Rick Scully, Author at Garage Tailors

Clean Your Garage Floors

July 7, 2017 by Rick Scully

It’s summer. The kids are playing in the yard and it’s a day to enjoy being outdoors. It is finely time to look after one of the renovation projects around the home or garage. One of the maintenance projects is to get rid of the unsightly stains on the garage floor while the children seem to be getting along and entertaining themselves.

Here are some tips to make this unglamorous task simpler and more straightforward.

Clear the Debris & Dust

One of the easiest ways to clear small debris from the garage is to use the leaf blower. As long as this is being done regularly, the leaf blower is a great way to clear dust and debris to the outside. If there’s too much dust around, the leaf blower may not be the best option.

The leaf blower works particularly well if you have a polyaspartic garage floor or floor tiles including the Ribtrax type tiles. The debris should be blown from rear to front. With the Ribtrax, it’s the same. With many channels below the tiles, debris and dust will flow forward and out the front edge when the leaf blower is used.

When bare cement is exposed or the garage floor has not been cleared of dust and debris regularly, there may be a lot of unwanted cement dust and general debris flying through the air. A lot of the dust will end up on bikes, toys and other storage items. A better alternative would be to use the shop vac or a dust broom and pan.

The leaf blower makes the job easy and quick. There’s no need to move heavy objects out of the way because the blower will dislodge hidden dirt, dust and small objects from behind large items in the garage. Use a lower setting to start on the leaf blower.

Take some precautions when using the leaf blower. Use a dust mask to protect your lungs. Leaf blowers are powerful enough to lift small debris such as nuts, washers and nails. It can also lift and peel loose areas of a painted garage floor. All of these objects can become painful projectiles. Move vehicles safely out of the way and assure your family is safely spending time elsewhere in the yard or house.

Getting Rid of Oil Stains

If you have a polyaspartic coated garage floor, oil spilled won’t soak into the polyaspartic floor. Instead, it will sit on top of the floor coating. While polyaspartic floor coatings are highly chemical resistant, look after the floor by cleaning up spills immediately. Remove oil spills soon after they happen to prevent it from being spread all over the garage or dragged into the house by younger family members walking through the garage.

To clean an oil stain, start by using an absorbent material to soak up the oil. Some good absorbent materials include cat litter, saw dust, baking powder and diatomaceous earth. Cover the entire oil stain completely and leave it there for 24 hours so the oil has a chance to absorb fully.

Once the oil is absorbed into one of these materials, it’s easy to scoop up the absorbent material along with the oil soaked into it. Dispose of them safely at a drop off depot for household hazardous waste.

Finally, a little dish soap and hot water to wash the area where the oil was sitting will eliminate any remaining film. Dry the area with disposable paper towels and your polyaspartic garage floor should be back to its original condition.

With garage floor tiles, you can just replace specific tiles or use a similar process to clean the tile. The quality of the cleaning results will depend on the floor tile.

The Ribtrax floor tiles will allow you to remove a single tile or multiple tiles to clean a stain in the concrete floor below. If you have exposed concrete where the oil spill occurred, start with the steps above. When using the soap with water, leave it in place for up to an hour. Then, use an absorbent material to soak up the soapy spot and oil mixture. A paste can also be made from the soap and water mixture plus absorbent material. Leave the paste in place until dry. Always remove and dispose of the paste at a drop-off depot. If the stain is older or deep, you may have to repeat this process a few times to draw out all of the oil from the concrete.

There are also a variety of non-toxic commercial cleaners such as Simply Green or Oil Eaters which people have found to provide success. Check manufacturer’s instructions for applicable surfaces and steps to using these products.

Maintenance and General Cleaning of the Garage Floor Surface

Polyaspartic floors are the easiest to clean. A general cleaning of the surface of the typical polyaspartic garage floor is easy to do with a string mop and a bucket of water with any of a wide variety of floor cleaning products such as vinegar, a couple of drops of dish soap, a wide variety of green cleaners and non-toxic commercial cleaners. This can also be done with garage floor tiles as well. You can also wipe dry any remaining water so the cleaning can be done most months of the year.

With a concrete floor, you may need a long handled scrub brush to remove and lift other types of stains along with a stronger soapy mixture. Finally, hose down the garage floor with garden hose. And, you’ll want to make sure you do this on a warm day to give the cement time to dry. In the GTA, this means cement floors need to be cleaned in the few summer months available.

Cleaning Ribtrax Garage Floor Tiles

This video shows how easy it is to clean Ribtrax garage floor tiles:

The main advantage of the Ribtrax floor tile is that the tile surface is easy to clean with a degreaser spray and a mopping of the surface. Maintain the tile surface regularly so kids and other family members are not dragging all sorts of oils and chemicals into the house. When weather permits, remove the debris and dust below to keep the entire system clean.

Make Garage Floor Maintenance Easier

To maintain your garage floor more easily, look after oil stains soon after they occur for improved success and thorough stain removal. It will make general cleaning of the floor easier.

Of course, the concrete floor is the most difficult part of the floor to clean and maintain. It is also more difficult to remove oil stains from concrete than some of these other materials. To reduce the maintenance work, consider garage floor tiles or polyaspartic floor coatings to keep the cleaning task easy and free from concrete dust. If you’re interested in renovating your garage this summer, the garage floor is a great project to consider. If you’re looking to upgrade your garage floor, contact our garage renovation specialists for a complimentary in-home consultation today.

Water Ways to Celebrate World Ocean’s Day

June 7, 2017 by Rick Scully

On June 8, 2017, we can celebrate the annual World Ocean’s Day. In large part, we can thank Canada’s recommendation at the Earth Summit in 1992 when it was our delegates who suggested an annual celebration to improve our international awareness to the issues surrounding water systems around the world. Since 2002, each June 8^th this day has been celebrated as World Ocean’s Day. In 2008, the United Nations then officially passed a resolution to recognize this day officially.

June 8^th is a great day to break out the canoe, kayak, paddleboard and more to reconnect with the many water ways throughout our neighbourhoods. Celebrate by making it a full family day on the water with conservation activities and more.

