like seemingly everything else in the world, garage entry doors and their locks are now becoming "smart." What this means is that new technology is providing better ways to secure your home. One such method is through creating new and better door locks which will connect with your home wifi.
Everyone has had days in which they rush out of the home on the way to work and forget to lock the door. Some have even returned to find that the house has been robbed thanks to their carelessness. New smart technology in indoors and locks can prevent this from happening. Smart locks come with features such as auto-locking, allowing easy access through a smartphone application, and even unlocking the door remotely so that a package can be tucked safely inside. However, there are many smart locks in today's market. Below we have selected some of the best smart locks on the market to make the decision easier.
Yale Keyless Conexis L1 Smart Door Lock
This smart keyless lock has many features which will update your entry or side doors to the 21st century. It offers a smartphone app to control access, and it also provides tamper alerts, letting you know if an intruder has attempted to gain access to your home. Requiring professional installation, this smart lock also allows the sending of "virtual keys" to the smartphones of friends and family for temporary access.
How to Get Your Garage Ready for Winter
The summer of 2019 is coming to a close. The kids are going back to school, most people have finished their summer vacations, and the days are slowly but surely getting shorter. Winter is just around the corner. During the summer, the garage door is the most used entrance to your home, but with the coming of fall, its use may significantly decline. Likewise, the shift in seasons brings new challenges for the maintenance of your garage, and you will want to be sure that you are prepared as the temperatures continue to drop. While it is still lovely outside, you should get started by following these simple steps to prepare your garage and garage door for winter:
1. Lubricate Your Garage Door
With its extended use during the summer, your garage door could be facing some damage from wear and tear. Use the last days of summer to make sure the moving parts of your garage door, such as the tracks, springs, and rollers, are well lubricated. This will help ensure that during the cold winter months, your garage door does not get frozen.
How to Reinforce Your Garage Door For Storms
Thegarage door is typically used the most during warm-weather months. The majority of this use comes from opening and closing the garage door when leaving the house. Other instances can include opening the garage to grab a toy for outdoor play or a tool for yard work. The constant use can cause a lot of wear and tear on your garage door. Another factor that can potentially damage your garage door is the impact of summer storms. Although the Midwest does not typically have gale-force winds like in the coastal states, we still have our fair share of nasty weather. Thunderstorms have the potential to wear down the foundation of your garage and cause significant damage. It is important to take precautions to protect such an important part of your home. By following these simple steps, your garage door will be safer and stronger even during severe weather conditions.
Install a Metal Door Frame
After time, wood will eventually wear down, rot, and fall apart. Precipitation such as rain and hail only increase this wear and tear, requiring routine maintenance. By replacing the wood frames of your garage door with metal parts, you can save yourself time and money. This includes man-hours performing the labor as well as the expense of constantly buying new parts.
Is It Time to Replace My Garage’s Roof?
Your home requires constant maintenance and upkeep. Throughout the years, various parts of your home and garage will need to be repaired, replaced, or upgraded. If you are particularly handy, you may be able to perform some of these fixes yourself, but there are some home repairs that require an expert. One of the most challenging areas to address is the roof above your garage and home. To ensure that repairs are performed properly, you need a roofing specialist to protect your garage from leaks and other outside elements.
Generally, a roof will need to be repaired between fifteen to twenty years after it was installed. However, things can happen that may force you to perform a repair or replacement sooner than expected. To see if your roof requires repair, there are some signs to look out for:
1. Your Roof Is Leaking
This is a visible sign, but one that can potentially go unnoticed. Leaking occurs when a crack forms between the shingles in your roof. Prolonged leaks or other water-based contaminations can lead to damage in your garage, such as rotten wood. This, in turn, can lead to insects nesting in your home, which can then lead to further infestation and additional bills being paid to exterminators.
How to Stop Your Garage Door Opener From Being Hacked
In Wisconsin, two 16-year-old boys were recently arrested for stealing a car, crashing it, and then stealing a second a vehicle after the crash. The boys had gained access to the cars by hacking an electronic garage door opener and then burglarizing the garage. Finding the keys inside of the cars, they took the cars and went for a joy ride before police apprehended them. During the summer, garage burglaries increase, and one of the ways thieves gain access to a garage is through hacking electronic garage door openers. To secure your garage and the belongings inside, follow these simple tips to avoid the possibility of your car being taken out for a joy ride by a thief:
1. Reset Your Garage Door Opener Code
A simple way to hack a garage door opener is to guess the passcode used on an external keypad. Most garage door openers initially use a generic passcode that needs to be reset once installed. Surprisingly, many homeowners do not set up this passcode, making their garage and home open to theft. Thieves only need to memorize a few generic codes, and this can allow them to gain access to a large number of garages. If you have not yet reset your passcode, you should do that now, using a code which you and your family are familiar with.
How to Prevent Fires in Your Garage
Many garages serve as in-home storage facilities where families keep items that are used outside or which cannot fit inside their home. Whether it be a car, summer toys, or old family photographs, garages are a great place to store things. However, many people also place dangerous chemicals and combustible materials inside of their garages. Sometimes, machinery such as a garage door or othergarage hardware can create friction or sparks, which can lead to a fire. Because of this potential danger, it is wise to take steps to prevent a possible fire in your garage.
1. Store Combustible and Flammable Materials Safely
This step may sound obvious, but a surprising number of people do not store flammable materials such as gasoline or oil safely in their garage. The excuse for doing so is that a person never thought an accident or fire would happen to them. The truth is that gas and oil can very quickly catch fire, and even the fumes are explosive. While it is advisable that you do not keep these materials in your garage at all, if you must do so, then be sure they are in properly sealed containers and stored away from electrical outlets and heaters.
3 Simple Ideas for Customizing Your Garage
When we think of custom garages, we tend to think of elaborate, high-tech designs which are likely to come with a high cost. However, there are many ways to customize your garage at a low price by using simple techniques. In many cases, these can be accomplished by reorganizing your garage and taking advantage of minimalist design styles. If you are looking for easy ways to customize your garage, here are a few ideas:
Use Old Doors as Shelving
In every home, the front, back, or side doors are likely to eventually need to be replaced. Instead of throwing them away, use those rickety old doors as shelving in your garage. You can take the door and cut it in half and to the needed length. Be sure to find strong L-brackets and securely install your "new" shelves onto the walls of your garage.
Use Boxes and Hooks for Storage
You would not believe how many people create piles of equipment and toys in their garages, making it very difficult to find an item when they want it. One of the simplest ways to customize your garage is by creating methods of efficient storage, including shelves where items are stored in boxes that are grouped according to how they are used. If some of your things are too big to be placed in storage bins or boxes, then you can install hooks that will allow you to hang these items on the wall or even the ceiling.
Call 630-852-8485 for a Free Estimate
Services listed are not a guarantee or indication of future work.
