Winter is a time for being cozy inside. It’s definitely not the time to worry about the security of your garage. So if you live in an area that gets a lot of rain or snow, try to weatherproof your garage before winter hits. It’s all too easy to forget about your garage if it’s away from your house, or infrequently visited in the winter. But this benign neglect can lead to dangerous leaks and damage.
Luckily, there are a few easy steps you can take right now to weatherproof your garage before winter arrives. Do it now, while the weather is mild. Spread the work out over a few weeks, and get the rest of the household involved. It just takes a small commitment to make a big difference in protecting your garage and what’s inside. Some tasks will only take an hour, like getting a protective floor coating in Jacksonville, but your space needs to be clean first. Let’s get started.
Do a Deep Clean & Tidy
If you’re looking to get your floor done with ceramic coatings in Jacksonville ahead of winter, then you need to make sure the space is clear and ready for application. But even if you do nothing else to prepare for the rainy season, a deep clean and tidy will make a big difference. Sweep up all those cobwebs and sawdust piles. Get those dead insects swept away and dust off the workbench. At the very least, spend a little time sorting through the accumulated boxes and tools that are surely stored in your garage.
The worst possible situation would be a flooding disaster, where cardboard boxes on the floor get damp and destroyed. Don’t put yourself in a situation where you have to explain a ruined wedding album to your sweetie. Do some sorting first. It could be the case that you don’t actually need to keep everything in your garage. Perhaps there are items that could be donated or even trashed. Once you get everything sorted, look for an easy plastic shelving solution to get that stuff up off the floor. Cardboard is cheap, but it’s also susceptible to moisture and bugs. Plastic bins are a better choice.
Check the Seals and Weatherstripping
Once you’ve tidied, it’s time to take a look at the structure of the building itself. Most garages have seals that will wear out after a year or two. Check the seals around the garage door, the seals around the windows, and any weatherstripping under the door itself. Look for signs of tearing or flaking. If you’re starting this process in the summertime, you might not be able to notice any moisture at the moment. But if the seals show any signs of wear, it might be wise to strip them and replace them with fresh seals.
If you haven’t replaced the seals or weatherstripping since you bought the home, this is a great task to add to your yearly checklist. Of course, not all seals need to be replaced yearly. But a smart homeowner stays on top of their house. By keeping your space tightly sealed, you’re protecting everything inside from the elements.
Prevent Moisture Seepage with a Protective Floor Coating in Jacksonville
If the space is clean and ready, you could look for a contractor to deliver a garage floor coating from Jacksonville. There are a lot of great options for ceramic coatings in Jacksonville. Even better, it doesn’t take very long at all to apply. This kind of protective layer is great for preventing any kind of moisture seepage. It repels mold and bacteria and will not pool up. It’s easy to clean, long-lasting, and it also has sound-muffling qualities.
You may not need protection from the snow, but you might instead be worried about rain and flash floods. A protective floor coating in Jacksonville is a quick and easy way for southern homeowners to protect their homes from the elements, all year round. If you’re worried about puddles from wet boots, it might be worth laying down some rubberized mats on top of your new flooring to contain the water.
Hurricanes & Windstorms
It won’t do you any good to replace the seals on the garage windows if your roof gets blown off. As you think about preparing your garage for the winter season, make sure you get up on the roof and see if you need new shingles. Summertime and early fall are great times to get the roofers out and replace outdated shingles.
You may not think you need them, but if it’s been more than 5 years you should consider getting your garage roof redone. By the time you start to see the damage appear on the outside, it may already have been leaking through on the inside, creating more damage inside the roof.
Insulate Where Possible
This one is a smart habit for any homeowner with any type of outbuilding. Insulation helps modulate the temperature inside a building. By insulating the walls, you can help keep the garage’s temperature steady. If you store building supplies or even musical instruments in your garage, a steady temperature will help prevent them from being damaged by fluctuating humidity and heat. Insulated walls can also make it way more pleasant to do woodworking projects in the wintertime since you won’t be shivering. Another important place to apply insulation in your garage is on any exposed pipes. If your water pipes run through the garage, take a moment to explore their locations. Could you add some foam around them? Many spray foam insulations are good solutions for tiny nooks, but you can also visit the hardware store and look for safe foam sheets that you can ratchet around any exposed pipes.
At the end of the day, you’ll be happy you started weatherproofing now ahead of the rainy season. Congrats on being a smart homeowner! Enjoy your new winter-proofed garage for years to come.