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How to Keep Your Garage Cool During Hot Weather
The temperature during summertime in Chicago can get hot enough to make the interior of your garage uncomfortable to be in. It is beneficial to be proactive during the spring by updating your garage to prepare it for the oncoming hot weather. There are a handful of steps you can take in order to protect your garage from the summer heat.
Maintain constant air circulation
It is important to try to remove all of the hot air out of your garage. One way to do this is by opening the garage door itself or by leaving the garage windows open for a few hours. Once most of the hot air is gone, you can then begin creating a constant circulation of cool air. If you want to spend a little extra cash, another option is to install an exhaust fan in the garage ceiling. Circulating the air with a fan will be useful for creating a consistent air flow.
Paint the exterior of your garage light colors
Dark shades attract the sunlight and may cause the interior of your garage to heat up quickly. By painting your garage a lighter color, you will allow the sunlight to reflect off the garage's walls. So, choosing a shade such as white or cream is one way to decrease the temperature in your garage.
5 Ways to Prep your Garage for the Summer
The weather in Chicago can be unpredictable and change drastically from season to season. Keeping that in mind, it may be beneficial to take precautions and make sure that your garage is ready for summer weather. There are many steps that you can take in order to prep your garage for the upcoming temperature change.
Clean up and organize your space
The items that you have out and ready to use during the winter months are most likely not the same ones that you need for the summer. For example, you might store your bikes away during the colder seasons and bring them back out when the weather gets a little warmer. The organization of your garage may vary for the same reason. An important first step in preparing your garage for summer is to clean your space, making sure that everything you want to use has been moved to an accessible location and is ready for use.
Inspect the mechanics for functionality
You can get as specific as you would like, depending on how much time you wish to spend on the mechanics of your garage. Since it also pertains to your garage's safety, this may be one of the most important items on your summer garage prep checklist. There are many moving parts that go into your garage, so you want to make sure that everything is functioning and that you test out the mechanisms.
Garage Landscaping Ideas
Maintaining the landscaping around your garage is key to boosting curbside appeal for your home. There are plenty of ways to create the outdoor look that suits your taste. Adding plants, flowers, or other outdoor elements all have the potential to beautify your garage's exterior.
Grow plants that absorb moisture
The area outside of your garage is not limited to having colorful flowers. Growing plants that are multipurpose, such as ones that absorb moisture and keep bugs away, make for pleasant porch time. Some examples of natural mosquito-repelling plants include citronellas, horsemints, marigolds, ageratums, and catnips.
Avoid plants with berries
While some bushes or trees with berries may be attractive because of their colorful nature, berries can attract bugs to the front of your home. If you do decide to include berry trees or bushes, plant them further away from your garage door so that your guests are not bothered by bugs when they come over to visit.
5 Steps to Follow When Cleaning Aluminum Siding
Spring is the perfect time of year for outdoor cleaning. You may consider cleaning your aluminum siding or garage door when it comes to freshening up your home. The task of trying to make aluminum look brand new can be simple if you follow these five steps. For those unfamiliar with the topic, aluminum is a tough material that is used for siding or garage doors. One benefit of purchasing aluminum for your home is that it requires very little to no maintenance. However, this minimum amount of maintenance still needs to be done in order to keep a long lifespan for your siding.
Prepare your proper cleaning equipment
Before you start cleaning, be sure to obtain the appropriate cleaning supplies. The first cleaner that you'll use is laundry detergent containing bleach as one of its ingredients. If mildew has formed on the siding, the bleach will help remove it over time. The second cleaning item that you'll need is a high-pressure water hose. This supply will be further explained in the next step. Other recommended cleaning items include a brush for deep crevices, protective eyewear, a hat, and a jacket in case you are cleaning your garage siding in chilly weather. If you can, be sure to choose a pleasant day to work outdoors, as the task may take some time.
Top 5 Repairs That May Make Your Garage Last Longer
By keeping up with your garage maintenance duties, you may be able to make your garage last longer. There are a number of ways to make sure that your garage space is up to date and functional for years to come. However, a few proactive tasks are more important than others.
Protect your garage door finish
This is done in hopes of preventing any scratches to the panel surface of your garage door for both visually pleasing and practical reasons. One way to protect your garage door is to apply a coat of protective sealer so that weather damage does not occur.
Conduct annual maintenance on movable parts
One option is to use a track lubrication product to ensure that the moving parts of your garage door do not rust or tighten in a short period of time. That brings up another benefit of annual maintenance checkups: Tighten any loose hinges that you find and make sure that they are bending evenly and that the track is not warped.
Roof repair
Check for cracks or holes in the roof of your garage to prevent any leaks or flooding that may cause damage to the inside.
