424 Ogden Ave, Downers Grove, IL 60515
630-852-8485
Recent Blog Posts
What Are the Best Smart Garage Door Openers and Controllers?
If you have been updating your home to make it into more of a smart home, you might be thinking of extending the convenience of such technological advancements to yourcustom garage. There are plenty of ways to make your garage smarter, but the most obvious way is to install a smart garage door opener or convert your existing opener into a smart opener using a smart garage door controller. This type of garage renovation is not too difficult, but picking the right device is critical. Here is a comparison of the most popular devices to make your garage door opener smart:
Smart Garage Door Openers and Controllers Compared
There are many smart garage door openers and controllers out there, and it might be difficult to decide which one you should get. While one device will not necessarily fit the bill for everybody, odds are there is at least one that is the right fit for you and your garage. Here are some examples of top-of-the-line equipment:
4 Ways to Make Your Garage Into a Great Home Theater
With just about everyone in Illinois homebound due to the coronavirus, it might be a good time to think about ways of making your home more livable. For instance, if you are tired of using your garage to park cars and not much else, you may want to consider converting it into a home theater. From wall-sized projection to leather recliners, you can imagine the possibilities. You may never want to go to an actual home theater ever again once you customize your garage in this way.
Must-Have Features of a Garage Home Theater
There are plenty of different things you can do to make your garage into a home theater that can be enjoyed by the whole family and all your friends. Here are a few suggestions:
- Pay Attention to Design-Clear out the entire garage, including removing storage cabinets, tool storage, and other items. Clean everything, making sure that all of the typical garage scents and grime are no longer present. Once you have done all this, it will be easier to figure out ways to design your garage home theater. You will probably want dark maroon or black painted walls. You might also want to have some fun with the flooring. It does not have to remain concrete; you might want to consider hardwood or carpet. You can use the unique nature of the space to replicate a true movie theater experience.
3 Ways to Modernize Your Garage
As you make updates and improvements to your home, you should not neglect your garage, and you can take a variety of steps to modernize this space. Doing so involves more than just converting your garage door opener into a smart garage door opener; there are all sorts of other ways to make improvements to your garage, including through smart technology, improved safety, or creative garage renovation ideas.
Update Your Garage With 2020 Trends
You can bring your garage into this high-tech age with a flurry of bold activity if you consider the following methods of modernization:
- Smarten Up-Make as many things in your garage as possible "smart." This is especially helpful for people who spend a lot of time in their garages. Here are some examples of smart devices for your garage:
- Smart Garage Door Openers-Updating to a smart garage door opener can help you keep track of whether your garage door is open or closed, and it will also allow you to open and close it from anywhere in case of emergencies.
5 Creative Ways to Use Your Garage
A custom garage can increase your home's value and provide you with a wide variety of benefits. However, you may not want to fully renovate your garage or convert it into an additional living space, such as an extra bedroom or a home office. Instead, you might just want to figure out what to do with some extra space in your garage. Rather than transforming your entire garage, you can use this space to add some nice touches that will make the garage even more multifunctional.
New and Exciting Ways to Use Your Garage Space
Here are some creative ways to add additional value to your garage, optimize its use, and meet your family's needs:
- Pet Grooming Station-If your garage already has plumbing, it can be easy to adapt the faucet and sink to a station where you can groom your pets. This is especially useful if you have a large dog or more than one dog. With the correct setup, you will be able to give your pets a comfortable space to get their fur cleaned and cut. You may consider installing an oversized sink with a faucet and special nozzles, as well as a pedestal where pets can stand while you shave or brush their fur. You could even arrange for a receptacle to dispose of fur, as well as shelving or storage to keep the grooming tools readily available.
How Can I Upgrade to a Smart Garage Door Opener?
If you are planning to make use of "smart home" technology, one area that you may need to address is your garage. However, if your garage is older, you may not be sure about whether your electric garage door opener can be upgraded to something smarter. You may be surprised at your options when it comes to converting an existing garage door opener into a smart garage door opener by using a smart garage door controller. This is a great way to customize your garage without breaking the bank.
What Are the Advantages of a Smart Garage Door Controller?
You or a qualified expert may be able to integrate technology with your current garage door opener that enables a variety of smart capabilities, essentially transforming your old garage door opener into a smart garage door opener without replacing it entirely. There are many benefits to installing a smart garage door controller. Depending on which controller you choose, some features may include:
When Should I Consider Building a New Garage?
