Thanks to the A+ Garage Doors blog for these tips.

It sometimes cannot be avoided that our garage will have a certain stink about it. Paint cans, gasoline canisters, tools etc. may be stored in the garage and items like these can leave foul odors behind. The cat box might be out there or it is even where some may store the trash until pick-up day. This does not mean that one should have to suffer with a smelly garage.

Below are 4 tips for eliminating garage odors:

1. Storing odor eliminators like baking soda, air fresheners and deodorizers will help reduce the pungent smells in your garage.

2. If your car is not parked in the garage, washing the floor will disinfect the floor and help keep smells from becoming too overpowering. Especially wash where garbage or pet waste containers are being stored to stop the growth of odors and bacteria.

3. Once or twice a week, open the garage door. Keep it opened for about an hour in order to let some fresh air in and the musty smell out. Make sure that you garage door is properly maintained. Check out this Garage Door Maintenance Checklist for tips.

4. Have your garage door insulated to keep out the cold air, which will decrease the musty air in the garage. For more information on insulating, read Insulating Your Garage Door.

Blue Sky Builders, Inc. has been building top quality custom garages in the Chicago area since 1979. We have built so many garages, we thought it’d be nice to share some project blogs sharing the details and highlighting some of the work we’ve done.

We recently completed a project in Oak Park, Illinois. The existing garage was wrecked on 3/27/13 and a brand new garage was built in its place. Below we will share project details and some before & after pictures!

Located in Oak Park, IL, the existing garage was wrecked on 3/27/13 and the new garage project was completed on 5/10/13.

Before Pictures

 

New Garage Details

Dimensions: 22×24

Garage style: Reverse gable, 18’6″ total height, 10′ hip dormer, full floor with stairs

Windows/Door:

• (Qty – 6) 30×42 brown double hung windows
• 16×7 brown insulated overhead door
• iPhone compatible door opener
• 36″ service door

Shingles: 3 tab Certainteed asphalt shingles

Siding: Double 4″ Certainteed Mainstreet vinyl siding

Color: “Musket” aluminum soffit, fascia, and trim color

Garage After Pictures

The new garage owner Carla was kind enough to say a few words about her new garage:

“We recently had our custom garage built by Blue Sky Builders, Inc. and are extremely satisfied with the appearance and quality of the garage, as well as Blue Sky Builder’s customer service. We were especially pleased by the effort they took to match the style and colors of the existing house. We would strongly recommend anyone living in the Chicagoland area to choose Blue Sky Builders, Inc. for their project.”

Thanks Carla!

If you would like to see more garages we’ve built, please visit our garage gallery and stay tuned for more project blog posts. If you need a new garage, remodel, or repair please contact us today!

As the cost of real estate rises, the garage has become valuable extended square footage. And cars are often left outside in favor of a gym, playroom, or craft areas (Garage History).

Your garage can be used for so much more than just parking your car. With that in mind, Garage Door Repair created an infographic sharing creative ways to take advantage of the space in your garage as long as you are in accordance with your local building codes and permits. View the full infographic. See 9 of those ideas below!

1. Apartment for Lease

Even the tallest SUVs on the market right now don’t exceed seven feet in height. For garages with higher ceilings, that means there is enough vertical space to build a second floor. With a proper renters license, you could lease that space as an apartment – that is if you have the appropriate plumbing for a bathroom and a kitchen.

2. Storage Space

Free up lots of space in your home by creating a storage room in your garage. If the ceilings are not high enough to build a second floor, there are still options. Every enclosed garage has three walls that should allow for shelving or cabinetry. These can be easily installed and used for storing any clutter that currently takes up valuable space in your home. Learn more about stopping garage clutter.

3. Office

Use the space to get some work done. Lay carpet, paint the walls and possibly add a sky-light for additional light. This will be your new place of concentration especially since it is separated from the chaos going on inside your home.

4. Gym

End that expensive gym membership and never wait in line for the treadmill again! Use your garage as a workout room. Rubber floor tiles can easily be laid to protect the ground from heavy dumbbells. With a few cardio machines, weights, mirrors, and some music, you have yourself a 24-hour personal fitness center.

5. Playroom

It is not secret that having children essentially means toys and games scattered all through-out the house. Building a safe playroom in the garage is a great way to keep all of the building blocks, dolls, and toy trucks in one area.