Celebrating World Ocean’s Day

Every lake, river, stream or body of water is part of a watershed that eventually empties into our immense oceans. Caring for our local water systems helps reduce the downstream effects of our footprint on them. Here are some suggestions from Canada’s World Ocean’s Day website and how you could turn it into a family activity:

Reduced Energy Consumption

Do simple things such as swapping out existing lightbulbs with LED lightbulbs. Use fans instead of using air conditioning to cool our homes this summer.

Choose Sustainable Seafood

There are sustainable species that we can eat. As a family event, visit a local fish market and plan a meal that honours sustainable seafood is a great way to educate and celebrate. Some fish to consider are albacore tuna, Pacific cod, sardines, Dungeness crab and some specific types of farmed fish too.

Use Less Plastic

Plastics harm and kill a lot of our ocean life each year. To reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in our oceans we can do things such as owning and using a reusable water bottle. Bring your lunch in a reusable container. Use cloth or reusable bags for groceries and other shopping. And, of course, recycle whenever possible.

Look After Our Beaches and Shore Lines

When spending the day at the beach or the park, remember to pick up after ourselves afterwards to reduce the footprint we leave behind. Also, spend some time walking a quiet shoreline for some fresh air and a way to clean up odds and ends that you find there. Spend the day paddling the shores of your local water way and picking up garbage along the shores as a way to contribute to cleaning up our waters.

Avoid Buying Products which Exploit Marine Life

Avoid buying shell or coral jewellery to reduce the exploitation of marine life.

Ocean-friendly Pet Ownership

Read the labels of food that you’re feeding your pets to be sure the seafood ingredients are sustainable species.

Travel the Water Ways Responsibly

Avoid using foam products near the water as foam wears down and breaks down leaving debris in the water. Sanitize boats, canoes, kayaks and other water going crafts thoroughly inside and out to avoid cross contamination of new waters with a trip last week whose water may have been infested. Specific species such as zebra mussels and quagga mussels have been destroying water ways.

Enjoy the Day on the Water around Ontario

Spending the day on the water is the best way to become connected to the importance of clean water to our existence. There are so many places throughout the province of Ontario to enjoy our water systems. To plan a trip along one of our many water systems, visit the Ontario Trails website for a location.

Even if you live in a large city like Toronto, it’s not that difficult to stay in the city and still be able to enjoy a day kayaking or canoeing. Some of the launches for paddlers can be found at Bluffer’s Park, Kew / Balmy Beach, Brickworks along the Don River, Cherry Beach, Harbourfront Canoe and Kayak Centre, Sunnyside Beach, and along the Humber River at several spots.

Care and Clean for Canoes, Kayaks and other Watercrafts

Remember to protect the waters and your equipment by cleaning, maintaining and storing your water crafts safely. Not only will this get rid of the millions of microbes to keep your family and pets safe, but it will also get rid of the creepy crawlers that may have hopped on board for a ride.

The best way to wash your kayak or canoe is to use some eco-friendly soap and water. These are easily found at your local camping store or health store. Some of the more popular brands include Castle brand soap which can be found at most health stores and Campsuds which is available at most sporting goods or outdoor stores.

Leave your kayak or canoe in the backyard under the sunlight for several hours to dry. Not only does this help dry your watercraft but it helps remove some of the dips or dents which polyethylene boats are prone to acquire. Under the sun for several hours will provide the heat necessary for these deformations to work themselves out.

Canoe, Kayak and Accessory Storage

Store your kayak or canoe up high along the wall or in the overhead storage space of the garage. With a pulley system to hoist the boat up above, this makes it easy to use for the whole family. With the canoe or kayak secured by a rubberized sling, it will keep the craft safely out of the way of harm from vehicles and kids rushing in and out of the house.

If your family enjoys multiple water sports, accessories such as Personal Flotation Devices (PFD) and safety kits for your boat, canoe or kayak can be stored on hooks or in wire baskets of a slatwall organization system. Wire baskets and hooks are the best ways to store items which are used again and again. It also makes it easy to have these items dry out thoroughly between trips back to the water.

If you don’t have one of these solutions, during your next garage renovation project consider implementing these valuable garage storage solutions to store, dry and care for your watercrafts. And, enjoy the water this coming World Ocean’s Day!

Cycling Fits All in the Family

May 2, 2017 by Rick Scully

With an outlook to reduce our footprint and energy consumption, cycling has become a popular past time, a fun sport and a mode of commuting to work. Many of us might know someone who cycles to work every day as part of their lifestyle if we don’t do it ourselves. Drivers are often navigating bicycle lanes daily throughout the centre of town and along well travelled routes. Or, we have kids who just crazy about cycling either for play or for sport.

In fact, cycling has branched out to accommodate a wide range of terrain and purposes than ever before. During the typical garage renovation, homeowners often encounter the challenge of bike storage and how to accommodate an entire family of cycling requirements through the summer and during the winter or off-season for most cyclists.

A Wide Variety of Bicycle Types

These days there a wide variety of bikes to fit the different type of cycling that people do. Let’s review some of the more popular bicycle types and a variety of bicycle storage solutions to fit the entire family.

Mountain Bikes

Mountain bikes were designed for off-road terrain and trails. They have a low gear range to ride up steep trails and some have shock absorbers or suspensions for the front and / or rear to handle a much rougher terrain. A lot of younger riders enjoy the mountain bike style for riding around the neighbourhood, school or community centre.

Road Bikes

Road bikes were designed to be ridden on smooth paved surfaces. They have skinny tires for speed and drop down handle bars for the rider’s comfort. The frame is typically lighter than many of the other types of bikes. The skinny tires allows for great speeds in long distances of flat paved road. The bike was not designed for a lot of stop and go traffic, sandy or gravelly surfaces such as roads under construction or pot holes when roads have not yet been repaired.

Since the introduction of spin classes, a lot of people who would cycle for fitness indoors started to take the sport outdoors during the warm weather. These days, people who get into cycling for fitness or sport often tend to invest in a road bike, join cycling clubs and consider charity bike rides to set fitness goals for themselves.

Hybrid Bikes

These bikes were designed to leverage the advantages of a road bike with the advantages of mountain bikes. They have larger padded seats and upright handlebars for a more comfortable riding position. They have medium width tires with a semi-smooth tread for a smooth ride on pavement but an ability to ride on unpaved surfaces as well. They are heavier than road bikes but not quite as heavy as the mountain bike. It makes the bike ideal for riding around the neighbourhood or commuting to work or school with the smooth ride of a road bike and the confidence of stability that we might expect from a mountain bike.

