How to Maximize Garage Storage for Sports Equipment

Everyone who keeps sports equipment in their garage knows that it can quickly take over if not stored properly. But keeping your gear neat and tidy doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. We have a few simple steps to follow when deciding on sports equipment storage in your garage.

Pare down

As is the rule with almost every type of organizing task, the best way to start is by sorting through your belongings and only keeping what you need. Make three piles of sports equipment: one each for keeping, selling/giving away, and trash. It is much easier to figure out sports storage solutions when you know exactly what you have to work with. Many towns have online yard sales or freebie sites where you can list your unwanted items, or you can always make use of Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. You’d be surprised to see how quickly people will take unwanted sports equipment off your hands!

Store like items together

Storage experts agree that like items should be stored together, mainly to make it easiest on yourself when trying to find what you’re looking for. But what do you consider to be “like items?” This is open to interpretation, so you can categorize in whichever way makes the most sense to you, but one common approach is to categorize by sport. For example, if you own a lot of hockey gear, you would store it all together in one section of the garage. Another approach is to categorize by type of gear, like storing different types of balls in the same part of the garage. We recommend sorting items in your driveway or yard first so that you can visualize what makes the most sense to you before putting everything away in your garage.

Find the right sports equipment storage solution

Here comes the fun part—finding the right garage sports organizer. There are loads of options out there in a wide range of prices, and you can typically find what you need at your local home improvement store. You’ll want to consider a few factors, such as the types of items you are storing and the volume of sports equipment you own. Here are a few common sports equipment storage solutions:

1. Space-saving slatwall systems allow you to customize your garage sports storage any way you like. A slatwall system consists of grooved wall panels that you affix to your wall in sections. This is a versatile solution that you can build off of by adding hooks, ball bags and shelves.
2. A garage cabinet is a great option if you have the space because it keeps all of its contents concealed and out of the way. You can even add little baskets or dividers inside each individual shelf to accommodate smaller items.
3. Utility hooks are an ideal way to store items that can be easily hung, such as ice skates, golf bags and helmets. By utilizing available space on the walls and ceiling, you can maximize the size of your garage without cramming too much onto the garage floor. Just make sure you get the right size hooks to handle the weight of the items you’re hanging.

Now that you’ve read this far, you should be ready to start mapping out the ideal approach to organizing your sports equipment. With the warmer weather just around the corner, you may want to set aside a mild weekend to get this done. Trust us, you’ll thank yourself after!

When using your garage for sports equipment storage, it’s important to protect the valuable items contained within by making sure that your garage door is always functioning properly. If you find yourself in need of garage door services ranging from basic maintenance to garage door installation, the Champion Overhead Door team is always here to help.

Does a Garage Add Value to your Home?

Adding a garage to your home has many benefits. Not only does it provide a place to park your vehicle and room to store tools or seasonal machinery, but a garage is also an attractive feature for homebuyers. According to Kiplinger, 85% of homebuyers are looking for a home with a garage. However, if you add a garage with the intent of selling your home, how much of your investment should you expect to get back? Let’s look at two different garage projects and find out.

We’ll start with simply replacing your current garage door. This project continues to be one of the top-ranking home improvements for the money. You can expect to recoup roughly 97% of your costs for a mid-range to upscale replacement. Think about how that compares to a kitchen remodel, normally talked about as one of the highest return on investment (ROI) for renovation projects, at only 80.5% ROI and a much higher price tag.

The ROI on a full garage build is a little more complicated to estimate. There are many factors involved which makes it harder to gauge. Will it be attached or detached, finished or unfinished, heated or unheated, and how many bays will it have? Keeping in mind that these factors will sway the cost higher or lower, depending on what you choose, according to homeguide.com the average cost to build a garage is $49 per square foot, or somewhere between $20,000 and $30,000 overall. If that fits within your budget and you are able to tackle that project, you should expect to see around an 80% ROI.

Many experts agree that adding a garage makes your home more attractive to homebuyers. Not everyone is in the position to spend upwards of $30,000 on a large project in order to sell their home, but if you are, then it’s a smart investment and will add a good dose of desirability and curb appeal. If you have a garage and it needs some upgrades, say a new garage door, then your best bet is to replace it. You’ll get almost all of that money back and your home will be more attractive to potential buyers.

Garage Door Windows

If you’re in the market for a new garage door, one of the main features to decide on is windows. Garage doors with windows have been gaining popularity over the last decade because of the curb appeal they add to homes. Garage door windows complement any home’s aesthetic, from traditional to contemporary or anything in between.

Natural Light

If you use your garage as a workspace— for automotive repairs or as a home office— garage door windows can brighten up the space by allowing natural light in. Choose from horizontal or vertical windows in a style that matches your home’s aesthetic. Or go for a full view door, one that’s comprised entirely of windows. Then decide if you want the glass tinted or frosted for privacy. You’ll be thrilled by how much light a few windows let in.

Curb Appeal

Your garage door and garage door windows are an extension of your home’s aesthetic. There are loads of designs available to match any style. Use the color of the door and add custom window inserts to create drama. If you already have garage doors, but want to update your look, consider changing out a panel for one with windows.

Security

It’s true that a windowless garage door is more secure— there’s no way for a burglar to peek in— but there are ways you can style the windows on your garage door to make them safer. Frosted glass is available through most manufacturers, but there are also DIY ways to frost glass using spray paint, window film, or etching. If you don’t care for the frosted look, try tinted windows. There are different degrees of tints — from slightly shaded to almost opaque.

