Home garages can withstand significant wear and tear for many years. However, there may come a time when issues in the space become more noticeable, making the garage less useful and less pleasant. Certain indicators may suggest that it is time for remodeling or an entirely new garage. It is important to consider the warning signs that may become evident when it is time for a new garage.

Warning Signs That it Might be Time For a New Garage

1.) Structural Defects

Structural defects in a garage that may lead to unsafe conditions include a sagging roof, rotting boards, and inadequate lighting. Not only do these defects make your garage unsafe to use, but they will also lower your property’s value. An unsafe garage is typically easy to spot and will decrease the appeal of your entire home, while also making it a dangerous environment for you and your loved ones.

2.) Security Concerns

Older garages may struggle to provide adequate security to the high-priced items being stored in your garage. Old doors and windows can be difficult to lock, making for easy access to someone who may want to steal or damage expensive property. Additionally, old garages may feature more holes and gaps within their structure, allowing for rodents and other pests to venture into the space and cause damage.

3.) Significant Damage

In the midwest, it is very possible for a home to be impacted by severe weather conditions. A garage in Illinois may suffer damage from intense lightning storms, heavy rainfall, blizzards, tornados, and falling trees. Severe weather can lead to dripping ceilings or a collapsed structure. When damages accumulate, a garage may eventually become unusable.

4.) Garage Door Defects

There are numerous indications that a garage door’s age is starting to show. The door’s cables and pulleys may be worn, the door could be coming completely off the rack, creaking sounds may have started to become more noticeable, and the response time could be getting slower. This could mean that it is simply time to replace the door, however, before making that sole fix, consider how long it has been since you have done maintenance or replaced other areas of your garage as well.

5.) Lack of Sufficient Space

If you realize that your garage simply does not have enough space to house your vehicles and still have space for storage, it may be time for a new garage or a considerable remodeling. As modern vehicles increase in size, it becomes a challenge to store those vehicles in smaller garages. A larger garage can provide homeowners the space they need to park their vehicles, store belongings (big and small), and still have room to use the space as a workshop.

Contact Our Chicago Area Garage Builders Today

There are many reasons a homeowner may want to remodel their garage or start from scratch. If you are concerned that your garage has damage, structural issues, or other defects that could be creating an unsafe environment or lowering the overall value of your home, the skillful Downers Grove garage builders with Blue Sky Builders, Inc., can help. To learn more about our services, contact our team today by calling 630-852-8485.

The midwest is well known for its drastic weather conditions. Our harsh winters are a great contrast to our severely humid summers. Temperatures on both ends of the spectrum, along with the high winds and dramatic storms we see throughout the remainder of the year, can have a substantial impact on a home’s garage. Not only do these weather conditions make it hard to effectively utilize a garage, but when a garage is not prepared for and maintained through these conditions, the quality of the garage can suffer.

Illinois certainly sees all four seasons, and because of this, residents may notice the effect the elements have on their home and garage. To protect a garage for the coming months of cold and other severe weather conditions, follow these recommended methods.

Protecting a Garage From Weather Conditions with These 5 Methods

1.) Insulate the garage properly and thoroughly

A warm garage in the winters and a cool garage in the summers will almost guarantee more time spent in the space. A comfortable temperature will make the garage much more comfortable and dynamic. The average garage owner may not completely understand the challenge of properly installing insulation and should understand the best techniques. There are numerous options for providing a garage with additional insulation including foam boards and fiberglass batt insulation.

2.) Weatherstrip the garage doors

Weatherstripping helps doors to better control indoor temperatures. It acts as a seal between the opening of a garage and the garage door. Unfortunately, due to use and weather exposure, the stripping can damage over time and dry out. Cracks and dryness allow for the cold air to flow into the garage. In this case, the weatherstripping should be replaced.

3.) Install a unit heater

While weatherstripping doors and adding insulation are sure to help protect a garage, a garage may not fully be suitable for winter months until a unit heater has been installed. Unit heaters are generally available in both electric and gas options. Because gas heaters will require exhaust venting and a gas supply, they are typically more difficult to install, however, they tend to be the least expensive option. Alternatively, electric heaters are a convenient option for garage heating, but they are often more expensive to operate.

Contact Our Chicago Area Custom Garage Builders Today

Natural elements can have a significant impact on a house, including the garage that accompanies it. Whether you plan to spend significant periods of time in your garage during the upcoming winter months or simply want to protect your garage’s quality and functionality, it is important to adequately protect it from severe weather conditions.

If you have decided that it is time for a new garage or wish to add an addition, our Downers Grove custom garage builders can help. Call 630-852-8485 to speak with our team today.

Garages can be a significant asset to a house. It is the home for vehicles, storage, and a workshop. A significant component of fulfilling the wide-ranging purposes of a garage is the garage door. Choosing a garage door that will be most advantageous for your space is an important decision. As a garage owner, there are many options available for you to choose from, a few of which are described below.

Sectional Garage Doors

This type of garage door is almost always made of steel. Their customizable features, affordability, and low maintenance requirements make sectional garage doors the most frequently seen garage door across the country. Comprised of panel sections connected with hinges, this type of door sits parallel to the garage ceiling when fully open.

Roll-Up Garage Doors

A great option for commercial garages, roll-up garage doors can tolerate a high amount of usage. Roll-up garage doors are highly beneficial as they are less likely to freeze, corrode, or rust. This type of door is generally more expensive and works well in garages with limited ceiling space.