City Bikes

The city bike was designed with the most upright sitting position of all these bike styles. The city bike was designed to ride in regular clothes such as a typical work outfit. The typical city bike will include fenders, a chain guard and a skirt guard around the rear wheel to protect the rider’s clothing from water, dirt or mud encountered along the path during a commute. The additional accessories add weight to the bike making it a heavier bike than the hybrid bike.

To make the bike easier to use, a city bike may have an internally-geared rear hub which has been used more throughout Europe where bikes are used more often for commuting than sport or leisure. This gear hub is easier to use and practically maintenance free and much more durable than the typical derailleurs which has been the typical gears of a North American bike. In addition, some city bikes come with a built-in generator to power lights for riding after dark. For the rider looking for comfort, this is the bike!

Bike Storage and Bicycle Racks

Regardless of the type of bikes we might each choose to ride, we need to store them. So, there are many options for bike storage.

Easy to Use Floor Racks for the Kids

With busy on the go kids playing all throughout the summer, they need an easy way to get into the house and then back out riding again. The “on the floor” bike rack makes it easy and more likely that kids will get into the habit of putting their bikes away in a safe spot within the garage. While building good habits, it also keeps their bicycles off the driveway where bikes often damage the family vehicles.

Wall Mount Bicycle Storage

When it comes to wall mount bike storage, there are a couple of ways to use wall mount racks. Most often, we’ll mount bicycles along the wall to maximize the space available for the vehicles to park inside the garage. When someone has many bikes and wall space is at a premium, we can mount bicycles perpendicular to the wall to maximize the number of bikes we can fit onto the wall.

For younger family members, the key is to assure that the wall mounts are low enough that young people can lift their bike onto the mounting hooks all on their own.

Hydraulic Overhead Bike Racks

The hydraulic overhead bike lift is an effective storage option for both summer and winter bicycle storage. Family members of all heights and strength can use this type of bike storage quite easily with a flip of a switch to lift the bicycles away. Often, if there are not enough bikes to fill the entire rack, people use it to store other sports equipment such as a bag full of golf clubs.

The Right Bicycle Storage

Every year, creative new ways to store bikes keep appearing in the marketplace. Based on the number of bikes you need to store and your family’s overall garage storage requirements, a little planning will make your bicycle rack storage options become apparent.

When reviewing your next garage renovation, consider the amount of space you have available and how you might need to use it for storage. If you’re looking for professional help, book our complimentary in-home consultation to give yourself adequate lead time on professional services .

Garden Days are Here Again: Are You Ready?

April 18, 2017 by Rick Scully

Smells of fresh wet soil and the sight of green peeking out from the ground have arrived again. It’s spring! And, it’s time to start preparing the garden again. It’s time to dust off the garden tools and pick up seedlings as well as annuals from the local garden centre.

Not only are gardens relaxing for many home owners, but they add curb appeal and value to the home. The most avid gardeners among us have already been nurturing their own seeds since early March in anticipation of the big planting weekend in spring.

Get the Essential Garden Tools

It’s time to take inventory and make sure we’re ready for the season. Maybe, there was a tool or two that you could have used last season. Here’s a checklist of some of the essential garden tools that every horticulturalist to novice gardener should have available.

Garden Gloves with Nitrile Palms

The ideal garden gloves should be form fitting and thin enough so you can feel everything you’re touching. A nitrile coated palm makes the glove waterproof in the palm area and thin enough for dexterity and delicate handling of plants and soil.

Hand Trowel or Hori Hori Trowel

The hand trowel allows the gardener to get into small spaces and move soil around. The Japanese Hori Hori Trowel is a step up from the standard hand trowel by including a measure so that plants are placed at the correct depth into the soil. It also comes with a serrated edge along one side to cut roots in order to untangle a plant from its neighbours so it can be moved to another part of the garden.

The Spade

The spade is an essential tool for moving larger clumps of soil. It`s longer handle and square top allows the gardener to place their foot on the spade and break tougher ground. Some of the best spades will cut through roots to release larger plants for transplanting to other parts of the garden. There are different types of spades including border spades, digging spades and transplant spades but if this is your first spade, try owning a digging spade to start.

The Rake

Removing fallen leaves and other debris that have fallen onto the ground is a key task to maintain the health of a garden. A good rake will come in handy throughout the season and especially at the end of the season when it`s time to clean up after the trees in the yard.

The Garden Fork

The garden fork is an essential tool for turning over the soil in a garden. It mixes the nutrients in the soil making it a more suitable growing environment for plants. It also turns over any dead plant materials so this mulch will decay and provide additional nutrients to the garden.

The Hoe

The hoe is an old favourite. It’s used to shape the soil in the garden. It can be used to hill the soil around a row of plants while removing dead roots and weeds from the garden. At harvest time, the hoe is used to dig up root crops such as potatoes, carrots and other tubers.

The Long Hose with a Rain Wand

Water gives life to every garden. Using a long hose with a rain wand attachment makes it possible to water the garden in a way that simulates rain. The water arcs and drops onto the plant and soil gently like rain. Choose a good rain wand attachment head. It will allow you to adjust the pressure of the water to suit your garden.

The Wheelbarrow

Move heavy bags of compost and fertilizer using a wheelbarrow. A lot of people also use wheelbarrows to transport their garden tools and large trays of annuals to the correct spot in the garden. It’s a handy tool that will save your back.

When to Start Planting & Finding Your Frost-Free Date

So, now that the tools are ready, you can probably barely contain yourself from getting out to the garden to start working on it. How do you know when to start planting?

As soon as the ground is workable, it’s time to start planting. Test the soil by picking up a handful and give it a squeeze. It should fall apart easily. If it doesn’t, it’s a little too wet to work with. In the early days, you can turn soil and work with dormant perennials, shrubs and trees. In addition, cold drop vegetables such as peas, spinach and onions are workable at this time of year.

Use the Farmer’s Almanac to find your frost free date. This year, the frost free date is May 4^th around the Greater Toronto Area.

