Lots About Garages

• Home
• About US
• Resources
• Disclaimer
• Privacy Policy
• Copyright

Garage Floor and Driveway Coatings

January 4th, 2009    Subscribe To Our Feed

Black Mold, Fungus and Algae

Here in the tropics where I live, we have a problem with black mold, though I don’t think it’s a concern only in our area. Black mold is airborne and has a way of building up to a thick slippery blackish layer or coating when it drops onto porous concrete usually found in garages and drives. The color could turn to blackish-green because fungus and algae can be parasitic and grow in the fertile mold.

This is particularly bad if, like many houses in the tropics, you have carports or garages with no door. Left unchecked, the slippery coating can be tracked into the home and leave a stain.

One Way to Clean

The usual way to clean the floors in garages and driveway is pressure washing. It’s noisy but really does away with the problem. However, it’s time consuming and I suppose you can bear the noise of the pressure washer till the job is done. Pressure washing average two-car garages and short driveways can take an hour or more, depending on how thorough you want to be. But what do you do when you have a very long or wide driveway leading to multi-car garages, like so many of today’s home?

The black mold problem made me look into coatings for concrete garage floors and drives that might repel the mold and other messiness or, at least, make it easier to clean off.

Some Solutions

While we do not promote any particular company or product, this information is made available as a place for you to start checking for solutions to your own garage floor and driveway dilemmas.

Super Floor Coatings® has some very fine products for garages and drives that people here say outperform other products.

Mono-Coat Epoxy is a single component epoxy that requires only one coat.

Two-Part Hard Shell Urethane is available in clear or color. It has two components and is said to outperform epoxy, acrylic and polyurethane.

One-Part Epoxy Clear is also available in color. This is a single application mono=epoxy that is non-toxic with low odor, is extremely durable, and reasonable in cost.

Ever-Last Epoxy, also available in color, has two components as a polyamide epoxy. It’s used for heavy duty applications. This is the formula used by the military, so it must be durable.

Ever-Last EXP is a fast-drying and self-priming coat. It makes an acid etching bond to any surface. This eliminates the need for a primer and can be walked on after one hour.

While the above company’s products are the only ones included in this article, many good companies exist to suit any budget and products in quantities and measures for any sized garages and drives.

Simple Instructions

Before coating your concrete, etch and clean it. After that, seal the concrete in both the garage and on the driveway. Apply the epoxy. Then, to add years of wear to your coating, apply a clear topcoat. Many company’s products say this is not necessary. Remember to follow ALL the directions on the product you choose.

DO NOT apply any floor covering when temperatures of the air or floor are below 50°F (10°C).

Follow the directions on your product to test the concrete for dryness. This may vary from the garage floor and the drive way. If moisture is coming up through the concrete, no product in the world will stick to it and will soon bubble up from underneath. Then you have peeling.

When your concrete is ready, it is advisable to seal the concrete FIRST. This is to keep additional moisture out. When dry, apply your coating, after which you would add the sealer. Many sealers will leave a slightly glossy finish.

This article is meant as a place to begin to put an end to arduous garage floor and driveway cleaning. Whether you use a clear coating or a colored one, it will help your property have a finished look, showing “pride of ownership.”

Mary Deal, Pushcart Prize Nominee

See other articles, short stories and novels onher website:

http://www.writeanygenre.com

Hawaiian Garages

December 25th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

We Have Garages in Hawaii

Garages in Hawaii were nearly non-existent till the 1950s and 1960s. Going farther back when few cars existed in The Islands, the local people used horses for transportation; the wealthier used horses and carriages.

In those instances, some of those who could afford carriages and usually a home built portico at the front doors. They consisted of a roof over two or more columns far enough away from the front entrance so that the horses could draw up with the carriage. Once people disembarked from the carriages, the horses and carriage were taken to the barn. Many older, preserved homes throughout The Islands still exhibit such porticoes.

As more and more Mainlanders, people from America and Europe, settled in The Islands and cars were brought over, crude garages were built to house the automobiles. However, autos might also have been enclosed in a barn, a shed, or open three-sided building. Autos were a means of getting around and not a lot of thought was given to upkeep and preservation as you find today with the family car.

During the 1960s was when construction really began to boom. The houses of the wealthy, which had automobiles, were built with detached garages. The auto was still only a utility vehicle, even if you were wealthy enough to have one.

Then, more and more people poured into the islands and new homes were built with full garages attached to the homes or stand alone buildings. At first, these were single-car garages. Then, of course, they went to two-car buildings and now, like everywhere else, have storage and workshops areas as well.

Many of the garages housed in-law apartments atop the structures. They still do today. The structures contained electricity, plumbing, windows, and all the necessities of living. When people noticed that they had to walk with bags full of groceries from the garage to the house in our tropical downpours, I’m sure they began to remember that porticoes had been built to keep people out of the elements. Some garages were then designed connected to the homes or with a covered walkway or breezeway in between.

