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Home Storage and Organization: Garage Shelving Ideas

Around 50% of American homeowners believe their garage is the most disorganized space, which shows how crucial finding storage solutions are. 

Keeping your garage organized is essential for streamlining your stuff and preventing accidents such as boxes falling on top of you. But if you’re unfamiliar with DIY solutions, it can feel overwhelming when deciding where to start. Maybe you’re currently in this position and looking for inspiration.  

Sounds like you? Don’t worry; we’ve got your back. Here are garage shelving ideas to try out. 

Build a Garage Storage Wall 

One of the top DIY garage shelving ideas is to create an entire storage wall. These are floor-to-ceiling shelves where you can maximize space and store your essential sports or gardening gear. You should also include a pegboard section where you can hang tools.  

Install Floating Shelves 

Regardless of whether you’ve got a lofted garage, every space can benefit from floating shelves. These keep your belongings from laying strewn on the floor, resulting in accidents. A bonus is that floating shelves look modern and minimal compared to other solutions. 

Add Wire Baskets to Your Shelves 

Before you Google “shelving ideas for garage,” know you can maximize shelving space by adding wire baskets. Most homeowners use these baskets for storing smaller items or objects that look messy, like cables. It’s wise to invest in multiple to separate your belongings into categories.  

Hang Storage High  

The best wood garage shelving ideas work when you keep belongings hanging high. Install racks that will store your items horizontally and reduce the risk of throwing things on the floor. And to be clutter-free, store similar items together, so it’s easier to grab your essentials.  

Dedicate a Shelf to Your Kids

If you’re looking for garage shelves ideas to keep your kids’ stuff organized, dedicate an entire shelf to it. Ask your little ones to store their sports gear and backpacks in this area for easy access. A bonus is that you can encourage your children to be organized and understand the importance of caring for their belongings. 

Install Closed Shelving

One of the most underrated garage wall shelving ideas is choosing closed solutions. Although it’s harder to know what’s inside, it looks far sleeker and less messy. And if you’re concerned about easy access, slap on a label, so you instantly know its contents. 

The beauty about shelves is that you needn’t spend a fortune on a fancy model. Simply choose one that’s sturdy and is painted in a color that aligns with the room.  

Try These Garage Shelving Ideas 

Hopefully, after reading this article, you’ll bring these garage shelving ideas to life. 

There are countless shelving possibilities, such as installing floating shelves and dedicating a portion of the shelf to your kids’ stuff. You should also invest in closed shelving and add wire baskets to streamline your belongings. Good luck! 

Found this article helpful? Great! Then check out the rest of our blog for more tips and tricks.

4 Interior Garage Lighting Ideas to Transform Your Space

Did you know that around 63% of US homes have a garage?

Whether you use your garage as a workshop, a home gym, or to store your car, choosing the right home lighting can help you get the most out of your space. 

If you’re thinking of remodeling your garage, there’s a lot to consider. Fortunately, our guide is full of interior garage lighting ideas to give you one less thing to worry about.

Read on for 4 home lighting options that are perfect for garages.

1. Use LED Lighting

LED bar lighting is one of the most reliable ways to light your garage space. LED lights are popular for house remodeling because of their brightness, energy economy, and extended lifespan.

If you’re looking for an affordable, functional way to add some light to your garage, look no further than LED. There are many different LED lights available, so make sure you figure out how much light will be required to illuminate the room.

You can rely on a good LED setup to light up every corner of the room and make DIY and workshop projects much more straightforward.

2. Use Fluorescent Lighting

A good alternative to LED is fluorescent lighting. Fluorescent lights work by passing an electrical current through mercury vapor gas.

Using fluorescent lighting in your garage is an excellent idea because it will distribute light very evenly throughout your workspace, allowing you to see what you’re working on clearly.

Fluorescent bulbs also give off a cold blue light, which is often clearer in areas and workstations with no natural light.  

3. Consider Ambient Lighting

Once your overhead lighting is in, it’s time to consider adding ambient or task lighting to complement the primary light source.

Ambient lighting casts a gentle light across a big area, making it easier to find tools and equipment. Task lighting emits a powerful beam focused on a specific region, providing illumination for detail-oriented tasks.

By adding complementary light sources, you create a well-lit and well-organized garage. Ambient lighting also helps you create a better-looking and more comfortable environment for work. 

4. Incorporate a Skylight

While artificial lighting is the priority for a garage, incorporating a skylight provides natural light and improved ventilation.

Garages are ideal breeding grounds for mildew since they are often damp. Letting some natural sunlight into your garage can help disinfect the space and keep mildew and mold levels to a minimum.

