424 Ogden Ave, Downers Grove, IL 60515
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Recent Blog Posts
Scott Wendell Talks Garages
Back in 2010, Blue Sky Builders, Inc. owner, Scott Wendell, discussed his favorite topic with White Rabbit Garage Organizers, a Chicagoland garage storage system provider: garages.
WR: What's changed about the garage building industry in the last 30 years?
SW: 30 years ago, people just wanted the cheapest garage they could build, but now, people are using garages for so much more than storing cars. Their garages are an extension of their home; they want them to look good and have function beyond just car storage.
WR: What is the hardest thing about being a garage builder?
SW: The biggest challenge is keeping up with the coding requirements; each town has its own code, its own code inspector, and its own fee schedule. The building permit in one town may only cost $150 while the same permit will cost $1350 in another town. Each town has different height and footprint requirements, and it takes someone who really understands the regulations to make sure customers get what they want in their garage without violating any of their local codes.
Garage Project Blog - Lombard, IL
Its has been a busy year for Blue Sky Builders, Inc.! For our next project blog we wanted to share a garage conversion we completed earlier this year.
The completed garage was built in Lombard, Illinois. The project took approximately one month and was completed in January 2013. Below we will share some project details and pictures of the new garage.
Located in Lombard, IL this garage project included converting a partially enclosed, attached carport into a fully enclosed attached garage. With an oddly shaped/sized opening in the front, a custom special order overhead door was needed in order to fit opening.
Garage Before Pictures
New Garage Details
Dimensions: 16'x23′ attached carport remodel
Door: New 14'x6'6″ overhead door to fit opening
Aligning Your Garage Door
Source: Sanford & Son Overhead Doors
The most common garage door problem people have is with their safety sensors. They are located near the bottom of the track of the garage door near the floor. Generally, but not always, when the door opens but won't close it tends to be a safety sensor alignment issue. Usually the light bulbs will flash on the garage door opener unit to alert you to the fact that it is a safety sensor or photo eye problem.
Regardless of the manufacturer, your safety sensors should have LED lights on them and those lights should be solid at all times. When the LED lights aren't solid is when you have a problem closing the garage door. Realigning the sensors could be as simple as loosening a wing nut and moving the sensor until the light stays solid or, you may have to remove the sensor from the bracket all together and then re-install it to realign it. Some sensors are mounted on flimsy brackets which can simply be bent around a bit to realign them.
Attached vs. Detached Garages
Many homeowners face the attached vs. detached dilemma when considering adding a new garage. No question, garages are essential for homeowners, but which type is best for you?
A lot of that decision is based on personal preference and building codes. Some building codes may not permit a detached garage, or you may not have enough land space. Ultimately, there are benefits and drawbacks to each type, so it is important it meets your particular needs. Consider these three factors from HomeAdvisor: lot size and shape, intentions for the garage, what fits your home best, and overall building considerations.
Lot Size, Shape
Believe it or not, the shape of the lot you're planning to build on may help make your decision an easy one. A narrow lot that stretches far back towards an alley is a natural fit for a detached garage. On the other hand, detached garages can swallow up a big chunk of your existing yard. Building an attached garage instead might be the difference between filling up your lot with a detached model, and still having a yard for your kids and pets to enjoy.
5 Garage Wall Storage Ideas
Leveraging the vertical space in your garage is a great way to get your garage organized and make room on your garage floor. For example, hang tools on the wall instead of having a large container taking up valuable garage floor space.
There are a variety of shelving, racks, or hanging options available. Below we will share 5 garage storage ideas from Garage and Storage Spaces:
1. Metal Standards and Brackets
Metal standards and brackets probably don't qualify as a formal wall system, but they nonetheless offer terrific low-cost shelving. In a garage with unfinished walls, the standards can be attached directly to exposed studs. You can put shelves as high and as low as you like on the wall, and you can run them from one end of a wall to the other.
2. Pegboard
Pegboard (perforated hardboard) is available at home centers and lumberyards. It is inexpensive, easy to install and provides a ready-made surface for a wide variety of storage hooks, racks, shelves, cords and other accessories. Attach the pegboard directly to studs in a garage with unfinished walls or use spacers over drywall to hold the panels away from the wall so that hooks can be inserted and removed. Use 1/8-inch pegboard for light items and 1/4-inch pegboard for heavier items, but be sure to match the hardware you buy with the size of pegboard you use.
