Home and Garden Wisdom » Garages and Carports

Prefab Garage Kits

John — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 21:34:13 +0000

If you’re in the situation where you need more garage storage space that you just don’t have, a cheap yet high quality solution is to purchase a prefabricated garage kit that will add space at a reasonable price. Garage kits can come pre-built, so you don’t have to actually do any work in getting it installed, and they are very convenient to use too.

If you’ve never heard of a garage kit before, they are usually made of metal and are known for being very quick to get set up. The walls are thin, so they won’t stay warm in the winter or cool in the summer, but they’ll keep rain and snow off of your car, and keep the wind away from it too. So that’s a great way to think about garage kits- easy protection from the worst weather.

The only thing you’ll really need to worry about is having a solid foundation to put the kit on top of – though your contractor should be able to get that laid for you too. If it’s a smaller unit, more like a roof unit, then you may be able to install it in your driveway or on existing concrete you already have down, but more likely than not you’ll need to have something additional put down.

The larger units, with secure doors and windows, are good for general storage as well as car storage. My garage is where I keep all my gardening equipment, including a wall rack for larger tools and a wicker storage trunk for the smaller equipment, bags, and so on. It’s convenient since it’s also the closet place to my yard I have to store it.

Prefab garage kits are easy to locate anywhere on your property, and are simple to use. They’re good for any kind of storage, and they’re the cheapest way to add it. So what are you waiting for?

Temporary Carports

John — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 06:54:04 +0000

It is a good idea to keep vehicles of all types and qualities under cover when not in use, especially during the winter when snow, ice, and road salt can eat away at the car’s exterior. However, many people do not have a garage to store their car in, especially small homes or apartment dwellers. As a result of this, many have gone with carports instead, and an easy and financially feasible type of carport to invest in is temporary carports.

Temporary carports come in a variety of materials and designs. They are usually made using a metal frame and a strong fabric such as canvas. These structures can usually be assembled and disassembled easily using minimal tools. This is great for someone who is not very handy or does not have tools. Temporary carports may have walls or may simply consist of a cover. If the carport does have walls, it is likely to be either three sided or to have a door of some sort at one end. This door may latch using Velcro or may zip. One can choose to put the walls down in serious weather or lift them up when the weather is nicer.

A temporary carport can be purchased from a number of retailers. One’s favorite dealership or vehicle service center is likely to carry some examples. One can also go online to view carports. The Internet is a good shopping tool because drivers can search for and compare models in order to get the best value for their dollar. Carports come in a number of colors as well, so one can choose a color that matches their home or vehicle if they so choose. Temporary car shelters are also useful for storing other items, such as tools, outdoor furniture, and more. One can use their carport to store summer pieces such as pool equipment during the winter.

How to Construct a Functional Double Garage with Few Easy Steps

John — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 15:21:07 +0000

Thanks to the advent of the internet, accessing garage plan blueprints has never been easier. If you are having a hard time devising your own 2-car garage plan, fret not. There are now numerous two-car garage plans that you can conveniently access online. They can either be purchased or you can also download them for free. But either way, you’d surely benefit from the use of pre-made garage plans. For one, you wouldn’t have to exert too much effort in creating a functional and applicable garage layout. Secondly, you can instantly proceed with the actual implementation of the project once you have the plan. Thirdly, you do not have to pay for the services of a professional to draw out the plan for you.

The availability of a number of double garage plans online has really made planning much simpler and easier especially for homeowners who have little knowledge about DIY home improvement projects. Those who want to get bigger savings should scour for 2-car garage plans on sites that offer free downloads of the design templates.

If in case you are having a hard time finding the design that you want online, then you should consider purchasing blueprints of double garage plans from credible contractors. After you have acquired the blueprint of the garage, you may now begin with the actual construction process. First thing to do is to level the site. Next, you have to carefully position the foundation according to what is written on the plan. Then, schedule the best time for the contractors to pour in the concrete on the foundation.

