Author Archives: Custom Garage Works

Reasons to Install an Auto Lift

• Creates more room for storage
• Organizes cars into a sections
• Great for underbody mechanic work
• Protects the car from outside damages/inclement weather

How much does it cost to put a lift in a garage?

Installation of auto car lifts can fall around $500 for a two post lift and $1000 for a four post.

Will a car lift fit in my garage?

Car lifts come with different adjustments yet there is a standard height that should be considered within a garage before deciding on auto car lifts.

How high does a garage have to be for a lift?

Typically it’s recommended that your ceiling at least be 11-12 feet high for safer handling. (22 feet is considered the best.) You may get away with 10 feet yet it’s best to be safe and have more room than skimming it by a hair with your auto car lifts. Make sure to do the necessary measurements in order not to be surprised when your car stacking hits the ceiling and their’s no room for the car below.

What is the best automotive lift?

There are several types of auto car lifts that may fit with what you’re looking for or fit with your case in particular. Consider the two types of car lifts out in the market, frame engaging and wheel engaging. Frame engaging auto car lifts have suspension attachment points and rocker panel boxes that help to secure the jacking areas near the perimeter of the frame of a car. These arms then lift the car frame up with secure support which leaves the wheels free to hang around. This type of lift can come with fixed-position pads or steel arms that can be pushed in or out to align with each vehicle’s different secure points. Wheel engaging auto car lifts support a car on a platform under the wheels as if a floor level is lifting. These support decks, however, do have space underneath to allow for access to the underbody of a vehicle. If you prefer this option but would also like an option for wheels-off work you can purchase an extra set of hydraulic jacks and cross beams.

How thick of concrete do I need for a car lift?

For safe auto lift installation, it’s recommended to have a minimum of 4 inches or 100mm of reinforced concrete slab for both two and four post hoists.

Another point of consideration as far as auto car lifts and their safety features are to make sure the lock holes are even on each of the sides of the lift. Double check the alignment of these holes before engaging in using the auto car lift as even one side that’s uneven can cause a car to sag or roll. Some auto car lifts may offer supply shims or screw adjusters to aid in adjustments. Finally, better-made lifts should have large sheaves that are externally lubricating or self-lubricating with bushings or bearings. These will allow for slower turning which will slow down wear on auto car lifts. Options without bearings or bushings can lead to premature galling and failure.

If you’re interested in auto car lifts in Haslet and Fort Worth, TX call 214-494-9068 with Custom Garage Works!

Why Do Wild Animals Appear In Your Garage So Much?

Animals often seek shelter in residential places like garages because they are looking for relief from the cold or storms. Some could be searching for food or wanting to have a safe nesting area to raise their young. No matter what the reason, these uninvited guests cause a lot of damage and need to be removed. Animal damage to homes in Haslet and Fort Worth, TX can be prevented with proper garage installation in repair by Custom Garage Works. Call us at 214-494-9068 to learn more.

Common Animal Intruders Found Around Your Home

If you suspect you have a wild animal that is intruding onto your property, whether that is nightly visits into your yard, or making a nest in your shed or garage, you need to be able to identify it to know how to remove it safely. Location, sounds, what parts of your house or yard are damaged, and animal droppings are all common signs that can help you locate and then identify what type of animal it is. You can then either try to remove the intruder yourself depending on how small it is or seek professional help from a wildlife removal company.

