Design Archives - FiberCell

Keeping Your Garage Cool in Summer

Working or relaxing in your house during hot summer days can be very uncomfortable due to the high temperatures. Everybody at this time tries to cool things down by installing air conditioners or other temperature regulation devices. Your garage also needs to be cool in the summer since working in a hot environment just isn’t fun.

Even in the winter it’s easy to sweat working in the garage but once you factor in the heat of summer, it’s not only uncomfortable but also not healthy. There are various ways of cooling your garage in the summer and even one thing can make a huge difference.

What makes your garage so hot?

The best way to solve a problem is to know the cause and deal with it. The same applies to your garage so analyze factors leading to the high temps. Explore all possible causes and try to fix them. Here are some of the main factors that can lead to unbearably high temperatures in your garage:

Garage color – Dark colors absorb heat from the sun and the bright ones reflect the rays. If you have painted your garage with dark colors like black then that could be the reason why the temperatures are too high. Consider repainting your garage with a lighter color like white or light gray to at least reflect the sun’s rays and reduce the temperatures inside the garage.
Door location – In case your garage doors face west, the sun’s rays will directly hit your garage and heat it up. If you have any windows that face the afternoon sun, expect that to be a factor as well. While you can’t rotate your garage, you can put in a simple window covering like blinds.
Lack of ventilation – Ventilation is key even in our home so if your garage is not well ventilated, you risk higher temperatures in summer. Consult garage experts to install proper ventilation and enjoy working in a cool environment.
Parking vehicles in your garage after a long drive in the hot sun will almost immediately heat up your garage as it absorbs the heat from the car. Consider parking your car outside on the hottest days.
Lack if insulation in your garage.

What are some techniques to cool down your garage?

The first step to solving a problem is to understand the cause, and now you have an idea of what can be making your garage too hot. Here are some of the best strategies you can employ to keep your garage cool even during hot summer:

1. Proper ventilation

Natural ventilation should be your first solution to an overheating garage. In case your garage does not have windows or a back/side door, consider installing one or more. If they are already there, consider opening them wide during the day to increase air circulation. Keep the garage door open as well while you are working to keep the garage cool.

2. Upgrade your garage insulation

In many cases, people tend to insulate their garages poorly. It may because the garage is old or the budget simply didn’t allow it at one time or another. It is therefore advisable to always upgrade your garage insulation if possible.

Painting your walls a light color helps as well but in an unfinished garage, adding insulation to the walls and covering with drywall is a must. Alternatively, you can use blown-in insulation and install weather stripping.

3. Install a ceiling fan

Another excellent way to reduce the high temperatures in your garage is to install a ceiling fan if your ceiling is high enough. A large fan with blade length between 7 and 9 ft. is recommended. In case you are not sure what model to go with, consult the experts near you to help you choose the best fan for your garage.

4. Consider installing an air conditioner in your garage

Installing an air conditioner in your garage like that in your house can be expensive but portable air conditioners are a good option which are less costly and more convenient. Weigh out situations in terms of budget to see if an air conditioner for your garage will work for you.

There are other ways that you can also use to cool down your garage which include, parking your car outside for some time to cool down before taking it to the garage. You can also clean your garage regularly and organize it properly to allow proper air circulation. Consider rescheduling your working hours and always go in your garage when the sun temperatures are somehow accommodating. Feel free to use any of the above strategies and enjoy working in a cool environment.

The 4 Best Garage Floor Coverings

Your garage is a functional space, so it’s important to have the most durable flooring possible. Whether you use your garage as a workspace, a storage area, or simply a place to park your cars, here are four of the best flooring options available.

1. Concrete Paint

Concrete paint is one of the fastest and most economical ways to cover a garage floor. Simply clean the floors and prep them with concrete filler, and then you’re ready to prime and paint! Concrete paint is similar to the type of paint used on walls, so it can be applied with a normal paint roller.

The downside to concrete paint is that it isn’t as durable as other flooring options; you may need to touch up your paint job every few years to maintain the look of your garage floor.

2. Epoxy

Epoxy is another solution for garage floors that is similar to paint in the way it is applied. As with concrete paint, epoxy is very budget-friendly. This flooring type is also quite durable, making it an ideal choice for those who don’t want to touch up their garage floor every few years.

Epoxy can be tricky to work with, as it must be applied within a very short window of time. Once properly applied, however, an epoxy flooring job should last you for many years to come.

3. Garage Flooring Mats

Another popular solution for garage floors is vinyl roll-out flooring mats. These work similarly to vinyl locking floor tiles. Their ease of installation makes flooring mats an excellent solution for quickly hiding scrapes, scratches, stains, and any other flaws in your garage floor.