A skylight gives also gives the space some flair. This can help improve your curb appeal and boost the market value of your home.

Interior Garage Lighting Ideas For 2022

So, that’s the rundown on the top 4 interior garage lighting ideas you need to check out. 

Adding a good home lighting solution to your garage design is a smart way to enhance your work or storage space in 2022. Our helpful guide shows you where to start.

Did you find this article informative? If so, be sure to check out the rest of our blog for more garage ideas and home lighting trends, plus much more. 

Signs Your Garage Door Is Due For A Replacement

Modern garage doors are pretty durable. However, you will still need to replace your garage door at some point.

Some homeowners think twice about upgrading if they see that all garage door components are intact and that everything still works.

However, there are signs that you need to replace your garage door that you just can’t ignore. Let’s take a look at some of them.

Constantly Noisy Operation

Aside from the humming of the garage door opener, opening and closing a garage door is usually a silent affair.

It isn’t normal if there’s plenty of squeaking, banging, crunching, grinding, and all sorts of strange noises while opening or closing your garage door.

Maybe a little lubrication, adjusting a screw here and there, and repair work by a garage door professional could fix the noise issue. However, if these don’t do anything to shut your garage door up, you should start shopping for a new one.

Rot and Cracking

Do you have a wooden garage door? If so, we can assume that you know that it will eventually rot and crack if you haven’t been cleaning, repainting, and re-staining it regularly.

A garage door with visible rot and cracks isn’t going to do much for your curb appeal.

You can try to cover up the damage, but your garage door may not look as great as the day you had it installed anymore. A replacement will likely be the better choice.

Severe Impact Damage

A garage door is sturdy enough to take the impact of baseballs or basketballs when your kids play in the yard.

However, if you or any member of your family accidentally backs into it, your garage door will likely sustain a massive dent at the very least. If your car hits it at speed, it probably won’t even be standing anymore.

With severe impact damage, you may have to replace your garage door.

It No Longer Matches Your House Design

When you installed your current garage door, it’s safe to assume that you chose its color, material, and style because they matched your house design perfectly.

However, if you did enough renovations to change your home’s overall look, it possible that your garage door may not go well with it anymore.

Some homeowners probably won’t mind having a house and garage door that don’t complement each other, but if you do, then you should replace your garage door now.

Your Garage Door Is Outdated

Even when your garage door goes well with your home design, there will come a time when it will go out of style.

Garage door manufacturers always work toward improving their products’ design, function, and style, and you might want to benefit from them, too.

If your existing garage door already looks outdated, you might want to shop for a new one to boost your curb appeal.

You Want A Garage Door With A Different Material

Sometimes, we change our minds about certain choices we make.

You might have chosen to install, say, a wooden garage door because it looks amazing.

However, over time, you realize that you can’t keep up with cleaning, repainting, and re-staining it because you simply don’t have the time.

Without regular upkeep, your wooden garage door will sustain cracks and rot, and it won’t look good.

If you want a garage door that doesn’t require this much maintenance, you can go for a new one made of metal and fiberglass.

Consistently High Energy Bills

If your current garage door is not insulated, it’s probably one reason your energy bills tend to be high.

While there are other probable culprits like issues with your HVAC system or gaps in your home, cooled or heated air could be leaking out of your uninsulated garage door.

While garage doors that don’t have insulation tend to be more affordable, the energy efficiency of insulated garage doors will likely save you more money in the long run.

These are just some of the possible reasons you may need a garage door replacement. Fortunately, there are so many custom styles, materials, and functions to choose from that you might just have a hard time picking one.

The Different Types of Garage Door Materials Available Today

There are many ways of enhancing your home’s curb appeal, but few things are better at achieving that than installing a new garage door.

It’s a great time to shop for garage doors these days since they now come in a wide variety of styles, colors, designs, and, more importantly, materials.

Let’s take a look at the various types of garage door materials available today.

Steel Garage Doors

A garage door made of steel is never prone to warping, cracking, rotting, or expanding when there’s plenty of moisture in the air.

While steel is not immune to rust, the steel garage doors in the market today are designed to withstand rust better. They’re also more impervious to dents, although the thinner and lighter variety could sustain one with a strong enough impact from objects.

As far as design flexibility goes, steel garage doors can be easily customized in your preferred color or finish, like putting a faux wood overlay to give it a more rustic look.

Because they’re low-maintenance, durable, and quite economical, steel garage doors are a popular choice among homeowners.

