Adding Windows To Your Garage Door

We all love to improve our homes. We spend untold hours [and dollars] on the weekend doing this and that to improve our homes. Adding windows to garage doors is the latest fad.

Garage door windows are generally small and serve the purpose of lighting much more than of allowing vision to the outside. The reason for this is that when you can see out the window, it means that intruders can see inside as well. The garage is a very likely source of a home invasion and you do not want to make it easy to see what is stored inside. On the other hand, lighting inside the garage is important. Windows also tend to add to the decorative appeal of the garage door.

Windows are usually mounted high on the doors, but also must be fitted to the panels in multi-panel sectional garage doors. Since these panels fold up and ride into the garage ceiling when the door is opened and unfold and straighten when closed, the ability of the windows to survive this process must be taken into consideration. This is another reason that garage windows tend to be smaller.

Many consumers are interested in finding window styles that harmonize with the overall window designs of the main house. Since the garage door is an alternative entrance to the home, it is also important that the windows of the garage door harmonize with the window arrangement of the main entrance doorways. This creates a balanced look to homes where the garage is attached to the home and is most important when the garage doors and the entrance door is in a line across the front of the home.

If a window is going to be added to an already existing garage door, it is best to have it installed by a professional. Unless you are a very advanced DIY type of person with experience in setting windows, a professional is needed to insure the window is properly set and can withstand the opening and closing of the door. Although the window may need to be actually installed by another, you should retain the final say on the size and style of the window. There is such a wide variety of options available that you should be able to get your garage door window exactly how you wish it to be.

Since much attention is given to insulation in garages through insulating panels on the garage door and threshold seals where the door meets the floor, it would be foolish to offset the conservation gain with large windows that allow energy loss. This should be an important consideration is the window selection process. You should insure that your choice is not offsetting the gain from other forms of insulation.

Looking for garage door repair companies in your area? Visit http://www.GarageDoorRepairCompanies.com for an unbiased set of listings.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aazdak_Alisimo