The mats also come in a variety of colors and patterns, allowing you to easily customize the look of your garage. Vinyl floor mats are simple to install, as they just need to be rolled out and trimmed to your garage floor’s dimensions.

The downside to vinyl flooring mats is that if one section becomes damaged, the entire roll will need to be replaced. This makes vinyl roll-out mats a slightly less economical solution for covering a garage floor.

4. Interlocking Floor Tiles

Interlocking floor tiles are a near-perfect solution for any garage floor remodeling project. They are available in a wide variety of materials, including PVC, rubber, and vinyl. They also come in a wide variety of colors, designs, and patterns to add a pop of personality to your garage floors.

As their name suggests, interlocking floor tiles are designed to snap together. Their design creates a waterproof seal that can withstand the most extreme garage conditions. As with vinyl roll-out mats, interlocking floor tiles are great for quickly covering dingy and stained garage floors.

Unlike flooring mats, however, interlocking floor tiles can be easily replaced one by one as they become damaged or worn. When properly applied, interlocking floor tiles will give your garage floors a gorgeous, uniform finish that remains non-slippery even when soaking wet.

The above are just a few excellent solutions for covering garage floors quickly and economically. Contact us today for more information about garage flooring options.

Optimal Garage Setup for DIY Car Repair

When garages were originally created, they were actually meant to store just vehicles. But these days, homeowners will use their garage to store their old trash, Christmas decorations, enough sports gear to field a professional team or they may even place their at home working area inside their garage, namely a spot for a home mechanic. If you’d like to have a work place inside your garage and also have room to place and store your tools and toolbox for when you’re working on car repairs, read on for a few pointers on a good setup.

Space

You need to clear the space. A lot of clutter seems to accumulate over time on one single person’s garage whether it’s because they stored old washers and dryers out there or maybe their lawnmower or toys from their children. You have to clear the space out in your garage to place a dedicated workbench, a toolbox for repairs, and also be able to park a car in there with plenty of room to work around it. In order to be comfortable in your garage with all these items you want to have enough room so you have about 4 feet of clearance all the way around the vehicle so you can maneuver and be comfortable while wrenching or doing body work.

Since your workbench will be the hub of all your tools, make sure it’s very sturdy and has a lot of space to actually lay your different tools out on and be able to view them and keep them organized. This way it will not really be so easy to misplace something you may really need. Also, if you have a large toolchest or two, consider placing a sturdy top on it to have it function as both your toolbox and workbench. It’s a two in one deal.

Things you use often, such as your mechanics creeper & topside creeper should be withing easy reach.

Light

You need to make sure you have top notch lights for both small, tight areas as well as large open ones. LED flashlights and lamps may even be helpful when having to be in a confined space like under your dash board. If you have a drop light that is even better for small spots to reach and also LED flashlights can help you see when you are in an even more closed off area like underneath your dash board. Large fluorescent lights overhead are still the best option to light up the entire garage.

Cleanliness

Make sure you keep cleaning products where they’re easily accessible. If you were to only purchase the cleaning essentials, a push broom, standard broom, and a dust pan should be at the top of your list. After that, make sure you have bought rags and some type of degreaser to clean oil off the garage floor and have it where you can access it quickly in case of a spill. When you know the job will make a complete mess you should always lay out some cardboard you have laying around so you can easily throw that away and have an easy cleanup once the job is done. If you don’t clean after a mess you have made, you’ll have a lot of stains that will be a pain to remove and become a safety hazard, so clean up as soon as the job’s done.

Organization

I could tell you a million ways to be organized but everyone has their own way of doing things. You need to have a toolbox already organized and ready to go, and many methods exist for you to try. Pinterest is actually a great way to find various toolbox organization ideas. One day I’ll even get my own account but for now, I’ll just use my wife’s. 🙂

You can use various plastic trays to separate your tools such as your wrenches, pliers, etc. or you can buy wall mounts to put each type of tool in and separate them. The latest fad are custom made foam inserts for your toolbox drawers. You want to be able to grab something as soon as you need it so each tool should have its own spot. If you have to look for it you will eventually just get frustrated and mad. The best OBD2 scanner in the world won’t do anything for you if you can’t find it.

Power

Most people use hand tools if they’re doing a job on their own to fix something on their car because those tools are so much more cheaper when first starting out. Investing in power tools would make for a faster job experience though. Air tools and cordless tools are definitely a good investment when you have a weekend business or obviously if you’re a professional mechanic in the field. One of your first purchases should be a good compressor along with an impact wrench. If your budget is an issue, make a quick stop at Harbor Freight and pick up a Central Pneumatic compressor and air impact wrench to get you started. The time savings you’ll get from this combo is unbelievable.