Depending on the current state of your garage and your family's overall needs, you might be thinking of renovating your garage or even a complete garage rebuild. Before beginning a garage construction project, you will want to consider your goals for your home and the options available to you. Although building a new garage may seem overwhelming, a trained professional can walk you through the process and help create a plan that will meet your needs. If you are in the market for a new garage, you will want to do the following:
Evaluate Your Garage's Condition
The simplest way to tell if you need a new garage is by examining your current structure and determining whether it meets your needs. If there are any safety hazards in your garage, it may be time for a renovation. For example, structural issues could make your garage unsafe, or damage caused by water or fire may need to be addressed. Performing a thorough inspection of your garage can help you identify any existing issues and determine whether they can be repaired or whether you will need to rebuild your garage. Before assuming the worst, you should work with a garage construction expert to determine the overall state of your structure and the best ways to address any hazards or damage.
How Can I Beef Up My Garage’s Security?
Summer or winter, rain or shine, one thing you can always count on is the possibility of crime. In many cases, homeowners will alarm their house, upgrade the doors and window locks, and light up the porch and back yard, but they may forget about one of the softest targets on the property: the garage. In fact, 9% of all home burglaries begin in the garage, and detached garages present a very enticing target as they are usually close to an alley, offering a convenient avenue for escape.
While it is true that home break-ins normally happen during broad daylight, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm when adults are most likely to be at work and the kids at school, it is also true that burglars prefer easy targets. An easy target is one that has:
- Low street visibility
- Homes with no sign of security systems or features
- Visible signs of decay or disrepair
- Unsecured doors or windows
- Side or back doors that are easy to breach
3 Tips for Garage Door Safety
For many homes in the United States, the garage door is one of the largest pieces of moving machinery on the property. While a garage door may be viewed by homeowners as nothing more than an entryway, it is important to understand that there are a variety of hazards involved in using this equipment. Although any person can be the victim of a garage door injury, children generally face a higher risk. As a homeowner, there are several steps that you can take to improve safety around your garage door:
Conduct a Visual Inspection
As simple as it sounds, it is a good idea to conduct regular examinations of your home and garage structure to ensure that everything is safe and up to code. When inspecting a garage door, there are many areas of concern that should be checked. For example, you should routinely check springs, cables, rollers, and pulleys for any signs of damage or wear. If any of these items need to be replaced, a garage building professional should be contacted immediately, as uncorrected problems can lead to additional damage or the possibility of an injury.
How Can a Garage Upgrade Raise My Home’s Property Value?
Believe it or not, upgrading your garage can definitely boost the overall value of your property, if you do it right. Prospective buyers like to see a garage that is finished, neat, and organized. It may not be what seals the deal, but it is certainly a point in your favor. On the other hand, a garage that is filthy, cluttered, and unfinished will often prove a real turn off. Here are some garage renovations that could have a positive effect on your home's market value:
Finishing Your Garage
A finished garage is one with the rafters concealed, good lighting, insulated walls, high-quality windows, and paint and trim that makes the space a clean, bright extension of your home rather than a dingy afterthought. The thing to remember here is that finishing a garage can be expensive, depending on the state of the existing garage, and it is not necessarily something you should consider right before putting your house on the market. A good-looking, finished garage is a selling point, but it is not necessarily a dealmaker, unless your buyer happens to be a car enthusiast who spends a lot of time in the garage.
Is a Detached Garage Right for Your Home?
If you are a soon-to-be or current homeowner, you may need to make decisions about how you will use your garage or whether you will need to make any renovations. Depending on your personal preferences and your family's needs, you may need to determine the style of garage that you plan to have on your property. While some people may choose to have a garage attached to their home, others may make their garage a free-standing structure. Before embarking on a garage construction project, it is important to discuss your plans and goals with a trained professional.
Benefits of a Detached Garage
If you are looking to create separation between different parts of your home, a detached garage could be the perfect answer. A garage that is separated from your house could be:
- Converted into a stand-alone unit and living space that can be used by guests or rented to a tenant.
- An appropriate storage location for lawn, gardening, and snow removal equipment, bicycles, tools, and other items.
Call 630-852-8485 for a Free Estimate
Services listed are not a guarantee or indication of future work.