• Bat: enters your home through the roof, chimney, or attic. You will hear a lot of activity in your roof at night which can result in animal damage to your roof.
• Raccoon: the most likely animal to enter your garage would be a raccoon. This is because they are the animals that love to raid trash the most, and trash bins are often right next to garages for trash pickup. Other ways they can get into your home is by climbing down the chimney or entering from underneath your home through a crawl space in the foundation.
• Chipmunk or squirrel: A chipmunk damages plants and blooming flowers as it burrows. A squirrel will likely be found in your attic as it enters the home from tall trees. Look for nests in your soffit and fascia and chewed-through roofing as entry points.
• Coyote or fox: these predators can adapt to any area that have food and water and are known to prey on livestock and household pets, especially small dogs. Foxes burrow in dens, and are known to create these caves under house decks and sheds.
• Crow or pigeon: birds commonly get trapped in buildings accidentally as they fly through an open window or door. Some intentionally make nests in these places as they deem them safe, so be sure to check your garage or shed as these are secure, quiet, and warm places for the birds to keep their young.
• Mouse or rat: These rodents love houses and garages, especially in the wintertime, as they are insulated and warm. If your garage happens to have a heated garage floor coating application, this could attract the mice even more in colder temperatures as they seek out heat. Custom Garage Works can re-apply these garage coatings if your garage floor experiences animal damage in Haslet and Fort Worth, TX. Call us at 214-494-9068 today.
• Opossum: Just like raccoons, these animals love to eat out of garbage, so they are often spotted in neighborhoods. You will often see them in your driveway when it is trash night, so they will make their way up the concrete path to the garage and invade it.
• Porcupine: these animals need food that have salt residue in them, so they often eat tree bark. They will flock to yards and damage your trees and have been known to damage your tools if they get into your garage or tool shed as well, as the tools taste salty to them!
• Rabbit: rabbits love to eat gardens, so they will often eat your lawns. It usually doesn’t bug residents too much until the rabbits start to breed, and then the females look for shelter to give birth and raise the young. This is when they seek out sheds and garages and cause tons of animal damage like chewing and droppings galore.
• Skunk: skunks also burrow, but they dig looking for grub. Known as the scaredy cat animal, they are jumpy and will spray at anything, which is why they often hide out in sheds, garages, and under porches and decks.
• Snake: while you will most likely experience just the average harmless garden snake, there are possibilities where other more dangerous breeds of this reptile can enter your yard and be a danger to your family and pets. You can call for wildlife control management to come remove it.

How To Keep Wild Animals Out Of Your Garage

If you are wanting to know ways to prevent animal damage to your home, there are quite a few deterrent methods you can try. Clean out your garage and make sure there is no leaks, as moisture attracts animals. Look for any holes, cracks, nests, or openings where the pests could be entering or habitating. If you spot any signs of these, make note of where they are for repair. Then you can spray pesticides or use other animal damage control techniques to get rid of the creatures. Professional animal damage management companies in the Haslet and Fort Worth, TX are also available if preferred. For garage repair, you can call Custom Garage Works at 214-494-9068.

Raccoon Removal Techniques

Since raccoons are some of the most common wild animals to enter your garage, here is a brief FAQ on how to remove them.

• How do I get rid of raccoons in my yard, and will raccoons leave on their own? Raccoons don’t like loud, bright, ot stinky places. By leaving a bright light on all night, placing ammonia-soaked clothes out to permeate the air, and using raccoon removal techniques like their food and water sources by bringing your trash cans and outdoor pet food inside, they will often leave on their own.
• How do you keep raccoons away? Adding fencing, removing their food source sources like trash bins, and tending to pets will often keep raccoons away.
• Is animal damage covered by homeowners insurance? Surprisingly, yes, as long as the animal that caused damage to your home was not a rodent. Rodent-like creatures like possums, skunks, birds, and bats do not fall under this category and therefore should be covered by your insurance. Only mice and rats are not. Just be aware that your insurance will most likely only literally cover your home. If a wild animal damages anything not attached to it on your property like a fence, detached garage, or shed, then it is not covered.

If you are sick of your outdated, rundown garage that is taking up space, why not remodel it? Not only will the new and improved custom garage boost your curb appeal, but depending on how you remodel it, it could actually increase your property value! Remodeling could be anything from applying a restorative epoxy floor coating over your beat up flooring to transforming your old garage into a custom garage that is more like a studio office. Here at Custom Garage Works, we can help you create and install your custom garage in Haslet and Fort Worth, TX. Call us at 214-494-9068 to set up an appointment today.

What Are Some Ways You Can Create a Custom Garage?

If you are wanting to utilize the extra space you have and turn it into something useful, there are a ton of things you can do to make a custom garage that is perfect for you! If you don’t use it as a carpark, you could turn your garage interior into an extra bedroom. All that would be needed would be installing some insulation and adding some epoxy floor coating or carpet to make it more homey. A lot of garages end up becoming storage sheds or workrooms. Many homeowners like to make it into a studio, man cave, or children’s play area. Or you could create a hybrid of your own and make a custom garage where half of it is a carpark and the other half is a workroom! The possibilities are endless!

What is Garage Floor Coating?

