How to Get Rid of Mold in Your Garage

Like any other part of your home, your garage is vulnerable to mold. In fact, garages can be even more susceptible because mold thrives in dark, damp spaces. 

Even if you aren’t in your garage much, mold can still pose health risks to you and your family — you may be bringing it into your home on shoes and backpacks without even realizing it. Exposure to mold can lead to symptoms such as skin and throat irritation, coughing and nasal stuffiness.

Preventing and eliminating mold in your garage can prevent lasting damage to your home as well as keep your family safe, happy and healthy. 

How Does Mold Get Into the Garage? 

Garages are prone to mold because they are relatively dark and damp. Your garage is probably not as insulated as the rest of your home. Additionally, many older garages are made from materials like wood that don’t provide much resistance to moisture.

If your garage is attached to your home and used as an entrance, the risk for mold is high because it is open so much, allowing moisture inside. However, you can find mold in detached garage spaces as well, and you might not be as likely to notice it right away, allowing for continued growth. 

How to Eliminate Mold in Garage Spaces

So you’ve checked your garage and found mold. How can you get rid of it?

If the mold is on a non-porous surface like concrete, you can remove it by following these steps:

1. Before you get started, be sure to wear protective clothing, especially gloves and a mask.
2. Some household agents such as bleach, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide and ammonia can kill mold. Spray one of these agents onto the area.
3. Let it sit for an hour or so.
4. Scrub the area with hot water and a stiff brush. 

Depending on the materials in your garage, you may be able to remove mold from a garage door, wall or floor on your own using these techniques. If the problem persists, however, you may need to consider professional mold removal.

If you find mold on a porous surface like a wood garage door, there’s a good chance that you won’t be able to eliminate it, especially if the mold has been there for a while. You’ll likely have to replace it with a mold-resistant material like polyurethane steel. 

How to Prevent Mold in Garage Spaces

Once you’ve gotten rid of mold in your garage, you’ll want to ensure that new mold doesn’t develop. Here are a few ways to prevent mold in your garage:

• Get a dehumidifier. This will cut down on the moisture in your garage. Proper ventilation (like vents and fans) will also help lower humidity.
• Upgrade your storage from cardboard to plastic. Do you have any cardboard boxes of odds and ends lying around in your garage? Switch to a waterproof material for storage. It doesn’t have to be fancy — plastic tubs will work just fine!
• Remove standing water. You might notice pools of water on your garage floor after a heavy rainstorm, or if you wash your car in the garage. If there’s standing water in your garage for any reason, mop it up or use a squeegee to get rid of it. 
• Let in some sunlight. Mold thrives in dark spaces. If your garage has windows, make sure they aren’t obstructed so that sunlight can get in. Fresh air is good for your garage as well, so if you can, leave your garage door open for a few hours a week to let in some light.

Following these steps can go along way toward preventing mold in your garage. If the problem persists in spite of your efforts, you might want to consider remodeling your garage with moisture-resistant materials. 

Act today to keep your home and family safe from mold. Check out the selection of moisture-resistant doors at Oregon City Garage Door and contact us for installations and repairs in the Portland area. 

Tips for Spring Cleaning Your Garage

Spring is the perfect time to declutter, clean and organize your home — including your garage. After all, there is nothing better than starting the year off right with a clean space. Along with removing all the dust and dirt, you can go through your garage, get rid of any items you don’t need and replace any old or broken belongings.

Garage Cleaning Tips for the Overwhelmed 

If it’s been a while since you last cleaned out your garage or you have a lot of items, the thought of tackling such a task can feel overwhelming. While it may feel like there are many challenges ahead, here are a few tips you can try to make the process run more smoothly:

• Come up with a goal so you have something specific you are working toward.
• Break tasks down into a checklist that you need to complete to reach your goal.
• Gather your friends and family and assign tasks to each person.
• Pace yourself and focus on your end goal. 

5 Tips on How to Clean Out Your Garage

Ready to start? Here are five tips and tricks for cleaning and organizing your garage this spring:

1. Remove Everything From the Garage 

To make the entire cleaning and organization process easier, start by removing everything from your garage. If there’s no rain in the forecast, you can move all your items out to your driveway so you have a blank slate to work with. 

2. Dust, Wipe and Sweep

Starting from top to bottom, begin sweeping and dusting away any cobwebs, dust and dirt on the ceiling, walls and shelves. Then, give the floor a quick sweep to get rid of anything that has fallen down. 