Slide to the Side Garage Doors

This type of garage door was one of the first operating styles popularized in home garages. The door sits parallel to the garage wall, bending to one side of the garage to open and close. Slide to the side garage doors allow for supplemental ceiling use that is not often available in most garages.

Side-Hinged Garage Doors

Often resembling large barn doors, side-hinged garage doors are another option for those who are looking to utilize more garage ceiling space. This type of door may be made from steel, however, it is also common for side-hinged doors to be made of wood. The hinged frame allows the doors to swing open and close. Side-hinged garage doors are generally simple to install.

Contact Our Chicago Area Garage Builders Today

Whether you are looking for a garage door that fits better into your budget, a door that allows for additional storage, or even a door that allows you to express more of your personal style, there are many options to choose from. Garages can be an incredibly useful and valuable space in your home. Making sure that it is equipped with the best door plays a significant role in your garage reaching its full potential in meeting your garage needs and preferences.

In the case that you are looking to build a new garage or an addition, call our Downers Grove garage builders today by calling 630-852-8485.

Those who regularly utilize their garage as a workspace understand how inconvenient poor lighting can be when attempting to complete a project or work on their vehicle. However, any homeowner can face the struggles of insufficient or inappropriate lighting. This is true even when the garage’s main purpose is solely to park vehicles. It is important to note that while some garage lighting can be resolved with bulbs of proper wattage, providing a garage with supplemental lighting may require the help of professionals.

Supplemental Lighting Options for Your Garage

Overhead lighting in garages is essential for general use. Supplemental lighting, however, provides a garage with distinct advantages that improve functionality and utilization. When garages are used as workshops and for car maintenance, insufficient lighting should not diminish the outcomes of these activities. Garage lighting may become a noticeable issue in areas such as the workbench, seasonal storage area, space above the garage door, and wall space used for hanging items.

There are several options available in order to provide a garage with adequate lighting for any circumstance and project. Task lights, which are generally very bright, are useful for those who want lighting focused directly on their work areas. These can also be very useful near storage for organizational purposes.

If an inexpensive and portable option is preferred, clamp-on lights are a beneficial option. Clamp-on lights can provide ample illumination for detailed work and smaller projects. They can easily be stored away and then moved for temporary lighting needs later on.

Additionally, there are multiple categories of lighting that may be advantageous for different areas and purposes in a garage:

• Often used for soft overhead lighting, ambient lighting may help to brighten walls and floors for safe parking and walking.
• Accent lighting is another lighting category that is often used for the purposes of emphasizing showpieces in a garage.
• LED lighting is cost-conscious compared to fluorescent bulbs and also provides a garage with even and brighter lighting.

What To Keep in Mind When Adding More Lighting

When planning to supplement a garage with additional lighting, there are some factors to consider before making any final decisions:

• The garage should be measured to properly determine how much lighting is actually needed.
• Incandescent bulbs should be swapped for LED or fluorescent equivalents in areas where bright lighting is needed the most
• To make a garage more economically efficient, it may be beneficial to install motion sensors
• Natural lighting, through skylights and windows, can also be a great source of supplemental lighting and can reduce a home’s lighting and heating utilization

Contact Our Downers Grove Garage Renovation Professionals

Depending on what purposes a garage serves, there may be several different types of lighting required to effectively and efficiently use a garage. Incorporating natural lighting through the use of windows and skylights may be especially challenging. At Blue Sky Builders, Inc. Garage, we understand the benefits of sufficient garage lighting and can assist in equipping your garage with the proper lighting. To contact our Chicago garage renovation professionals, call 630-852-8485 today.

As many of us have become accustomed to working from home, we have gotten to experience many of its conveniences. However, many have also begun to notice the struggles of this becoming the new norm. It can be very difficult to separate your work life and home life when they both take place in the same location. Many people have struggled with finding the perfect spot that helps them overcome this struggle.

A creative option that may help those who are permanently or periodically working from home is to transform a garage or part of a garage into a home office.

Benefits of a Garage Home Office

With working from home starting to become more popular, homeowners are faced with the challenge of sacrificing sections of their homes to allow for a workspace. Taking the time and effort to transform an underutilized garage into office space will help to prevent compromising rooms in someone’s home.

Additionally, moving a home office to a more secluded part of the home helps to avoid distractions such as the television, couch time, and other family members in similar situations.

Initial Steps to Consider

It is likely obvious that a home garage is not readily prepared to act as a home office. There are necessary steps that will need to be taken in order to make this a suitable environment for every day, long-term work.

First, an office design should be created. You will want to establish a layout that allows both organization and functionality to be maximized. This will aid in overall productivity in the new space. Once a design has been created, time and effort should be devoted to effectively cleaning out the area and discarding any unnecessary clutter.

Then, you will need to take the proper precautions to ensure that the garage is properly insulated and ventilated. This is especially important if you live in an area that experiences extreme climates on both ends of the spectrum. To achieve this, it may be necessary to install additional drywall and better insulated doors.

Another factor to consider when attempting to make a garage into a proper office area is lighting. Garages tend to have dim lighting with limited windows. You may want to add hanging lamps or a desk lamp. An alternative option would be to install additional windows.

Contact Our Chicago Area Garage Renovation Professionals

Transforming a garage into a comfortable and functional office space may seem like an intimidating feat. Tasks such as installing drywall and larger windows may seem out of your depth. Fortunately, the Downers Grove garage renovation experts at Blue Sky Builders, Inc. can assist in any garage transformations or additions that best suit your needs. Contact our team today to start learning how we can help with your next project by calling 630-852-8485.