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. 

Winterizing Your Garage Door

Winterizing Your Garage Door

With the cold, the hail, and the snow, winters can be a brutal time for the health of your house, and that includes your garage door. If your door is not properly sealed, cold air will rush in, chilling your entire garage and possibly affecting the warmth of your home. Depending on how cold it gets, this could potentially harm your car or other valuables. A little bit of prep to winterize your garage door now could save you lots of money and time by preventing costly door repairs come spring. Plus, it isn’t too difficult or time-consuming if you follow these simple steps:

Check and Replace Batteries

Cold weather causes the chemical reactions in batteries to proceed slowly, so a battery that works fine in the fall and spring may simply cease working during the winter. That’s why it’s important to check the batteries in your remote opener as well as your garage door keypad if you have one.

Lubricate Metal Parts

All metal parts in your garage door should be regularly lubricated throughout the year, especially the rollers. It is very important to do so, though, during the winter because the cold weather can freeze oil and dirt to the door tracks preventing it from being able to raise and lower. If possible, a specifically produced lubricant for garage doors should be used. As a last resort, WD-40 should generally get the job done as well. All greasers should be avoided, and the lubricant should be used sparingly because you want the wheels to turn, not slide.

Check the Springs

Inspecting the springs is also often times referred to as checking the counterbalance system. First, disconnect the garage door from its opener, then manually open and close the door a few times. If the door sticks or won’t move, it still requires further lubrication and you should revisit the last step. Once you’ve tested the door manually, raise or lower it until it’s halfway open, then let go. If the springs are working correctly, the door should be held in place. If it opens or closes very slowly, that’s OK too. But if your door slams open or shut when you release it, then your counterbalance system is off and you should contact a professional at Oregon City Garage Door to have it checked out and fixed.

Check the Automatic Reversal Mechanism

This is an important safety component, and all new garage doors are required to have them. If you have an extremely old door that did not come equipped with one, we highly recommend that you have one installed. If yours is not working, try cleaning the sensor eye. If the problem persists, that usually means that the two sensor eyes need to be aligned. If that still doesn’t fix it, contact a professional at Oregon City Garage Door to have it quickly and professionally fixed.

Insulate Your Garage Door

Insulating your garage door is probably the biggest key to keeping the cold of winter out of your garage. First, choose the insulation that best fits your type of garage door:

• For flat garage doors without panels, foam board or reflective insulation typically works best. These insulations can also easily be attached with a simple adhesive.
• For wooden frame-and-panel doors, you’re going to want to cut and fit rigid insulation into the recesses between the frames.
• For steel doors, you can really use any type of insulation, but Batt insulation, made out of flexible fiberglass, is typically the easiest to work with.

With whatever insulation you choose, simply follow the instructions for how best to attach it to your garage door. Most insulation can be doubled up upon if you are looking for extra protection from the elements.

If you have questions about whether your garage door is ready for winter or if you would like to schedule service, fill out our online contact form or give us a call at 503-632-3070.

How To Add a Mudroom to Your Garage

How To Add a Mudroom to Your Garage

Are you tired of your children and pets bringing in dirt and trash from outside into the house? Are scattered shoes, coats and backpacks in the entryway driving you crazy? Don’t you wish there was a way to make cleaning and organizing your home a little easier? Well, there is.  If you have a little extra space in the corner of your garage – you should convert it into a mudroom. Mudrooms are typically the buffer zone between the inside and outside of your house and give you a place to wipe your shoes,  hang up your coats and get rid of trash before you come inside.

Benefits of Adding a Mudroom

• You don’t have to mop the whole house down every time the kids and pets come indoors.
• If you suffer from allergies, a mud-room significantly decreases the amount of pollen being tracked into your home, so you’ll be able to breathe a lot easier.
• Mud-rooms act as extra-closet space and will de-clutter your home, leaving it easier to clean and more pleasing to the eye.
• Mudrooms actually increase heating and cooling efficiency by providing a transition zone.