3. Clean the Floor 

Once your garage is dust-free, you can create a simple DIY cleaning solution of distilled vinegar and water to clean the floors. If there is a lot of grime, you might need to use your hose or a power washer to clean it. Once the floors are sparkling clean, you can also use this solution on your garage door windows. 

4. Sort and Organize 

As your garage is drying out, you can start sorting and organizing everything you have in the driveway. Create separate piles for the things you want to keep, sell, throw out and give away. 

If you don’t have any storage units, shelves or wall organizers, now is a good time to install those. Having a designated place for your things keeps everything organized and prevents your garage from becoming too cluttered in the future. 

5. Check Your Garage Door 

Now is also the perfect time to check your garage door and see if it needs any maintenance. Ensure everything is working as it should and has no loose parts or rust. 

Keep Your Garage Operating as It Should With Oregon City Garage Door

When it’s time for your yearly garage door maintenance, Oregon City Garage Door has you covered. Along with our collection of functional and stylish residential garage doors, we also offer maintenance and repair services to keep your garage running as it should throughout the year. 

Have any questions about our services or want to schedule an appointment? Fill out our contact form or contact us at 503-632-3070 and we’ll be in touch with you soon.

Turning Your Garage Into a Living Space

If you are looking to add additional square feet of living space to your home, your garage is a great place to start. You’ll be giving up a protected parking and storage area, but you’ll be gaining around 600 square feet of additional space — without paying the high prices associated with a full-scale addition. 

What’s Involved in a Garage Conversion Project? 

While there are multiple steps involved in remodeling a garage, you can expect the process to last around four to six weeks. You’ll pay approximately half of what you’d spend on a new home addition. The total cost can vary depending on what you install and which features you want. However, you can expect to pay anywhere from around $6,000 to $50,000 to convert a standard two-car garage. 

Any time you want to convert your garage into a living space, you’ll have to consider any legal or zoning requirements. That’s because converting your garage into another room might involve doing things like: 

• Opening the partition wall between your house and the garage. 
• Installing an electrical service upgrade. 
• Adding heating and cooling. 
• Adding new windows and doors. 

How to Remodel a Garage and Make It Livable 

To transform your garage into a comfortable space your family and friends can spend time in, you’ll need to complete a few steps to make it livable: 

• Add drywall: Finish or install new drywall to create an aesthetically pleasing space.
• Install insulation: Add insulation to help keep the space comfortable year-round. Depending on your needs, you can use spray foam insulation, rockwool or conventional fiberglass roll insulation.
• Add walls: Install non-load-bearing walls to hide any unsightly items like a furnace or water heater. 
• Increase floor height: Consider raising the floor height to make it even with the rest of your home. 
• Change the flooring: Install a floor covering like tile or laminate flooring to make your floors more attractive.
• Upgrade the door: Insulate or replace your garage door to help it fit in with the new space.

What Types of Rooms Can You Convert a Garage Into? 

Once you’ve created a safe, habitable space out of your garage, you can transform it into any type of room. Here are a few room ideas to consider:

• Bedroom or bathroom.
• Family room. 
• Living room. 
• Playroom.
• Office.
• In-law suite or studio apartment. 
• Mancave. 
• Art studio or craft room. 
• Workspace.

Looking for a New Garage Door to Complete Your Conversion Project?

Here at Oregon City Garage Door, we’ve been providing a full line of stylish and durable garage doors to Portland-area residents for over 25 years. No matter what your needs or favorite styles are, we have collections of wood, aluminum and steel doors that will complement your new garage renovation project. 

Along with having garage doors to suit any style of home, we also offer installation, maintenance and repair services. With our one-year warranty on all new garage door installations, you can trust we’ll do what it takes to ensure you are satisfied and protected. 

For more information on any of our products or services, call us at 503-632-3070 or fill out our contact form.

5 Cheap Ways to Heat Your Garage in the Winter

Your concrete garage is likely not the warmest part of your home. Whether you use it for vehicle storage or as a workshop, stepping into or spending time in a frigid space is not a pleasant experience. 

If you’ve been dealing with cold temperatures, you can keep your garage warm in a few different ways.

How to Keep Your Garage Warm in the Winter 

You don’t have to deal with a freezing garage all winter long. Here are five different ways to cheaply heat your garage: 

1. Space Heaters 

Plugging in a space heater is a quick and easy way to keep your garage warm. Depending on your needs, you can choose from an electric heater, a gas heater or a ceiling-mounted forced-air heating unit. 