Steel, however, is not a natural insulator. That’s why many steel garage doors in the market today come with polyurethane insulation.

Wood Garage Doors

Anything made of wood always lends a certain amount of beauty to a home, and wood garage doors are no exception.

Wood garage doors are for you if you’re going for a more traditional look for your home. Available in a variety of panel and window styles, finishes, and colors, garage doors made of wood will surely get a lot of attention from just about anyone who lays eyes on them.

Wood garage doors provide natural insulation, too. Of all garage door materials, wood carries the highest inherent R-value, which is the measure of a material’s thermal resistance. Aside from making your home more energy-efficient, a wood garage door is also pretty good at keeping outdoor noise in check.

The thing with wood garage doors is that they require a lot of upkeep. After all, wood is prone to warping, expanding, and rotting when exposed to moisture. You’re going to need to paint and stain it periodically to protect it and maintain its looks.

Aluminum Garage Doors

Garage doors made of aluminum are incredibly lightweight, although the models available these days are typically heavier and sturdier than before.

Like steel, aluminum garage doors warp, won’t warp, rot or expand due to moisture.

Aluminum garage doors are not as sturdy as steel ones, though. One accidental hit from a baseball courtesy of your kids playing catch, and it will likely sustain a dent. Strong winds could also do some damage to an aluminum garage door.

Vinyl Garage Doors

What a vinyl garage door has going for it is its reputation as a durable garage door material.

While some people worry about their sporty kids denting their aluminum or steel garage doors, those who have vinyl garage doors can relax knowing that they don’t dent or break that easily.

A vinyl garage door also requires very little maintenance, and hosing it down every so often is enough to keep it clean.

Fiberglass Garage Doors

If you like the texture of wood but none of its weight and propensity for shrinking, warping, or cracking when exposed to moisture, you might want to go for a fiberglass garage door.

Fiberglass has the uncanny ability to closely mimic the look of other materials, wood in particular. That makes it a more affordable alternative to the much heavier and more maintenance-intensive material.

Your garage will also have more natural light because a fiberglass garage door will be typically semi-transparent.

Fiberglass garage doors are also rust and corrosion-resistant, although they tend to become discolored and break in cold climates.

One clear downside of fiberglass garage doors is that you will have to replace the whole thing once it sustains damage. Since high winds damage fiberglass, garage doors made of the material are not recommended for homes in windy regions.

Your garage door material options these days are wider than ever before. Still, when you go shopping for a new garage door, always consider the area where you live before settling on any one material. That way, you can choose the right garage door material for your home.

Garage Door Maintenance Tips

The garage door is probably one of the most neglected parts of the house. You don’t think about it until one day, it fails to open, gets stuck, or is completely damaged. Then you remember that you haven’t had the time to clean and lubricate it. 

Your garage door works just as hard as all the other parts of your home. It opens and closes and goes up and down countless times year after year. If you do not take care of it properly, it will experience wear and tear and accumulate damage until it stops functioning. A broken garage door can also put you and your family in harm’s way. Regularly dusting, cleaning, lubricating, and tightening your garage door bolts will ensure that it is well-maintained and will serve you well for many more years.

If you want to keep your garage door in perfect condition, check out this infographic illustrating practical garage door maintenance tips.  

Garage Door Maintenance Tips


5 Warning Signs You Need to Replace Your Lousy Garage Door

While modern garage doors are designed to last for decades, they must stand up to an astounding amount of wear and tear over the years. That is why you need to keep an eye out for any signs that your garage door might need to be repaired or replaced entirely.

Shaking or Rattling

After being used for a long period of time, a garage door could begin to shake and rattle whenever it is opened and closed. That movement is caused by a wide variety of issues ranging from bent tracks to loose bolts. If you have recently noticed any rattling whenever you use the garage door, then you need to contact a garage door installation team.

Slow to Open or Close

There are a few different reasons why your garage door might be opening or closing slower than it used to. As long as you keep the system properly maintained and lubricated, it should move at the same speed for years. A sudden change to the speed of the door is sometimes caused by a burnt-out or dying motor.

Unusual Noises

Every garage door is going to make some noises, but those sounds shouldn’t be deafening. Unusual noises are typically caused by loose tracks that need to be tightened. Unfortunately, a loose track can damage the motor and pulley system over time, and that is why this issue should never be ignored.

Sagging

A sagging garage door is a very common problem that many homeowners have to deal with over the years. For minor sagging, all you will need to do is tighten all of the brackets and bolts. If the sagging is severe, then you will most likely need to call in an expert to have the entire pulley system replaced.

