Whether you are trying to protect items that you are storing, or creating a better environment for a workshop in your garage, an incredible option for covering concrete garage flooring is through the use of floor mats. These floor mats can come in a few different ways, such as long sheets that you can roll out or as tiles that you can piece together. The beauty of this type of floor covering as opposed to a floor coating, is that you can easily remove them as you please and there is no messy installation. Floor mats do not require adhesives, chemicals or paint and you can put them over any damage in the concrete, without worrying about having to repair it prior.
Floor mats can help provide comfort underfoot if you are planning on using your garage as a workspace and the mats will help protect the floor beneath from any spillage. Mats also help reduce noise and will provide a bit of insulation. Floor mats are low maintenance and resistant to moisture, chemicals, stains and UV rays. They give you an all-purpose floor finish that is great for commercial or residential use.
Preventing Mould in your Garage
Have you been experiencing mould in your garage? This is often a very common problem for UK garage owners. Several causes of mould growth could be poor drainage, lack of ventilation and little natural light. Mould loves dark and damp environments. There are a couple things you can try to ensure that your garage stays dry, so as to stop or prevent mould growth.
1. Find the source of moisture: maybe water is getting in from a leaky garage door, damage to the outer structure of your garage or even the garage flooring.
2. Provide good ventilation: you can either have a fan installed in your garage that helps to circulate air through the garage or periodically open the garage up to let it air out.
3. Use a dehumidifier- one way to decrease moisture in the garage is by getting a dehumidifier that will help keep the garage drier.
It is important to take steps to keeping your garage dry and well ventilated to help make the chances of mould growth less likely. Mould can ruin items you may be storing so be sure to look out for it.
Steps for Repainting a Garage Door
Is your garage door starting to look a bit rough? As time goes on, garage door paint starts to chip and crack, leaving the materials below vulnerable to the elements. It is important to give your garage door a bit a TLC, when this starts to happen, as you do not want it to start rusting or degrading further.
Repainting Steps
1. You will first want to prepare the door by sanding it with coarse sandpaper or a wire brush to remove all of the old paint.
2. Then you should wash the door down with water and diluted detergent to remove any dust, dirt and grease. Afterwards, allow the door to dry fully.
3. When painting outdoors, you should ensure you do it on a day where the temperature is between 8°C and 25°C to optimise paint performance.
4. Prior to painting, be sure to cover the ground and surrounding area with a paint sheet or newspaper to catch drips or spills.
5. Begin by opening the garage door and painting the edges which are not visible whilst the door is shut. After these areas have dried, close the door and paint the door from the top down.
6. Only apply one thin coat to begin with and follow up with a second one, if necessary. Leave to dry for the specified time on the paint tin before applying a second coat.
Keeping Your Garage Door in Tip Top Shape
In our very busy lives, it can be easy to forget to ensure we are performing the proper garage door maintenance necessary to keep it operating properly and keeping our garage and its contents secure. Garages, statistically, are considered a target for theft and one way to decrease this threat is to keep your door fully functioning and in good shape so as to prolong its life.
Maintenance Tips
• Inspect all the moving parts for cleanliness. Be sure to check springs, cables, rollers, track and even the lock. Keeping these areas clean and free of debris is important to their functionality.
• Inspect all moving parts for wear and tear. If you spot signs of damage be sure to make repairs before using the door again. Some minor repairs may be done by a handy DIY’er but some things like high tension springs could result in injury and should probably be handled by a qualified service technician.
• Be sure to lubricate moving parts. This will extend their life. Do this sparingly, as if done too often it can attract dirt and eventually cause issues by gumming up.
Garage Door Security
Unfortunately, theft is one of the biggest fears of homeowners, and garages are typically an easy target as they are usually less secure. Due to the nature of garages they will most likely be holding items of value so it is in your best interest to ensure that your garage is secure and one way to do this is having a quality garage door.
Side-hinged doors are a firm favourite as far as security, aesthetics and durability. You can secure them with extra locks due to the way they open and you do not have to have the whole door open when is use, potentially revealing the contents to passers-by.
Sectional garage doors are quite reliable and sturdy, offering high security and even can be electronically operated. They can be quite convenient as they roll up and out of the way along the ceiling, which keeps them out of the way when open and offer few weak points for potential burglars.
Whatever the choice, ensuring the door is make of good quality materials, has serviceable locking mechanisms and is maintained well, will reduce the chances of it being a weakness to theft. Motion sensing lights or a security system are extra security and a helpful theft deterrent.
How to organise your garage
Garages tend to be used for more than just storing vehicles, instead, they are a fantastic source of extra storage space attached to your home. Over time your garage may start to look cluttered and messy if it isn’t organised properly. We have put together a list of the top easy ways you can organise your garage.
