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How to Prevent Storm and Tornado Damage to Your Garage
During the summer, people in Illinois are likely to experience strong weather, including major thunderstorms or tornadoes. Residents of DuPage County were recently given a reminder of the dangers of summer storms when a tornado touched down in Naperville, damaging multiple homes. While it might not be possible to completely prevent a tornado from causing damage to your home, you will want to be aware of some steps you can take to ensure that your garage can withstand strong weather and minimize the chances of serious damage.
Preventing Damage to Your Garage Door in a Storm
Your garage door is most likely the largest opening to your home. This makes it a significant weak point, especially since garage doors are usually lighter and less resilient than the surrounding walls and structure of a home. This means that when pressure is placed on a home, such as by heavy winds, and rain during a storm or by a tornado, the garage door is the part of the home that is most likely to fail. When this happens, the home's walls and roof may also be affected, and depending on the severity of a storm, they may be damaged, or they could collapse entirely.
Items You Should Avoid Storing in Your Garage During the Summer
For many families, a garage serves as a catch-all space to store miscellaneous items. Rather than cluttering up a home's living space with items that are not used frequently, it makes sense to place them in an area where they can be out of the way, yet still easily accessible when needed. However, it is also important to be aware that certain types of items may be damaged when stored in a garage, or they could even create risks that affect the safety of a family.
Garage Storage Issues Related to Temperature and Pests
A garage will usually not have the same insulation and climate control as the rest of a house. Because of this, items stored in a garage will often be subjected to high temperatures during the summer. To avoid damage or safety issues, it is best to store certain types of items in places other than the garage. These items may include:
- Furniture - Temperature changes and humidity in a garage are likely to cause wood furniture to warp. Leather furniture may also experience damage due to these issues. In addition, the stuffing in cushions on chairs or couches stored in a garage may attract animals who wish to use this material for nests.
What Is the Best Material to Use for a New Garage Door?
Your garage door is likely to be one of the most-used entrances to your home, and because of this, it can experience a significant amount of wear and tear. Replacing your garage door will not only make sure you will be able to enter and exit your garage without any problems, but it can also add additional visual appeal, provide better insulation, and improve your home's security. If you are looking to install a new garage door, you will want to consider the best type of material that will fit your needs and budget.
Garage Door Materials
Some of the most commonly used materials for garage doors include:
- Wood - Garage doors with a natural wood finish can be very visually appealing, and they often provide good insulation for a garage. However, they can also be very heavy, and they will need to be properly maintained to prevent weather damage due to rain, snow, or humidity. As an alternative, homeowners may consider wood composite garage doors that provide the natural appearance of wood while being more durable and offering better insulation.
How a Garage Renovation Can Increase Your Home’s Value
For many homeowners, their garage is something of an afterthought when compared to the rest of their home. A garage may serve primarily as a place to park cars and store various items. Since family members do not spend a great deal of time in that part of their home, they may not think about how it looks or other ways they can use the space. However, those who are looking to sell their home at some point in the future may want to consider how they may be able to increase the potential purchase price, and garage renovations are a great way to do so.
Garage Upgrades to Increase the Resale Value of a Home
Homeowners can make changes to their garage that improve their home's appearance and add "curb appeal," and they can also make improvements that provide more ways to use that part of the home. These upgrades may include:
- New garage doors - The appearance of a garage door can make a big difference for those who are looking at a home. Homeowners may want to replace their garage doors, using appealing, high-quality materials such as steel or aluminum. Installing a new electric garage door opener that integrates with smart home technology is another great way to add value.
When Should I Repair or Replace My Garage’s Roof?
Since you probably do not spend as much time in your garage as you do in the rest of your home, you may not notice when there are issues that need to be addressed. The garage roof is one area that can sometimes be overlooked. However, if the roof is in disrepair, this could cause additional issues, since leaks could lead to damage in other parts of your garage and home. By catching problems with your roof as soon as possible, you can determine whether roof repair or replacement is necessary.
Checking for Damage on Your Garage Roof
Regularly inspecting your garage roof will help you find any potential leaks. If the wooden structure of your garage gets wet, it could rot and eventually collapse. Leaks could also damage your walls and ceiling, as well as the items stored in your garage. To prevent these issues, it is best to inspect your roof at least once a year. You will want to look for:
- Curled or cracked shingles - Exposure to the weather may cause wooden shingles to curl and lift up, creating gaps where water may get through the roof. Shingles may also become cracked due to hail or extreme temperature changes. These damaged shingles should be replaced, or roof cement may be used to fill in cracks or holes. If there are a large number of faulty shingles, a roof replacement may be necessary.
