An overhead garage door is one of the most-used items on a home, yet we pay very little attention to it until it begins to have problems.

There are several maintenance tasks you can do to keep the garage door operating smoothly. At least once a year, lubricate the rollers and tracks with WD-40, lightly spraying the center of each roller and the inside of the tracks. If you have an automatic garage door opener, regularly change the batteries on the remote and outdoor keypad, and be sure to replace any burnt out bulbs on the garage door opener power head that lights the interior of your garage.

Check the automatic garage door opener for proper sensor operation. Raise and lower the door, and as it’s going down, roll a large ball under the door. The door should automatically rise back up. If not, the sensor needs to be adjust by a professional.

If the overhead door just doesn’t move as smooth and swiftly as it once did, it can be one of two issues: the automatic opener or the springs.  To determine if it’s the electric opener, simply disconnect the opener mechanism from the door. If the door glides smoothly in manual mode, then the problem is with the automatic opener. Consult the owner’s manual or call a qualified company to assist.

If you determine that the automatic opener is good then it’s a problem with the door itself. If you struggle to lift the door, then springs are most likely the culprit.

A simple test can reveal what’s wrong with the springs. Place your overhead garage door in the half open position, and ideally, it will stay there. But rather than hold that position, if the door continues on up, the springs may be too tight; if it slams to the ground instead, the springs are too loose, broken or worn out.

Springs can be adjusted or replaced but DO NOT try do this yourself. The springs of a closed garage door have over 100 pounds of kinetic energy waiting to be unleashed. Mess with them and it’s an accident waiting to happen. Only trained overhead door professionals should touch the springs of your garage door.

Be sure to take a look at the condition of the surface of garage door. Metal doors with a factory finish are much like caring for a car – wash it on a regular basis, and keep an eye out for scratches, dings or blemishes that could invite rust.  For wood doors, look for soft spots, blistering or peeling paint which indicate water damage and repair or repaint as needed. Also take a look at your wood door when it is fully open and horizontal with the garage ceiling; if you see it sagging in the middle, it needs to be reinforced or replaced.

Hinges, lock bars, and tracks can all contribute to a sluggish garage door, so it’s a safe and wise move to let professionals assess the situation. If you are experiencing any operational or surface finish problems with your overhead garage door – or are ready for a new one to update the look of your garage – let a Mosby Building Arts Home Consultant asses your garage door and help get it back on track! Call the office at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

MP3: Scott Mosby Tip of the Week – 10

Each week on KMOX 1120 AM, The Home Improvement Answer Man Scott Mosby shares a timely tip that will improve your home and life.

Tune into the KMOX Home Improvement Show with Scott Mosby every Saturday from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. During that time, Scott answers your questions at 314.436.7900 or 1.800.925.1120.

Take a drive through most any St. Louis County subdivision to see how important garages are. Overhead doors are raised displaying spaces packed with cars, lawn equipment, tools and overflowing storage. It is the favored hang-out for men. Its transitory position between indoors and out makes it a high traffic area.

The garage is a large and vital room in your home that deserves special attention to maximize organizational, recreational and functional potential. And make no mistake – it is a room in your home, one that gets used every day. Yet it’s commonly the room with the dreariest look and most wasted space. Luckily, there are plenty of solutions for enhancing your garage.

EXPANDING
Garages are getting bigger all the time. The standard 21′x 21′, 2-car garage does not adequately accommodate the larger size of our vehicles along with typical garage items like the lawnmower, gardening tools and a workbench.

Garages need to be a minimum of 22′ x 22′ to work with modern lifestyles, and the 3-car garage is the new standard. Even if there’s only 2 cars in your family, that extra bay can easily be converted into household storage or hobby workspace.

When it comes to more square footage, also think vertical. By adding a top layer to your existing garage, you get loft space that can become a playspace for kids, a home office or exercise studio.  Or by installing an auto elevator or car lift, you get the ability to stack vehicles atop one another, effectively doubling storage capacity.