After this date, there are many annuals that you can plant because they can withstand a small frost or two. But, wait 2 to 3 weeks after your frost free date to be on the safe side for many of your plants. Discuss your planting intentions with your local garden centre and get advice. A lot depends on how the season progresses and occasionally, we can all be surprised by a sudden overnight frost.

If there’s an anticipated overnight frost, you can protect your garden. Dig out some old blankets or burlap sacs to cover your plants and give them some protection from the potential frost. Use bricks or rocks to secure the edges of your coverings. In the morning, remove the coverings, especially when the sun comes out. Avoid having your plants suffocate under the coverings on a warm sunny day.

Store Your Lawn & Garden Tools Easily and Safely

When using your garage wall for storing garden tools, you’ll want to move your winter tools to the back of the garage and the garden tools to the front near the garage door where it’s easier to access. Wall organization systems makes it easy to hang and store all your tools including wheelbarrows and even heavy lawn mowers. The camlock hooks plus proper mounting of your slatwall system are the secret to a well organized and secure wall storage system. Instead fighting through a shed full of stuff to dig out a single trowel or hand tool, it’s all visibly easy to find and use .

Besides protecting your best garden tools from rust and dampness, the garage wall organization system gives the gardener in the family peace of mind that tools won’t become bent or misshapen. Enjoy your gardening and cherish your gardening tools this spring with a little re-organization or small garage renovation project!

On this Earth Day, Green Your Garage

April 4, 2017 by Rick Scully

Earth Day is the perfect time to reflect on our garages. Here are a number of ways to “go green” in the garage. One way to celebrate the day is to get your garage in order again after a messy winter while implementing two or three of these green initiatives to your garage. Prepare for Earth day this April 22, 2017.

Energy Savings found in the Garage

A good place to start is by checking the exterior door from the house to the garage. It should be a solid core exterior door with full weather stripping like any other exterior door of the house. Assure the weather stripping is in good shape and that it prevents drafts as well as fumes from leaking into the house from the garage. Not only will the right door and weather stripping save energy but it’ll assure the air quality within the house remains low in pollutants and toxins.

Just by emptying the central vacuum and changing the filter regularly, you’ll be able to optimize the performance of your central vacuum cleaner and minimize the energy consumed by the household.

Next, if a refrigerator is something you own in your garage, upgrade to an ENERGY STAR refrigerator. With the changing temperatures of the garage, the newer fridges with better seals and improved energy efficiency will help you reduce energy consumption significantly making it easier on the pocket book and better for the environment.

Green the Garage Door

The garage door is typically the largest single door to the outside. If you’re looking to replace the garage door, the new garage doors can be made of sustainable and recycled materials. The new garage door materials not only make the door lighter but they provide improved insulation value over the original aluminum or wood doors.

The new garage door materials use modern paints and finishes that are baked on or powder coated leaving stronger and more durable coatings and finishes. These newer materials last longer and the industrial strength finishes won’t chip and wash off into the local water system like the older garage door paints.

Finally, when selecting a new garage door, pair it with one of the new door openers which run more efficiently than older models. This means energy consumption savings over some of the older door opener systems and improved safety features for your loved ones.

Green the Lighting within the Garage

These days LED lighting can be found in all types of light formats including pot lights, floodlights and standard bulb formats. Not only do LED lights last 20,000 to 50,000 hours which is 5x more than any comparable light bulb, but they use even less energy than CFL or incandescent light bulbs.

LED light bulbs run better in cooler temperatures. Choose an outdoor LED light for the sconces outside the garage. LED lights are far less appealing to bugs so they don’t attract bugs the same way that CFL or incandescent bulbs attract swarms of flying insects. Save energy while improving the aesthetics of your outdoor light sconces.

Protect the Air Quality around the Home

Clean out your garage regularly of hazardous wastes such as paints, solvents, pesticides, fertilizers, old batteries, empty oil cans and other solvents which may emit undesirable or toxic fumes into the air within the garage.

Start a recycle centre area in the garage for hazardous waste and bring them to a local hazardous waste depot regularly. To find a depot, check out these websites:

For single-use batteries, pressurized cylinders, antifreeze/coolant, empty oil containers, oil filters: http://www.makethedrop.ca/
For medications and sharps syringes: http://www.healthsteward.ca/returns/ontario
For paints, pesticides, fertilizers, solvents: http://www.regeneration.ca/

To reduce the amount of pathogens from entering your home, add an external floor mat in front of the door to the house from the garage and then a runner or floor mat just inside this external door. This allows family members to travel a longer distance with their shoes so more particles are left behind on the mat. Just 5 steps on a runner or mat will significantly reduce the amount of particles and oils tracked into the house.

Green Your Garage Floor

Upgrade your basic cement garage floor to a polyaspartic coated garage floor or add garage floor tiles. These flooring materials make them easy to clean and don’t absorb oils or chemicals like the typical cement floor. Nor do they chip like painted garage floors so family members don’t drag in paint flakes or dust from the exposed cement when they walk through the garage.

Polyaspartic flooring is also UV resistant which means the coating does not disintegrate under the sun and provides many years of durable floor protection. Clean up is a breeze meaning that slush, snow and vehicle fluids sit on the surface and allow for removal instead of soaking down into an uncoated cement floor which makes cleaning and removal much more difficult.

When the garage floor can be cleaned easily and regularly, family members don’t carry the fluids, oils and multitudes of particles left behind by car tires, vehicle leaks or exhaust fumes with every footstep.

Get the Whole Family Involved

When greening your garage, get the entire family involved. Explain the changes and their value to the family as well as the impact to the planet. Get involvement from the entire family to make new initiatives a reality for the entire family. Celebrate your “green” garage initiatives with pride and make it contagious throughout your entire neighbourhood.

Happy Earth Day 2017!

Garage Renovation & Design: DIY or Do It For Me

March 21, 2017 by Rick Scully

Garages are a great way to use the space effectively for storing a wide variety of household items from garden tools to sports equipment to winter tires. The main concern, of course, is to find a place for all these items in the garage while keeping the vehicles safe as they are being driven in and out as well as parked inside the garage.

The walls of a garage may be made of cement blocks, brick and for some newer homes, drywall. It’s not easy to work with some of these types of walls. Not only are some garage walls difficult to work with but mounting shelves so it can carry the weight of heavy items. We want to prevent things from falling off and damaging the vehicles or worse, injuring family members.

