 | Larry Lara and wife Pam are Co-Owners of Premier Garage of Wichita, a firm that specializes in garage floor coatings, cabinets and organizers. Larry has had 32 years of firefighting, rescue experience and working directly with residential and commercial fire codes. Larry, Pam and their three children have been residents of Wichita since 1986. Larry can be contacted at (316) 448-0232, or you may send him an e-mail at wichita@premiergarage.com |
Home Improvement
2005-07-01 11:46:00
What's new with garages?
: What is new in the area of garages? It seems like every room in the home has had advancements. Has the garage been left behind?
ANSWER: Male or female, garages have always been considered to be one of the most important rooms of our homes. Today more than ever. No longer is the garage considered an extension of our house, but often times it is the only entrance that we use. It's where we unload the groceries, our pets, and our children. It's the last room we see in the morning before leaving for the day, and the first room to welcome us home at night. The garage is where we store our beloved vehicles, work on projects, or just spend time tinkering. Yet most garages are full of hazards. For some reason, we're willing to squeeze ourselves through the obstacle course of lawn equipment, children's toys, and those boxes that we keep meaning to go through just to enter our homes from the garage. Wouldn't it be nice if we cared as much about the appearance (and the safety) of our garages as we do the interior of our homes?Here are a few tips on keeping your garage better organized, secured, safe and clean: • Free up floor space and reduce tripping by hanging the clutter when you can. It's so easy just to dump stuff on the floor of your garage. But that can mean dangerous piles of materials and objects that children can climb or you can trip over. Walls should not be the home of leaning shovels, rakes, lawn chairs, bikes and other sharp objects. Keep stairs, steps, landings and all floors clear of clutter. It's just safer.• Life really is better when things are in their proper place. Dangerous products are safer when you store them in a locked cabinet. Storing sports equipment keeps kids from exploring potentially dangerous areas of the garage.• Store heavy equipment on higher shelves and the light stuff down below. It will actually be easier and safer to get to what you want. And always be careful not to overload shelves.• Have you ever thought about the air quality in your garage? Carbon monoxide poisoning is a dangerous possibility, so always pull the car out of the garage after starting it. Carbon monoxide can enter the home if cars are left running in the garage, even with the garage door open.• There's no reason for your garage to be dark. Make sure garage and stairwells are well lit. Use the maximum safe wattage in light fixtures. And when light bulbs are used near a work area, protect them with a substantial guard to reduce the risk of breakage and fire.• Do you own a fire extinguisher? Do you know how to use it? Do your kids? It's not hard, but you need to learn as it could save your life. Install smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors to assure an early warning. Keep a first aid kit where it's visible and handy.• Don't invite pests. Raccoons, squirrels, or mice can completely destroy your garaged car, chomping on wiring, eating upholstery, and taking up residence in vents and air intakes. Leaving garbage or uneaten food in your garage or car is an open invitation.• Store gasoline only in approved containers, and make sure they're free from corrosion and sealed tightly. • Clean up spills when they occur. Other fluids or substances, even if not flammable by themselves, may combine with dust or oil to form a flammable combination. They may also be dangerous to children or the family dog or cat. Be especially careful with volatile cleaning solutions and coolant. Consider getting a garage mat to catch spills and make cleanup easier. Store oily shop rags in a sealable metal container, or throw them away.• As car batteries get old and will no longer hold their charge, they could possibly explode and either ignite a fire or cause chemical burns. Discard old batteries at a recycling center and leave ones with some life left connected to a sophisticated battery charger that guards against overcharging.• Make sure all power tools, extension cords, and adapters are unplugged and properly stored out of children's reach. Store ladders sideways, not upright, so that they don't possibly tip over on children or your vehicles. • Keeping automotive products in their original packages will assure that you don't mistake one for another, and it will also help you more quickly find aid for accidental ingestion or skin contact.• Every garage should have some sort of ventilation, whether it's a professional system, a fan, or just ceiling vents. Make sure all the vents have a mesh covering, to keep the pests away.• If you have items of high value in the garage, blocking off the windows will help keep thieves away.• If you have an automatic garage door, keep the remote controls away from children. Have the doors inspected and maintained regularly, and know how to disengage and release the automatic mechanism in case of an emergency.Finally, always check with your insurance agent that you have the necessary coverage against fire and physical damage, and that all vehicles, especially hobby vehicles, are covered. Keeping a safe garage, you should never need it, but the relatively low cost of such coverage makes it a must-have.