Once the foundation has been erected, you can now construct the walls and the roof’s frame. You should ask help in hoisting the roof frames and panels to avoid accidents. Position the frames accordingly to ensure that they will be properly bolted together. Provide more stability to the framework of the garage by reinforcing it with sturdy supporting walls. Remember this is critical to ascertain the safety of the structure. Attach all roof panels to their respective places and make certain that they are properly secured in place. You can add either a roller garage door or some roll up garage doors for security and ease of access.

After all the needed components have been installed, all that is left to do is to decorate and paint your newly built 2-car garage.

What Is A Roll Up Garage Door?

John — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:40:04 +0000

Garage doors: Roll Up Garage doors are most important for a house where you have cars to park and make them safe from environmental and other causes. These garage doors are a requirement of every house now as everyone here is able to afford a car and so need to have a good garage and great condition garage doors. This makes your house look beautiful and adds extra beauty somehow to your houses in common. You can now have roll up garage doors which makes your houses looks more beautiful and attractive to anyone who looks from outside. So for a good and wonderful housekeeping and for the purpose to make your cars and vehicles get extra care you should have a proper garage door at a place where you park your cars at home and this place should have a matching tone with your home and is in synchrony with the paints and colors of your home so it looks as a part of the house and everyone can feel its inner beauty from the outside and can inspire the living of yours. This kind of roller garage door are now days getting common and everyone is making it part of their house so that they can make their houses look more beautiful and can give it a new and inspiring look to every viewer in the area. These are in different designs and patterns and are easily available to you on demand the one you like the most can be yours as soon as you place the order and you can be the owner of that and can see your house more developed and gorgeous which can offers the safety and beauty as well. So get roll up garage doors installation and make it work for your better living right now to ensure your beautiful and attractive living.

Knowing When To Replace Your Garage Door Seal

John — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 03:49:03 +0000

If you haven’t been out to your garage lately to inspect the garage door bottom seal, you owe it to yourself to make sure it happens. Most home owners simply take the garage door seals for granted, and fail to check whether or not the seal is in good condition. If you haven’t inspected it lately, ask yourself a few questions in order to determine whether or not it is time to replace the seal on your garage door.

#1 – Are you seeing more bugs than you usually do?

When you head out to your garage to get into the car, or do laundry, are you noticing more bugs and insects than are typically there? If so, your garage door seal is probably failing and will need to be replaced. As the material on your door seal starts to wear out, the insects will use the gaps created to make a new home inside of your garage.

#2 – Do you have pools of water under the door during rainy weather?

When it is windy and raining, do you have pools of water that collect on the garage floor? If you do, the seal has probably become well over due for replacement. A brand new door seal will apply enough pressure to the concrete to keep any wind and water from making its way into your home. These types of problems can lead to mold, and other serious, expensive fixes.

#3 – On a visual inspection, does it appear to be deteriorating?

Whenever you take a look at the bottom of the door, what is the condition of the seal? If the rubber has begun cracking, or is actually missing, you will have to replace the seal to avoid causing any damage inside of your home. Termites and other insects, as well as mold are serious problems that can occur from a malfunctioning garage door seal.

Ensure Your Car’s Safety With Roll Up Garage Doors

admin — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 13:12:04 +0000

Roll up garage doors are a great way to make sure that your vehicles are safe and they do not have to face the brunt of any harsh weather conditions. They can be used for residential as well as commercial buildings as they can be built in varied sizes and patterns.

Conventionally speaking, there are two different types of the roll up garage door:
• The first kind of garage roll up doors look very similar to steel curtains and they roll up in the shape of a cylinder when the door is lifted.
• The second one comprises of hinged plates that roll up towards the ceiling track.

A garage roll up doors is usually made of sturdy aluminium, as it is water resistant and is able to withstand severe weather changes. There are roll up doors made of fibreglass, wood and steel as well, but aluminium based doors have a clear monopoly. Being very strong, aluminium doors are difficult to break as well and, therefore, they offer maximum security. Many people use these special doors as decorative accessories for their outhouses and garden areas as well.