Am I ready for a Do It Yourself Garage Renovation?

The garage is one of the more complex rooms in the entire house. If you’ve just purchased your first set of tools, this is likely not the project for you to tackle. Some of the building materials and dimensions of the space can be more challenging than the typical room found inside the house.

Some of us have very talented hands-on people in our family. They may even be professionals with related skills. However, not all professionals may have the time to spare to work their own homes in a timely manner. Some professionals are over worked because they are so talented in their field of expertise. If this is your family, consider if the best way for this person to gain a mental reprieve from work is to spend their time off doing something else or whether a garage renovation would be a relaxing past time activity.

Many of our garage renovations can be completed in approximately one week, once we start because we have a well-established plan, process and timeline. There are exceptions to this timeline, but a big consideration is keeping the garage renovation time to a minimum so the family may be able to enjoy as much of the summer as possible.

While a garage renovation is a great home project, don’t let it take away from your time with your kids during those precious years. Also, don’t let a home project affect your children’s summer experience and enjoyment of the garage as home base to their bikes, scooters, skateboards and other modes of play and transportation.

Knowledge and Expertise Gets It Done Right the First Time

There are no other rooms in the house with the same challenges as the garage. While learning to paint one bedroom gives experience to painting a second bedroom, it’s not the same when it comes to the garage. Renovating the garage has its unique challenges because it is a room directly exposed to the outside and the elements.

Knowledge and the experience to complete the task properly the first time means as homeowners, you can enjoy a low maintenance garage for many, many years ahead. The whole family can appreciate the garage instead of having regular garage projects every couple of years which take people away from family time together.

Many of our garage storage solutions last the lifetime of the home when they are applied correctly. We often see other solutions which don’t last or which need regular attention every couple of years. High maintenance items take away from family time because of time and attention needed for regular maintenance.

Specialty Tools and Skills for Garage Renovation

Whether you are ready to renovate your own garage or not, there are some specialty solutions in the garage. For instance, the preparation and application of garage floor coating takes specialty tools and skills to apply. However, a high quality garage floor such as polyaspartic coating is an item which adds a lot of comfort to the garage while making the floor surface easy to clean up and low maintenance.

Garage floor coatings require special skills, tools and processes to prepare the cement foundation adequately. Preparing the cement foundation is the key to a successful polyaspartic garage floor coating. The polyaspartic floor coating will not adhere and remain maintenance free for the lifetime of the coating unless the preparation of the cement floor is completed properly.

In addition, there are a wide variety of engineering skills used throughout a garage renovation to assure that the mounting of overhead platforms and wall shelving can carry typical loads of 600lb to 800lb per square foot. Safe and secure installations of overhead platforms, racks or shelving are key to assuring that belongings, vehicles as well as family members are protected from any damage or injury.

Made to Measure Garage Storage

There are no standard dimensions or shapes for garages. Made to measure solutions give a finished and professional look to the garage. People often want to see end-to-end wall organization systems or garage cabinets. The typical big box store garage storage items or cabinets come in standard sizes and dimensions that are rarely able to accommodate unique dimensions or other challenges which add to the unique space of a garage.

There are a variety of challenges that shape a garage including:

odd outcropping or corners of the walls,
the location of the door to the house
the central vacuum situated in the middle of a wall
the plumbing for an outdoor faucet placed at an awkward location along a garage wall
the standard slope of a garage floor built to code

These hurdles add challenges which are overcome with Made to Measure solutions that need a little additional preparation. This includes unique sizing of platforms, cabinets and wall systems as well as some special adaptations to the garage space, at times.

Many Paths to a Garage Renovation

After overviewing some of the larger challenges that might be found during a renovation, it’s easier to see what would be appropriate for your situation. There are few paths that we find people will take to accomplishing their goal of a functional garage design.

The Do It Yourself project is self-explanatory. However, many people with DIY projects get us to complete a garage floor coating, made to measure product installation or a variety of other specialty services. The Do It For Me project is what we find the large majority of people are seeking whether it is a fully finished or a partially finished look as the final goal.

To start your project, use our online garage survey tool to assist with a definition of your garage renovation project that best reflects your needs and preferences. The garage survey tool helps people define what they need or don’t need and to start to consider and communicate preferences as well as a plan to fit their garage storage requirements. We provide a complimentary in-home consultation to discuss how you envision your project. After seeing your garage, we introduce additional ideas that you may want to consider.

Give yourself a healthy lead time for planning, ordering and installation dates so your family can make the most out of the summer days ahead.

Preparing for a Garage Renovation

March 14, 2017 by Rick Scully

The garage has become a dumping ground for your family’s stuff. It’s taking over the garage floor and it’s becoming ever more difficult to park the vehicles with belongings littering the space. Now is the time to start planning and preparing a garage renovation.

Declutter with a Garage Sale

Start by clearing out the clutter. As spring approaches, it’s a great time to hold a garage sale and clear out equipment or tools you haven’t used for a couple of seasons or toys the kids have outgrown by paying it forward to another family in the neighbourhood.

Having a garage sale is a great way to set a deadline for everyone to get things cleared out. By getting the entire family involved in the process, it becomes a learning experience in decluttering and organizing habits which will carry through a lifetime.

Start by throwing out anything that is broken. From there, if you have duplicate items, move them to your garage sale items. Decorative items that we don’t love are ideal for the garage sale. If you’re just holding on for some day, then take courage and put it with the other garage sale items. If it is clothing that you haven’t worn for a year, the guideline is that you probably won’t be wearing it again. So, take courage and include it with the garage sale items. Finally, all belongings require upkeep so if you’re not willing to dust and clean it regularly, consider it another item for the garage sale.

For some people, decluttering may be more psychologically difficult than it is physically difficult to do. Letting go of items will improve the well-being of your family.

Donate Your Stuff

Whether you decide to run a garage sale or not, whatever is collected or left behind from the garage sale can be donated. Anything from clothing, furniture, small appliances, old renovation items like insulation and even an old clunker which may still be sitting in your driveway can be donated.

In Canada, there are some great ways to donate your belongings. In the Greater Toronto Area, there are many drop off locations for donations of clothing, furniture and old renovation items. In some cases, there are ways to get your donations picked up free or for a small fee. Depending on the items, sometimes you may get a donation receipts for your items.