Your City May Dictate the Size of Your Garage
It is important to understand how your location has the ability to dictate the size of your garage before you begin to come up with a plan that includes additions to property.
Understanding regulations
It may be beneficial to look into the common mistakes that can occur while building a garage before you begin the process. In order to avoid making a mistake, come up with a plan that coincides with your city's sizing regulations.
Creating a design based on restrictions
Consider building a garage that is big enough to fit your vehicles. It would be unfortunate to get halfway through your garage creation, only to discover that your design was too small to fit your cars and your storage items. For a single-car garage, an average size to go by is at least 14 by 20 feet. For a two-car garage, the measurements are typically around 20 by 24 feet.
Measuring the space you have to work with
A good first step is to decide whether it's physically feasible to fit a garage in the area in which you would like to build one. You may wish to ask your neighbors if there are any special restrictions that apply to garages in your area, as some communities require certain sizes. Local Chicago builders are usually informed with these up-to-date garage size requirements as well.
Build a Garage that Showcases Your Car
If you are a car collector, you may desire a space where you can display your wheels. Whether you are building a new garage or remodeling your own, it is beneficial to come up with a plan in order to create a garage that is best fit for you. The first step you may want to consider when planning is to break down your design ideas into exterior and interior. Then continue with mapping out your garage with specifics depending on the placement of each material. There are some elements you may wish to incorporate into your design, including:
Installing special lights
You can set up lights in your garage to focus on your cars that you want to display. Whether the lights are on the inside or the outside of your garage, you want them to be complimentary of the surroundings. For example, using materials that are similar to the design of your house may help the structure of the garage tie into your overall property.
Building a detached showcase garage
If you do not want to remodel your attached garage, another option is to build a detached garage in another area entirely so that you do not infringe upon your homestead. In these situations, it is important to consider design elements that bring together all of the surrounding areas, such as landscape. For example, if you wish to build a garage in a dense tree area, you can come up with an idea that connects to the outdoorsy style like a wood cabin. Keep in mind that you may need to install climate control to preserve your collection depending on if you live in a humid or dry climate. This is important to consider because materials such as leather can shrink or crack if there is not enough moisture in the air.
Climate Can Affect Your Type of Garage
Weather conditions can play a role in the material that you decide to build your garage with. For example, if you live in a tropical climate, such as Florida, the weather is typically on warm. However, it is damp because of the amount of rain and humidity that is produced annually. Knowing that you live in these conditions, it is beneficial to take precautionary steps by protecting your garage with a steel door in case of intense storms. There are a variety of options in which you can decide to build your garage with depending on your city's temperature and climate.
Heat and sun of the west coast:
You may want to install fiberglass or a plastic garage door in warmer climates. Fiberglass can be useful if you live in a sunny region near the ocean because the material is light. This material is also low-maintenance. However, it may fade over time as it ages and from the sunlight.
Midwest snowy and cold temperatures:
Protecting your garage from the freezing temperatures during a Chicago winter can take a good amount of preparation. One way to prevent any damage is to install a wooden door to your garage. This will be useful when winter rolls around, the temperature is below zero, the winds are 30 mph, and the snow is blowing against the side of your home. Placing installation on the walls and roof of your garage can also help keep the temperature warm.
Top 5 Reasons to Build a New Garage
Whether you are designing a garage from the ground up or replacing your old garage, there are a number of reasons as to why you might need to build a new garage. Before you begin the process, a few thoughts you may want to keep in mind are to communicate with your building permit office and neighbors so that they are aware are you building a garage, take the time to understand the city rules regarding garages, make sure that the measurements of your lot are accurate, draw up a plan on your computer, and double check that your new garage plan gets approved.
Increase your home's value:
Adding a new feature to your home, such as a garage, will most likely result in your house being worth more money. When you are ready to sell, potential homebuyers will be aware that your garage was built new and that has added value to the overall cost of your home.
An added space for your gatherings:
Your old garage may not have been big enough to host events. After creating a new garage, you can design it to have multipurpose functions for you and your family to enjoy.
5 Advantages of a Detached Garage
If you do not have enough space in your home to enjoy all the activities that you desire, consider investing in a detached garage. There are a number of benefits that can come with a detached garage. Whether you need more storage room or an area for your office, this extra space has potential benefits and can be customized to your specific needs. Once you have made your decision to invest in a detached garage and building permits have been approved, you can begin to brainstorm different interior ideas.
Spare bedroom: Having an overnight guest can sometimes be less stressful if they have their own space to enjoy. With the addition of a detached garage, your guests will be able to feel comfortable knowing they can close enjoy alone time at the end of the night.
Extra office space: All of the rooms in your house may be occupied by beds and dressers. A detached garage can serve as the extra room you always wanted to make into an office. Just add a desk and a chair, and you are off to a great start.
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