Residential roll up garage doors are extremely popular and widely preferred as these are quite affordable and the installation procedure is simple. However, you should hire professionals to get these doors installed the right way. Even though the installation just requires a bit of fixing and nailing and does not take more than 30 minutes, a professional would be able to give you the best results.

The panel model for roll up doors is generally used for residential purposes. It is a bit complicated to install these kinds of doors as they are made up of 5 or 6 panels that are hinged together. The doors when lifted have to go to the sides, the back and the ceiling of the garage; hence fixing the door is a cumbersome process that requires great precision.

The aluminium doors are a bit costlier as compared to the ones made of wood or fibreglass but since these are water resistant, less prone to dents and quite durable, the expenditure is worth the deal. Some of the renowned brands that offer good quality roll up garage doors are Clopay (prices of doors range from $600 to $ 1500), Lowe’s (will cost you as less as $250) and Home Depot (a neat range of $ 225 to $450).

An important fact worth considering is that though garage doors offer great security and protect any unwanted entry to the house, to ensure that they do not lead to any hazardous situations, it is mandatory to give them timely maintenance.

Selecting a Roller Garage Door for Safety, Convenience and Style

admin — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:30:21 +0000

Installing a roller garage door adds safety, convenience and style to any garage badly in need of a renovation or makeover. With so many different models available upgrading your garage entrance does not have to be a costly luxury you cannot afford to consider. Homeowners with different budgets and style preferences are finding amazing deals on roller garage doors by going online to get information to help make an informed decision.

Roller garage doors use an automated operating mechanism that gently and easily opens the entrance with the push of a button on a mounted control panel located inside the garage or by a remote unit carried on a set of keys. Their hinged designs and sectioned panels is what make it rise so effortlessly. There are models that are not automated and can still be raised easily by hand. Garage roller doors are attractive, but also functional for any household looking for a custom look in an affordable price range.

The functional engineering of a garage roller door has made it one the most popular home accessories on the market. This mechanical invention provides homeowners with a great deal of daily convenience. Having one of those doors installed will reduce the hassles of exiting and entering your garage. No longer do people have to struggle with lifting a heavy and cumbersome door to enter their garages. This is why roller shutter garage doors have a huge safety advantage compared to older heavier models not on rollers.

There is much less chance for injury or damage to a person or car because of their engineering design that focuses on safety. Even wooden doors that are a bit heavier than the ones made from lighter materials are extremely safe because of the sectional design. This type of door gives owners with children peace of mind because safety features, like motion sensors that come with certain models tremendously reduce any chance for injury. When a person, child, or pet walks under a door while it is coming down a motion sensor will automatically raise the door to prevent injury from occurring.

When selecting a roller garage door for your home decide on what style and price range you are looking for. Going online to shop and browse sites of reputable online retailers and factory direct outlets is a good place to start. You can look at images, product features, installation options, and compare prices from the comfort of your home.

Simple Steps In Organizing Your Garage

John — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 12:43:05 +0000

Being organized and concerned about the orderliness of personal stuffs is highly associated to femininity. However, if you are a man and you admit that you were vying for a more organized garage; such thought doesn’t deplete your masculinity. If you do really care about your things and equipment, you will definitely consider the following simple steps in organizing your garage.

It is understood that garage is intended to house many sharp and dangerous objects which may include but not limited to your tools for the car, your mower, shovel and other equipments for the garden as well as your carpentry tools for fixing small damages in your house. Keeping these things in their proper places not only protect against loss of the tools but also ensures that every member of the house is free from any form of danger brought by sharp tools.