Clothing & Small Items

You can donate to specific charities or choose a thrift shop near you.

For instance, Diabetes Canada (formerly Canadian Diabetes Association before February 13, 2017) will accept: gently used clothing, bedding, sleeping bags, blankets, footwear and small household items such as kitchenware, pots & pans, tools, blenders, etc. They’ll also accept small electronics such as cell phones, laptops, tablets, iPods, digital cameras, gaming consoles, PDAs.

Visit http://www.diabetes.ca/how-you-can-help/clothesline to book a pick up.

Vehicle Donation

If you’ve got an old clunker which needs to go to Car Heaven, they will tow it ($200 value) for no charge and give you a $100 donation receipt to one of the charities featured to promote health, protect the environment or inspire communities.

Furniture Bank

The furniture bank works with social agencies which need furniture for shelters, refugee programs as well as homeless & poverty programs. For a listing of agencies they service, visit http://www.furniturebank.org/programs-services/partner-agencies/.

Donate here: http://www.furniturebank.org/furniture-houseware-donate/

Habitat for Humanity ReStore

Donate by dropping off items to a Habitat ReStore nearest you. They accept all sorts of renovation items from flooring, windows, doors, kitchen cabinets, sinks, counter tops, hardware, tools, building materials, garden tools, fridges, stoves, microwaves and more.

They also have multi-item pick up services and de-construction services to remove kitchen cabinets and bathroom fixtures. Submit your ReStore Donation Form here.

Organize What Stays in the Garage

Now that you`ve decluttered, the remaining items will need to be organized back into the garage.

Organize the remaining belongings into groups. Typical groups include sports equipment and camping gear, bicycles, seasonal decorations, household supplies, workshop tools, gardening tools, automotive accessories, recycle and trash bins. You may have some additional categories unique to your lifestyle. Many people who have home businesses may find that they need to find appropriate storage space for their working tools and supplies so plan this category of items into your overall garage renovation plan.

Once there are categories of items, it makes it much easier to understand what needs to be organized and stored in the garage.

Do It for Me or Do It Yourself Garage Renovations

Next, the question becomes whether you do it for yourself or you get someone to do it for you. You might have a handyman in your family. Maybe, they are not adequately skilled. Or, they are abundantly skilled but just don’t have the time to get it done in a timely manner. It`s may be time to consider booking a complimentary in-home consultation with one of our garage renovation specialists.

If you’re on the fence as to whether you’re ready and prepared to do your own garage renovation, then, read my upcoming blog on “Garage Renovation & Design: DIY or Do It For Me”. You’ll gain some insights as to whether you are able to handle the garage renovation as a DIY or DIFM project.

Five Ways to Maximize Storage in Tall Garages

February 23, 2017 by Rick Scully

Having cathedral ceilings in the house gives a spacious inviting feeling to the room or space in the home. In the garage, most of us just don’t spend enough time living in the space to enjoy the tall ceilings in the same way. Instead, more often, we use the garage as a place to store and easily access a wide variety of tools and lifestyle items from bikes, kayaks, canoes, tires, seasonal decorations, and much more. For the car enthusiast, a drive in a favourite vehicle is always just moments away.

The tall garage with its abundant overhead space is one of the most versatile design spaces in an entire garage renovation. With a wide range of overhead storage solutions available, the tall garage has the most potential for unique options of both form and function.

The Mezzanine

The mezzanine is a way to create a functional space in the garage. With tempered-glass safety railings, the mezzanine offers a storage space which is comfortable to access. Instead of constantly having to reach overhead, access to the mezzanine can be as inconspicuous as a retro style pull-down attic ladder which maximizes the use of overall space. Or, it can be actual stairs which can automatically lower with the push of a button. And, in one instance, where a car lift already existed, it was incorporated as an actual lift to reach the mezzanine platform overhead.

To consider a mezzanine, the higher the ceiling height the more well-suited the garage is to a mezzanine. Ideally, people would be able to walk around on the mezzanine without running their heads into the ceiling above. The ideal depth would be a platform area of 8 feet or more. Mezzanines are typically situated above the garage door or to the rear of the garage depending on what makes the most sense.

Storing seasonal decorations, off-season sports equipment and other bulky or seldom-accessed items is the ideal use of the mezzanine. In a tall garage, the mezzanine makes it possible to leverage the entire height as well as depth of the overhead storage space.

Overhead Platform Storage

People rarely realize how to leverage the overhead space in the garage to maximize storage space while opening up the floor space in the garage for vehicles to be parked and your family to get around the garage safely. There are many options to use the overhead garage space to add additional storage space.

A storage solution like an overhead rack or a platform is a good answer to many storage challenges. We offer aluminum Hyloft racks which we’ll install securely to the ceiling of your garage. The other option is the Strong Racks steel racks which come in two styles: the overhead platform or the wall shelf which attaches high along the side or rear wall of the garage.

Racks are typically mounted near the centre or away from walls so there is clearance on multiple sides to access the items stored above. On the other hand, a steel shelf is typically not as deep as a rack as it gets mounted to walls of the garage. The overhead height is adjustable so that more or less space may be made available to store garden or winter tools, seasonal decorations and sports equipment.

Made-to-Measure Platform Solutions

Our made-to-measure platform solutions are made to measure and will fit all the nooks, crannies and turns which the wall takes. Our custom platforms are made to the specified depth and length while being mounted to the specified height from the ceiling.

Not only are they secured to the garage wall but using airplane cable, the platforms are mounted to the ceiling joists allowing them to wrap around the side and rear walls of the garage. Alternatively, poles can be used instead of airplane cable for supporting the platforms. In general, poles limit the amount of usable floor space available. Whether it’s airplane cable or poles, the platforms can support 750 lbs worth of off-season tools, spare tires, seasonal decorations, automotive accessories and more.

Made to measure custom platforms can also be finished with drywall and pot lights below to improve the lighting of the garage or the workspace areas of the garage.

Sports & Vintage Car Lifts

For automotive enthusiasts who love to be near their cars, in their cars and out driving their cars, the hydraulic car lift is one of the ways to park extra vehicles in the garage. Not only are additional parking spaces a concern but for vintage or sports vehicle owners, securing and safely storing these vehicles makes it possible to preserve and prolong the life of these limited edition treasures.