Today it’s the owner’s choice, to build a unit separate from the home or to attach it to the house. Living in Hawaii and knowing the kind of tropical rains and sudden downpours that we have, I can’t imagine anyone building a garage as a unit separate from the house. However, to this day it’s still done.

Additionally, many homes are built with either attached or detached carports as well. They resemble the ordinary garage but have no doors. This is changing though, as crime is on the rise. It’s wise to drop that door, and keep the car and valuables stored there safe.

The newer homes have automatic garage door openers and security devices and codes. The Islands has caught up to the Mainland in garage design. Those with carports on even older homes now install doors if they can afford them, but most of the new homes have enclosed garages.

Some people have even built extended garages to house their antique autos. Those structures are complete with air conditioning and climate control. It’s a matter of choice, as is having any garage at all.

Mary Deal, Pushcart Prize Nominee

Read more of Mary’s Articles, Short Stories

and Novels on http://www.WriteAnyGenre.com

The Right Garage Organizer System for You

July 12th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Introduction

Eventually, you will be forced to tackle the mess that is your garage. I know, what does it matter, really, if the garage is less than a symbol of order? But whether it is your decision or your spouses (hint!), time will come when you must bring order to chaos. Once you realize that you will be ordering your garage into something that resembles something belonging to humans (ok, maybe I shouldn’t compare your garage to mine), you’ll realize there are many options to garage storage organization. Lets talk about the garage organizer.

A Multi-purpose Garage

Working on the premise that you do more than park your car in the garage, you will need a garage organizer system. The choices you make are determined by the function of your items to be stored. If your garage serves as a true place of storing items that are used elsewhere and then stored in the garage, you will need a garage organizer different from the system you would need for power tools, for instance. Your garage organizer needs are totally different if, like many people, their garage doubles as a workshop. Know exactly the functions your garage will serve before you buy.

Constant as opposed to occasional access to your stored goods will dictate what garage organizer system you will use. If, for instance, you will be storing your bikes then you will want a hanging system to get them off the garage floor and free some space. If you will be storing gardening tools like hoes, shovels, and the like, you’ll want upright storage organizer cabinets. If, on the other hand, you are using power-tools or you use your garage as a workshop, then you will want to consider a worktable with built in garage organizer cabinets and drawers. Storing power-tools requires different systems for access and utility as opposed to string for occasional use.

Another Option

If your needs are extreme or even professional, simple consumer grade garage organizer systems may be inadequate to your needs.  Much like the custom designed closets found in upscale or after construction homes, you should consider a garage organizer system designed by a professional engineer. This option brings a trained eye into your space and applies experience and training to optimize the available space. He or she may recommend internal wall storage or remodeling of the available ceiling space for overhead storage. These engineers are able to find storage space where most of us see only wasted space. Obviously, this is not a cheap option but it is often necessary to really use all available space in an area that the rest of us don’t know how to effectively use.

Garage Storage Cabinet and its Uses

July 11th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Introduction

Everyone eventually tumbles to the notion that more storage is needed in the home. Oddly enough, that storage is usually found outside the house, or more properly, in the garage. Depending on the size and type of garage you have, space can be found in the rafters or slug from the ceiling. This is a good option for those things that are needed only occasionally. But its often not an ideal storage method because of the height and access requirements. For a more ground level and accessible solution, the garage storage cabinet comes to mind.

At first glance, the garage storage cabinet may seem to take up more space than it provides. It does take up floor and wall space and can significantly impact your ability to move around the garage. Still, it can also provide counter space (depending on height) and it will force a certain order in storing items. Also keep in mind that if you get an upright garage storage cabinet, you can store more vertically and thereby save more space.  Don’t forget the utility of the garage storage rack: it is excellent for hanging large items that do not fit into the cabinets and would otherwise be left on the garage floor.

Space and Measurements

Make certain that before you run off to your local auto-parts store that you map out your garage space, know what you want to do with it, and take appropriate measurements. Decide whether you need counter space granted by the lower garage storage cabinet or whether you are better off with the full size garage storage cabinet because you may have many oversize items. If you possibly can, make these determinations before you build an attached garage or even build a detached garage. Knowing what function the space is going to serve beforehand makes the process and purchase of garage storage cabinets a simpler matter.

Accessorize the Cabinet

Garage storage cabinets do not simply have to be closets where you throw everything that seemingly has no other place. Use all space is the mantra here. You can mount tool hooks, shelves, hazardous material storage (paint, oil, turpentine, etc), collapsing power tool stations, purpose built material containers, and a whole raft of other options. The whole point is to not simply think where you will place the garage storage cabinet, but how you will order and best use the space within. Otherwise, all you will accomplish is identifying containers to hold your junk. Systematize and organize!

In the End

The floor and walls of your garage have tremendous potential or storage and organization. All you have to do is have a plan, be creative, and know what you want from the beginning of the job to the end.  Let us know how it turns out!

