Garages have been around for more than a century now. Since their creation in 1912, these structures have served vehicle owners well. Public garages used to be common during the early days of their invention, as homes did not come with them. But private garages soon gained popularity. Now, most large residences in the United States have one of these outbuildings either attached to them or on the same piece of property. Because they are now commonplace, many homeowners do not pay them any mind or think about caring for them. But this can lead to unforeseen problems. Check out these tips for residential garage care to maintain this part of your home!
Top 3 Tips for Residential Garage Care
1. Reduce Clutter
Unfortunately, garages usually do not get used for car storage. Instead, they end up holding piles of junk. Anything that you don’t have room for in your residence, such as old clothes and blankets, magazines, newspapers, camping supplies, bad birthday gifts, and holiday decorations, ends up making its way into this space until there is barely any room to move around. Does this sound like your garage? Well, we have bad news for you. By being a packrat, you may be creating a place where real rats are interested in staying!
Rodents are attracted to cluttered spaces. They love places where they can find an abundance of nesting material and hiding places. And you know what the worst part is? If you have enough clutter, you may not even realize they’re there for a long time. That means they have plenty of time to chew through your possessions and electrical wiring, leave droppings everywhere, and have multiple litters of babies. Rodents bring disease and destruction, so do yourself a favor and make sure to reduce clutter in your garage. And if you don’t have clutter now, keep it that way!
2. Be Careful About How You Store Food Items
We don’t suggest storing food items in your residential garage if you can help it. However, if you do not have a lot of pantry space, this may be your only option. If that’s the case, be careful how you store your food. Keep everything in sealed, airtight containers. Do not leave things in cardboard boxes or plastic boxes, as mice and rats can nibble through these easily and contaminate your supplies. Additionally, having easily accessible food makes your garage more attractive to rodents, so that is another important reason to avoid storing items outside of an airtight container.
Please note that this pertains to items that you may not even think are food. Bird seeds, dog treats, and pet food are also appealing to rodents and other pests. So be sure these things are stored in airtight containers as well.
3. Care For Your Garage Door
Caring for your garage door is also important if you want to make sure that your residential garage is in the best shape. That means getting regular maintenance from a professional as well as providing monthly care yourself. One of the most important things you can do to protect your garage is to make sure that the weatherstripping and threshold seals on your door are in good shape. This prevents anything unwanted from getting into your residential garage, including insects, rodents, and water. Water damage is an especially big problem in moist climates, as it can lead to mold, mildew, and rot. So always make sure that your appliance is helping keep this area dry!
We Can Help With Residential Garage Maintenance!
Part of caring for your garage is caring for your door, as we mentioned above. But caring for your door and ensuring that it runs smoothly is not always an easy task. That is why it is important to list the help of a professional for an annual inspection each year. We are here to help you with all of your maintenance and repair needs. Contact us today for assistance in caring for your residential garage door!