Overhead Door of Permian Basin Blog!

As summer gives way to cooler temperatures, organizing your garage gets you ready for the chilly weather. Proper organization of your garage ensures neatness and saves you a lot of energy and time in the spring. Here are some essential organization tips:

1. Declutter Your Garage

Achieving and maintaining an organized garage requires regular decluttering. This helps to free up space and increases your garage functionality, not to mention how it helps eliminate tripping hazards from items such as rakes left on the floor. Thoroughly cleaning it after decluttering makes your garage look as new and gets it ready for all the fall demands.

2. Purchase Storage Bins or Add Garage Cabinets

These organization tools help you save space and keep similar items together as well as within reach. As cabinets come in different sizes and models, going for the best helps improve your garage's functionality and, more importantly, enhance the aesthetics of your garage space.

3. Utilize The Ceiling Space

High ceilings are also probable places where you can slide storage bins or racks. They are perfect for storing seasonal items that may not be needed for some months.

4. Maximize The Usage of Your Garage's Wall Space

When organizing your garage, it is imperative to keep the floor clear for ample parking of your vehicle.  Making use of the wall space helps to achieve this purpose. Mount more storage hardware on the walls to reorganize your garage in a more space-efficient way.

5. Add Garage Corner Shelves

Inasmuch as you might be having shelves in the obvious spots, corner shelves also provide ample storage. Corner shelves take advantage of the present studs, and they are cheap, easy, and fast to install. They are ideal for storing smaller items such as polishes, oils, waxes, and glues, which mostly get lost on bigger shelves.

Conclusively, having a neat and well-organized garage is quite achievable. Take your time, go through all your stuff, declutter and clean your garage, and then be guided by the above tips to put everything in order. Get in touch with us today at Overhead Door Company of Permian Basin™ and get a chance to enjoy more effective and smart garage organization solutions. 

Though West Texas has been experiencing unseasonably warm temperatures for this time of year, it's never too early to start planning for winter. Your garage can end up as the source of a significant amount of cold air; if you aren't careful, can end up inside your home. Follow our tips on ways to insulate your garage to keep the cold where it should be - outside.

Insulate Your Garage and See Savings

Garage Doors

Metal doors absorb cold and heat easily. If you don't have an insulated garage door from Overhead Door, that doesn't mean you can't add insulation later. While not as durable or high quality as pre-insulated doors, you can purchase a kit with foam insulation from many major retailers. If you're using your garage as a workspace, insulating the door is worth the time and money. If it's time to replace your garage door, ask one of our friendly technicians about a genuine Overhead Door insulated product.

Entry Doors

Make sure that other doors coming off of your garage are well-insulated, especially  you've got an entry door into home. Consider switching out older doors that may not seal well after your house had settled. Opt for a steel or solid wood door without windows. If you can't spend the money on a new door, you can always drape plastic sheeting from inside your garage to prevent cold air from slipping into your home.

Windows

Use caulk and weatherstripping to seal off drafty windows. If there are air leaks, you could also be unintentionally creating an environment for water or insects to enter your garage, as well.

Walls

If you're currently building your home, consider adding insulation and sheet rock in your garage. Not only will it help keep it warmer in winter and cooler in summer, it can make your garage a much more pleasant workspace. If your home is older and you use it frequently as a shop, you might consider a renovation to add insulation for a more comfortable environment.

Thresholds

Along each door, including garage doors, it's important to add weatherstripping along the floors to block drafts from underneath the door. Measure your doors to find out what you need. Most hardware stores carry these supplies on-hand. However, worst case scenario, you can always purchase the items online. 

Not sure where to start with insulating your garage? Speak with an experienced member of the Overhead Door team today - we offer helpful, efficient service for your garage door needs.

The garage is a part of the home that can often be neglected during winter. Whether or not you actually use your garage to store your car, you are likely using it as a home for other things, such as bicycles, that are only pulled out in summer. The garage is also often forgotten when spring cleaning rolls around. Here are some things to consider:

1. Ideally, you want to move everything out onto the driveway. Choose a day when no rain is forecast and just pull everything out of the garage.