When considering an automotive lift, the minimum garage height depends on the vehicles being stored but a tight squeeze would be 10 feet or 11 feet. And, of course, the automated garage door mechanisms may need to be replaced by a Jack Shaft Operator which allows the garage door to slide up along the ceiling to clear the overhead space for the vehicles. The garage also needs an appropriate width to safely operate the lift to avoid damaging the vehicle or other belongings.

From there, a decision can be made for a 1 post, 2 post or 4 post lift. If you’re considering a car lift, book an in-home consultation with a garage renovation specialist to work out the viability of a lift in your tall garage.

Overhead Bike and Water Sport Storage

Hydraulic lifts are not only for vintage vehicles but also for bicycles. A whole family of bicycles can be parked on a single rack and lifted up and out of the way with the click of a switch. While there are numerous bike storage solutions using walls as well as ceilings, the hydraulic bicycle rack is accessible by every member of the family regardless of their height or strength. And, it’s a good way to leverage the space overhead and use the overhead space in the centre of a garage. In addition to the hydraulic bike rack, a wide variety of bike rack solutions are available to suit any bike lifestyle.

In addition to bikes, water sports crafts such as kayaks or canoes tend to be stored in the garage as well. Water crafts tend to be bulky and don’t tend to fit standard storage solutions such as platforms or shelves. To optimize the overhead garage storage space, an overhead sling is one of the safest ways to store water crafts and keep them out of the way of being damaged by a vehicle or damaging a vehicle. In addition to kayaks and canoes, wake boards and stand up paddle boards can be place in an overhead sling storage solution.

The Versatile Tall Garage

If you have a tall garage, there are many ways to use the overhead space to improve and increase the usable space in the garage. Not only are these garage renovation solutions functional but they can also add visual appeal to support even the most dynamic of family lifestyles.

Garage Door Challenges of Winter

February 7, 2017 by Rick Scully

The garage door has been rattling off and on for the last few weeks. Now, on a cold winter morning with ice and snow everywhere, the garage door refuses to open. It’s time to call the office, get alternative transportation for the kids and someone to help get the door moving again for the next day.

To get out of a pinch like this one, there are garage door services to help. Even better, with a few minutes of inspection and some care tips, we can all elude a troublesome morning because of a malfunctioning garage door.

Worn Out Moving Parts of a Garage Door

If we think about it, the garage door opens and closes almost daily and mostly, twice daily. Worn out parts is a natural part of the life of a garage door. Listening and paying attention for squeaking, rumbling and other sounds from the garage door is a way to remain alert to potential issues. Following up with a visual inspection of the moving parts while the door is opening and closing allows us to find and replace worn parts before they prevent the garage door from opening or closing.

The moving parts to inspect are the rollers, hinges, bearings and latches. Replacing these worn out parts will keep the garage door operational and running smoothly all year around. By getting parts replaced along with regular checkups of the garage door, any problems will be prevented without disrepair.

Clear and Properly Aligned Tracks

If the garage door sounds persist, it may be the garage door tracks. The place to start is checking for impediments in the door tracks such as leaves, gravel, dirt and salt. Impediments can cause premature wear and tear to parts such as rollers and other parts.

If the tracks are clear and the sound is a rubbing sound, it could be the door tracks are not aligned. This may be due to something as simple as a loose screw. If that’s not the case, then err on the side of caution by calling in overhead door professionals to assure the tracks get aligned properly. A garage door which is properly balanced and with garage door tracks aligned will reduce wear and tear on the parts to ensure long lasting and problem free garage door ownership.

When it comes to a balanced garage door and properly align garage door tracks, leave it to the trained professionals for peace of mind.

Metal Parts Need Lubricants

Many of the garage door parts are metal. Lubricants such as silicone based ones or grease help prevent friction between parts as well as expansion of metal which causes ill-fitting parts to rub together unnecessarily. Lubricants protect metals from freezing or freezing to other parts. With lubricants, metal parts continue to glide smoothly over each other even when frigid temperatures settle in. Assure lubricants are clean and the correct viscosity for the cold of winter and then again for the heat of summer.

Check with your local garage door expert for advice on lubricants which work best for the seasons experienced in your region.

Reduce Drafts with Fresh Weather-Stripping

The weather-stripping that runs along the bottom edge of the garage door serves to prevent cold air from rushing into the garage. If there are broken edges to the weather-stripping, the garage and house may be losing heat. This makes it more difficult to maintain a warm garage and home.

Weather stripping should be soft and pliable to effectively seal against water and cold. Brittle weather-stripping is more likely to lift and collect ice at the base of the door. Weather-stripping in good condition will also keep out insects and small rodents. Care for the weather-stripping of your garage door and it will protect your family and home.

If you’re handy, there are many YouTube videos and help by the local hardware store to show you how to replace the weather-stripping. Otherwise, request a weather-stripping replacement from a local handyman or garage door specialist.

Checking the Auto-Reverse Safety Features

Automatic garage doors come with a safety feature so loved ones will be protected from the closing mechanism should they be in the path of the garage door while the door is on its way down. The way to test if the safety features are still working properly is to place a piece of wood or a brick on the ground in the path of the garage door. Then, push the button to close the garage door. When the garage door presses against the wood or brick, it should release and return back to an open position. If your garage door is not doing this then there is something amiss.

If your garage door has photoelectric sensors, it might be the photo eye that is a problem. To test the photo eye, wave the handle of a broom or shovel in front the photo eye sensor while the garage door is closing. The door should reverse when the sensor beam is broken and return to an open door position. If this is not happening, start by wiping the front of the sensor to clean the path for the beam to appear.

If the path of the beam is clear, the next step is to make sure the sensor is pointed towards the sensor on the opposite side of the garage door opening. If not, the sensor may have been knocked out of place so a small adjustment may re-align it and make it activate again.

If any of these safety features continue to malfunction, it’s time to have your trained garage door professional troubleshoot the safety mechanisms so your family will remain unharmed.

General Care for a Garage Door

Overall, a semi-annual check of your door for wood chips, rust and fraying tension cables will help maintain your garage door for many years of use. While the handyman in the family can sand wood and rust from garage door parts, seek a professional if you find any fraying tension cables. Garage doors can be very heavy so a well-maintained door is important to its daily function and to your family’s well-being.

