UPSCALE GARAGES

Garages are turning into much more than the unsightly, utilitarian place to store cars and lawnmowers. They are becoming the final frontier of the organized home, the new luxury space to be remodeled into a warm and inviting room.

15% of new homes have a garage large enough for 3 cars or more. As a result, garages are highly visible, often accounting for more than 40% of a home’s exterior face. We most often come and go from our house through the garage doors, and when the overhead door is up, people instinctively come through it to knock on our door, making the garage – rather than the front door – the gateway to our home.

This explains why the garage is graduating from the largest, most underutilized “room” in the house to a highly flexible space available for multiple activities. By adding insulation, HVAC, plumbing and task lighting, the garage is a room with endless possibilities. Changes include:

Innovations in overhead door design can bring a pleasing, coordinated look to what makes up a large portion of your home’s front façade.

Using ceiling space for overhead storage is a smart way to gain square footage.

Unused ceiling space can also be turned into a loft area. Endless possibilities for this “bonus room” include a lady’s hobby and craft room, a guy’s hangout room with TV and stereo or an exercise area for the whole family.

The traditional workbench area can expand into an intricately organized system with extensive options for configuration and cabinet finishes.

Along with painting or paneling the walls, flooring changes the look and feel of a garage. Advanced floor coatings and coverings make for easy clean up to avoid tracking dirt into the home.

And let’s not forget that the garage still remains the domain of the car. For those who work on their vehicles, installing lights in the floor is the ultimate luxury.

Another useful item is the motorized lift, making home car repairs and oil changes a breeze.

To house multiple vehicles, increasing the depth of your garage is an option, as well as overhead platforms which use vertical space to gain extra space.

Other ideas for remodeling your garage into a multi-use space include: walk-in storage closet, laundry room, shower, home elevator access, pet room and mud room. Your garage could be the answer to many space and lifestyle needs.

Here is a garage project we did that completely changed the appearance of their home.  Have the Mosby architects and designers help you imagine the possibilities by calling 314.909.1800 or contacting us here.

Caring for Your Overhead Garage Door

An overhead garage door is one of the most-used items on a home, yet we pay very little attention to it until it begins to have problems.
There are several maintenance tasks you can do to keep the garage door operating smoothly. At least once a year, lubricate the rollers and tracks with WD-40, lightly spraying the center of each roller and the inside of the tracks. If you have an automatic garage door opener, regularly change the batteries on the remote and outdoor keypad, and be sure to replace any burnt out bulbs on the garage door opener power head that lights the interior of your garage.
Check the automatic garage door opener for proper sensor operation. Raise and lower the door, and as it’s going down, roll a large ball under the door. The door should automatically rise back up. If not, the sensor needs to be adjust by a professional.
If the overhead door just doesn’t move as smooth and swiftly as it once did, it can be one of two issues: the automatic opener or the springs.  To determine if it’s the electric opener, simply disconnect the opener mechanism from the door. If the door glides smoothly in manual mode, then the problem is with the automatic opener. Consult the owner’s manual or call a qualified company to assist.
If you determine that the automatic opener is good then it’s a problem with the door itself. If you struggle to lift the door, then springs are most likely the culprit.

A simple test can reveal what’s wrong with the springs. Place your overhead garage door in the half open position, and ideally, it will stay there. But rather than hold that position, if the door continues on up, the springs may be too tight; if it slams to the ground instead, the springs are too loose, broken or worn out.
Springs can be adjusted or replaced but DO NOT try do this yourself. The springs of a closed garage door have over 100 pounds of kinetic energy waiting to be unleashed. Mess with them and it’s an accident waiting to happen. Only trained overhead door professionals should touch the springs of your garage door.
Be sure to take a look at the condition of the surface of garage door. Metal doors with a factory finish are much like caring for a car – wash it on a regular basis, and keep an eye out for scratches, dings or blemishes that could invite rust.  For wood doors, look for soft spots, blistering or peeling paint which indicate water damage and repair or repaint as needed. Also take a look at your wood door when it is fully open and horizontal with the garage ceiling; if you see it sagging in the middle, it needs to be reinforced or replaced.
Hinges, lock bars, and tracks can all contribute to a sluggish garage door, so it’s a safe and wise move to let professionals assess the situation. If you are experiencing any operational or surface finish problems with your overhead garage door – or are ready for a new one to update the look of your garage – let a Mosby Building Arts Home Consultant asses your garage door and help get it back on track! Call the office at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.