1. Store items using vertical space. If you have garden tools or equipment you can easily hang it on walls using hooks or storage shelves.
2. Use shelving racks – shelving racks can create lots of additional space in your garage. Store smaller items such as screws or nails in smaller tubs to ensure everything stays in one place.
3. Have a clear out – if you have items in your garage that are just collecting dust then it may be time for a clear-out. This will give you more space so you can organise all of the items you do need.
Garage overhead storage tips
The vertical space in your garage offers overhead space for storage and is a great way to minimise clutter and organise your tools or equipment. We have put together a short list of tips that will help you get the most out of your vertical garage space.
1. You will need to choose the right storage system. You will need to determine what you will be using the storage for and choose a system that will satisfy your storage needs. You will need to remember that overhead storage systems tend to be far bulkier and are designed to hold more weight.
2. Store the most suitable items – things such as tires are a great option for overhead storage as they are big and bulky. Another tip is to consider seasonal rotation of your tools and equipment. Things such as lawnmowers or garden tools generally are only used half the year.
3. Labelling your stored items is another great tip, if you will be using storage boxes it will make things far easier to find if you group similar items together and label.
Different Types of Sliding Doors for Commercial Environments
Commercial environments rely on doors for security, insulation, efficiency and more. The external and internal doors that are fitted will be integral to everyday operations, and sliding doors are regularly used to give ease of access with added security when needed. There are many types of sliding doors that can be fitted, each with subtle nuances that will make them suitable for different purposes. Whatever the demands of your commercial environment, you’ll be able to install a sliding door that will optimise your space.
What are the differences between the various types of sliding doors? Can they really be that different? The differences aren’t always that great, but sometimes, they’re much larger. It depends on the environment, the type of door, and how it is being used. Here’s a brief rundown of some of the different types of sliding commercial door, what they can do, how they might be used, and why they could work for your factory or warehouse:
- Multi purpose straight sliding doors. Usually made from steel, straight sliding doors are great because they’re very versatile and can be used in multiple environments, in different way.
- External industrial straight sliding door. This is similar to a normal straight sliding door, but it’s specifically designed for external use. It can be installed behind or in front of any structural opening, and can be made to order when relevant to make sure of a perfect fit.
- Bottom rolling sliding doors. These are electric sliding doors that are also usually made from steel, and can have unlimited opening widths.
- Top hung electric sliding doors. These can be top hung and top rolling, with or without a floor track. The actual specification will depend on the door size and its weight; top hung doors aren’t always suitable. If the doors are made to order you can choose from a number of features, such as windows, pedestrian door insets, locking systems and weather seals.
- Panelled sliding doors, or insulated steel panel straight sliding doors. There are few moving parts in this type of sliding door, so maintenance is kept to a minimum. The material will be something like double skinned steel, and the door will usually be set up with a top supported double track gear. Doors will usually be made to measure as standard, and come with various surface finishes and a variety of standard colours; some designs, like textured stucco, can hide wear and tear well.
To find out more about the specifications of these different sliding doors and to get a price for their manufacture and installation, you’ll usually need to make a full enquiry. This is because sliding doors can be used for openings of all widths and it’s difficult to give a generic price of specification. There are also various options available, and making an enquiry with a specialist commercial sliding door supplier is the right thing to do. You’ll have the opportunity to talk through the various options and make a detailed enquiry, before obtaining an official quote for the work required.
Spring clean your loft
Over time your loft space may become very cluttered and messy meaning finding the motivation to give it a good clear out may be difficult but it sometimes gets to the stage that it has to be done. When your loft space becomes inaccessible due to clutter then it can be a safety issue and you really need to give it a good tidy up.
Start by preparing for it, book a day in your calendar and keep the whole day free, you want to ensure you do a proper job and don’t get distracted. Another great option is to ask for help, you will find it far easier if you have an extra pair of hands.
Start by having a good clear out – throw, sell, or donate any unwanted or unused items. You should then consider your storage options – tidy everything away into suitable storage. Once complete consider everything a good clean, hoover, or sweep up any debris and wipe down any windows or skylights.
Should you repair or replace your garage door?
If you have a garage door that isn’t working as it should be, you may be considering whether you should repair it or replace it. There are a few factors to consider which will help you make the right decision.
If you have an automatic garage door that stops working you may think it needs completely replacing, but it is often more cost effective to get your garage door fixed. If your garage door feels heavy, the springs may be knackered but work door springs are a simple fix.
If you are experiencing the same problems with your garage door time and time again, even with the problems being repaired then it is time to think about a complete replacement. When small problems arise if they are not fixed as soon as possible it can leave permanent damage.
The average garage door has a life expectancy of 15-30 years, whilst automatic doors having a shorter life of 10-15 years. If your garage door has exceeded these limits then it is time to get it replaced.