Keep in mind that while portable heaters can add warmth and raise the inside temperature by a few degrees, they can take a while to heat the garage and aren’t a long-term solution. For more even heat distribution, go with the ceiling-mounted forced-air heating unit, installed at a 45-degree angle. 

2. Insulation 

If your garage walls aren’t finished, it will be difficult to heat and maintain a comfortable temperature inside. Installing insulation is a relatively inexpensive way to keep your garage toasty warm and prevent the heat from transferring outside. 

When installing the insulation, make sure it’s secure and snug and has no gaps. Along with wall insulation, you might want to consider installing garage door insulation with spray foam, batting or foam board.

3. Weatherstrip and Caulk 

If your garage has any missing or worn weatherstripping and caulk, sealing and replacing it will help keep in the warm air and prevent heat loss. When weatherstripping and caulking your space, pay special attention to a few areas:

• Garage door frames.
• Gaskets.
• Windows.

This simple DIY fix can make your garage much more comfortable during the winter months.

4. Ductless Mini Split Heat Pump

While there is a higher initial cost, a ductless mini split heat pump is an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly way to heat your garage. You can install it in various locations, ranging from the ceiling suspension to the floor. 

Even though these heat pumps cost more upfront, they offer year-round heating and cooling while being easier to install and less expensive than heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. 

5. Radiant Heat Flooring 

If you are renovating your existing garage or building a new one, one option to consider is radiant heat flooring. This flooring solution, even with a high upfront cost and required professional installation, offers even heat distribution. This heating solution is also versatile, allowing you to install it in the walls and ceilings.

Interested in Installing an Insulated Garage Door? 

If you are looking to install a new garage door to help heat your space, Oregon City Garage Door has the residential doors you need. We have been serving Portland-area residents for over 25 years, offering a full line of aluminum, steel and wood doors. 

No matter your style or needs, we can help you find the perfect match. Call us at 503-632-3070 or fill out our contact form to learn more. 

The Pros and Cons of Garage Door Windows

Are you trying to decide whether to buy a garage door with or without windows? There’s no right or wrong answer, but you should consider the pros and cons of having windows in your garage doors before making your purchase.

Pros of Garage Doors With Windows

Are the windows worth it? Sometimes. You can find reasons for and against buying garage doors with windows or installing windows on your garage doors.

Some reasons to purchase a new garage door with windows include:

• Natural light: Garages are naturally dark, and by adding windows to your garage doors you can bring in natural light. You’ll have less need to turn the lights on in the garage because of it, which also saves on energy costs. If you want to use your garage as a workout location or plan to employ the workbench for home improvement projects, remember that creating a brighter space with natural sunlight will make the area more appealing and help it feel bigger.
• Attractive design aesthetics: If you want to increase the curb appeal of your house, adding garage doors with windows is a great way to do it. Garage doors with windows look attractive and can set your home apart from others on the block with a little extra curb appeal. You can even choose garage doors with windows that look similar to the windows on your house. This type of design symmetry will attract potential buyers if you put the house on the market.

Cons of Garage Doors With Windows

Should a garage have windows? Not necessarily.

Some reason to purchase a garage door without windows include:

• Insulation: Insulation keeps the warm air in the garage during the winter and the hot air out in the summer. The more insulation you have, the more temperature control you’ll enjoy. Garage doors with windows have less insulation, as glass panes don’t provide the same protection as a solid door. They can let in sunlight that warms the garage, but they’ll do so in both winter and summer.
• Potential cost: If you’re upgrading your doors to add windows, expect it to get expensive. Altering existing garage doors costs a lot, and you could potentially cause damage to your door in the process. You’ll need to determine whether updating the garage doors will makes them unbalanced. The engineering in these systems is easy to throw off because it involves such a precise calculation, and the weight of the door will change when you add windows.

Are Garage Doors With Windows Safe?

Many individuals have privacy and safety concerns about buying garage doors with windows. The safety of your home may depend on the size of the windows. If they’re small and located near the top of the garage door, people won’t be able to see much inside your garage.

However, if you have big windows, someone could see into your garage, which may lead to theft. If you’re concerned about safety concerns, it may be best to stick with doors that have smaller windows located higher on the door or choosing a model with frosted windows.

No matter what kind of door you have in mind, you’re sure to find the perfect solution by browsing the wide selection at Oregon City Garage Door. View our inventory now!