A garage floor coating is a protective sealant applied over your concrete driveway to help preserve the life of your garage floor. Think about how much damage it sees on a daily basis. The weight of multiple cars, chemical and paint spills, oil, extra storage, landscaping equipment and other tools, and sometimes even the weight and heat of a refrigerator. All of these can leave stains and cracks on your garage floor and cause it to deteriorate. By getting a custom garage floor coating, you are not only covering up the imperfections, but protecting your floor from getting any more harm done to it.

There are two types of garage floors: coatings and coverings. While coatings allow you to create a more custom garage with their more versatile selections, coverings are better for for floors that have seen and will continue to see chemical spills as they resist moisture and acid better. If you are having trouble picking out the best coating or covering for your custom garage in Haslet and Fort Worth, TX, call Custom Garage Works at 214-494-9068 for help!

Best Garage Floor Coating Options

• Epoxy garage floor coating: Garage floor epoxy is available in many different kinds of formats such as clear, polyurethane, high solid, or waterborne.
• Concrete floor paint: Available in latex and oil-based paints, this concrete floor paint is easy to apply and touch up, but not as tough as epoxy floor coatings.
• Concrete floor stain: Used for strictly decorative purposes, concrete stains are like a wax that gives a translucent shine to concrete to make it appear like stone, but it does not provide any protection.
• Concrete sealers: Coming in clear and tinted versions, concrete sealers are tougher than concrete floor paint and even cheaper and easier to apply than them.
• Rigid snap-together tile coverings: Made of stiff plastic, these tiles can handle heavier loads. Easy to install, they just snap right into place.
• Rollout mat coverings: While offering many perks like easy installation and maintenance, these rollout rubber maters, can get permanently stained by tire marks and chemicals. They also expand and contract due to temperature fluctuations.
• Interlocking flexible tiles: Offering the same negatives and positives as rollout mat coverings, interlocking tiles are different in that they are available in unique patterns and colors that help to let you create a custom garage.

How Do I Maximize My Garage Space?

If you are wanting to remodel your garage in a easy way by simply increasing your storage space, there are tons of way you can do that. Depending on how much space you need and how many items you need to store will determine what type of garage storage units will be best for you. Just needing to make more room for your car by getting those bicycles and pool accessories out of the way? Install an overhead hanging rack to place them there. For smaller objects like athletic equipment and tools, custom garage cabinets that fit against your wall or ceiling are best.

Garage Organization Ideas

• Install a hanging storage system from your ceiling
• Store long and large tools flat against your wall on horizontal pegged boards
• Increase space by making a workbench that folds into your wall
• Using cheap but durable materials like metal workbench covers and plastic POVC drawers help to dramatically reduce the budget of your custom garage
• Get everything off the floor and move it all into a wall storage system
• DIY your own scuff guards by drilling pool noodles into the wall
• Renovate your unused garage into an office
• Prevent thieves by installing a garage door light or get an app on your phone that tells you when you leave it open
• Make opening the garage door easier by connecting your smartphone to your bluetooth and electrical system that can open the door while you are pulling into the driveway
• Set your garage up into specific zones so you know where everything is and can easily get to them

Whether you’re saving up for that overdue roof repair or a backyard pool, we all look for ways to save a little money here and there. When it comes to cleaning off your garage floors, that tends to fall to the bottom of the to-do list. Thankfully, there are a number of very cheap and even creative ways to get those pesky stains out of your flooring.

How Do I Remove Motor Oil From My Garage Floor?

The first step you’ll want to take is to find a highly absorbent substance to apply to the stain. You can try cat litter or saw dust; both are wonderful for absorbing stains. After a day, sweep away the remains and apply a dry dish detergent over the area. Let it sit for about an hour, then wash it away with boiling water and scrub away the remains.

Some Unusual Tools for Stain Treatment

Of course, there are some more interesting home remedies to get assorted stains out, such as:

• Soda (for oil)
• Kool-Aid (for rust)
• Oven Cleaner (grease, oil, and transmission fluid)

You’ve probably heard about people using Coca-Cola to clean off their engines. Now you can use it to clean off your garage floor stains! All it takes is a few cans of lukewarm cola sitting on the oil stains overnight. Old rust stains can be removed with unmixed Kool-Aid (don’t drink the Kool-Aid). For pretty much everything else, try spraying oven cleaner and letting it sit for 10 minutes.