2. Clean, clean, clean. Run the hose into the garage, get a scrubbing brush, and tackle the inevitable oily and grimy spots. Sweep the dust out of the corners.

3. Check the garage door. If you haven't used your garage all winter, it may be stiff or sticky. Make sure it opens and closes smoothly - if it doesn't, then you may want to get it serviced. Contact us today to get that scheduled! 

4. Sort through the clutter. You should have several categories of stuff:

• Stuff that doesn't belong in the garage. Especially if you use the garage entrance as a back door, clothes and shoes can wander into the garage and need to be chased back into the house.
• Trash. This includes any items that are broken beyond repair, expired items, etc.
• Hazardous waste. Make a separate box for anything considered hazardous waste, such as some auto maintenance products, so it can be disposed of properly.
• Recycling. Papers, etc.
• Things you haven't used in several years - these can be given away. If you think something is repairable but don't want to repair it you may be able to find a home for it.
• Tools and equipment.
• Stuff you know you want to store in the garage.

4. Take that last category and store it properly. Use bins or shelves to keep everything organized. If you don't have enough shelves then consider getting more - or whether you are keeping stuff you don't need.

5. Repair or replace your garage doors to give the ultimate curb appeal for the summer! Overhead Door of the Permian Basin™ is able to do both. 

The idea is to end up with a clean, organized garage in which you have more than enough room to get in and out of your car.

Happy Spring Cleaning!

-Overhead Door of the Permian Basin™

Sources:

https://www.marthastewart.com/274285/spring-cleaning-the-garage-and-outdoors

https://housewifehowtos.com/clean/spring-cleaning-the-garage/

http://www.oprah.com/home/how-to-clean-out-your-garage-spring-cleaning-tips-peter-walsh

Your garage is often one of the messiest places of your home. It sees a lot of traffic because it's also used as a storage area. However, it's important to keep your garage tidy for health and safety reasons. We're here to share some tips on how to clean up garage messes, based on common issues people see.

Garage Mess #1 - Greasy Spills

Whether it's from storing vehicles or yard equipment, it's highly likely that your garage has seen its share of oil leaks. These leaks can cause a big mess, whether it's from staining your floors to being tracked into the house by an unknowing pedestrian. They can also be dangerous. Many slips and falls occur from oil or grease spills.

However, they are relatively simple to clean up. If there is standing oil or grease, you can use a surprising ingredient to soak up the excess...inexpensive clay kitty litter! Sprinkle the cat litter on top of the standing oil or grease. Over the course of the day, the litter will soak it up. Simply brush the litter granules into a dust pan and dispose in the trash. You can also use sawdust. If you notice stains on the floor, we recommend check out this blog for more information.

Garage Mess #2 - The Unwanted Houseguests

In months of extreme weather, your garage is seen as an oasis to the high or low temperatures to a variety of critters. These include ants, spiders, rodents, snakes, birds, and stray animals. Part of keeping these creatures in the great outdoors where they belong is keeping a clean garage. By following our garage organization tips, you also create a less-hospitable environment for these animals. Additionally, it is important to:

• Dust frequently to remove spider webs and wasp nests.
• Hire an exterminator for quarterly pest treatments, particularly if you have continued issues.
• Patch any broken windows or holes leading into your garage.

Garage Mess # 3 - The Sticky Mess

Many Americans keep a second refrigerator in their garage. Others use it as a place to get together and host cookouts there. This can lead to all sorts of messes. Exploding sodas, spilled food, or broken cleaning supplies such as soap can make a big, slippery mess out of your garage. It's important to clean up these spills as they happen to avoid any really nasty messes. However, if you don't catch them in time, you can usually clean up sticky messes by combining extremely hot water with a grease-cutting liquid detergent (such as Dawn). Soak up the solution with a towel and place over the sticky substance for 30 minutes. The heat from the water and grease cutting agent in the detergent will make the mess easier to clean up.

Looking to hide your messy garage with a beautiful new garage door? That's no problem at all! Our design consultants are here to help.