Rust or Other Visible Damage

Surface rust is fairly easy to get rid of as long as you catch it early on, but the entire door will most likely need to be replaced if the rust has penetrated deep into the metal. In addition to weakening the structural integrity of the door, rust spots will also allow pests to get into your garage. Rusty garage doors are particularly common in areas where there is quite a bit of rain or snow.

Fixing or replacing your garage door on your own might seem like a good way to save some money, but that project is incredibly complex and dangerous. Garage door maintenance and repairs should always be left to professional contractors who are fully certified, licensed, and insured.

4 Things You Can Convert Your Garage Into (if You Don’t Mind Parking in the Driveway)

4 Things You Can Convert Your Garage Into

Do you need more space to do the things you love? Is a separate office space a necessity instead of a desire? Well, if you don’t mind parking your car in the driveway, you can convert your garage into a variety of spaces. Here are four ways you can find some extra room with a custom garage renovation below.

Exercise Studio

Instead of paying gym fees and cleaning everyone else’s sweat off from the equipment, you can buy your own exercise machines, bands, and weights. Transforming your garage should include insulating the area and deciding how to heat and cool the space. With a little paint and some carpet tiles, you can create a gym where you and your partner or roommates can work out in peace.

Office Space

When quiet rooms are nonexistent in your home, then you need a separate office to get anything done. For a few hundred dollars in materials and a lot of sweat equity, you can build a personal office. This way, you’ll be able to Skype with clients in peace and set up face-to-face interviews without the kids or pets getting underfoot.

Game Room

Does your family need a fun spot to hang out? When your basement or attic space is already in use, then why not transform your garage into a family hangout. Even a one-car garage has enough room for a pool table, a video game studio, or a mini-casino. With these styles, you can get as creative or tailored as you want. For example, you can turn the space into a sports room for BMX riders if it is large enough.

Extra Bedroom

When you have a child return home from college, then an extra bedroom might be the only solution. The garage is an excellent space to install new sleeping quarters. If you have a big enough space or more than one level, then you can turn the garage into a studio apartment with a loft. Families moving in aging parents can take advantage of garage space to give your mom or dad some privacy while keeping him or her close.

The garage is often overlooked when homeowners are seeking additional space in their home. This is unfortunate, given the numerous potential ways you can transform it. Keep in mind that a functional garage door is ideal when renovating your garage, as this will ensure you will keep your home’s resale value as high as possible. If necessary, don’t hesitate to contact a professional for garage door repairs as you convert your garage.

Complete Buyers Guide For Choosing The Correct Garage Door Threshold

If you’re like most homeowners, you probably don’t think of your garage the same way you do the rest of your house. After all, when was the last time you vacuumed your garage floor, or dusted anything in it? Muddy shoes, wet dogs and leaky paint cans would all be tossed out of your living room within seconds. In the garage, however, it’s almost as if anything goes. Most of the time, the garage is the place where we change our car’s oil or hose off a pair of muddy boots — but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t pay attention to how well protected our garages are from the elements. Although garages can be a wet and dirty place, it’s still important to make sure that they’re kept as clean and dry as possible.

That’s because even though garages can get grungier than your dining room, they’re still vulnerable to damage from water, cold and other insidious elements from the outside. Water from rain or melting snow can seep into the garage underneath your garage door and cause damage and mold growth. It can get into tiny cracks in your garage floor and expand when it freezes in the winter, creating bigger cracks and serious damage to your foundation. The average cost of cleaning and fixing water damage for homeowners can be as much as $3,000. That means, a little water getting into your garage can become a big problem. Gaps in your garage door also can allow pests and vermin such as mice and insects to sneak in and take residence among your belongings, bringing with them filth and disease. A garage door that does not close completely also allows air heated or cooled by your HVAC system to escape, causing your air conditioner or furnace to work overtime. Ultimately, costing you money in the form of wasted energy.

For these reasons and many more, it’s important that homeowners understand how much a garage door threshold can help them prevent these issues. A properly selected and fitted garage door threshold seal can prevent flooding, infestations and wasted energy. Read the following guide for some tips on choosing the garage door threshold seal that’s right for your garage. The rules may be a little different when it comes to your garage, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be as concerned about protecting it as you are for the rest of your home.

Author Bio:  Ashley W. Smith is Managing Director for Garadry. Smith formed the company in 2009 and launched the Garadry website in 2015 to meet the needs of the growing consumer base in the U.S. Garadry designs its own range of innovative weather seal products for anybody with a garage/commercial door.

