Garage Tailors

Garage Interior Design | Renovation Organization Mississauga - Garage Tailorsgarage

CALL IAN AT 416.617.7551
FREE IN-HOME CONSULTATION
COMPLETE THE ONLINE GARAGE SURVEYGarage Survey
  • GARAGE STORAGE
    • Bicycle Lifts & Racks
    • Garden Tools
    • Recycling & Garbage
    • Sports Equipment
    • Tire Storage
  • Unique Spaces
    • Shelving, Platforms and Mezzanines
  • Services
    • Wall Organization Systems
    • Garage Cabinets
      • Iconic Cabinets
      • Contur Cabinets
      • Global Steel Cabinets
    • Garage Flooring – Done In a Day
      • Ribtrax Garage Floor Tiles
    • Overhead Storage Racks
      • Strong Racks Overhead Storage
    • Car Lifts
    • Work Stations & Workbenches
  • GARAGE UPGRADES
    • 1 Car Garage Transformations
      • 1 Car Garage – Cabbagetown
      • 1 Car Garage: Slatwall, Cabinets, Overhead Storage – Toronto
      • 1.5 Car Garage – Etobicoke
      • 1 Car Garage – High Park
      • 1 Car Garage – Markham
      • 1 Car Garage – North Toronto
      • 1 Car Garage – North York
    • 2 Car Garage Transformations
      • 2 Car Garage – North Toronto
      • 2 Car Garage – Markham
      • 2 Car Garage – Etobicoke
      • 2 Car Garage – Stouffville
      • 2 Car Garage – Bayview Village
      • 2 Car Garage – Beacon Hall
      • 2 Car Garage – Brampton
      • 2 Car Garage – Etobicoke
      • 2 Car Garage – Lawrence Park
      • 2 Car Garage – North York
      • 2 Car Garage – Oakville
      • 2 Car Garage – Oakville (2)
      • 2 Car Garage – South Oakville
      • 2 Car Garage – Oakville (4)
      • 2 Car Garage – Toronto
      • 2 Car Garage – Willowdale
      • 2 .5 Car Garage – Toronto
    • 3 Car Garage Transformations
      • 3 Car Garage – Aurora
      • 3 Car Garage – Bayview York Mills
      • 3 Car Garage – Newmarket
      • 3 Car Garage – Toronto
      • 3 Car Garage – Etobicoke
      • 3 Car Garage – Richmond Hill
    • 4 Car Garage – Richmond Hill
  • About Us
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Customer Testimonials
  • Contact
    • Consultation Request
You are here: Home / Archives for snow blower

Is Your Garage Ready for Winter?

October 21, 2014 by Rick Scully

slatwall - wall organizers, grey, hooks, garden toolsWe’ve settled into fall and the air is turning crisp and cool. Though most of us would prefer to reminisce over how we spent the summer, it’s time to give serious thought to preparing for winter.

Remember last winter?

It was the coldest winter Toronto has experienced in twenty years. The harsh winter caught many of us unaware, and left homeowners, businesses and governments reeling from the unexpected impact and costs. Most homeowners realize how essential it is to winterize their homes, but don’t forget about your garage. It needs winter weather prep, too.

What can you do to prepare your garage for the snowy winter ahead? Here are four steps that will help you get your garage ready for winter.

Clean Up Your Act

During the activity of summer it’s easy for the garage to become a family dumping ground. Maybe you’ve even resorted to parking your vehicles outside, rather than vying for space inside the garage. However, with snow and cold weather headed our way in the coming months, now is the time to carve out space for your vehicles and all of your winter weather supplies, like shovels, salt and your trusty snow blower.

Begin your winter weather prep by cleaning out your garage. Sort through all of the items stored in your garage. Honestly assess which items are needed and which should go. Be brutal. Toss broken items, including the ones you’ve been planning to fix for the past five years. Donate items in good condition that are duplicates or that your family no longer uses.

Still having trouble deciding what should stay and what should get the old heave-ho? Here are a few questions to consider:

  • Do I trulyneed this item?
  • How likely is it that we’ll use it again?
  • If I’m not using it, why am I really holding onto this item?
  • Could someone else use it?
  • If it’s broken, is it worth fixing? How likely am I to fix the item (or get it fixed)?
  • Does this item fit with my current lifestyle?
  • Which is more important: holding onto this item or parking inside the garage?