Schedule Your Garage Floor Coating!

Once you’ve finished clearing away the stains, you may want to consider a capable floor coating to prevent any future garage floor stains. Our team would love to help you apply the coating. Simply give us a call at 214-494-9068 and ask about our Custom Garage Works floor coatings.

Don’t you wish that smooth concrete floor in your garage could last forever? While you can gloss it over with a gorgeous paint, garage floor cracks will still show up (eventually). Normally, it’s not a problem that you need to concern yourself with, but there are a couple rare cases where it could spell danger for your home. Follow this quick guide to help you know when to be concerned. 

When Cracks are Cause for Concern

Cracks in your garage floor may be a nuisance, but they rarely present any danger to your home. Here are a few common types of cracks that you may find in your garage…

• Control Joints
• Post Shrinking Cracks
• Foundation Setting
• Cracks Due to Poor Curing and Compactions

While these planned or accidental deformities may look unpleasant, you needn’t worry about them. On the other hand, deep cracks and elevated cracks could indicate an issue with your foundation, which is a major reason to be concerned. Left alone, this degradation could lead to major structure damage in your flooring. You will want to talk to your local foundation repair company about fixing your slab or concrete pier foundation.

Will Floor Coatings Cracks?

Any flooring can crack when severe pressure is applied to it. That’s why you want to ensure your foundation has completely settled before you apply a coating over your garage flooring. Weaker coatings like epoxy may crack with minor falling impact (say, if you tipped over your heavy toolbox). Stronger coatings are much more resistant to falling damage or even minor floor shifting. 

Schedule Your Garage Floor Coating Installation

Our team at Custom Garage Works offers lovely, high strength polyurea and polyaspartic coating installation, so that you can enjoy a lovely garage floor for many years to come. If you’d like more insight into your garage floor cracks, or if you’d like an estimate on one of our services, you’re welcome to talk with one of our experts. Give us a call at 214-494-9068 (for Fort Worth, TX, you can reach our local office at 817-308-1305).

Epoxy floors can provide outstanding results for your garage flooring, if installed correctly. Many D.I.Y. enthusiasts (and some shady contractors) like to utilize an acid etching method to install their epoxy product, but this leaves your flooring vulnerable. The epoxy often starts to flake and you’re left with an irritating mess. If you want a garage floor epoxy to last, ensure its success with a floor grinding installation.

How Long Do Epoxy Floors Last?

Epoxy flooring is created with a combination of resin and hardeners that produce a rigid, durable flooring. A properly installed, maintained floor can last for many years. That being said, not all epoxy products are created equal. It’s important to find a quality product with guaranteed results. The problem is, many garage owners purchase cheap epoxy products from discount stores. These sub par products don’t provide the necessary UV protection to prevent the floors from failing, which can happen in as soon as three months.

Is Epoxy Flooring Scratch Resistant?

A quality epoxy product is much more resilient against scratching than a discounted material, especially when it is installed with floor grinding. It also offers protection against oils, grease, and moisture that would corrode other types of flooring. While you should go throwing heavy objects on your flooring, epoxy can withstand a great deal of foot and vehicle traffic. Just make sure to re-coat your floors every few years when heavy usage has started to take a toll.

Contact Customer Garage Works for Epoxy Flooring

Are you interested in garage floor epoxy for your home or business? Make sure you choose an epoxy product with strong scratch and chemical resistance! You can guarantee that your floor will last for years by choosing Custom Garage Works for your professional installation. Our team is very skilled and experienced with the floor grinding process that’s crucial to your floor’s longevity. Our diamond grinding method is incredible effective for creating durable, resilient flooring. If you’re interested in finding out more about the benefits of garage floor epoxy, feel free to give our team a call at 214-494-9068. 

Are you sick of not having enough room in your garage to park your garage? Has your garage just been another room to store stuff? This can be frustrating, but at Custom Garage Works we have the best solution for you. A great way to have space for your car and store your extra belongings is by getting overhead storage for your garage. Overhead garage storage is great and can really benefit you and your garage. Below are a couple of benefits to installing overhead storage.

Save Money On a Storage Unit

If your garage is becoming overcrowded, it could be tempting to rent a storage unit to store some of your things. However, with overhead garage, you don’t have to waste your money! All of your stuff can stay on your property but out of your way.