6 Simple Steps to Prepare Your Car for Winter

Until moving to Florida, I spent the last dozen years or so in northern Utah, where the temperature begins to drop in October and doesn't rise again until sometime after April. Because of the shorter days, for much of the winter months I would leave for work before the sun came up and not come home until it had set. As a result, the bulk of my drive time was accomplished in the dark and with temperatures hanging well below freezing. It goes without saying that these were not ideal conditions for having car trouble. This was particularly true for my wife, who more often than not was out hauling some or all of my offspring around on various errands. It was with this in mind that I took the following steps to ensure that our cars were in top shape to serve us through the winter season.
You can probably abbreviate this list somewhat if you live in one of the Sunbelt states, but any prevention is better than none, and you never know when Mother Nature is going to throw a curve ball your way.
1. Change the Oil.
Change the engine oil and make sure to put in the appropriate type. Like most liquids, oil thickens as the temps drop. When you go out and fire up your car in the morning, your oil is sitting in the bottom of the oil pan, thick as honey. This condition worsens the dirtier the oil is, and your engine has to work harder to circulate it until everything warms up properly. Switching to a thinner viscosity oil (see your owner's manual or ask) improves things considerably. Additionally, it's always a good idea to start off the winter driving season with a clean oil filter and good clean oil, because you're sure not going to be motivated to go out into a freezing garage to change it mid-season.
2. Check Hoses and Belts.
The car enthusiast will know how old a vehicle's belts and hoses are and whether or not a replacement is due, but most of you probably won't. Freezing conditions exacerbate any problems your car may be hiding in milder climates, and items like belts and hoses have a way of choosing the absolute worst time to fail. Feel along the length of your engine's belts for any cracks, splits, or frayed edges. If you find any, replace them. Feel the various hoses for the same issues, and replace as necessary. Don't forget to check your windshield washer fluid hoses as well.
3. Check that the Wipers are in Good Shape.
In Utah we'd go for months at a time in the summer without using the wipers, and once I found out too late that one of my wipers wasn't working, during the season's first snow storm. Don't make this mistake! Check that both the front and the rear wipers are working properly. If the blades have been on your car longer than a few months, replace them. It's a cheap and fast way to ensure good visibility for you and the family. Check that the washer fluid system works properly and is topped off. It's a great idea to keep some of that fluid in the trunk of your car as well. I shouldn't have to emphasize that visibility is of primary importance when operating a vehicle!
4. Check the Battery.
The number one type of car failure in the winter is a dead battery. Cold temperatures cut a battery's cranking power in half, even more so if the battery is getting old. These days batteries are essentially maintenance free and usually require replacement every five to seven years. As such, it's easy to forget all about them until they quit working. Don't give your battery a chance to strand you in the middle of a snowstorm! Check the battery posts and wires for corrosion, and clean them as needed (try pouring Coke, or a mixture of baking soda and water on corroded posts). If your battery is more than a couple years old, yank it out and have it tested at the local auto parts store. They'll do it for free. Oh, and make sure you've got some jumper cables in the trunk. With your battery in such fine shape now, you're probably gonna want to help out your neighbor who forgot to winterize his car.
5. Check the Tire Pressure.
This one is pretty simple, and the reality is that your tires won't go completely flat because of cold temperatures. The tire pressure will drop considerably, however, and this will affect the way your car handles, as well as put a dent in your mileage. You should be checking your tire pressure at least monthly anyway (slacker), but be sure to check it AFTER the temperatures have dropped. If the pressure is below the recommended amount (check the sidewall for recommended psi), add some air.
6. Put some Emergency Essentials in your car.
Have you seen just how nutty the weather has been these last few years? You never know when you're going to find yourself in the middle of a full blown weather butt-kicking, and you'll thank yourself later that you had the foresight to stow a few items ahead of time. This is an important step, particularly if you live in the Snowbelt states and even more particularly if you have children in the car. Put these things in your car now, please:
A) flashlight with good batteries
B) Jumper cables
C) ice scraper and some gloves
D) bag of rock salt, sand, gravel, landscaping bark, or kitty litter, for traction if you get stuck
E) Blanket or extra jacket
F) Washer fluid
It's also a great idea to keep your cell phone and a charger handy as well. Don't take your car for granted, and don't leave your family's safety to chance. Spend an hour or two with your car and then rest easy throughout those long winter months. Happy driving!

Chad Hervig Hervighaus Motorsports Advancing the cause of car guys everywhere http://hervighaus.blogspot.com/
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Building a Garage Workbench

If you are setting up a home workshop, one of the most important things you will want to include in it is a workbench. A workbench helps you work with accuracy. There are many prefabricated workbenches you can purchase, or you can build your own workbench. You can buy a plan to do this, or buy a kit and put it together.
A workbench will come in a variety of sizes and styles and what you choose will depend on what kind of work you will be doing on it. Workbenches serve for woodworking, crafts projects or just household repairs. A good bench can be bought at a home improvement store, but if you prefer to build a bench, look for plans on the Internet or in do it yourself books. There you can look through hundreds of designs to pick the one that suits you best.
The most common design is a table style, with a hardwood top, although some come with table tops made of steel, and metal legs, in six or eight foot lengths. They are sturdy and durable and will suit just about any project. It looks like a table, with nothing underneath. You can also get a cabinet style, that has drawers or cabinets under the table top. The dead space under the table is put to good use in this way. Another option you may see, or you can hang your own, is pegboard behind the table to hang tools and other supplies and have them at hand.
Some workbenches come with a power strip built into them, and if you use power tools, this is an ideal layout. Up to nine outlets are in the strip and a heavy duty cord connects them to the electricity. They should have protection against an electrical overload. Another attractive option is a tool caddy so smaller tools can be easily reached.
If you want to customize your workbench, you may consider building your own. You can buy a kit, and everything you need for the bench will come with it, but of course, you are limited to the design of the kit. The pieces are precut to be put targeted without mistakes.
If you build your own workbench, you will have the option to make it exactly the way you want, though it will be more work. You can find free plans on the Internet and you just have to cut the wood pieces and follow the plan.
If you are going to do this, choose good wood, such as oak or a hardwood plywood. To protect it, put on a number of coats of polyurethane. Sand between each coat, so that you have a smooth nice looking finish that will be an easy to clean surface.
In order to make room for your new workbench, you will have to clean out and organize the space where it will be. This is the time to get rid of old paint, junk, and tools that are broken or you no longer use. Start with plenty of storage space so you won't have a messy, cluttered work area. Cabinets can organize tools and supplies, and the walls of your garage can be used to store a lot of items.
Consider installing high cabinets to store chemicals and paints, as well as sharp items, out of the reach of children. You may want to put locks on lower cabinets for safety as well. Large items can be stored in locker style cabinets, and you can put in drawers with dividers to organize smaller tools and parts.
The essayist Leroy Calstard is very interested in ideas corresponding to woodworking workbench. His publications on garage workbench are found on http://www.insidewoodworking.com/ and other websites.
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How To Install A Garage Door Opener

