Month: October 2022

Your garage may be your favorite place in your Bloomington, Indianapolis home. Many homeowners use their garages for far more than vehicle storage. Some have used them to create functional offices and workout rooms; others have turned them into comprehensive workshops for their favorite hobbies. No matter how you use your garage or how often you visit it, investing in improvements in this area is guaranteed to grow the value of your property. The right upgrades will set your home apart from comparable houses in your neighborhood, boost its resale price, and increase its marketability. Following are eight amazing ways to modernize your garage with breathtaking results.

1. Build on Top of Your Garage

Depending upon your garage’s general design, you may have the option of building on top of it. Do you want the extra cushion of a passive income source but aren’t quite ready to take on the extra debt load that buying a rental property entails? The top of your garage is a great place for a functional in-law unit. It could also be the perfect location for your home office, dance studio, art studio, or music recording studio. If you’ve got the time, you can complete this Herculean project in small, manageable phases. (Make sure to check your local zoning laws and HOA guidelines, as each area has different requirements for home additions.)

2. Establish a Multi-Layered Lighting Plan

Not every garage upgrade is as ambitious as building another unit on top of your garage. One of the best ways to upgrade your garage is by investing in a multi-layered lighting plan. People are using layering techniques to produce universal and highly adaptable lighting plans on both the interior and exterior of their homes. You can use different lighting types to create task lighting, overhead lighting, adjustable lighting, and lighting that’s purely for aesthetics. This way, you can create the perfect ambiance in here just as you can everywhere else in your living environment. Whether you’re making fishing lures, showcasing your sports car, lifting weights, or watching TVs and tossing back beers with your friends, you’ll have the right level of lighting for every mood and activity.

3. Add Color to Your Garage With an Epoxy Floor Coating

Garage epoxy floor coatings are stunning, easy to maintain, and long-lasting. These pour-in-place flooring solutions take garage interiors from run-of-the-mill to downright head-turning. Available in multiple colors, styles, and designs, epoxy flooring systems can have matte or high-gloss finishes. Once yours is in, you won’t have to worry about stained concrete due to automotive fluid leaks or other spills. Best of all, epoxy floor coatings are entirely slip-resistant. Whether you’re working with engine oil, paints, or other slick, slippery materials, there’s no fear of losing your footing or facing liability issues because someone else has.

4. Take Your Garage Door to the Next Level

When you want to turn your garage into a truly unforgettable space, it’s best to start with your garage door. After all, this is the first thing that people will see when pulling up or passing by your home. There are many kinds of garage doors out there to fit into a variety of home aesthetics, such as carriage house doors for rustic farmhouse looks and more modern doors with wood-plank exteriors.

Your garage door will also determine how well-insulated your favorite space is. If you intend to spend lots of time in this area, look for garage doors that are built with high-performing, insulating materials. You can also use your garage door upgrade as an opportunity to add yet another level to your multi-layered lighting plan. There are a number of garage doors made from insulated steel that have varied window designs. You can shop by R-values or materials. You can even opt for an all-aluminum, full-view garage door that lets you see outside without letting everyone else peer in.

5. Go Vertical With Your Organizational Strategy

Even a large and undeniably spacious garage can feel cramped once everyone starts piling things in. Of all the rooms and closets in a home, garages have a tendency to become go-to dump sites for everything miscellaneous. Rather than stashing every individual item that people want to store in random areas, have a plan. If you’re looking to maintain your garage as a relatively private space or as a functional workshop, but still have to accommodate the needs and preferences of other household members, invest in an organizing system that capitalizes on all the vertical space that you have access to. Install shelves that reach or near the ceiling’s actual height. Use wall-mounted racks to hang tools and equipment or to organize random items like old blankets, camping gear, and board games.

The more time and money that you invest into creating a functional, intuitive, and easy-to-use organizing system, the easier it will be to keep your garage looking stellar all of the time.

6. Install a Ductless Mini-Split

Properly venting your garage is just as important as insulating it. This is especially true if you intend to use a portion of your indoor space for parking your vehicle. The good news is that you may be able to solve multiple problems with a single installation. Ductless mini-split heat pumps are great heating and cooling solutions for remote areas of your home that aren’t serviced by your central HVAC system. Having one put in will ensure that your garage remains both usable and enjoyable even when the outside temperatures soar or plummet. It will also give you an easy way to maintain an acceptable indoor air quality in this area. In addition to heating and cooling, ductless mini-split heat pumps also act as dehumidifiers, air filters, and air purifiers.

7. Consider Having a Solar Roof Installed

Solar panels aren’t just for primary buildings. Having a solar roof installed on your garage is an easy and effective way to offset your home’s ongoing energy use and energy costs. Although you’re unlikely to meet your household’s total energy needs with this installation, the solar energy that you do harness could be enough for powering up one or more electric cars, creating a noticeable drop in your monthly home energy bill, and significantly reducing your carbon footprint. This improvement will make it easier to manage run-off during times of heavy precipitation. Along with your new garage door, it will also supply added insulation. Moreover, if you’re especially ambitious about saving or creating your own energy, there are a number of solar installers who can show you how to use your garage to move closer to being off-grid.

8. Paint the Walls

The bare-bones, unfinished look of the typical garage certainly has its appeal, but if you’re adding epoxy flooring, a multi-layered lighting plan, and a top-tier and well-insulated garage door, you might as well give the walls special treatment too. Using a high-quality latex paint will protect these surfaces from excess moisture and from any solutions or lubricants that you use in this area. You can choose a bright, uplifting color, one that will wear well despite lots of traffic and active use, or a combination of tones that pair perfectly with your flooring and help define the room’s ambiance.

