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Recent Blog Posts
Sharing Thanksgiving Kindness Out of Your Garage
Today is November 1st, and Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Families throughout the Chicago area and DuPage County are planning their get-togethers with extended family, and Thanksgiving meals are being planned. Even though most families have some plans on Thursday, November 23rd, there are some people who cannot afford a Thanksgiving dinner. For many years, communities and organizations have come together to help those in need have a better Thanksgiving experience. These groups raise money to provide Thanksgiving meals, as well as shelter and meals for the future. In order to raise money for Thanksgiving dinners for those in need, some families have even gone above and beyond to convert their garage into a charity event.
Garage Sales for a Cause
You can always convert your garage into a place to sell your unwanted items, and it is up to you to decide how you want to allocate your earnings from a garage sale. Since Thanksgiving is coming up, you may want to consider donating the money made from a garage sale to a charity to help others in need. You can also send a message on social media to extended family and friends and ask them what they would like to donate to the charity garage sale. If you get most of your family and friends to join you, then you will have plenty of items to sell and potentially make more money for the charity of your choice.
How to Get Opossums Out of Your Garage Before Winter
To some people, opossums can be among the cutest creatures in the whole world. To others, an opossum's long face is enough to scare them away. No matter what you may think of opossums, they can wreak havoc on your garage, especially in the winter. To have peace of mind during this bitter cold season in the Chicago area and the DuPage County suburbs, it is best to follow some precautions so that you do not have to deal with the challenges that come with harboring furry creatures in your garage.
By the way, "opossum" is the correct spelling when referring to the North American marsupial, but many people refer to them as "possums" or use the two terms interchangeably. We will use "opossum" for the purposes of this blog.
How Can Opossums Destroy Your Garage?
Opossums can make frequent visits to a homeowner's garden, compost piles, garbage bins, and food dishes for dogs and/or cats. If there is an opening in the home that has gone undetected, then an opossum can make its way into the home to search for food or to find shelter.
Your Garage Checklist for Autumn
The fall is a wonderful time of the year, where the pumpkins are fully grown, the leaves are changing to beautiful colors, and we are making way for winter to arrive. In the Chicago area and the DuPage County suburbs, the weather will change very abruptly, from warm weather and sun, to cooler weather and a breeze, to overcast skies and rain, to cold days and snow. You will be preparing for the holidays soon enough, but it is a good idea to clean your house before the weather quickly changes. To have peace of mind for your garage during the cold season, you should ask yourself the following questions:
When Should I Clean Out My Garage?
Now is the best time to clean out your garage to prepare for winter. This is a great opportunity to get rid of extra toys and kitchen appliances and give them to people who would like to have them. It is a good idea to start looking for things that you do not want and set them aside to either put up for a garage sale or donate to a local resale shop. Depending on the quality of the unwanted extras, you will need to evaluate whether they are still safe to give to others, or if you should safely dispose of them.
Creative Ideas for Decorating Your Garage for Halloween
We are at that time of the year where the leaves are changing color, and pumpkin spice beverages are in season. Children are trying to decide what costume they are going to wear while trick-or-treating, and you are probably trying to decide how to decorate your house for Halloween. The possibilities for this spooky holiday are endless, and the good news is, you can go above and beyond in your creativity. There are many ways to convert your garage into a realistic graveyard, a spooky witch's lair, or just decorate for a Halloween party. Below are a few ideas on how to turn your garage into the best haunted place ever:
A Haunted Maze
Everyone loves a maze, but a good haunted maze will likely get an 11 out of 10 rating in a neighbor's opinion. If you would like to try creating a haunted maze in your home, you can do the following:
- Raise the garage door ¾ of the way up and hang a bed sheet in the middle of the garage. The bed sheet will divide the space in half, allowing people to start and finish the maze.
How to Know When Your Garage Needs a New Roof
In the Chicago area and the DuPage County suburbs, the weather changes frequently and, at times, dramatically, from nice sunny days, to severe thunderstorms, to snow blizzards and polar vortexes. These sudden changes in the weather can be the source of problems with your garage's roof. The age of your roof can also cause issues, such as curling and buckling of shingles. To have a better idea of when to replace your roof, here are some questions to ask:
How Long Does My Roof Last?
