Whether you are planning on completing your latest project or just trying to sit back and relax, keeping the inside of your garage cool can prove to be a challenge during the hot summer months. Listed below are our top five ways to keep your garage cool when the weather turns hot.

1. Insulate your garage. Unlike the other walls in your home, your garage door was not designed with climate control in mind. No amount of air conditioning will cool your garage if the door exposes it to the outside heat. Whether you use form, wood, or tape, a well-insulated garage door will cool your garage and cut your energy bill.

2. Install an air conditioning unit. Ranging from $150 to more than $500, window and/or wall-mounted air conditioning units are a reasonable way to cool your garage. Whether you have one professionally installed or you choose to do it yourself, an AC unit will surely cool you off while you tackle your latest project.

3. Install a fan. With a variety of options to choose from, installing a fan in your garage is one of the easiest ways to cool off your favorite work space. Most hardware stores offer basic box fans for under $50 (with premium options available). Ceiling fans can be installed on a single weekend afternoon and typically cost just over $100. Both options are likely to suit the needs of your garage.

4. Paint your garage door a light color. A simple way to beat the heat is to make sure you are not absorbing it. While you may prefer to stand out from the crowd with a distinctly painted garage door, a light-colored coat of paint could be instrumental in keeping you cool.

5. Create an airflow through your garage. If you are looking for a low-effort solution, our best recommendation would be to create an airflow in your garage. By slightly cracking open the bottom of your garage door, you can create a tunnel of wind that will temporarily turn your garage into a breezy tropical beach.

If you need assistance with keeping your garage cool, please contact our garage experts at Blue Sky Builders, Inc. today. For more information and tips on making your garage the coolest one on the block, call us at 630-852-8485.

As the seasons change, the way that you organize your garage may change as well. When the weather becomes warmer in the summertime, you might choose to pack away your winter gear and switch it for outdoor equipment such as bikes, sprinklers, and gardening tools. You will want to organize this equipment in your garage so you can find materials easily. There are a few key steps to take when it comes to executing organizational techniques for your garage equipment:

Before you begin, take everything out
Look at your garage when it is empty. Looking at a bare garage is like an artist staring at their blank canvas before they begin painting their masterpiece. By emptying your garage, you can decide which areas of your garage are best to designate for certain storage space. Once you have a clear idea of how you wish to set up your space, you can begin the next steps of organizing.

Make the most of the space you have
This is a particularly important step to keep in mind if you own a car or multiple cars because they may take up a good amount of space-leaving less room for other storage items. Purchasing vertical shelving units and making the most of your vertical space can go a long way when it comes time to condensing storage space in your garage.

Take time to label everything
Labeling all of your equipment is key in keeping everything in the right place and stored neatly. In the long run, it will pay off to take the time to sort each item by type and label your storage containers and shelves.

Create a designated area for each season
As stated previously, you will want to store away any equipment that you will not be using during the summer. You can store any snow shovels, salt for ice, or other winter items at the back or corners of your garage. Think about what you want your garage to be used for and the best way each area can be divided.

Conduct an annual clean out
Think about what you wish to keep, what you want to donate, and what you can throw away. When you find yourself wondering if you should throw away a particular item, ask yourself if you need it or have used it recently. If the answer to these questions is “no,” then toss it.

If you need assistance with organizing your garage, please contact our garage experts at Blue Sky Builders, Inc. today. For more information and tips on techniques for sorting out your garage equipment call us at 630-852-8485.

It is important to keep your garage in mind when you are installing a home security system. Before you finalize your decision on which locks to buy or what type of motion detectors to place on your lawn, make sure to review these tips that can keep your garage safe and secure from thieves and animals.

Install a security system
One of the most common ways that people choose to protect themselves is by implementing a security system in their garage. If someone were to try to break into your garage, the system will be set off and an alarm will alert emergency services. There are many different types of security systems, so it may be beneficial to do some research before purchasing one for your home.

Seal all windows
If your garage has windows, keep them covered with blinds or curtains so that no one can see in. The more exposed that your garage is, the more likely it is that someone will look inside and steal your property.

Install motion detector lighting
Something as easy as updating your current light fixtures in front of your house can add an extra layer of protection. Installing motion detector lights can improve security because these lights are equipped with infrared waves that detect the body temperature of moving objects. Warm objects, such as animals or people, will be detected by the sensors. When this occurs, a red light turns on and stays on for a short amount of time.

Secure the doors leading to the garage with locks
Burglars can access your garage by sneaking through the garage door. They can also break into your garage by entering your home and then going through the door that connects your garage to the rest of the house. This is a good time to double check that all doors connecting your house to the garage are securely locked. You can use protection such as deadbolts and padlocks that are programmed with an entry code. You can install doors that are made with heavy-duty material such as fiberglass, solid wood, or metal.

Remove the garage door opener remote from your car
Try to avoid giving a burglar easy access to your home. If you leave your garage door opener remote in your car, and you leave your car in the driveway, your remote is out in the open for anyone to come by and snatch it. A good alternative is to purchase a keychain remote to replace your larger garage remote so you can bring it with on the go.

Contact our garage experts at Blue Sky Builders, Inc. today for more information on security tips that can keep your garage safe. Call us today at 630-852-8485. We help our clients with their specific garage needs.

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.

Insulate, caulk and weather strip
Weatherproofing your garage is not only key in keeping the heat out, it will also provide the warmth you need to stay inside your garage during the winter. So, applying insulation is a win-win situation. In addition, make sure to inspect the edges and corners of your garage thoroughly so that you do not miss any cracks. Once that is complete, you can fix any opening with caulking and weather stripping. The next step is to install insulation around the doors and windows. You can even place insulation on the walls and ceiling to maintain a comfortable temperature in your garage.

Plant trees strategically
An all-natural way to block the sun from beaming down on your garage roof is to plant trees in just the right places outside the front of your house. This can reduce the sun’s impact and create a comfortable, shaded area during those peak sunlight hours.

Install a mini AC unit in your walls
There is a small air conditioning unit called a “mini-split” that gets its name from being spilt into an inside and outside unit. These AC units can be effective in cooling a specific area as they are small in size and do not produce much noise.

For more information on how to keep your garage cool during hot weather, contact our garage experts at Blue Sky Builders, Inc. today. We are here to help provide our clients with their specific garage needs. Call us today at 630-852-8485.

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.

Give yourself enough space
If you do not want to cover your whole garage door with landscaping, choose a different focal point before implementing your design. If you paint your garage door a bright color, it is likely the first thing that people will notice upon seeing your home. However, if you want your plants to be what visitors notice first, you can place some vibrant greenery outside instead. That will add variety to your home’s style.

Stick to what you know
Do you not have a green thumb? That’s okay. There is no need to give up hope on your garage landscaping ideas. An alternative to planting is the placement of rocks in your front yard. This is a type of next-to-no-maintenance landscaping that still allows you to be creative. From shrubs to rocks to colorful paint choices, there are plenty of decor options from which to choose.

Our garage specialists are happy to provide assistance to our clients with their garage maintenance needs. Contact our garage experts at Blue Sky Builders, Inc. today for assistance with drafting garage landscaping ideas for your home. Call us at 630-852-8485 for more information.