Installing a garage door opener is not a simple do it yourself job. However, it is true that garage door openers made today are a lot easier to fit than a few years ago. There is nothing preventing you from installing the opener yourself if you have reasonable diy skills.

You will find explicit fitting instructions with the majority of all new garage door opener kits. It is imperative that you follow these instructions to the letter. Whatever you do, don't become a know it all and try to work it out yourself. In reality, garage door openers can be very dangerous if not fitted correctly, due to the high tension springs that are used. You could quite easily end up hurting yourself or somebody around you.

The first step, before installing a garage door opener, is to check how well the garage door itself works. Most if not all garage doors are fairly heavy. A garage door opener will be designed for a certain weight of door. It should go without saying to ensure that the garage door opener that you are installing is capable of working with the weight of your door. You may find out that your door is too light, in which case, it will need reinforcing.

Checking the actual operation of the garage door should be your next step. If you find that the door doesn't open easily, it could be due to faulty springs which will need to be repaired before attempting to fit the opener. If the garage door has seen better days, you may be looking at installing a new one. If that is the case, you will also need to ensure that the framework is capable of supporting the new door to which the new opener is being fitted.

The garage door opener will have a power unit. Make sure that you site this where it will not get in the way of anybody walking around inside the garage. The opener will include a power cord which should only be within reach of an adult. Although it should go without saying, the electrical supply should be disconnected when working with the permanent wiring required to power the opener.

More hands make less work and you may find it quicker to enlist some help when installing your new garage door opener. You will need a selection of tools such as a stepladder, drill, spirit level, tape measure, hammer, various screwdrivers, side cutters, pliers, adjustable wrench and hacksaw.

You will find three distinct types of garage door opener. The easiest and simplest one to fit is the screw drive. Once fitted, it will require little or no maintenance as it has no belts or chains. All garage door openers must, by law, have a built in safety feature that reverses the door operation should it happen to hit something or somebody on it's way down. Make sure that any wall control buttons are fitted well out of reach of small children so that they cannot play with the door. For extra safety, infrared beam boxes should be installed near the bottom of the garage door opening.

Installation of a garage door opener should only be undertaken by somebody who more advanced in diy work. Whatever you do, don't cut corners when it comes to safety. Apart from anything else, garage doors are extremely heavy and can be very dangerous if not handled correctly. As well as the size and weight, garage door springs are also a danger due to the great tension they are under.

For more information on Garage Door Opener Safety visit Garage Solutions, a popular site for home owners who want a cleaner and better garage but don't quite know where to start.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alan_Kenyon

Garage Apartment Plans - A Great Way to Add Value To Your Home and Generate Extra Cash

A detached garage with an apartment makes a great guesthouse. Garage apartments plans provide space for storage and add value to your home. You can also generate extra income from your garage apartment! Making a living space over your apartment is a great idea for extra income, or you can use it for a home office. In certain areas you must prove that your home office is separate from your home to qualify for tax purposes. Having the office over your garage with keep your home office completely away from the home. Suddenly your new garage apartment has become a tax write off.

Garage apartments also provide a new sense of independence for your college aged child, if they plan to stay home. Students are always on the lookout for housing that is affordable and garage apartments fit he bill perfectly. Other new members of the workforce may be interested in your garage apartment as well. The potential for this extra income can add value to your home if and when you decide to sell. Some older folks who have retired often decide to live in their garage apartment while renting out their older home that may now be too large for their needs.