ORGANIZING
Your garage can be just as precisely organized as the most breathtaking walk-in closet on HGTV. There’s an organization system to meet every need, featuring bins, pull-out drawers, shelving and custom cabinetry and closets. Walls can be turned into peg boards for hoisting yard tools, bikes and sporting equipment up off the floor so that it’s easier to navigate.  The same process used to design the ultimate kitchen (function, traffic flow, etc.) can also apply to the garage, with the same level of life enhancing results for the whole family.

UPGRADING
Unpainted drywall and unsealed concrete floors are the norm of garage interiors, which is a curious way to treat one of the most important spaces in a home. This is a room that all your neighbors see every time the overhead door goes up, and your frequent visitors most likely walk through the garage as well, so improving the look of this high traffic area with upgraded wall and floor finishes is a smart investment.

Plus, opting for finished walls and ceilings also provides an opportunity to add insulation to a large space that is too often overlooked when it comes to energy efficiency. Controlling the temperature in a garage makes it more useful all year long.

DETACHING
One issue with ever-expanding garages is that, from the street view, it can look as if the garage is overtaking the house! The re-emergence of the detached garage (like the ones in St. Louis City) is the solution for getting the size you need while maintaining the look and balance of your home, proper.  And building a new detached garage gives you a chance to add a second floor apartment that can serve as a home office or guest house.

The garage is no longer a utilitarian space to keep your car; it has become an important, frequently used part of daily life. When contemplating ways to improve the function and look of your garage, you should treat it as you would any remodeling project in your home. Begin with the designers and planners at Mosby Building Arts who will work with you to create a garage that meets all your wants and needs, and the Mosby carpenters will bring the project to life.

With over 60 years of experience, you can trust Mosby Building Arts to deliver a garage that lasts a lifetime and adds value to your entire home. Here’s an example of a Mosby garage project that inspired a total exterior makeover. Make the most of your garage by calling Mosby at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

Concrete is the most durable and flexible material for driveways, patios and walkways.  It is poured into any shape you desire with an endless variety of colors and finishes, and – with proper care – is an investment with enduring value.

Concrete is a high-function surface, and just as with a kitchen floor, how it looks is just as important as how it performs. We are familiar with the standard look of concrete, but did you know that you can have a surface for your concrete that will compliment and enhance your home? You work with a designer to choose the best look and know that these cosmetic options do not compromise the structural integrity of the material. So you get the best of both worlds.

Let’s review the choices you have for the appearance of your concrete surfaces:

Dyed Concrete

Typical concrete with a pigment added during the mixing stage, so that the color runs throughout the entire slab. You have a large palette to choose from and the color will not wear off.

Stained Concrete

Colors are applied on the concrete after it is cured, and then sealed.  This is a surface finish and is not as durable as dyed concrete.

Stamped Concrete

Standard or dyed concrete gets added texture by rubber stamping a pattern onto the wet surface.  The colors can be variegated with the use of powder pigment broadcast over the surface during the stamping process.  Typically, stamping is done on dyed concrete, as stamped patterns do not have the same aesthetic impact on standard gray concrete.  See more photos of this project.

Exposed Aggregate Concrete

Concrete is mixed with a decorative, smooth rock that is brought to the surface and left exposed.  Mother Nature dictates your color palette.  See more of this project.

Above is an example of how several concrete finishes can be combined to create a unique look.  For this backyard pool, standard concrete with a broom finish is outlined by a border of dyed and stamped concrete.  See more photos of this project.  The picture of the driveway at the top of this page uses the same concept but with different colors, highlighting how many choices you have when it comes to concrete.  See more pictures of that project.

Protecting Your Concrete Investment

Concrete is a strong and long-lasting material, so you pay more for these surfaces.  A crucial step for maintaining your concrete investment is to have it sealed.

Water is concrete’s enemy, so sealing it minimizes the moisture that penetrates and weakens your concrete.  An example of how water damages concrete is shown above; this flaking and deterioration is called spalling.