If you don’t want to frost or tint the glass and live in an area where security is a priority, then be sure to place the windows in the top panel of the garage door to keep people from peeping in. You can also opt for smaller windows, making it harder to view what’s inside.

Garage door windows add value and curb appeal to your home. If your existing doors are windowless, you may be able to replace a panel with a windowed panel. But you’ll need to check the spring system to ensure it can handle the extra weight. Contact us, we can help decide the next steps in your garage door upgrade or replacement.

5 Common Garage Door FAQs

We’re committed to offering the highest quality customer service in the southern Vermont, southwestern New Hampshire and Franklin County, Massachusetts areas. But we know that sometimes you have a question and just want a quick answer without having to pick up the phone. That’s why for this week’s blog, we put together a list of garage door faqs.

Why does my garage door start going down and then suddenly reverse?

If you are having this problem while using the remote control or the HomeLink control in your vehicle, then it is probably an issue with the photo eyes on the safety sensors. To test this, push and hold the wall control and see if the door operates properly. The safety sensors automatically reverse the direction of the door if something passes under it while it’s closing. Sometimes a spider web or other debris covers the photo eye and prevents the door from closing. Clear the obstruction and try using the remote or HomeLink again.

I backed into the garage door because I thought it was up. Do you sell individual door sections or do I need to purchase a whole new door?

This happens more often than you think! Yes, we can replace sections on many garage doors. We’d need to assess the door and connecting parts for the extent of damage in order to make an educated recommendation for replacing part or all of the door.

Do you sell replacement hardware for garage doors?

We do sell replacement hardware. Some styles and colors may not be available depending on the age, but we will do our best to get what you need.

My garage remote control is not working, what do I do?

Sounds like it’s time to change the batteries. Most remotes have a battery cover on the back. Remove the cover and the battery, replace it with a new battery, making sure it is facing the correct position (usually positive side up). It is good practice to check the battery contacts at this time to make sure they are clean.

Can I get an estimate for garage doors over the phone?

Yes! But remember that it is just that— an estimate. We believe that it is best for us to go to the job to measure the opening and discuss the different styles available, but are happy to give you a quote over the phone as long as you provide us with the exact measurements and style you are looking for.

Hopefully, you were able to get your question answered with this list. If you didn’t find the answer you needed, please contact us today!

DIY Haunted House

Halloween is right around the corner and if you have been wanting to do something to give your friends and neighbors a fright, then keep reading! We’ve got some spook-tacular ideas for turning your garage into a haunted house that you won’t want to miss.

Clean it out

The first step to creating a haunted house in your garage is to clean it out and make space. This is a great time to check out some of the overhead storage systems we mentioned in an earlier blog (pardon the shameless plug). Tidy up, sweep the floor, and if needed, move some of the larger items (think lawnmower) out until November 1. The goal here is to create the most space possible and to prevent guests from tripping over tools or garden supplies.

Spook It Up

Here’s the fun part, coming up with the plan and figuring out what kind of haunted house props you will use. Do you like super scary mazes where monsters and ghouls pop out of every corner? Or do you prefer a tamer spiderweb and blacklight haunted house? Maybe you want a movie or tv show themed haunted house.

Whatever you prefer, you can start off with covering up workbenches and shelving with black tarps or gardening fabric. Replace your overhead lights with blacklights or flicker bulbs. Synthetic spiderwebs come in a myriad of colors and stretch to fit any area. Spanish moss, white sheets, and tea-dipped cheesecloth will give it that someone-used-to-live-here-but-now-it’s-haunted vibe. Conceal any daylight by blacking out the windows with construction paper.

Depending on your budget, you can purchase a life-size Halloween fiend or make your own. There are so many to choose from— some light up, some make noise, and some jump at you when you least expect it. In this same vein, you can enlist a family member to dress like one of these creatures of the night to pop out at people and give them a good scare.

Don’t forget the floor and ceiling. Rats, mice, spiders, and bloody hand- or footprints will add to the horror. Hang bats from the ceiling just low enough to brush someone’s head and give them a scare. Blow in some fog to up the creepy-factor.

And of course, you need pumpkins or gourds of some sort. Carved as jack-o-lanterns or left as nature intended, nothing says Halloween quite like a pumpkin. You can stick with traditional orange, or paint them black or white to complete your scary ensemble. Fake pumpkins are great if you host a Halloween party year after year, and many of them can be carved just like the real thing.

Make Some Noise

One can’t make a haunted house on decorations alone. A chilling soundtrack will really set the mood and bring out the goosebumps. Bluetooth speakers in the corners of the garage will create an immersive experience for your guests. Think about the tone you want to set and go from there. Maybe you want to keep it light for younger guests or perhaps the adult-only crowd needs a scare. Not sure what to pick? A quick internet search will land loads of Halloween song lists– choose your favorite and set it on a loop.

Invite Your Friends

Now that you’ve completed your garage haunted house, you need suckers people for scaring. Plan a party for the weekend before trick-or-treating and invite friends and family. Have everyone bring a spooky snack or beverage to share. Then, if you made your garage a true house of horrors, tone it down (if needed) and get ready for the trick-or-treaters. You know how tame you need to be judging by the age and number of children in your neighborhood.

Halloween is a fun time of year for children and adults and a garage haunted house will bring everyone together. Be sure to have some candy on hand to give out, especially to the poor souls who may have found your haunted house a little too frightening!