Creating the Perfect Garage for the Car Enthusiast
Since people often use their garages to park their vehicles, this is the perfect area to work on your car. However, most garages are oriented around storage, so if you will be spending time there while completing your work, you may want to make a few upgrades. Whether you are planning to restore a vintage automobile, looking to make improvements to a vehicle used for racing, or simply want a space where you can perform regular maintenance and tune-ups, you will want to consider installing new equipment or upgrading your garage's existing features.
Options for Improvements to Your Garage
To create a space where you will be able to perform auto work in your garage year-round, you may want to address:
- Flooring - Working on cars can cause damage to a concrete garage floor if heavy parts or tools are dropped or because of leaking oil or other fluids. To protect your floor, you may consider adding epoxy or polyurea coating, or you could install floor tiles. This will not only protect against damage, but it will make the floor easier to clean. You may also want to consider installing a drain in your garage floor if you do not have one already, especially if you plan to wash and clean your car inside your garage.
How to Prevent Break-Ins in Your Garage
The thought of criminals breaking in to your garage can be very frightening. If someone accesses your garage, they could not only steal or damage valuable items, but they could also gain access to your home and threaten the safety of your family. Fortunately, you can take measures to reduce the possibility of break-ins and ensure that your garage and home are fully secure.
Methods for Improving Garage Security
Some great ways you can make sure your garage is protected from break-ins include:
- Install a smart garage door opener - Some thieves may have tools allowing them to access older garage door openers, or a person may steal a garage door opener remote that is in a vehicle parked outside of a garage. Modern electric garage door openers use the latest encryption technology to prevent unauthorized entry. Some garage door openers may allow you to open your garage door using a smartphone app, eliminating the possibility that your remote could be stolen.
How Can I Deal With Termite or Pest Infestations in My Garage?
For many homeowners, few things are more worrisome than an infestation of termites, carpenter ants, or other pests. These insects can cause considerable damage to the structure of a home and garage, as well as items inside a home, such as furniture, cabinets, or shelves. Homeowners will want to be aware of signs that pests are present in their home, and by repairing any damage caused by these pests, they can ensure that their home will not lose any value.
Recognizing the Signs of a Pest Infestation
Subterranean termites live underground, and they may eat the wood within a home's structure. Drywood termites may build colonies within the wooden parts of a home or inside other wood objects such as furniture. Carpenter ants may also build nests within wood, digging out tunnels that weaken a home's structure.
There are several different types of signs that pests have infested a home. Subterranean termites will often create tunnels made of mud that connect their underground colonies with sources of food, and these tunnels may be found on the outside of a home or inside a home or garage near the foundation. Damage to wood may also be noticeable, particularly in mazelike patterns carved by insects, and termites and carpenter ants may leave wood chips and droppings (known as "frass") in areas where they have burrowed into wood. Termite damage may also include buckling or swollen floors or ceilings, similar in appearance to water damage.
3 Things You Should Consider When Using Your Garage as a Gym
Regular exercise can be beneficial for everybody. However, many people fail to get the necessary exercise simply because they do not have easy access to workout facilities or equipment. If you are looking to get in shape and promote your family's health and well-being, you may want to create a space where you can exercise regularly and store workout equipment. Your garage may be the perfect place to create your own gym. By following these tips, you can get the most out of your space and make sure you and your family will be ready to improve your health:
- Make sure you have the space you will need - The biggest problem that many people face when creating a garage gym is finding enough space. Since garages are usually used for storage, items can accumulate, and the space may become cluttered, making it difficult to move around freely. You will likely want to clean out your garage, get rid of unneeded items, and create storage solutions that will free up the space you need.
5 Creative Garage Storage Solutions for the Spring
When the weather warms up in the spring, many homeowners choose to begin cleaning and reorganization projects. The garage is often the part of the home that needs the most attention, since items tend to pile up in this area. The floor and other parts of a garage may need cleaning due to the snow and mud that was tracked in during the winter, but first, space will often need to be cleared. To do so, homeowners may want to consider new storage solutions that will increase the usable space in their garage and make sure they can keep things well-organized.
Innovative Ideas for Garage Storage
Many garages have some basic storage solutions, such as wire shelves or stacks of bins. However, these are not always ideal, and it is not always easy to find or access items. If you are looking to begin a reorganization project, you may want to consider some of the following creative solutions:
- Track system - Large tools and gardening equipment can sometimes be awkward to store. By mounting tracks on the walls of your garage, you can use hooks that slide horizontally, allowing you to make room for long-handled items such as rakes, shovels, weed whackers, as well as wheelbarrows, weed sprayers, or ladders.
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