More Floor Space

Instead of buying wall storage that could extend onto your floor, why not get storage space that doesn’t have to be on the ground. With overhead garage storage, all of our extra belongings aren’t taking up any space on the floor.

Easier to Grab Your Items

It might seem like a great pain to store your stuff in overhead shelving, but with the use of cables or crank you can easily lower or crank it back up. No need to get on a ladder and remove heavy items or boxes.

If you think overhead garage storage in Dallas, TX would be something that could help reduce clutter in your garage, please call Custom Garage Works at 214-494-9068!

Remember when you first moved into your house and you thought your garage was so big that you would be able to fit three cars? Now, 10 years later, kids’ toys, boxes you haven’t gotten around to putting back up in the attic, and extra supplies take up the remainder of the space and you can barely fit one car in your garage. Clear up some space and get some walking room back with garage overhead storage!

The Benefits of Garage Overhead Storage

More Floor Space

This is a given, since your items will now be safely hung on a rack out of the way.

Flood Protection

Garages and basements commonly flood due to piping systems like water heaters being stored there. With your belongings now hanging from the ceiling, they can stay perectly dry and you don’t have to worry about losing any valuables.

Safe

With bulky items off the ground, it reduces your chance of tripping over them. Great for clumsy people or those with disabilities, like in wheelchairs. You can also put away hazardous items like chemicals, cleaning products, or tools so your children can’t get to them.

Reduces Auto Theft Chances

With your garage free to park in, your car won’t be visible on the streets to carjackers or burglars. A bonus is in the winter, you don’t have to defrost your windshield, as it will be warmed up already in the garage.

If you are interested in getting garage overhead storage in MansfieldHaslet and Fort Worth, TX, call Custom Garage Works at 214-494-9068 today.

If you’re like many homeowners, space can be a rare commodity. We’re constantly searching for ways to store our belongings without throwing them on the floor, but eventually the space seems to run out. One of the most underutilized storage spaces in the home is the garage, and it’s waiting for you to use it. Here are a few ways to take back the garage and save square footage.

Cut the Clutter

Clutter is the enemy of free space! Those camping supplies you’ve never used are just sitting in the corner. That kayak you won’t be needing till summer is simply lying on the floor. For all the tools and supplies your family no longer uses, consider taking a trip to Goodwill or the Salvation Army. Once you’ve purged all the floor of clutter, look at all the new space you’ll have for storing whatever your heart desires.

For those belongings that you can’t get rid of, consider installing specialized hooks or shelves in your garage. You’d be amazed how much you can store on the ceiling. Removing your belongings from the ground reduces the number of hiding places bugs and critters can hide in. It’s also a good habit for protecting your feet from stepping on something sharp.

Create Specialized Storage

Cabinet storage tends to rewire your brain to see exciting new arrangement opportunities, especially for hobbyists. You can finally take your fishing gear off the floor and neatly store it away for later use. With customized cabinets you, you can enhance the value of your garage and make it a more pleasant place to visit.

If you’re hunting for more storage space in your house, consider saving square footage by updating your garage. For more ways to save space in your garage, give us a call at 214-494-9068.

Do you have someone in your life that spends an awful lot of time in the garage? Or maybe you are the one that loves to hang out in there. Maybe it’s time to upgrade a few things and turn your average garage into a place that all your neighbors will want for themselves. There are so many different things that you can do to make your garage look like a whole new place. From new flooring, to shelves, to car lifts, and everything in between, your garage can be whatever you want it to be.

Ideas For Your Garage

Floor Coatings – Cement flooring in your garage is a thing of the past when you can have a great customized floor coating added to your garage floor. Not only does this look great, but it is easy to clean and can keep your garage cooler in the summer. You no longer have to worry about cleaning off stains because this flooring can be easily wiped off or sprayed down and left looking like brand new again.

Car Auto Lifts – Do you have a car that you don’t use all the time that you need to move out of the way. We aren’t talking about getting rid of it, we are talking about moving it up. A car lift will lift your car up so that you create room for another car to fit in your garage. It is always easily accessible, but it is out of your way enough.

With these and so many more awesome things you can do to your roof, you should call Custom Garage Works at 214-494-9068 and have our team tell you everything we can do.