6. Greenhouse

For less than $3,000 you could completely transform your garage into a greenhouse. Visit your local greenhouse supply store for guidance on installing proper ventilation, paneling, and drainage.

7. Sunroom

Another fun option for completely converting your garage is to make it a relaxing sunroom. New windows and skylights coupled with cozy furniture will turn this room into your favorite place to either entertain guests or spend alone curled up with a good book.

8. Movie Theater

Instead of spending a fortune at the movie theaters, design your garage as your personal movie theater. Do this by setting up rows of seats and purchasing either a projector or a large television screen. Eventually you could even add surround sound or buy an old-fashioned popcorn popper for the real movie theater effect.

9. Community Gatherings

Garages can be perfect meeting spots for book clubs, neighborhood organizations, or even social gatherings. Arrange the space with plenty of furniture, making sure there is ample seating and table surfaces for food and beverages including a bar with a mini-refrigerator would certainly make it a fun place to spend time.

For more ideas, or further inspiration check out the before & after pictures for 3 Garage Makeovers.

When choosing the perfect garage door there are a variety of considerations including overhead garage door sizes, panel styles, materials, colors, and window options. From basic stock to custom designs, you have a range of options.

Basic considerations include material, style, and price. Below are some tips for choosing the right garage door from the Bob Vila Blog.

When selecting a garage door for your home, the list of questions includes basic material, style, and price.

There is a range of options and prices for garage doors, starting with the basic stock offerings and moving up to architecturally designed custom doors. The wood you select, the quality of the insulation, the glass inserts, and the panel style will all impact the purchase price of your garage door. Of course, you can pay bargain basement prices for a garage door that will only last a few years – Or break out the checkbook for a craftsman’s $10,000 work of art.

With a little homework, however, you can find the best door for your home while staying within your budget. Here are some general guidelines for what to expect when you go shopping.

Stock Doors

No matter the material you choose, a basic garage door comes without significant panel design and without glass. From there, each upgrade will impact the cost of your door. Whether you install it yourself, the degree to which you customize your selections, and the materials you select, will determine whether your door is on the low, medium, or high end of the spectrum.

Semi-Custom Doors

In the mid- or semi-custom range, customers begin to select among panel styles, glass inserts, and designs. Homeowners select from a kit of styles to create the door that best suits their home. In this range there are more wood types available, six or so panel designs, and different levels of glass inserts and designer-look glass options. Wood doors in this range may be hemlock, on the low end, or cedar or mahogany at the upper end.

Custom Doors

The high end of garage doors can go from custom colors, finishes, panel designs, grooved panel faces, insulation, and top-quality materials, up to architectural design. Many companies refer to this level of wood door as a carriage house selection. These doors are made of high-quality woods, carry longer guarantees (up to five years for some), and are intended to enhance the design quality of the home. Plans for the garage doors can be drawn architecturally and submitted to the company. There are also a number of companies that provide wood carriage house doors with a variety of panel and glass options. Many of these design showrooms can be toured online. Installation costs vary, as do guarantees on workmanship, parts, and materials. High-end steel doors are double-faced with steel inside and out, with insulation sandwiched in between. More often than not, high-end steel doors feature injected foam insulation, superior insulation value, and soundproofing.

Need help choosing other elements of your perfect garage? Check out our other blogs:

Choosing the Right Lighting For Your Garage

How to Choose the Right Size Garage

How to Choose the Right Garage Door Material

If you are looking for a new garage door, Blue Sky Builders, Inc. can help design, create, install and service your new door. Blue Sky Builders, Inc. services and installs quality garage doors, openers and parts for your garage. We offer a wide variety of overhead garage door sizes, panel styles, materials, colors and window options. Please contact us if you have any questions.

What does your dream garage look like? Garages can be more than just a place to park your car. In fact, they can serve as an expansion of your house! Garages across the country are being made over, anything from utilizing neat storage ideas to having a personal gym in the garage!

Below are 3 before and after pictures of extraordinary garage makeovers from the Garage Mahal team of the DIY Network.

Home Gym Garage

This garage goes from disorganized clutter, to home gym!

After

Rock ‘n’ Roll Garage

This everyday garage gets transformed into a band’s space complete with a foldout stage!

Casino Garage

A junk-filled garage gets transformed into the ultimate game room and gets an organization overhaul with new shelving units.