Build a Detached Garage From The Ground Up

July 11th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Introduction

As in every endeavor, creating a custom built detached garage starts with a well-laid plan. There are numerous components to build a detached garage, a systematic approach to materials, site planning, and construction is essential. Even before these considerations, be sure you understand the cost to build a detached garage. Plan your budget ahead of other considerations.

Planning to Build a Detached Garage

Once you have identified your over all budget, you’ll want to identify a site for its construction.  The site will dictate the maximum size. In building a detached garage, consider the size door you will need. Will you need a single or double door or two singles? Shape and sizes of doors often dictate the over all garage design and dimensions. Visit your local retailers to make a choice on door design. Identify these needs before the rest of the garage.

To further identify what shape and size of door, you need to consider the cars you plan to store in the garage. You will need to have width and height measurements firmly indicated. As a rough rule-of-thumb you will want to have a foot on either side of the cars width. You will also want to consider how much space you need in front of the car for work space. In terms of height, add another foot beyond the height of the car and then 18 inches beyond the height of the door for storage or contingency space. These numbers should now give you an idea of the over all dimensions needed to build a detached garage.

Once you have over all dimensions, you can begin to consider the floor of your custom built detached garage. Please see the post “Extend the Life of Your Garage: Protect the Garage Floor” for further information. After this, you need to consider cabinetry and work areas within the space allotted. Keep in mind that steel or metal cabinetry is a better choice, as garages tend to be moist or open to the weather; this promotes decay in wood cabinetry. Also, rubber covered metal hanging storage is better than plastic or wood.

As a final but still important consideration, find a color theme for the garage and work it in throughout. Perhaps a sports team color, for instance (assuming you have the cooperation of the spouse). Many of the on-line or brick and mortar auto parts dealers have interesting miscellaneous items to be used when you build a detached garage. Things like tool storage containers with team logos seem to be in vogue at this time.

To Recap

Remember the following when you decide to build a detached garage:

1. Plan your budget first
2. Decide on the type(s) of garage doors you want
3. Measure the space around your car(s) to determine minimum garage size
4. Allow for work space and storage in your calculations
5. Decide on garage floor type, storage containers/racks, and overall garage design

Lets us know how you came out!

Extend the Life of Your Garage: Protect the Garage Floor

July 2nd, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

To most people, a garage is an important extension of their home providing, utility and opportunity to extend the usefulness of available space. Of all the defined areas in a home (i.e. living room, kitchen, etc), the garage probably gets the harshest treatment. And the garage floor most of all.  Maintenance of the garage floor will eventually become an issue.  So, you need to stop, look down, and assess the condition of the garage floor on a periodic basis.  This post will quickly address some of the more important points to keep in mind.

The Typical American Garage Floor

In your typical suburban household, the garage encloses an area sufficient to house one or two cars with some minimal storage and work space.  The typical foundation of the American garage floor is poured concrete with a reinforced small gauge rebar-like iron matrix. This easily supports whatever weight is likely to be applied to an American garage.  The further out of town one precedes, the less uniform garage floor construction becomes.  Some garages make do with a floor that is less think (and therefore less sturdy) or do without the concrete entirely. But with a concrete floor, maintenance is essential.

A concrete garage floor can suffer many indignities in its life span: from chips and cracks to oil and other toxic spills. Eventually these take their toll and the garage floor becomes a harbor for all sorts of dangerous or poisonous substances that not only undermine the structure of the American garage floor but also the health of your family. For these reasons, proper care of the garage floor is critical.

Maintaining the American Garage Floor

The degree of maintenance required for the garage floor is dependent upon many factors. The age of the cars stored there, the types of activities conducted, who will be using it, and even the predominate weather in your region of the country. For many, the regular sweeping of the garage and perhaps a rinse from the hose will be sufficient. However, if auto or other mechanical repair will take place in the garage, it becomes essential to consider treating the garage floor with some resistant barrier to prolong its life.

From an economical standpoint, simple rubber matting or larger sized flooring can withstand the abuse doled out by the weekend auto mechanic hobbyist. However, for continuous prolonged exposure to toxic chemicals, painting or repainting garage floor is a better idea.  In addition, a sealant is an excellent option as well. This is especially important if you live in an environment where the concrete is exposed to a wide range of expansion and contraction in a hot summer and a cold winter. Another specialized possibility is a garage floor epoxy covering. Though it is not cheap by any stretch of the imagination, garage floor epoxy covering is one of the best, sustaining treatments you can afford your garage floor.

Bottom-line

The American garage floor is a sturdy foundation designed to hold multiple vehicles; it is strong, and can withstand much abuse from years of use. This not withstanding it requires maintenance. In one case a broom and a hose may be all it takes, but in many, it requires a more considered approach.  Painting or repainting the garage floor, using a sealer and/or a garage floor epoxy covering will prolong the life of the American garage floor for years to come.

Next Page »

Copyright © 2008 Lots About Garages

Credits: Work From Home | Matteo Turchetto | Andreas Viklund