In solving a super cluttered and disoriented garage, the best storage solution is to set up a cabinet where you could store your things. Group them according to purpose and label if necessary. By keeping your things organized, you are not only able to avoid accidents but also results to a more effective and efficient working hours inside the garage because you are able to avoid spending time searching for the misplaced scotch tape or hammer. There may also be objects that are sharp and too large to be put inside the cabinet. Do not put them above the cabinet, instead, place some hooks on the wall where you could hang your sharp and big tools, like spade, rake, shovel and many more. Always have your ladder placed beside a cabinet if in case you will pick up something above the shelf.

Leave some free space on your wall. Do not use the entire wall, from corner to corner for cabinets and hooks only. Allocate a space for your working table or working bench together with garage stool. Working on a table while sitting on a comfortable stool results to more convenient and productive working hours. Another great alternative would be using swivel wooden bar stool since you are able to twist around to fetch things without having to leave your seat.

These simple steps could help you get and achieve your most desired organized garage. Working in a clean environment also encourages someone to do more, so keep your garage cool and clean.

Cheap And Easy To Use Garage Roofing Materials

John — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 20:13:04 +0000

The roof is an essential part of your garage – or any other building for that matter. Yet, when it comes to roofing construction materials, there are so many cheap and easy choices on the market, that you could be forgiven for thinking they were inadequate for the job. Make no mistake though – cheap can easily equal good quality with garage roofing materials, as long as you use them correctly.

Some of the easiest to use are plastic and steel corrugated roofing sheets and asphalt shingles. Most roofing sheets only require light trusses and rafters for mounting, which brings the price even further down due to savings on construction wood. Asphalt shingles forego the rafters for plywood decking which covers the entire roof area and is attached directly to the trusses. This may cost a bit more than putting up rafters for roofing sheets, but is also stronger, especially compared to plastic sheets. All of these roofing materials can last for years of years without leaking – if you do the work right.

How about ease of use? Well, how about this: Corrugated sheets, whether made of plastic or metal, are simply laid up with a bit of overlap. Then they are screwed or nailed to the rafters through that overlap – and that’s it. Specially made roof ridge pieces are installed if the roof is pitched. If the roof is flat, you may lay the sheets with a good amount of overhang. Asphalt shingles are easy too – just nail them to the plywood decking with the overlap and pattern specified by the manufacturer, add ridges and other finish elements, and you’re done. Usually with a garage, you don’t need a damp barrier in the roof construction, since no one is living in the garage. There are probably no skylights or dormers either. This makes construction even simpler and cheaper, so keep this in mind. There you are! Roofing shingles or roofing sheets – both are cheap and easy, and will last for years and years. What more could you want?

Practical Uses for a Roller Door

John — Fri, 21 May 2010 03:12:04 +0000

A roller door is an easy and practical way to add some life to any part of the home or your garage. For example, many use these types of doors to add a fresh look and easy way to access their back porch or back yard. These doors are also known as sliding doors. They have wheels on both the top and bottom tracks, which help hold them in place and make it easier to open and close them. The sliders come in different types such as wood and glass. Wood versions are mainly used for areas such as bedrooms and other play areas. They are simple for a child to open, which makes them ideal for a bedroom closet placement.

The glass versions usually contain some kind of locking mechanism, so they are safe enough to use for doorways leading to the outside areas. Not only will intruders have a difficult time trying to get in, but small children will have a difficult time getting out of the home as well. This makes the sliding glass door a perfect variation for an exit into a backyard or a porch and patio.

In garages, the rollers are used as a space saver and an easy way to open the garage door without needing to use a lot of strength. Instead of pushing up on the manual door with all your might, simply unlatch or unlock the door and push up. Most garage roller doors have a semi automatic rolling function so you push up on it a tiny bit and it will open the rest of the way by itself. There are also fully automatic garage roller doors. These work using a remote control that unlocks and opens the door by slowly rolling it upwards and locking it into place.

Of all the varieties of doors available, these types of doors make the most sense. They are not only simple to use, but offer protection from intruders as well. The practical uses for a roller door have a great many uses, and all are equally useful.