Once you’ve pared down the volume of items stored in the garage, it’s the perfect time to spruce it up. Sweep floors, dust for cobwebs, clean the garage door and give the floor a good scrub.

Create a Plan

Now that you can see how much space you’re working with, it’s time to devise a plan for organizing your items. Ask yourself:

  • What is my objective?
  • What additional items need to go into the garage?
  • Is there room for the snow blower?
  • Which items should be grouped together? (More on this later.)
  • Where should each item be placed for easiest access?

Map out a plan that will allow you to safely store all items while also accommodating any vehicles you’d like to park in the garage.

Floor space is at a premium in the typical garage. Don’t limit yourself to perimeter floor space. Install a wall organizer system, or have one installed by a garage interior design expert. Storing items vertically in baskets, or on shelves and hooks, reserves floor space for larger items and for vehicle parking.

Still need more space? Look up. If your garage has wasted overhead space, as most do, you could add valuable storage space by getting overhead storage platforms installed.Before you give your plan the green light, make sure it includes task-related zones.

Create Task-Oriented Zones

While creating your plan, you considered which items should be grouped together. This question is essential and deserves further discussion. Creating task-oriented zones will help keep your garage organized throughout the year.

Carefully consider all of the activities that take place in your garage. Keep seasonal and related items together. Create a car care zone, one for yard care and another for winter sports gear. Shift winter gear to a prime space and store summer items where they are less accessible.

Ideally, winter yard maintenance equipment and supplies should be stored close to the garage door for easy access to the driveway. However, not all sidewalls can accommodate a snow blower while still allowing room to park vehicles inside. If this is the case in a two-car garage, try storing the snow blower on the back wall near the center of the garage. This will allow you to exit the garage between the vehicles parked inside.

Winterize Your Garage (and Everything in It)

Now that your garage is decluttered and organized, it’s time to make sure that everything is ready for that first icy blast of Arctic air.

  • Replace the batteries in your garage door openers.
  • Check garage door weather stripping and replace, if needed.
  • Check all moving parts of the garage door. Get any missing or broken parts repaired.
  • Lubricate garage door rollersand hinges for smooth operation all winter.
  • Ensure that the safety reverse sensor is functional. If not, adjust sensors or have them repaired.
  • Drain water from hoses, purge sprinkler system and shut off water supply to exterior spigot.

Take advantage of cool, comfortable fall temperatures by preparing your home and garage for the winter ahead. Once you’ve decluttered your garage and created a plan of action that includes task-oriented zones, it’s time to put that plan into action. Store any items that can’t be stored vertically or overhead around the perimeter of your garage. Stack or nest like items, like flower pots or storage bins, to maximize space.

Filed Under: Garage Storage Solutions, Organizing Tips Tagged With: add valuable storage space, car care zone, cleaning out your garage, Create Task-Oriented Zones, garage has wasted overhead space, garage interior design expert, hooks, maximize space, overhead storage platforms, prepare your garage for the snowy winter, preparing for winter, preparing your home and garage for the winter ahead, salt, shelve, Shovels, snow blower, Storing items vertically, storing the snow blower, task-related zones, wall organizer system, winter weather prep, winter weather supplies, Winterize Your Garage

Get Your Car into the Garage for Winter in Three Easy Steps

January 28, 2014 by Rick Scully

nuvo car garageIf you’re like many homeowners, your garage may be more of a dumping ground for seasonal items, outdoor equipment and gardening tools and less of a haven for your vehicles. Whether you’re looking for a do-it-yourself option or a quick fix to tide you over until you can get a permanent garage organization solution, you can make space for your car this winter in three easy steps.

 

Step One: Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

We form an attachment to our things. Even things we haven’t used in years. This makes it difficult for us to face the ugly truth. Most overstuffed garages are harboring…junk. It’s a word we don’t like to use in reference to our own things. However, when stuff we aren’t using takes up valuable space in our garage, that’s exactly what it’s become.

Go through your garage and pull out anything you haven’t used in the past year. Ask yourself the following questions:

  • Do I need this item?
  • What is the likelihood I’ll use it again?
  • Why am I holding onto this item?
  • Would it be of more benefit to someone else?
  • Is it broken? If so, is it worth fixing? How likely is it that I’ll fix it (or get it fixed)?
  • Does it fit my current lifestyle?
  • Is holding onto this item more important than parking my car in the garage?