Discover Our Garage Doors For Sale

Mudroom Elements

• Storage. Shelving that is reachable by all family members is essential. Pegs and hooks are necessary for hanging up backpacks, purses, wet coats, leashes and sporting equipment. Consider having a separate cubby for each child, with storage bins to accommodate their shoes and personal hooks for their backpack or coats. Add a laundry hamper so kids can discard their dirty duds on their way in. Mudrooms are also a great place to house your recyclables in between trash days, so purchase the appropriate bins.
• Flooring. Arguably the most important part of your mudroom, you want a type of flooring that is non-slip, non-stick and easy to clean. Any garage floor should fit these requirements, although tile and concrete are typically preferred. If you are going the extra-mile and fitting your mud-room with flooring, chose a color that doesn’t show dirt easily as it is not unusual for this area to start looking a little grubby very quickly. Don’t forget to add a fiber mat or rug near the doorway so you can scrape off your dirty shoes before coming inside.
• Proper heating and ventilation. Proper heating and ventilation greatly reduces humidity and prevents mildew and ‘soggy smells’. It also speeds up the drying of wet coats and shoes. Consider purchasing a small adjustable vent or fan, along with a heat lamp to help ease any wintery chills. Make sure all your doors and entryways are properly sealed to promote energy efficiency, and install doggy doors for the household pets needing to get in and out. 
  

Other Considerations for a Mudroom

A bench or chair is convenient for removing wet shoes. Keep a pair of clean, dry shoes nearby to slip on. Hanging a mirror up in the area is also a great idea so you can take one last look at yourself before you leave the house and make sure you look great. The mudroom can also be turned into a makeshift mini gallery where you can hang up all the kid-art that you don’t have space for on the fridge.

Oregon City Garage Door offers garage door service, installation and repair in the Portland area. To reach out to one of our specialists, fill out our online form or give us a call at 503-632-3070.

4 Ways To Organize Your Garage Today

Four Simple Ways You Can Organize Your Garage Today

When it comes to rooms in your home, often the garage is the last thing on your list to take care of. Unfortunately, this kind of neglect leads to disorganization which is an unnecessary source of stress. While there are lots of handy DIY tutorials available, many of them can be difficult and time-consuming. Since not all of us have the time or the energy to give our garages a full makeover, here are three easy ways you can organize your garage today.

1. Use The Tennis Ball Parking Method

One of the best ways to keep your garage organized is to know where to park your car. Making sure you have enough room on all sides helps keep the clutter at bay and makes your life a lot easier. Since it’s not like you can mark An X on your garage floor,  the best way to find an optimal parking spot is to hang a tennis ball from the ceiling and use it as an indicator for an ideal stopping point.

2. Cover Up Clutter with Simple Curtains

If you use your garage as an office space or a playroom, all the clutter stored up against the walls can look unsightly and feel uninviting. Solve this problem and spruce up your storage space by mounting rods on the walls and hanging up some simple curtains.  This will give the area a more homey feel and also make it appear cleaner. When picking out your curtains remember that solid and darker colors are preferred, as patterns can feel overpowering and light shades attract dust.  Check out department store sale bins and thrift stores for inexpensive options.

3. Recognize That Renting is Sometimes a Better Idea

While avid enthusiasm for your hobbies is admirable, be conscious of the space you are taking up with your tools. If your latest project is something that requires a specific set of equipment that you probably won’t use again, consider renting what you need from your local hardware store or online.  Not buying a new set of tools saves money as well as space, so your wallet and garage will thank you later.

4. Store Balls With Bungee Cords

If you’re an active person or have kids, chances are that your garage is filled with lots of loose sporting equipment, especially sports balls. If you’d like a safer and more organized way to store them,  you can create supermarket style bungee cord organizers at home. Just nail some regular plywood shelves into your wall and attach the bungee cords. The balls are now much easier to get to and aren’t taking up as much space. If you’d like to add some smaller items, just add a few more cords. It’s quick, easy and even looks appealing, especially if you use multi-color ones.

Hopefully, these 4 tips will make your garage a better place. If you are in need of garage door service, repair, or installation, give the experts at Oregon City Garage Door a call. You can reach us at 503-632-3070 or by filling out our online form.