For parents who need extra room

Garage apartments can add a new master bedroom for parents of large families who need an extra room. If your garage is attached to your house, a garage apartment can serve as a very large and airy extra bedroom for privacy starved parents. For this type of apartment plan, the extra kitchen may be left off or appliances not added until children have moved away and the parents decide to rent the garage apartment.

Before you start building your garage apartment or purchase new garage apartments plans, check your local building permits and requirements. If you plan on using the apartment as a rental unit, you might need to supply an extra parking space for the renter. You may also need to think of adding stairs to the exterior of the building for security reasons. Be sure to check the insurance requirements as well.

Where to find garage apartment plans

Two sources I like for garage apartment plans are a site called coolhouseplans and one titled archwaypress.

As an example of pricing, coolhouseplans offers plans for a 448 sq. ft. garage and garage apartment at 400 that range in price from a low of $375 for one set of blueprints to a high of $650 for a reproducible set of plans or CAD (Computer Aided Drawing) files on CD-ROM.

Coolhouseplans also has lower-priced plans for a garage and garage apartment that range in price from $220 to $550.

In comparison, Archwaypress offers a single set of plans for a garage and loft $115 or $215 for reproducible masters. It also sells a three-set package of plans for a garage and garage apartment at a cost of $165 for $265 for reproducible masters.

Whichever you choose, a garage apartment can make a lot of sense as either extra room or as extra income.

If adding a garage apartment or building a small house or cottage interests you, there is a book I recommend that is available on amazon.com. Its title is More Small Houses (Great Houses)

Douglas Hanna lives in a suburb of Denver. He and his wife have bought and sold many houses throughout the years - to live in, as rental unit and to "fix and flip." He is also the publisher of a popular blog on small house plans, http://smallhouseplansadvisor.blogspot.com

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Convert Unused Wall Space Into A Garage Wall Storage System

Apart from being used as parking space for your car, the garages are now also being used as garage wall storage systems. In order to keep the garage in a proper condition to meet all these requirements, you will need to organize it. If you look very carefully, you will realize that it is not at all a difficult task. There is a lot of space in the garage which can be converted into storage areas. This will ultimately signify more free space for you to function in. The walls and ceiling of your garage make very good storage areas. Here, we will talk about the garage wall storage system and its many facets.

Garage wall storage systems can be defined as a group of related things which can be attached to the wall to function as a storage facility. Brackets, hooks, supports and shelves are all different forms of garage wall storage systems. These can be easily installed with the help of screws, bolts and nails. However, before embarking on any such chores, do ensure that the walls are strong enough to take the load of all the things you wish to keep on them. There are several types of wall storage systems available in the market nowadays. Materials used for their construction include wood, plastics and metals. In case of moisture and temperature diversities, using plastic or metal would be better then using wood. Some of the garage wall storage systems are:

Garage wall system parts: each of these parts has brackets, hangars, hooks attached to them through several methods. Some of these are even interchangeable.

Better wall systems: the better garage wall systems allow for easy shifting of position. They also facilitate easy addition of brackets, supports, organizers and hangars as per your storage requirements.

Slotted wall panels: slotted wall panels are considered to be the best option for changing storage requirements. These are very easy to install and can be attached directly to the studs of the garage wall.

There are several other unique ideas that you can try in order to create more space in your garage. You can use old wooden hangers as a garage wall storage system. All you need to do is paint the hangar in a solid color and attach it to the wall with plain or painted hooks. This is ideal for storing ties, and shoes etc.

Therefore, you can use your own imagination as well as the innovative products being offered by various companies to tidy up your garage space. But whichever option you select, you can at least be reassured of the fact that space will no longer be a problem in your garage.

Also, a garage wall storage system is a great option especially if you want to save floor space.

Gary A Milke owns and operates http://www.shopforgaragestorage.com Garage Storage Systems Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_Milke

Garage Slatwall and Other Storage Solutions

The most unorganized place in a family's house is usually the garage, often because the garage is easy to blow off as just a big storage space and is rarely attended to. If a garage is organized however, it can be an extremely useful space for working, parking cars, storing bikes, and giving easy access to things that might otherwise be in boxes.