If your answers reveal that the item is sucking up valuable garage space, let it go. That includes those just-in-case items like old paint. After a year in your garage, especially through the winter, the paint is no longer good. Make note of the color, then chuck the can. Be sure to properly dispose of paint and any other household chemicals.

Of course, just because you can’t use your old items, doesn’t mean someone else can’t. If you have bicycles or other sports equipment that your children have outgrown, consider donating them to a local charity. Sometimes knowing that your things will be loved and appreciated by someone else makes it easier to let go of them.

Step Two: Group Similar Items

Once you’ve eliminated any items you don’t use, it’s time to do a little organizing. Start by going through your remaining things and grouping like items. Put all of the gardening tools and equipment in one part of the garage. Carve out another section for outdoor gear like camping or skiing equipment. Put the children’s sleds and other winter toys where they can easily access them.

Grouping similar items will give you further opportunity to purge. You’ll likely discover unnecessary duplicates and outdated items. These, too, can be tossed, gifted or donated.

Step Three: Arrange Items Along Perimeter

Once you’ve eliminated anything you don’t need, it’s time to carve out enough space in the garage for your vehicle. Arrange your remaining items along the perimeter of your garage. This includes bicycles and other bulky items like your lawn mower or snow blower.

While you’re organizing items along the perimeter of your garage, consider which items you’ll need to keep accessible during the winter. Make sure you’ll be able to quickly retrieve your snow blower, shovel, salt, window washer fluid and winter sports equipment like skis, ice skates and snowboards.

Create additional space by stacking or nesting similar items along the perimeter of your garage. For instance, nesting a set of flowerpots or stacking storage crates will reduce the amount of floor space they consume. With just a few hours of work, a space for your vehicle will begin to emerge.

If the thought of spending hours cleaning your garage is unappealing, take a moment to consider what you’ll gain by parking your vehicle in the garage. You won’t have to clean a mountain of snow off your windshield before work. It won’t take as long to warm your car in the morning. By saving time each morning, you won’t be rushed during your commute, making travel safer. Not a bad trade-off for a few hours of work on a Saturday.

Taking these steps will allow you to make room in your garage for your vehicle during winter. Come spring, you may be ready for a more permanent solution for your garage organizational needs.

Filed Under: Organizing Tips Tagged With: bicycles, camping gear, children’s sleds, floor space, flowerpots, garage for winter, garage organization solution, garage space, gardening tools, homeowners, household chemicals, ice skates, lawn mower, make space for your car, organizing, outdoor equipment, outdoor gear, overstuffed garages, properly dispose of paint, salt, shovel, skiing equipment, snow blower, snowboards, Sports equipment, stacking storage crates, vehicles, window washer fluid, winter sports equipment, winter toys

Avoid Seasonal Anxiety Disorder with a Garage Changeover

October 2, 2012 by Rick Scully

 

Spring cleaning has become a tried and true ritual, the ideal time to gather up unwanted things for a garage sale or trash haul. Fall is also a great time of year to consider a sort and purge to transition into winter and ensure your garage is ready to do what it was built for – protect your car from the elements. But for many people, the idea of saying goodbye to summer and getting ready for winter is so off-putting they avoid it. At Garage Tailors Garage we call this common condition, Seasonal Anxiety Disorder. And the best way to alleviate symptoms is to have an organized garage.

 seasonal garage storage changeover - shovel, snowblower, decorations

For people with existing garage storage solution systems, the time that it takes to do the seasonal changeover is usually less than an hour. The changeover typically involves transferring the items you won’t need for a few months to the back of your garage and the ones you will be using to the front for quick access. Shovels replace rakes, the snow blower gets more prominent placement than the lawnmower and you can stash the pink, bug-eliminating windshield fluid in a cupboard and break out the blue antifreeze. Any sand or ice melting products that keep your stairs, pathways and front sidewalk slip-free get moved to a basket, which is suspended just off the floor near the front of the garage to grab when necessary. Snow tires are removed from overhead platforms or secure floor racks to be replaced with your all-weather tires until the spring. Typically people power-wash the garage in the spring to remove any salt stains from the floor, but a good soap, water and brush cleaning in the fall wouldn’t hurt.

