Painting Your Garage Floor
The one area in most garages that gets overlooked is the garage floor. Most of us have had that one vehicle that leaks oil or transmission fluid and leaves an ever-lasting puddle of fluid on your garage floor. Eventually we end up just throwing down a piece of cardboard or pile of kitty litter to catch the oil when we can’t afford to fix the car. But when you remove the cardboard or kitty litter, you are still left with a nasty dark stain in the middle of your garage. Other stains happen in the garage as well like cans of paint being knocked over, mud and dirt from the tires of your vehicle, that spilled cup of coffee when you are trying to open your car door with too many things in your hand. Let’s face it your garage floor takes some abuse. Fortunately there is a solution to preventing stains and making your garage floor easier to clean. Epoxy paint is perfect for providing a stain-resistant floor and can give your garage that great auto showroom look and feel. Epoxy is tough, long-lasting and comes in different colors to help you customize the appearance of your garage. They often come with anti-skid additives as well to help give you grip on those snowy or rainy days. Painting the floor of your garage is as easy as painting the walls of your house, but be aware, it does require more preparation. You will need to sweep the floor and clean the current stains the best you can before applying epoxy. It will take more than one coat as well, so plan on it being a multi-day process. I suggest doing some online research to understand the full process. Even though it takes a little effort, painting your garage floor will make your life easier in the long run. It will make your garage floor look great and easy to clean. But if you don’t feel up to the task, there are plenty of professional companies that will be happy to help.
Insulating Your Garage
One area of the home many people neglect to insulate is their garage. There is a widespread perception that the garage is an extension of the outside as opposed to an extension of the home. Therefore garages tend to be drafty areas that are cold in the winter and hot in the summer. These temperature differences can wreak havoc on a home’s energy efficiency. But by insulating your garage you will help your home remain comfortable and save money on bills as well. The first place you will want to insulate are the surrounding walls to your garage. Many older homes, and even some new ones, were not built with insulation in the walls. They basically relied on siding, sheathing, and a layer of particle board to keep the elements out. Next, add weather stripping around the entire frame of the door that connects the home to the garage. Even if your garage walls are insulated, you are still going to open and close your garage which will allow cold and heat in. An easy way to check if you have properly sealed the door is to turn the lights on in the garage and see if any light comes through while you are standing inside the home. The garage door itself may be the biggest culprit of energy loss. Check the insulation rating of your garage door which is known as the R-value. If your door has a low R-value rating, you may want to consider replacing the door altogether, especially if you live in an area with extreme high or low temperatures. Another option is to purchase a garage door insulation kit, which they sell at many home improvement stores. Don’t forget to also insulate the outlets and light switches in the garage. These are often overlooked as areas where air can easily seep through. It’s worth noting that you car generates carbon monoxide, so insulating the areas where air gets through will help keep out carbon monoxide as well. If you have windows in your garage, its a good idea to add weather stripping or caulk around the windows. You may even want consider adding double pane glass if possible to maximize your weather protection. Lastly, be sure to caulk around the connection between the walls and the concrete floor. Heat and cold can cause concrete to swell and crack over time which will let air in. Foam sealant or silicone-based caulk is probably best for this project. If you have any question regarding insulating your garage or how to check the R-value of your current garage door, give the experts at Precision Garage Door of Las Vegas a call today!