424 Ogden Ave, Downers Grove, IL 60515
630-852-8485
Recent Blog Posts
Tips on Running a Successful Garage Sale
An important aspect of maintaining your house and garage is keeping it clear of clutter. A good tactic is to do this at least once or twice a year. However, when you decide what you want to part with, what do you do with it? Rather than throwing your old belongings in the trash, you can make a profit and hold a garage sale. In the summer months, many shoppers traverse their neighborhoods for the best deals on gently used items. Read below for our steps on how to prepare a successful garage sale and make some money out of your garage this summer.
1. Decide on your inventory
Make sure to rummage through all parts of your house to find any clothes, toys, appliances, or other trinkets that you no longer have use for. Generally, the rule of thumb is if it was stored away in a box and unseen for years, it is time to give it away. Ask your children what clothes they have grown out of and what toys they no longer play with. These can find a new home with a family of young children. Additionally, make sure none of the items you are trying to sell are broken, beat up, or dirty. Visitors to your sale might see these items and be turned off from buying other things.
Keeping Mosquitoes Away From Your Garage
The mosquitoes are out in full force this summer and they like to follow you wherever you go, including into your garage. If you are noticing that you can't work in your garage or get into your car without having to swat away a swarm of these biting pests, here are some tips (non-chemical) to reclaim your garage and enjoy it once again.
1.) Keep standing water away from your garage
Standing water is the main culprit when it comes to mosquito breeding. Make sure there is nothing around your garage that can collect water. Check that your garage gutters are not clogged. Keep grass clippings away from water and rain. Provide fresh water to bird bath and pools. If you store recycling containers outside, drill holes to allow excess water to filter out. Store tires inside since water can easily get trapped inside of them. Check for puddles around your garage which don't dry in a few days and invest in fixing your landscaping. You'll notice that a few changes can greatly decrease mosquitoes from breeding.
Fire Safety Tips for Your Garage
With summer finally hitting its stride and Independence Day around the corner, many families celebrate the season with cookouts and fireworks. Summer is also the time when homeowners take time to work on construction projects using potentially dangerous or flammable materials. With the summer heat, it is even more important to consider fire safety. However, many homeowners fail to consider if their garage is constructed and organized to prevent potentially devastating garage fires.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, 6,600 garage fires resulted in a total of $457 million in property losses. Garage fires are especially destructive because they are less frequently detected than traditional house fires and can spread even more quickly. Make sure to consider the following tips when checking to see if you've taken necessary precaution to prevent a garage fire this summer.
#1) Store any flammable liquids in a safe place
Oil, gasoline, and paints are commonplace in many garages and all of these liquids are flammable. If possible, they should be stored away in a backyard shed or anywhere not connected to your house. If the garage is your only option, make sure to store them in small, sealed amounts, away from any appliances, heaters, or lights. Make sure each is clearly labeled.
Endless Rain Brings Flooded Garages. What Can You Do?
With the torrential rains in the recent week, many homeowners have dealt with flooding issues in homes and garages. With more rain forecasted and not a bit of ground soil dry, now is the time to examine your garage structure.
When it rains continuously, the average way your land drains is going to be compromised. Lawns become overly saturated, storm drains become filled to capacity. And unfortunately, water is going to find the lowest point in your garage if it has nowhere to go. Here are some main issues that may be causing your garage flooding issues.
1. Foundation Level
The foundation level of your garage should accommodate a buildup of rain water around it or else water is going to flood in. You should be able to see your garage foundation above your ground level. The higher your foundation, the better chances your garage will stay dry. But detached garages, especially ones built decades ago, may have insufficient foundation height. Installing a drainage system to flow water away from your garage or building a garage with a higher foundation are the main options that can help you solve the flooding problems permanently.
How To Create More Space in Your Garage with Overhead Storage
What do you see when you open your garage door? Is there a chance you might not even see your car because there's no space to park it? If your garage has turned into a storage unit for your bikes, sports gear, and lawn supplies instead of the garage it was intended to be, you can take back a lot of storage space by moving it up above you.
Overhead storage allows you to move what's in your garage, upward and out of sight until you need it. There are numerous options for creating overhead storage depending on the configuration of your garage.
Option #1 - Overhead Celing Storage Racks
Steel overhead ceiling storage racks attach to your ceiling and can be custom cut to fit into the available space of your garage. These steel racks can hold up to 600 pounds each and can be installed by the garage owner or an installer of the product.