Choosing The Correct Garage Door Threshold created by Garadry

5 Things to Know before Converting Your Garage to a Living Space

5 Things to Know before Converting Your Garage to a Living Space

If you have decided to add new living space to your home by converting your garage into an additional living space, you’re in for a treat! This is a popular trend in home renovation. However, before you begin making any changes, make sure you read these five things to be fully prepared for your project.

Budget

Know exactly how much you are able to spend for your transformation project. Keep in mind that unexpected expenses will probably occur, and you should budget for them accordingly. Also, don’t forget to budget the cost of furniture for your new living space! You will be disappointed to learn you don’t have any money left over for these items.

Check Your Cars

Double check to make sure you won’t need your garage to store your cars. If you plan on getting an additional vehicle in the future, you may want to delay your renovation. Also, if you are comfortable keeping your vehicles outside of your garage, you still may want to consider investing in covers for your cars to protect them from the elements.

Know Your Purpose

Make sure you know the exact purpose of your new living space. Are you interested in using it as a place to quietly relax? Do you intend to use it for parties or social gatherings? Will you be using it as an additional bedroom? The choice is up to you. However, knowing exactly what you want to get out of the new living space will give you the focus you need to complete your project successfully, whether that be managing the garage door or adding amenities like air conditioning or more electrical fixtures.

Checking Permits

Remember, transforming your garage into an additional living space is a type of renovation project. This means you may need to obtain permits for some of the work. Double check with your local officials to learn if you will need to get any paperwork done before you begin. If you don’t, you may be forced to pay a fine or undo your entire transformation!

Can It Be Undone?

Keep in mind that the future owners of your home may want to use the garage for more traditional purposes. This means you should consider how easy it will be to undo your renovations. There also may come a time when you need to use the garage for other purposes. Having a plan to transform the garage back into a great storage area for cars and other big items is something you should consider.

Transforming your garage into an additional living space is a great idea. After you have considered the above points, get started on that transformation!

Carport Crisis: How to Repair 4 Common Garage Issues

Carport Crisis How to Repair 4 Common Garage Issues

You expect that your garage door will open and close every time you push the button on the remote or manually raise or lower the door. You rely on proper operation of the garage door to keep your vehicles and family safe form the elements or intruders. Garage doors and their mechanisms do sometimes fail, which is why routine maintenance of all components is important. Follow these tips about some of the issues that can arise and what to do about them.

Check for Broken Springs

One of the most common garage door issues is a broken spring. There are usually two springs that commonly sit above the head of the door. The springs are under torsion and enable the weight of the door to be lifted more easily. If you find yourself needing to get the car out of the garage, say to go to work, and you experience a broken spring, follow these suggestions. First, unplug your garage door opener and then disconnect the emergency release cord above the door. Now you can lift the door. Keep in mind that it will be heavy. Take your car out of the garage and close the door.

Unless you are very handy, this is the time to call a professional garage door repair company, such as Georgia Garage Doors Inc., that can safely replace the broken spring. The technician will measure the spring, replace it in kind, and hook everything back up so that the door will operate easily.

Inspect Tracks, Guides, Chains, and Belts

Your garage door might be opening and closing unevenly or more slowly than normal. This could be due to the tracks, guides, and chains being corroded or rusty. The overhead belt could also be deteriorating. Fasteners might have become loose and are impeding the movement. You can do a manual inspection of these using a flashlight and a step ladder. Tighten any loose screws, clean the rust, and, lubricate the tracks.

Look for Failed Seals

A very important component of garage door systems is the perimeter weatherstripping. These seals prevent rain, wind, debris, insects, and small animals from getting inside the garage. You can find the weatherstripping around the outside perimeter of the door frame and on the bottom of the door itself. Some doors have gaskets on the sides as well. Inspect for gaps, holes, and deterioration. Seals can be replaced quickly and economically.

Operate Openers, Remotes, and Sensors

The electrical components of a garage door system are subject to malfunctions. The first thing to go is simply the light bulb in the opener. That you can easily remedy by replacing the bulb. The remote can stop working. This is usually an easy fix by replacing the battery. If the motor in the opener stops working, check the circuit breaker first. If that has not tripped, it is likely the opener needs to be replaced. Make sure you check to see if it is still under warranty before you call your garage door repair company. Also check the safety sensors from time to time. These are what prevent the door from closing all the way if something is blocking the opening, such as a skateboard that has rolled into its way..

Maintaining your garage doors and all the related components is good practice to extend their usefulness. This may also save you money for unanticipated emergency repairs. It is a good idea to schedule a routine maintenance check of your door systems with your local garage door repair professional.

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