When you spend so much time caring for your home, maintaining your garage might fall to the bottom of your to-do list. As a space that’s primarily used for storage, priority is given to areas of the home where guests gather and family uses. Yet, garages are important areas of the home that must be tended to.

Like other areas of the home, it’s a good idea to inspect features and functions of your garage at least once a year to make sure all is in good condition. If you find something out of the ordinary, you can fix it before it becomes a problem. Here are a few garage maintenance tips you can use.

If you’ve found a small problem in your garage, it’s best to get it fixed before it becomes a major issue. Contact a garage contractor today for up to four quotes from pros in your area, for free.

Garage Inspection Checklist

Just like inspecting other areas of your home, it’s a good idea to know what you’re looking for ahead of time. It’s recommended to give your garage a thorough inspection every six months. Create a checklist of items to look at. Here are items in your garage to pay attention to:

• Changes in garage door surface
• Rust in garage door springs and pulleys
• Garage door opening mechanism is working properly
• Changes in garage floor
• Changes in garage walls
• Garage gutters are not obstructed

Garage Door Maintenance

One of the unique features that define a garage is the door itself. It’s large and often opens with the touch of a button so you don’t have to worry about holding it open. This allows for the space to be used for storage of items that would otherwise not fit in a shed or other areas of the home. If you’ve ever had a broken garage door before, you know the experience can be extremely frustrating. Here are some ways to ensure all is working properly:

• Check the track to make sure it’s free of obstruction.
• Check for rust or corrosion on all parts.
• Manually raise your garage door. If it doesn’t stay open, there could be a problem.
• Make sure the door rollers are lubricated.
• Observe if the door is making noise louder than usual when opening & closing
• Look at the door when closed to see if it is level with the ground.

If you see an issue with any of the parts of the garage door, have it repaired by a pro. If it’s not opening properly or you observed corrosion in the spring, it’s likely you’ll need to have it replaced. This is not a DIY job. The average cost to replace a garage door spring is between $200 and $300. This is an investment that can save you a lot of money in the long run if it’s caught early.

Hopefully, all is well during your garage door inspection. If that’s the case, you’ll want to perform regular maintenance to keep it in great working condition. Unplug from the garage door opener. Find a lubricant as suggested by the manufacturer and use on the rollers. Clean the track with a cloth, removing any dust and debris. Lubricate the springs if needed as well to help them last longer.

Garage Floor Maintenance

Evaluating your garage door as a routine inspection will take up most of your garage maintenance time. But, your garage floor is important as well. During your inspection, look at the garage floor. See if you notice any new cracks or shifts in the floor. These will need to be repaired before they get worse. You can patch small cracks up with a concrete crack filler. However, severe cracks might require the help of a masonry pro.

Stains and spots are also an issue that can appear on your garage floor over time. Typically, these are caused by grease and oil. By catching them early, there are a few remedies you can try. There is the method of using cat litter over the stain to remove it. Pour over the stain and press it into the concrete. The pressure should help lift the stain into the material.

However, for stains that have been around for a bit longer, you might want to try an oil and grease cleaner to get the spot out of your garage floor. You may also consider a new epoxy floor coating to give your garage a fresh, new look.

Garage Pest Removal

A common problem with garages is pests. They can find their way in if you frequently leave your garage door open, or if there’s a gap large enough for them to fit through. The last thing you want is a small rodent or pest to start calling your garage home. Here are common garage pests:

• Mice
• Raccoons
• Rats
• Opossums
• Ants
• Spiders
• Termites

While each infestation requires particular care, prevention starts the same. A cluttered garage creates hiding places for pests to not only continue growing but making them difficult to find and catch. Organize your garage and keep it clean so there’s no reason for a pest to want to enter.

While you should inspect regularly for animals or bugs, be aware of changes you see on a day-to-day basis. It’s important to catch infestations as early as possible, as they tend to grow exponentially. Look for animal droppings or noises. If you find yourself with an infestation in your garage, contact a pest removal pro who will safely be able to handle it.

Conclusion

Just like the rest of your home, the garage must be cared for. Inspecting and maintaining your garage on a regular basis can help you catch small problems before they become more severe. Create a plan on how you will maintain your garage and stick to it.