An ignored garage door can lead to a wide range nuisances, damage to vehicles and most importantly, endanger the safety of family members. If you believe there may be an issue, call your local professional today and make a semi-annual garage door inspection part of a garage maintenance routine.

Winterize the Garage Floors

January 26, 2017 by Rick Scully

We seldom think about the garage floor. However, this important surface undergoes continuous abuse. It must bear the weight of vehicles, withstand damage caused by debris tracked in on tires and shoes and hold its own against leaking automotive fluids. Fluctuating temperatures of sweltering summer heat and frigid Canadian winters cause concrete floors to expand and contract. Then there is the battle of the elements: rain, sleet, snow and salt that gets tracked in on shoes and tires.

Protect the Garage Floor from the Elements

Winterizing your garage floor may not be the first thing on your garage renovation list of to-do’s, but it is important not to be missed. Your car and your family will undoubtedly track snow and salt into your garage this winter. Ensure the protection of your floor from road salt and other damaging de-icers. Road salt on an untreated concrete floor can easily be absorbed and within a few years, it can destroy an unprotected floor.

By preparing your garage floor now, you can reduce the inevitable damage to your floor this winter. Consider applying a durable waterproof and stain-resistant protective floor coating to prevent harsh damage and preserve the life of your garage floor.

Prepare the Garage Floor

There are several reasons why durable garage flooring is a key part of a long-lasting garage renovation. Concrete floors are vulnerable to degradation caused by the elements including salt and oil. Thus, concrete floors often become pitted, which is not only unsightly, but generates dust causing the concrete to become more difficult to keep clean and maintain.

Bare concrete floors generate dust and are susceptible to staining and cracking that gets worse with moisture. Garage floor coatings and coverings are not only beautiful, but functional. They protect concrete floors from stains and other damage.

Refinishing your floor will protect it from the elements, while at the same time reducing the dust which covers your tools, bikes, garden equipment and other items. The household items and tools stored in the garage become easy to appreciate when you’re reducing the concrete dust that can affect the operation of work and garden tools or that can give your belongings a prematurely aged look. Of course, garage floor coatings or floor tiles look great too!

Painted Garage Floors Peel Up After Just a Season or Two

A lot of people consider painting floors. The issue with paint is it only coats the top layer of your concrete. Whether you prepare a concrete floor or not, paint based materials sit on the top of concrete which means that paint doesn’t protect or enhance the concrete floor unlike some other options.

Because paint sits atop the concrete, it’s not forgiving when the concrete floor expands and contracts with the changing seasons. Whether we know it or not, our garage floor is subject to thermal expansion and contraction. This means that the concrete swells up and expands in the heat. In cool weather, the opposite effect occurs; your concrete floor shrinks or contracts. Often times, it is these expansion and contraction cycles that tend to lead to cracking and peeling of painted floors.

Polyaspartic Floor Coatings are Durable and Last

Polyaspartic flooring is always a great choice for any garage, but especially those with drywall that extends down to the floor. A polyaspartic flooring system is a tough, durable floor coating with the sophisticated look of granite. Unlike paint which sits on top of the concrete, the polyaspartic coating seals concrete and keeps moisture out to prevent the garage floor from cracking. Not only does a polyaspartic floor coating reduce concrete dust, it provides a non-slip grip to make the garage a safer place for little ones during wet and slushy weather. All the snow and mud of the various seasons get tracked into the garage by everyone in the family but having a floor coating makes the garage easy to keep clean and dry.

A professionally installed polyaspartic flooring system includes a ten-year warranty and is available in a wide range of colours. The colours of the floor can be selected to match the exterior brick, siding or trim of your home for a matching look and feel as seen from the sidewalk or edge of the property. The variety of coloured flakes makes it possible to transition from exterior house colours to interior colour schemes.

The granite arrangement of colour flakes also camouflage the dirt, dust and debris left behind! You’ll be glad to know that this system also protects concrete floors from corrosive elements including winter’s biggest culprit – salt.

The quality of a polyaspartic floor coating system is in the preparation of the concrete floor before applying the polyaspartic coating. By grinding and preparing the concrete floor, any application of the polyaspartic floor coating bonds to the concrete for lasting results.

Challenges of Other Floor Coatings

Other types of floor coating include epoxy which is also applied concrete floors. While it is sold in big box stores, homeowners run into problems when applying epoxy because they miss the importance of surface preparation. More than a simple, weekend DIY project, applying epoxy to a garage floor still requires several steps and specialized equipment.

Unlike polyaspartic floor coating, epoxy floor coating can take a few days to cure and it tends to be more brittle the polyaspartic. On the other hand, the 100% UV resistant polyaspartic floor coating doesn’t yellow with time.

PVC Garage Floor Tiles

Alternately, a garage floor made of an interlocking PVC tile floor will hide imperfections and protect floors from further damage.

Interlocking PVC tiles are sturdy, attractive and chemical-resistant. They can easily be adapted to fit any garage configuration. Since no adhesive is used, simply remove and replace a single tile in the event of damage. PVC tile can be hosed down, pressure washed, mopped or hand scrubbed.

A variety of floor designs can be accomplished with a series of coloured floor tiles.

Baseboards in the Garage Protect Walls, Brick and Concrete Blocks

The baseboard in your garage serves a couple of functions. Perhaps the most important function is that of protection. If your baseboard is installed properly, it protects the interior of your garage from small animals from making a home in your garage. Baseboards also provide protection from dust, dirt and water seeping behind the drywall or slatwall and into the exposed brick or concrete.

Another function of your garage baseboard is aesthetics. Some of the baseboard finishes include a polyaspartic finish, vinyl baseboards or even, punched aluminum wainscoting or baseboards. With a garage flooring makeover, many homeowners choose to finish the floors with a baseboard trim.

Planning You New Garage Floor This Spring

There are several factors to consider when selecting the best garage flooring system. Budget and personal preference play a major role. However, the condition of your garage floor is also a factor. Substantial pitting or cracking requires that voids be filled before any coating is applied.

Consult with a garage renovation specialist and then plan the de-cluttering of belongings so there is unrestricted access to the entire garage floor space to apply a new floor to your garage.

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