The first step in the organizing process is to figure out what you have and what you need, or need access to. Everything that is broken or has missing parts should be tossed in the garbage, and those things that will never be used should go to charity. Once these things are separated, the organization process will go much smoother. It is a great idea to move anything out of the garage that belongs somewhere else. Clothes and shoes should usually go in closets or attic space rather than a garage.

Thinking of the garage similarly to a retail store display will help in conceptualizing how things should be organized. Just like a retail store, an inventory must be taken. With an accurate inventory, it will be easy to purchase organizing fixtures and map out a good plan. Make sure to categorize the list so that it will be more manageable. Once you have a better grasp of the job at hand, you can begin to shop around for the right kinds of fixtures to store the items for easy access and efficient storage. There are some store fixtures that work as excellent tools for this kind of organization. Slatwall panels are one of them. Slatwalls provide wall storage space and can be arranged in virtually any pattern. Tools and hardware are easy to access and out of the way on a slatwall, and there are slatwall accessories for virtually every object. Of course, various slatwalls can be purchased in hardware stores, but online fixture stores will often have better prices and more options. Spend some time searching around.

Plastic storage containers, shelves, hooks, cabinets, and pegboard are other great organizing fixtures that help organize the garage. Some things don't really hang up well and should sit on a shelf, and sometimes pegboard is a less expensive alternative for wall hanging if there are fewer items. Whatever you choose, the shed should then be organized according to the items and storage fixtures. For example, one wall might be hardware tools and another for gardening supplies. This type of category organization will make finding specific items much simpler. Labels are another great way to keep things organized because they help people to put objects back in their designated places.

The goal of garage organization is to get the floor clean, the items organized and easy to access, and to utilize all of the space efficiently. When these things are accomplished, a garage becomes one of the most useful spaces in a home. It will work great for projects with the kids or working on the bikes, and it will just take a good solid effort on one Saturday to get it all organized. You will find it to be extremely worth it.

About the Author: Ron Maier is the Vice President of S & L Store Fixtures, a leading online provider of gridwall panels and slatwall displays. For more information, please visit http://www.slstoredisplays.com

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Strategies to Improve and Increase Your Garage Storage Space

Your garage presents you with enough space to store items which you cannot place anywhere else in the house. The first step will be to sort through your belongings and discard stuff that you do not need anymore. Then you can start organizing your garage space accordingly, to make room for everything you want to store in that place.

- Categorize every item, make separate storage spaces for your electrical equipments, your lawn maintenance and other garden tools and any sports gear that you might need to store. Designating specific places for the items will help you to locate them easily as and when you need them. Anything that you will need to use everyday should be kept at such a place where you can reach them easily.

- Store different seasonal items separately. For instance, if winter is approaching, group together items like snow shovels, ice scrapers, skis, snow boots and the like and keep them at an easily accessible place. These should not be mixed with items that you need at summer like sun umbrellas and barbecue grills. You may want to have a tall cabinet built to place all these articles at the same place.

- Hooks and shelves are the key to solving your garage organization problem. A wide range of hooks and hangers are available in the market and help you get virtually everything off the floor. Do no go strictly by the name. “Ladder hooks” can be used to hang up much more than just ladders. “Rafter hooks” can be used to hold extension cords rather than being fastened into rafter. Look at the size and shape of the hooks and try to visualize what articles it can hold.

- Articles that cannot be hung from hooks need to be shelved. Installation of shelves, particularly the standard-and-bracket system shelves is simple. You may hire a professional carpenter to help you with this job.

- Do not pile up your garage too much, leave room for your car as well, and enough free space to be able to maneuver it while driving in and out of the garage. Make sure that your garage organization work does not encroach upon the space needed by the passengers to enter and exit the car comfortably.

Organizing or even reflecting on organizing the garage is often an exasperating chore for almost all homeowners. However, the sooner you get it organized, the better use you can make out of that place.

