By Christine Miller Blue Sky Builders • Building Tips • Construction • • • • • • • • • • 0 Comments

Why You Should Leave the Demolition of Your Old Garage to the Experts

Blue Sky Builders garage demolition safetyWhen updating or remodeling your house, you may want to consider renovating your garage as well. If you have an older home, then it is likely that your garage may need some work, too. Perhaps you have looked into how much work it would take to upgrade your garage, and you may have made the decision to demolish the existing structure and build a new one. This is a major undertaking, so it is best to leave it to the professionals. Not only will it save you money in the long run, but it can also prevent injuries as well as a lot of time and headaches instead of you trying to do it yourself (DIY). Although DIY projects are popular this year because so many people are stuck at home due to COVID-19 restrictions, having a company like Blue Sky Builders assist you in tearing down your old garage and building a new custom garage is a wise investment!  Read more

By Christine Miller Custom Garages • Garage Siding and Roofing • • • • • • • • • 0 Comments

6 Ways to Protect Your Garage from Flooding

Downers Grove garage builders for flooding preventionAs hurricane season fast approaches, and with prior months this past spring already having shown heavy downpours, you might be concerned about your garage and its safety from flooding. You may have already seen some damage in recent months due to heavy rainfall. Whatever the case may be, here are some inventive ways to protect your garage from flooding:

How to Prevent Flooding in Your Garage

When first building your custom garage, you may need to take steps to keep the floodwaters away. You may also need to protect against flooding in the garage that came with your home. Whichever situation you face, here are some helpful methods for dealing with flooding in your garage:

  1. Repair or Replacement of Garage Door and Floor Seals—If your garage door is not properly sealed at the ground when closed, you will need to fix or replace your seals. The good news is this is not a difficult process, and it will also keep insects and other pests out of your garage once completed. You should be sure to monitor the seals regularly and fix or replace them when necessary.
  2. Usage of an Outdoor Sump Pump—While most people assume sump pumps are only useful in basements, the truth is they can also be beneficial when protecting your garage from floodwaters. If you install an outdoor sump pump just below your garage floor, you could prevent some serious flooding issues.
  3. Slab-Jacking or Other Concrete Repair or Replacement—In many cases, the flooding in your garage is the direct result of crumbling structures, especially with concrete. In those cases, slab-jacking can help, in which massive amounts of grout are forced beneath vulnerable concrete sites in the garage. If slab-jacking does not seem right for your situation, you could also mix your own concrete and use that instead of grout.
  4. Installation of Garage Gutters—When dealing with flooding in any area of your home, the primary goal is to direct water flow away from the home’s structure. The same goes for your garage. Brand-new garage gutters can help guide extra water runoff into spouts and drains away from the garage. Professional garage roofing and siding services can ensure that gutters and drainage are installed correctly.
  5. Addition of Extra Indoor and Outdoor Drains—Especially if you are noticing pools of water inside your garage, possibly even during the winter, interior drains can help. In addition, exterior drains can also be useful if you notice the existing drains are being taxed beyond their capabilities during each rainfall.
  6. Placement of Smart Home Water Sensors—Many of the aforementioned pieces of advice consider what to do when flooding in the garage becomes a problem. However, if you are worried about the possibility of flooding without having actually had it happen at your home or garage yet, then installing affordable smart home water sensors in your garage will help you keep tabs on things and take preemptive measures as soon as possible.

Contact a Dupage County Garage Renovation Professional

Weather authorities have issued warnings of a hurricane season that will be “more severe than usual” this season. There is no better time than now to make sure your garage is protected from flooding. Water in your garage can destroy personal property, and cause damage to the overall structure of your garage and even your house. If you are looking to build a garage that takes these concerns into consideration, or if you want to renovate your garage to address these issues, call a Downers Grove custom garage expert at 630-852-8485.

By Christine Miller Blue Sky Builders • • • • • • • • • 0 Comments

Can I Remodel My Garage During the Winter?

Blue Sky Builders winter garage renovationIf you are looking to improve or redevelop your garage, it is important to consider what time of year the project should begin. Although winter may seem like a less than ideal time to start a garage makeover, completing renovations during the colder season will ensure that the finished product will be ready when the warmer months roll around. If you want to enjoy your garage when the weather is nice, a winter remodel may be ideal for you. Before jumping into a garage renovation, it is important to discuss your wants and needs with an experienced garage building expert.    

Why Are Colder Months Good for Renovation?

Depending on what type of remodel you are looking to do, the colder temperature of wintertime can make construction easier. If the ground is frozen, and the air is dry, it will be more ideal to dig a foundation. In addition, it is practical to avoid a muddy ground if you are pouring concrete. One final thought to consider if you start a project in the winter months is that you can avoid the unpredictable weather of the spring and summer months. 

Benefits of a Wintertime Renovation

Garages are often used more frequently in the spring and summer than during the months of November through February. When the weather gets frightful, many people like to stay inside their home rather than utilize tools or other equipment that may be stored in a garage. If your renovation project is completed out of season, your garage can be the ideal summertime location for:
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By Christine Miller Blue Sky Builders • • • • • • • 0 Comments

What You Should Consider When Planning a Garage Expansion

Blue Sky Builders garage expansion renovationThe number of cars in the United States has continued to grow throughout the past several decades, and the average size of vehicles has also expanded. Travel has become more and more of a necessity in today’s society, and many families now have multiple cars. In the past, a two-car garage provided plenty of room, but nowadays, that may no longer be enough. With winter approaching relatively quickly, the addition of more room in your garage could be the garage renovation project your family needs. However, you will need to keep a few things in mind when considering this type of custom garage project.

Know Your County Limits

In DuPage County, a single-family home on a lot of 40,000 square feet or less is allowed a maximum size of 650 feet for a detached garage. However, if there is no current detached garage built, the homeowner is provided with an additional 200 square feet. In all single-family residential zones for homes that have 40,000 square feet of property or less, the maximum height allowed for a detached garage is 15 feet. 
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By Christine Miller Blue Sky Builders • Building Tips • Construction • Remodeling • Renavation • • • • • • • • • 0 Comments

The Best Times of Year for Garage Rebuild or Renovation Projects

Best seasons for a garage renovation or rebuild projectYour garage is not just a small building where you park your car. Depending on your lifestyle, you may spend a great amount of time in your garage. Whether you are using your garage for storage, hosting a get-together, inviting friends over for a game of pool, or just relaxing, it can be a haven from the hectic life that many of us face every day. During this time of year, you may be planning to see how you can update your garage to better meet your needs, and you are probably wondering when the best time would be to build a new garage or renovate your old one. Read more

By Bill Gilman Uncategorized • • • 0 Comments

Garage Building Best in August: Beat the Cold Weather!

Garage Building August Best TimeTake Advantage of Building a Custom Garage Before August Ends

It’s true – fall is right around the corner with winter not too far behind it! Don’t be left out in the cold!  Now is the time to finally make that decision to build the new custom built garage that you have always wanted. 

Before any garage is built, there is a lot of garage planning and preparation that must be done.  All of the garage options have to be figured out and finalized such as: Read more