The age of your roof is a big determining factor of time of replacement. Typically, a roof will last between 20 and 25 years with no issues. After the roof is at least 20 years old, there will be signs that the roof will need to be replaced, as there will likely be places where the roof might be sagging, or it might show signs of water damage or leakage. When the roof is seeing its last days, there may be dried out spaces or cracks. There might also be a break in the roof for the sun to shine in.
Comparing Different Types of Driveway Pavement
When work needs to be done on the exterior of your garage, including your driveway, you may find yourself having a hard time trying to decide what type of pavement to invest in. Cost, durability, and décor are factors that are considered when making this important decision. One size does not fit all; not everyone will want to spend so much money on pavers, and many others will not want their driveway to look simplistic with basic asphalt. All three types of pavement described below are good for driveways, but the perfect selection depends on several different factors and your own personal preferences.
Asphalt Pavement
Asphalt is the least expensive type of pavement. The average cost per square foot to resurface an asphalt driveway is $2.24, which makes this the option with the lowest cost. Even though asphalt is the least decorative of the three types of pavement, some advantages of asphalt pavement include:
- The ease of removing snow in colder temperatures
How to Keep Skunks Away from Your Garage
Fall is one of the most wonderful times of the year, where the leaves are changing colors, the weather is getting cooler, and pumpkin spice flavored beverages are becoming more popular. This is a great time for everyone, but there is one small problem: that annoying animal that can leave an unwanted odor in your garage around this time of year. If you spot a skunk near your house, you will want to do anything you can to keep it from leaving an odor in your garage. If you are experiencing such a problem, here are a few tips on how to keep these annoying creatures away:
- Seal Any Holes that You Find - Skunks like to burrow in areas of your house that may be difficult to find. It is important to know that several places under the house, deck, and yard could be grounds for a skunk to create a living space. The best tools to use when covering any possible holes or potential hiding spaces include solid metal flash wire and screening.
Using a Car Cover to Protect Your Car Inside and Outside Your Garage
For some people, their car is like their baby, something to be treasured and shown off, but also taken care of meticulously. Whether you keep your car inside your garage, in your driveway, or elsewhere, one of the best ways to protect it from the elements and keep it looking shiny and new is to use a car cover.
Car covers come in a variety of different materials, and choosing the right type of car cover depends on where you park your car and how often you plan to cover it up.
Indoor Car Covers
When you park your car in your garage, a simple, lightweight fabric cover is a great way to keep dirt and dust off your car and avoid scratches. This type of cover is easy to put on and take off, so it is a great solution for anyone who drives regularly but still wants to keep their car protected when they are not using it.
For cars which are driven less frequently, or in garages that get a lot of use, a heavier car cover can provide extra protection. These types of covers are typically made of flannel or have a wool lining, and they can help prevent dents and dings from the sports equipment or tools that are often stored alongside them in a garage.
How to Clean Your Garage After it Floods
Following the devastation that Hurricane Harvey has brought to the Houston area, the news has been filled with images of flooded streets and homes. One particular video from a local news station caught our eye can be seen below.
The flooding in Houston was extreme, but garages across the country experience problems with flooding, and whether a flood is minor or major, cleaning up after such an incident can be a daunting prospect. Here are some tips for how to clean your garage after a flood.
1. Remove any standing water - If any water remains in the garage, use a wet-dry shop vacuum to remove it. It is a good idea to wear rubber boots if you are standing in a wet area of your garage.
2. Move furniture and other items - Take everything out of the garage, including shelves, tables, storage containers, and any other items, and set them outside to dry. Any furniture containing porous material such as stuffing, leather, or fabric should be thrown away, since it will have absorbed contaminated water.
Is It Time to Replace Your Garage Door Opener?
The lifetime of a garage door opener is typically around ten years, so if your opener is nearing that age, it may be time to consider replacing it. An aging garage door opener can present a variety of problems, including noisy operation, garage doors that do not completely open or close, improperly functioning safety features, and decreased security.
If you are thinking about replacing your garage door opener, here are a few things you should consider:
Choose the Right Type of Equipment
Garage door openers come in a number of different types, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. These models include:
- Chain drives - This type of garage door opener uses a motor that moves a chain attached to a trolley, which in turn is attached to a metal bar called a J-arm that is connected to the garage door. These types of garage door openers provide reliable operation at a good price, but they can be noisy, so they may not be the best option if your garage is adjacent to your living area.
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