Want to learn more about Garage Organization System?, feel free to visit us at: http://www.about-garages.info/Articles/Garage_Organizer.php

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Spring Cleaning: Mission Garage Organization

Spring is here and the garage door is open. This is a scary thought for Cindy. Her garage is so stuffed that she can’t even park her cars in there. But the kids are wanting to get their spring toys out now that the weather is nice. As she begins moving piles of clutter from one place to another to unearth Nicole’s bike, 3 year old Megan is having a hey-day in the piles of stuff on the garage floor. Eager to get on her old bike, Nicole starts digging through piles trying to find her bike helmet. Her search is unsuccessul and she begins whining about riding without it. Overwhelmed with the chaos and frustrated with the whining, Cindy loads all 3 kids in the car to go purchase a new helmet for Nicole.

The next weekend Mike is forced to tackle the “honeydo list” because Cindy’s extended family is coming over to celebrate Easter. Yes, it is finally time to get that entryway painted. Now where did he put those paint rollers and trays anyway? After digging around in the garage for 20 minutes trying to find the paint supplies, Mike heads out to the store to buy all new things.

Meanwhile,the kids are wanting to hide eggs and are asking Cindy for their Easter baskets. She knows they are in the garage somewhere but the thought of digging through the chaos is too daunting. Next time they are out, she’ll just buy new ones, again.

Mike and Cindy’s scenario is all too common in busy families today. With careful planning and organization, you can save time, money and, most of all, your sanity. Read on to see how cleaning out that garage can make life easier.

It is the beginning of March, time for Tracy to get out her spring decorations for her home. She goes into her garage and gets out the tub labeled “spring decorations” from the garagecabinet. Inside, she not only finds the decorations for her home but her children’s Easter baskets and leftover supplies like egg decorating kits and plastic eggs as well. The kids will be excited to play with their Easter baskets for the next couple of weeks.

Later in the week, Tracy begins planning their once-a-year family work day for the garage. She gets the children involved by allowing them to make signs to hang around the house detailing the time, date and goals of family work day. She also lets them pick out their own colored stickers to label their individual items for sale at their future garage sale.

Tracy and Kevin move the cars out of the garage and lay out several blankets on the driveway. Each blanket is designated “sell”, “toss”, “keep” and “move to another location.” Every year the family goes through everything in the garage evaluating if it is still needed and making sure it has a home. Allowing the children to have a say in where items are “housed” gives them more incentive to keep things in their place. They also work together to sweep, mop and maintain various areas of the garage. A spot is made to store the items designated for the garage sale which will take place in a couple of weeks. After a hard day’s work, the Tell’s celebrate by eating at a favorite restaurant and going out for ice cream.

Garage Organization Tips: • Make a list of all the problem areas in the garage. Try to figure out why the problem exists (ie The bikes are sprawled all over because there is not a place for them to hang or park).

• Plan a family work day to work on the garage together. Allow children to be involved in the decisions of where things should go and what things need to be kept.

• Use a peg board, garage grid or hooks to get tools and other items off the floor.

• Keep like items together. (ie All holiday decorations go in clear tubs together and all painting and maintenance supplies are together in a tub or on a shelf).

• Consider shelving or cabinets to store tubs of holiday decorations, seasonal toys, car washing supplies and other items.

• Look into overhead storage for storing bigger items such as camping equipment and luggage.

• If you own several large items like lawn mowers, wheel barrows and trimmers, a storage shed may be a good idea.

• Bike racks or hooks are a good place for storing bikes. Be sure to place a hook nearby to hang the helmet.

• Covering the floor with an epoxy coating helps keep things cleaner in the garage.

• Have a garage sale or donate to charity all items that haven’t been used in the last year.

• Help motivate kids to “let go” of outgrown toys and clothes by allowing them to keep the money made on their personal items at your garage sale.

• Don’t forget to empty out the garage and sort through items at least once a year to maintain a clean and organized garage.

Susan Stewart is a professional organizer and the founder of Perfectly Placed Professional Organization and Design in the Phoenix area. Perfectly Placed specializes in bringing peace and order to busy families through organization. You can find out more about Susan and Perfectly Placed at her website: http://www.perfectlyplaced.org

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