 

If you’ve accumulated stuff that you no longer need, get rid of it. Give it away to a charity, have a garage sale or throw it out. Don’t put yourself in the position that led you to organize your garage in the first place. Purging should be an ongoing activity. It’s impossible to keep everything and keeping things you’ll never use again is a waste of space. For example, when kids get older, strollers get replaced by tricycles, which are replaced by scooters and bikes. Unless you’re planning on having more children, don’t keep the stroller. That’s what Craigslist and Kijiji, or the curb with a “free” sign, are for.

 

However, if the very idea of going into your garage to dig out winter items makes you feel queasy, you might be suffering unnecessarily from a bout of Seasonal Anxiety Disorder. Chaotic garages can be scary, but the problem is easily remedied.  If you’ve never organized your garage, or the last time you did was during the past millennium, the best way to tackle it is to start in reverse. First, you decide what you need to keep, what to donate and what to throw away and then organize your garage to make space for your cars. The process takes planning, time and money, but ultimately will save you valuable time and aggravation each time you realize snow is on the way.

 

You can pretend the good weather will last forever and then cuss and fuss every time you find yourself scraping snow and ice from your windshield in minus 30 degrees. Or you can transform your garage with custom-designed storage solutions that address your personal needs and get into a warm, snow-free vehicle every winter morning.

 

At Garage Tailors Garage, we’re hoping to eradicate Seasonal Anxiety Disorder so everyone can feel good about getting the garage winter-ready.  If you’re interested in knowing what could be done with your garage, we offer free in-home consultations.

Filed Under: Garage Makeovers, Garage Storage Solutions Tagged With: bikes, blue antifreeze, brush cleaning, bug-eliminating, Chaotic garages, charity, children, Craigslist, cupboard, custom-designed storage solutions, free in-home consultations, front sidewalk, garage, garage changeover, garage sale, garage storage solution systems, getting ready for winter, good soap, home consultations, ice melting products, Kijiji, lawnmower, melting products, Garage Tailors Garage, organize your garage, overhead platforms, pathways, protect your car, rakes, salt stains, scooters, Seasonal Anxiety Disorder, seasonal changeover, secure floor racks, Shovels, slip-free, snow blower, Snow tires, snow-free vehicle, space for your cars, stairs, stroller, tires, transform your garage, tricycles, waste of space, windshield fluid

  • GARAGE STORAGE AREAS
    • Automotive Accessories
    • Bicycle Storage & Bike Racks
    • Garden Tools & Supplies Storage
    • Household Supplies
    • Recycling and Garbage Bin Storage
    • Sports Equipment
    • Tire Storage
  • Storage Solutions: Made to Measure Solutions
    • Shelving, Platforms and Mezzanines
  • Products
    • Exotic Car Enthusiasts
    • Garage Wall Organization Systems
    • Garage Cabinets
      • CTech Cabinets
      • Contur Cabinets
    • Garage Flooring – Done In a Day
    • Storage Systems
    • Overhead Garage Storage & Platforms
    • Work Stations & Workbenches
  • GARAGE UPGRADES
  • Customer Testimonials
  • Consultation Request
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • About Us
  • Contact

GARAGE VIEWS FROM NUVO

  • 0x1c8c5b6a
  • Epoxy Coating for Garage Floors: Enhancing Durability, Aesthetics, Dust Control and Ease of Maintenance
  • The Secret To A Clutter-Free Life – Garage Cabinets 101
  • The Secret to Making Your Garage the Envy of the Neighborhood – Epoxy Flooring!
  • Get Ready to Drool – Epoxy Garage Floors Are the Ultimate Luxury Upgrade!
  • Is It Worth Investing In Epoxy Garage Flooring?
  • A Guide To Help You Get Rid Of Unwanted Mess In The Garage
  • Things To Keep In Mind While Organizing Your Garage
  • A Guide To Help You Convert Garage Into A Practical Space
  • 5 Key Reasons Your Garage Door Needs An Instant Repair
  • Did You Select The Right Door For Your Garage?
  • Do I Really Need A Garage Cabinet System?

Garage Tailors INC.
51-3176 Ridgeway Drive
Mississauga, Ontario
L5L 5S6

416.617.7551
Twitter LinkedIn Google Plus Pinterest Facebook RSS Feed
Copyright © 2025 · Garage Tailors Garage Inc.
Website Design by Yenius Interactive Marketing