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Can I Remodel My Garage During the Winter?
If you are looking to improve or redevelop your garage, it is important to consider what time of year the project should begin. Although winter may seem like a less than ideal time to start a garage makeover, completing renovations during the colder season will ensure that the finished product will be ready when the warmer months roll around. If you want to enjoy your garage when the weather is nice, a winter remodel may be ideal for you. Before jumping into a garage renovation, it is important to discuss your wants and needs with an experienced garage building expert.
Why Are Colder Months Good for Renovation?
Depending on what type of remodel you are looking to do, the colder temperature of wintertime can make construction easier. If the ground is frozen, and the air is dry, it will be more ideal to dig a foundation. In addition, it is practical to avoid a muddy ground if you are pouring concrete. One final thought to consider if you start a project in the winter months is that you can avoid the unpredictable weather of the spring and summer months.
What You Should Consider When Planning a Garage Expansion
The number of cars in the United States has continued to grow throughout the past several decades, and the average size of vehicles has also expanded. Travel has become more and more of a necessity in today's society, and many families now have multiple cars. In the past, a two-car garage provided plenty of room, but nowadays, that may no longer be enough. With winter approaching relatively quickly, the addition of more room in your garage could be the garage renovation project your family needs. However, you will need to keep a few things in mind when considering this type of custom garage project.
Know Your County Limits
In DuPage County, a single-family home on a lot of 40,000 square feet or less is allowed a maximum size of 650 feet for a detached garage. However, if there is no current detached garage built, the homeowner is provided with an additional 200 square feet. In all single-family residential zones for homes that have 40,000 square feet of property or less, the maximum height allowed for a detached garage is 15 feet.
If your property expands past 40,000 square feet, a detached garage would be in proportion to the amount of land you have. DuPage County allows a garage to be the size of the land multiplied by.01625. The same guidelines apply regarding the additional 200 square feet if there is not a structure already in place. The maximum height allowed for a detached garage on this size property is 24 feet. It should also be noted that a garage cannot exceed a total of 2,600 square feet.
How Can I Childproof My Garage?
The safety and well-being of children are likely to be the primary concerns of any parent or guardian. Whether you already have a child or may be a parent soon, taking the time to childproof your home can be important. However, one area that many parents may overlook is the garage. Items that are often stored in a garage, such as tools, machinery, cars, chemicals, and appliances can be very dangerous. If you are considering a garage renovation project, you should talk to an experienced garage professional to ensure that any safety concerns are addressed.
Assessing Your Garage
What may seem safe to an adult can pose an inherent risk to a young child. It is important to look through your garage and take note of any safety issues that may be prevalent or issues that might be outside the norm. When trying to determine what could be dangerous, these questions may help narrow things down:
- Can my child reach this?
- Can this be opened by a child?
What Flooring Concerns Should be Addressed Before Remodeling a Garage?
One of the most interesting aspects of a garage is the multi-purpose functionality that it can provide. Nowadays, almost anything can be added to a garage; living units, home offices, man caves, and home gyms are replacing what used to be considered an uninhabited area. Garage customization projects can sometimes require significant changes to garage space, but before moving forward with a major renovation, one area that must be addressed is the floor. Depending on the purpose you would like your garage to serve, you will want to be sure the style of flooring meets your needs. Consulting a garage building professional could provide insight on what options should be considered.
Plan for Repairs and Restoration
Whether you are planning to add a new surface to your garage floor or wish to keep your current floor in place, it is important to address any pre-existing damages. Years of wear and tear in a garage can result in cement flooring being damaged. Areas of concern such as cracks, holes, uneven surfaces, or grease and oil stains should be addressed before any renovations begin. Although some aspects of the restoration process can be addressed quite easily, others may require the assistance of a professional.
Tips for Soundproofing Your Garage
A garage is an ideal place for homeowners to participate in activities that may be considered too loud inside a house. Holding band practice, cheering on your favorite team, or having a party can be noisy pursuits that may be enjoyed in a garage. However, while your garage is part of your private property, large amounts of noise could be distracting to your neighbors. To address this issue, soundproofing garage renovations may be the answer.
Soundproofing a Garage Door
A garage door is a large entry and exit way that provides a channel for sound to escape very easily. The addition of insulation to a garage door will decrease the amount of sound that can get out. A well-insulated garage is an investment that would not only keep sound inside the home, but it can also help prevent cold temperatures from creeping in. Whatever the occasion may be, an insulated garage door can help make your garage an ideal location during any time of the year.
Going a step further, the installation of a new garage door could provide you with a renovated look that comes with the desired soundproofing benefits. There are several different types of materials on the market today that can be used for a garage door. One of the best choices for keeping sound from escaping would be a vinyl garage door built upon steel frames and filled with polyurethane insulation. By consulting with a professional contractor, you can ensure that a new garage door will meet your needs while providing an appealing look to your home.
Tips for Increasing Your Garage’s Storage Space
Personal items and property seem to get lost in the shuffle much too easily nowadays, and in many garages, important goods may accidentally become mixed with products that should be discarded. This may occur in your garage if you do not think a certain item will be in the garage for very long, or you may think your garage has more storage space than what is actually available. While every homeowner would love the luxury of having a bigger garage, a massive construction job may not be financially feasible, and there may be constraints based on the size of the property. In these cases, there are a variety of other garage customization options that can use space-saving tactics to provide you with a brand-new outlook on your garage. If you are looking to add more storage space in your garage, you should consider the following:
Get an Idea of What Needs to Be Stored
Before any customization or new storage ideas can be put into place, you should have a good idea of what you will be keeping and the most logical place to store these items. Cleaning your garage extensively and disposing of any unwanted or unneeded items is the very first step that should be taken. Every situation is different, and some people may have an abundance of tools that need precise organization, while others might be holding onto children's toys or family heirlooms that do not need to be organized in a specific manner. Envisioning an ideal layout for your garage could save you time and money throughout the garage organization process.
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.
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