Spalling is a very common problem in the St. Louis area due to our excessive freeze/thaw cycles.  Every time concrete freezes and then thaws out, the moisture content weakens the surface of your concrete.  We are prone to 40 – 50 or more freeze/thaw cycles a season, and this happens more here than in any other part of the country, which is why we have the nickname of The Pot Hole Belt.

Winter is hard on your concrete, so the sooner you seal it the better you are protected against this type of damage.  The other benefits of concrete sealing are easier maintenance, cleaning, and snow removal.

Protect Your Investment with ProTreat Seal by Mosby

Scott Mosby, the KMOX Home Answer Man and president of Mosby Building Arts, has spent years researching the very best system for sealing and protecting concrete.  Scott believes so strongly in this product, and its 2-part application process, that his company now offers this concrete sealing service.

Mosby’s trained and experienced technicians begin by deep cleaning your concrete and then they apply a permanent, penetrating sealer that bonds with the interior of your concrete to block moisture from seeping in.  This is followed by a surface application that protects the surface from stains.

ProTreat Seal can be applied to concrete that has been sealed previously, and all the different concrete finishes shown above need to be sealed to protect the colors and textures.  If you are pouring new concrete, applying ProTreat within 48 hours on the fresh concrete will improve the curing process, which makes for a stronger surface and slab.

The ProTreat Seal by Mosby is an ounce of prevention for a pound of cure.  We work with you to design and build the most unique concrete look for your home, and we assure that your investment remains sound by protecting it from the elements.  To explore concrete finishes and protection, call Mosby at 314.909.1800 or contact us here.

.

This morning, our Project Manager Rich Oris braved temperatures in the teens to check on a past client. This is the project he oversaw, and he wanted to know how their heated driveway performed this morning.

It’s working perfectly.
Wouldn’t you like something like this for your home?

UPSCALE GARAGES

Garages are turning into much more than the unsightly, utilitarian place to store cars and lawnmowers. They are becoming the final frontier of the organized home, the new luxury space to be remodeled into a warm and inviting room.

15% of new homes have a garage large enough for 3 cars or more. As a result, garages are highly visible, often accounting for more than 40% of a home’s exterior face. We most often come and go from our house through the garage doors, and when the overhead door is up, people instinctively come through it to knock on our door, making the garage – rather than the front door – the gateway to our home.

This explains why the garage is graduating from the largest, most underutilized “room” in the house to a highly flexible space available for multiple activities. By adding insulation, HVAC, plumbing and task lighting, the garage is a room with endless possibilities. Changes include:

Innovations in overhead door design can bring a pleasing, coordinated look to what makes up a large portion of your home’s front façade.

Using ceiling space for overhead storage is a smart way to gain square footage.

Unused ceiling space can also be turned into a loft area. Endless possibilities for this “bonus room” include a lady’s hobby and craft room, a guy’s hangout room with TV and stereo or an exercise area for the whole family.

The traditional workbench area can expand into an intricately organized system with extensive options for configuration and cabinet finishes.

Along with painting or paneling the walls, flooring changes the look and feel of a garage. Advanced floor coatings and coverings make for easy clean up to avoid tracking dirt into the home.

And let’s not forget that the garage still remains the domain of the car. For those who work on their vehicles, installing lights in the floor is the ultimate luxury.

Another useful item is the motorized lift, making home car repairs and oil changes a breeze.

To house multiple vehicles, increasing the depth of your garage is an option, as well as overhead platforms which use vertical space to gain extra space.

Other ideas for remodeling your garage into a multi-use space include: walk-in storage closet, laundry room, shower, home elevator access, pet room and mud room. Your garage could be the answer to many space and lifestyle needs.

Here is a garage project we did that completely changed the appearance of their home.  Have the Mosby architects and designers help you imagine the possibilities by calling 314.909.1800 or contacting us here.