Option #2 - Overhead Storage Loft
If you have ample ceiling space in your garage, building a simple loft can give you a second level of valuable storage. Having a qualified contractor build your loft insures your safety and that your loft follows any codes and regulations your city may have. But you can also build it yourself. Instructions on how to build a garage loft can be found online.
Tips on How to Keep Your Garage Cool in the Summer
As summer approaches, so does the hot sun aiming towards your garage. For people who like to work on their cars and projects in their garages, the summer heat can be unbearable. But before you decide to just sweat it out, read about our tips on making your garage cooler.
Tip #1 - Circulate the Air
Forcing the hot air out of your garage and bringing in the cool air is the key. If you have a window, set up a box fan and exhaust the hot air out the window. Another option, though more expensive, is to install an exhaust fan in the ceiling. Since heat rises, an exhaust fan will bring faster results. Even if you don't have a window, circulating the air with a fan and/or raising your overhead garage a foot up, will make your garage cooler. For climates where the air is just too overwhelming hot, installing an energy efficient air-conditioning window unit can bring some instant relief.
Tip #2 - Use Light Colors for the Garage Exterior and Shingles
A Homeowner’s Garage Building Checklist (Part 2)
In part one of our garage building checklist, we covered the first steps in your garage building or remodel process. Today, we look to brief you on the consultation process and preparations that must be made before the garage building process starts.
Meeting with Your Garage Builder, a Primer
So, now you've made your short list of garage builders, and requested your free consultation.
What happens next? You set a time to discuss your needs, get some measurements, and receive a quote. You've recognized your needs, as recommended in part one, so you will be able to communicate them with the person (or people) that show up at your door.
If you haven't read part one, here are some of the things you should consider in building your new or remodeled garage:
- the size and height of your vehicle(s)
- your storage needs
A Homeowner’s Garage Building Checklist (Part 1)
You may have been kicking the tires on building a new garage, remodeling your garage or doing a full rebuild for a while now. Maybe you want to add value to your home, maybe you want to protect your things from the elements, maybe you are starting to feel like you would have been a contestant in our Ugliest Garage Contest last year.
No matter the reason, you have come to the conclusion that it's time for a garage.
We understand. We've helped thousands of homeowners to complete garage projects in our past 35 years. That's why today we'd like to help you know what to expect through ours, our competitors, and any other garage builder's process.
Simply put, we've developed a checklist for homeowners in the process of building a garage.
Recognizing a Need
Before you even make calls, develop a list, or start looking at reviews, you need to recognize that your garage (or lack thereof) is a problem that needs to be fixed.
Garage Remodel
Roofs Gone Wrong: Ice Dams, Curling Shingles, and Leaky Attics
Ready for Memorial Day Weekend? Who isn't? However, as we make our way to the outside in a very Kingsford-commercial like manner, you may notice something is wrong. The freeze-thaw cycle of Chicago has been incredibly treacherous for homeowners and their homes.
If you look at your roof, and notice something like this...
...Your attic and home could be at risk.
It's as simple as this. Any exposed nail on your roof gets hit by water, the water travels down the nail, and into the wood and your insulation.
The wood rots, the insulation sags, and damage occurs. The more quickly you recognize the problem, the more quickly you can get it repaired, protecting the value of your home.
Of course, you can attempt to do it yourself, but as with any dangerous repair (see our article two schools of thought on replacing a garage door torsion spring), it's best to enlist the help of a trusted, licensed, local professional who has been assisting homeowners for over 35 years.
What Garage Style is Right for You?
Whether you're looking to build from the ground up or looking to tear down and rebuild, the possibilities are endless when it comes to your new garage. Whether you're looking for gable, gambrel, custom, or hip; it's important to consider the benefits and key uses for each.
- Are you going to be using your garage for more than parking cars?
- Will you use your garage for storage? What will You Store?
- How many cars (if any) will go in the garage?
- What does the roof line on your house look like?
- One door or two doors? Single or double?
- Where will you be putting entry doors? Front? Side? Back?
These are just a few questions to ask yourself before and during your consultation with a garage building professional. Once you understand these aspects, it's time to decide on the style: Gable, Gambrel, Hip, or Custom-which includes elements of one of the above in addition to window dormers, decks, or more.
Gable Garage
Gable garages are a common type of detached garage, with two sloping sides that come together at a point. The reason that many homeowners would consider a gable garage is that the roof pitch can be slanted at different angles depending on your need.
Call 630-852-8485 for a Free Estimate
Services listed are not a guarantee or indication of future work.