How to Remove Stains From Your Garage Floor
Garage floors take a lot of abuse, and garage floor stains are one result. Dirt, oil and grease are just some of the troublesome items that can leave their mark. The best way to avoid serious staining is with regular cleaning. When that fails, however, it is important to take action as soon as possible to remove the stain. Below are some 8 steps for getting rid of most garage door stains from Jeff Beneke.
- Act now. Concrete stains are common because concrete is a porous material. Liquid spills are much easier to remove before they've had a chance to soak in. The quicker you act, the easier it will be to remove the stain.
- Choose the right cleaner. Concrete stains in the garage are usually caused by dirt, oil or grease-or some unpleasant combination of all three. Most concrete cleaners are suitable for these stains, and they can be found at paint or hardware stores or at your local home improvement store. If you are removing paint, rust, mildew or some other type of stain, you will need to look for a more appropriate product. Just be sure to read the labels carefully. Oil stains - kitty litter, baking soda, Dawn soap.
5 Reasons You Need a Garage in the Chicagoland Area
We love the Chicagoland area and have been building garages here since 1979! Below are some common reasons it is beneficial to have a garage in Chicago & the surrounding suburbs. Many of these apply to a lot of areas, but they are definitely all problems faced by a Chicagoan!
1. Snow - Is it going to snow more than 2 inches? Chicago & many surrounding suburbs do not allow parking on streets for a certain period of time after a 2-inch snowfall. Besides, who wants to scrape off/dig out their car in the morning?
2. Parking – As in many major cities, parking can be a huge problem. Guarantee yourself a parking spot in your own personal garage and avoid the bad-parking epidemic depicted below.
3. Safety - Each year, $1.26 billion in personal items and accessories are stolen from vehicles in about 1.85 million thefts (Nationwide). A garage can help keep your car safe and secure from damage and theft.
Garage Project Blog - La Grange, IL
Its been a busy summer for Blue Sky Builders, Inc.! For our next project blog we wanted to share a custom garage we recently built.
The recently completed garage was built in La Grange, Illinois. The existing garage was wrecked on 4/12/13 and a brand new garage was built in its place. Below we will share some project details and pictures of the new garage.
New Garage Details
Located in La Grange, IL, the existing garage was wrecked on 4/12/13 and the new garage project was completed on 5/29/13.
Dimensions: 14×26
Garage Style: 4/12 pitch gable
Windows/Doors:
- 9'x6'6 overhead door (reused owners)
- Service door
Shingles: 3 tab asphalt shingle
Siding: Double 4″ vinyl siding
Color: Brown aluminum soffit, fascia & trim
Garage After Pictures
4 Tips For Eliminating Garage Odors
Thanks to the A+ Garage Doors blog for these tips.
It sometimes cannot be avoided that our garage will have a certain stink about it. Paint cans, gasoline canisters, tools etc. may be stored in the garage and items like these can leave foul odors behind. The cat box might be out there or it is even where some may store the trash until pick-up day. This does not mean that one should have to suffer with a smelly garage.
Below are 4 tips for eliminating garage odors:
1. Storing odor eliminators like baking soda, air fresheners and deodorizers will help reduce the pungent smells in your garage.
2. If your car is not parked in the garage, washing the floor will disinfect the floor and help keep smells from becoming too overpowering. Especially wash where garbage or pet waste containers are being stored to stop the growth of odors and bacteria.
3. Once or twice a week, open the garage door. Keep it opened for about an hour in order to let some fresh air in and the musty smell out. Make sure that you garage door is properly maintained. Check out this Garage Door Maintenance Checklist for tips.
Organizing Your Garage - Infographic
Studies show that 50% homeowners rate the garage as the most disorganized place in the house. And the U.S. Department of Energy reports that 25% of people with two-car garages don't park any cars in there and 32% park only one.
Does this sound like you? A few simple organization tactics can help you get your cars back into the garage! Below is an infographic from Angie's List sharing some tips for organizing your garage.
Top 5 Garage Organization Tips
- Use vertical space
- Get rid of what you don't need
- Consolidate into containers
- Properly dispose of old paint
- Shed some weight
(Click to view full size)
Tips for Organizing Your Garage Infographic
Have any tips to share?
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