Garage Door Doctor is a trusted provider of residential and commercial garage doors throughout Bloomington, Indianapolis and the surrounding areas. Our clients can also turn to us for innovative garage door openers and garage door repairs. If you’re looking for the perfect garage door for your home improvement project, get in touch with us today.

The post 8 Amazing Ways to Modernize Your Garage appeared first on Garage Door Doctor.

This post first appeared on https://www.garagedoordoctorllc.com

Just like keeping your garage warm during the frigid winter months, maintaining a cool garage space during the summer season is more than ideal — especially if you live somewhere prone to cold winters and hot summers. 

If your garage serves as a multipurpose space for work, hobbies or projects, high temperatures can cause excess sweating and discomfort, inevitably tiring you out more quickly. Luckily, we have plenty of tips for cooling down your space. Learn how to keep a garage cool in the summer with this handy guide!

6 of the Best Ways to Keep a Garage Cool

Making some slight adjustments to your garage for summer can help improve air circulation and better organize your space. Just like cold weather can affect garage door openers, sunlight and heat can also compromise their effectiveness. High temperatures can interfere with the operator motor’s sensors and wiring. 

Fortunately, insulating your garage door and practicing the other tips below can help keep warm temperatures at bay and protect these sensitive components from heat. Let’s dive in!

1. Install a Fan

Having a fan in your garage can make a world of difference. It can improve ventilation, make the space less stuffy and help push hot air out of the garage. The strong airflow from a fan can increase cooling significantly, boosting the rate of evaporation from your body. Keep in mind, however, that a fan typically works best with moderately warm temperatures. It may be ineffective if your garage is sweltering hot.

You should also note the dimensions of your garage if you’re thinking of installing a ceiling fan. If your garage ceiling is lower, a ceiling fan could interfere with your garage door opening or closing or prevent you from parking a larger vehicle in the space. The ceiling fan’s blades should be 7 to 9 feet above the floor, as well as 10 to 12 inches below the ceiling.

2. Declutter Your Space

Believe it or not, a garage full of clutter can raise the temperature in your space. Stacked boxes, bulky tools and machinery on the floor not only take up lots of space but can also block airflow, creating a hotter, more stagnant space.

An afternoon of decluttering your garage can help improve your space’s airflow and organization and make it easier to park your vehicle, of course. Installing shelves, cabinets or storage racks — if you don’t already have them — is a great way to maintain a clutter-free garage and keep the temperature in check. Remember to tidy up regularly, returning tools and boxes to their places after each use.

3. Invest in an Air Conditioner

Arguably the most obvious yet expensive solution, installing an air conditioner in your garage is a surefire way to cool down your space. You’ll want to invest in a separate unit for your garage space, like a ductless wall-mounted mini-split or window air conditioner. 

Consider a through-the-wall air conditioner if your garage has no windows. This would involve carving out a rectangular section in the wall to fit in the air conditioner. It’s quiet, highly efficient and can cool a space in just minutes. 

A mini-split works just fine without windows as well — all you’ll need is a small hole high on the wall, and you’re good to go. The main drawback of a mini-split is the additional energy expense, but using a smart AC controller can help cut down electric bill costs.

You should only opt for one of these options if you spend a considerable amount of time in the garage — that way, it’s more worth the expense. 

4. Opt for a Lighter Wall Color

You may have been told at some point that wearing dark-colored clothing in the summer makes you hotter. Likewise, the darker your garage walls are painted, the more they absorb heat. 

Try a lighter-colored paint such as white. We recommend taking up this project before the summer season arrives — preferably in spring — and you may notice your garage dropping a few degrees. It may not be the most glamorous solution, but it sure can make an impact. 

5. Improve Insulation

Insulating your garage door can increase energy efficiency and maintain a comfortable, moderate temperature, sealing your garage off from outdoor temperatures that sneak into your space. Some of the most popular and energy-efficient insulators for garage doors include:

• Aluminum: A lightweight option requiring minimal maintenance, an aluminum garage door can hold up against weather and resist rusting in coastal climates.
• Fiberglass: Fiberglass garage doors are also lightweight and reliable with low maintenance requirements. The finish on most fiberglass doors resembles natural wood. 
• Steel: Steel-insulated garage doors are highly durable, long-lasting and dent-resistant, capable of withstanding the elements. However, they can corrode in coastal climates due to high salt concentration in the air, so it’s essential to treat them correctly and have the paint professionally refinished if chipping occurs.
• Wood: While wooden garage doors are typically the most costly, they offer value and a luxurious appeal to your home. They require additional upkeep and resealing to prevent mold, mildew and pests, but they can be durable and long-lasting with proper maintenance.

6. Cool Your Vehicle Before Parking

Your car heats up with use, so when you park it in the garage as soon as you arrive home, it warms up the air in your garage. Closing the garage door traps the hot air in the space, increasing the overall temperature considerably.

Instead of parking the car in your garage immediately, try leaving it in the driveway first to cool off for an hour or two — preferably in a shaded spot, if possible. Leaving it in a sunny spot can continue to heat the car. If parking your vehicle in a driveway isn’t an option, try pouring cold water over the roof of the car to accelerate the cooling process before you move it into the garage.

Prep Your Garage for Summer With AAA Garage Door

Extreme temperatures can take a toll on garage doors, but AAA Garage Door is here to help. Committed to providing superior workmanship and quality products for our customers, we handle everything from garage door and door opener installation to repair and maintenance.

Your garage door encounters a lot with the changing seasons, from extreme temperatures to intense storms to debris and pests. When you turn to us for garage door weather seal services, you can expect prompt and outstanding service that will exceed your expectations and keep those harsh temperatures in check. Request an estimate or service from AAA Garage Door today!

The post How to Keep Your Garage Cool in Summer appeared first on AAA Garage Door, Inc. | Husker Door.