How to Clean Out Your Garage Efficiently

Cleaning out a custom garage is something that many people dread, particularly if this part of your home has not experienced cleaning in years. Whether you are cleaning out your garage as part of your annual spring cleaning routine, or are doing so because it is high time that you did, there are ways for you to do this efficiently. Having an efficient way to clean out your garage will help you do this quickly and will also help make the task less daunting the next time you do it.

How do you clean out a garage efficiently? Here are some steps you might want to consider the following:

Set aside an entire weekend for this 

It does not matter if you have a lot of stuff to clean out of your garage or if you have only a small amount of junk in it. This task requires your undivided attention and ample time to get done properly. This is why setting aside an entire weekend to get this done is imperative.

Find one weekend that members of your family are available as well. This will give you the kind of help you need when you need it without getting excuses that people are busy.

Create a plan of attack 

To make the task less of a hassle and to make it go smoothly, you should be strategic about this. Plan out how you will clean out your garage before you start doing this. Survey your garage and determine a route that would be effective for you in getting this part of your home cleared out of junk and debris.

Create a list of things to clean out when you survey your custom garage. Make a list of items that can be donated, items that can be sold at a garage sale, and items that you can throw away. Also, make a list of items that you will want to reorganize in your garage so you know how much storage space you will need before cleaning day arrives.

Custom Garage

Organize shelving a few weeks before 

When you survey your garage and plan how you will tackle cleaning it, you will get a sense for how much shelving and storage you will need. At this stage, you can begin to envision where these shelves and storage units should go. You will also need to calculate how many storage boxes or bins you will need at this point.

If you already have a storage system in your garage, you can plan how to clean these out as well to make room for some of the stuff you will be adding to what is already in there. You will also need to choose bins that can fit into these shelving systems or find a way to incorporate new boxes and bins to your current storage system.

Make sure you have enough boxes for junk

Stuff that you are definitely going to throw away should also be placed in boxes for easy pickup. Not having enough boxes to put junk that you are disposing of in may leave you with a mess after you clean up your custom garage. Always ensure that you have enough containers for everything to facilitate effective cleanup.

Schedule a junk haul with your favorite junk hauler 

Make sure that you schedule a pickup with your friendly neighborhood junk hauling company. This way, you can be sure that any junk you will be throwing away won’t be sitting on your driveway for days or even weeks. This will also ensure that you won’t be tempted to stow these away even though these items are already considered junk.

Be systematic when you clean out your custom garage 

To ensure that you don’t miss any area of your garage, you need to clean it out in stages and sections. Move your vehicle before you do any of this to ensure that you have enough space to work in as well. Tackle the task in sections, and once a section is done, check it off your list before starting on the next one.

Custom Garage

Scrub, sweep, vacuum, and dry out after organizing everything 

Once everything is complete, you will need to scrub out your garage. Sweep the floors, remove cobwebs and other debris from the walls and ceilings, scrub greasy spots with soapy water, and rinse everything out. Dry out the area thoroughly before returning your vehicle to your garage.

If your garage needs a fresh coat of paint, then consider doing this on the second day of your cleanup. Allow the paint to dry before parking your vehicle in your garage. If you are planning on tiling your floors or doing other decorative tasks to your garage, this is also the right time to do this.

Whether you have a garage that is built in with your home or you have a custom garage made by Carports US, cleaning this out regularly is a must. You need to keep your garage clean to ensure that it lasts a long time and to prevent damage to the structure as well as for your peace of mind.

For your custom garage needs, Carports US is the company to trust. You can also trust us for your carport, prefab barns, custom RV carports, and other prefab structural needs. You can contact us at (844) 557-6375 for your inquiries or orders.

Is a Wooden Garage Better Than a Metal Garage?

When building a garage for your vehicle, two of the options most people consider are either a wooden garage built from scratch or a prefabricated metal garage that is anchored to a concrete slab. These two choices are often considered due to the fact that both are customizable, durable, and can easily be styled to match the house that they are to be attached to. These are also the top choices because these are what people are used to when it comes to garages.

If you are considering either one of the two for your garage but are not sure which one is best, here are some pros and cons for you to check out to help you make an educated decision:

Wooden Garages

Pros

Great to look at – Wood is that one material that looks great no matter what you do to it. You can stain it, varnish it, paint it, or do whatever you want with it, and it still ends up looking amazing. The classic and homey look of a wooden garage is hard to beat, especially when you design it in such a way that it looks like a log cabin or some other similar structure.

Versatile – Wood also fits in with any type of home. No matter what kind of home you have, a wooden garage can easily fit into your home’s aesthetic due to its classic look.

Customizable – As mentioned earlier, wooden garages can be easily customized. All you need to do is to add what you want into the plan. Want a shed? Add it to the plan. Want an extension to your garage, simply have it sketched in before construction starts.

Cons

High maintenance – Since wood is porous, it requires constant maintenance to help keep the wood from rotting when exposed to inclement weather. This means regular and routine maintenance such as painting or varnishing. Depending on the climate in your location, you might need to do this type of preventive regular maintenance twice a year.

Costly – Wooden garages can be expensive at the onset since you will need to construct the structure from scratch. You will also need a few key people to get such a project done properly. These include an architect, an engineer, and a construction crew.

Carport USMetal Garages

Pros

Durable – What can be tougher than steel when it comes to these structures? Superman was not called the Man of Steel for anything, right? This basically means that metal garages, particularly those made out of steel, are very durable and tough. Other metal garages, like those made out of aluminum, are also very durable and can withstand a lot of wear and tear.

Cheaper Metal garages, particular prefabricated ones, are also cheaper to have than those that you need to build from scratch out of wood. These will save you a lot of money since you won’t need to hire professionals to design, plan, and construct it for you since it already comes prefabricated and only needs to be assembled on site by the company that manufactures it (or my people you hire to install it, which is still cheaper than an entire construction crew).

Easier to Install – Unless you are planning on anchoring your metal garage down with a foundation and concrete slab, all you essentially need to do is to put it together and place it where you want to place it. No digging of foundations, no hammering or pouring of concrete necessary.

Cons

Not as customizable as wooden garages – While you can order prefabricated metal garages with sheds and in a variety of designs when you have made up your mind with your order, you cannot add or subtract features from it after. You can add a carport or other external additions to it (or install shelves within), but the structure remains the same once you have ordered and installed it.

Maintenance – As with wooden garages, you will need to do some periodic maintenance on metal garages, particularly if these are made out of steel. Painting areas that get scratched may be required to keep rust at bay. If your garage is made out of aluminum, your problems may include dents and scratches that may want to take care of as well.

Taking Care of Your Metal Garages

If you choose a metal garage for your home, you are essentially buying something that is set to last you a long time. Metal garages are made to last longer than carports and garages that are made using other kinds of materials. Since metal is a very durable material, you can expect your garage or carport to last you a good number of years.

Despite the durability of these metal garages however, when proper care and maintenance is not exercised, the lifespan of these structures will be considerably shorter than what you might expect. How do you prolong the usability of these prefabricated metal garages? Here are some tips on how to take care of them:

Precipitation and snow are your shed’s worst enemies 

Snow on the roof of your metal garage should be removed as soon as you are able. This is to ensure that the weight that accumulates on your roof won’t warp it or damage it. Letting snow accumulate on the roof of your metal garage, particularly snow that is compounded and has solidified due to rains, can greatly impact the structural integrity of your metal garage’s roof.

Keep your garage clean at all times 

Cleaning your garage regularly can help keep it in tiptop shape for as long as its life span dictates. Clean the inside and the outside on a weekly basis, but if required, clean it twice a week. Wipe down the walls with the use of a dishwashing liquid diluted in water. Wash off thoroughly after. Make sure to wipe down any moisture afterwards. For added protection, apply spray-on car wax on the outside walls of your metal garage.

Keep any paint damaging chemicals away from your garage

If you are using your garage as a shed for your cleaning materials, garden equipment, and the like, try to keep any paint removing and damaging chemicals away from it and store these elsewhere.

Remove any leaves and other debris from your roof periodically 

If there are trees on your property and the leaves of these trees drop on your garage roof just like it does on the roof of your home, remove these whenever you can. These can soak moisture and eventually damage your metal garage roof if left there. These can also develop molds which can also damage your garage.

Do preventive maintenance every couple of months 

This includes checking hinges for wear and tear, checking garage doors for any signs of damage, and touching up the paint where needed. When you do preventive maintenance, you get to address any problems that may arise well before these become too serious and damaging for you to do anything.

These are just a few tips and tricks that may help prolong the usability and life of your metal garage. Not having any maintenance and care routines set for your garage or carport will shorten its lifespan and will actually cost you a lot in the long run since you will need to have it repaired or even replaced before you are supposed to.

 

The Benefits of Adding a Metal Garage to Your Home

If your current home does not have a garage, there is no need to worry. You can actually add a garage to your home simply by purchasing and installing a prefab metal garage to it. There are many designs to choose from when it comes to these ready-made metal garages, and these include designs that come with double roller doors, single roller doors, and with auxiliary doors.

Metal garages are durable and made to last, making them a great choice for homes that don’t come with built-in garages. These are also customizable, so people can choose to have their garages made to fit the design of their current home. This will help make the garage look like it is a part of the residential structure.

Why Add a Metal Garage to Your Home

Why should you consider adding a garage to your house? What good will it do your residence? Here are some of the main reasons why thinking of having a garage added to your home is ideal:

Increases your home’s value – Did you know that a garage actually increases your property’s value by as high as 13%? It helps make your house look bigger and gives it extra storage space. It also makes it more appealing to the eyes of buyers, particularly if these buyers are looking for a residence with a garage for their cars.

It protects your car – It is a garage’s primary function after all, and is what you should really think about when you are on the fence regarding whether or not a metal garage for your home is a good investment. Always keep in mind that while your vehicle may be durable, constant exposure to UV rays and inclement weather can actually damage the paint on your car. Sunlight can also fade your leather seats, fabric seat coves, and other surfaces inside your vehicle.

Additional storage space – Now, who does not want additional storage space? Having extra space to place boxes, tools, cleaning equipment, and the like is always welcome when you are a homeowner. Stuff that you don’t want to throw out because of sentimental value but actually have no use for anymore can be placed along the walls of your metal garage. This helps reduce your overhead costs since you won’t need to rent a storage facility that you will have to maintain payments on for months on end. You also won’t have to haul your stuff to and from such storage facilities whenever the need arises.

These are a few of the things that having a metal garage added to your home can do. Aside from these, you also help increase your own security and safety since you won’t have to walk from your car door parked on the outside to your back door or front door since you have a garage that is connected to your home. You also end up being protected from the elements since you get to leave your car with a roof over your head even while it is raining or even snowing.