How To Winterize Your Garage

Winter can be harsh on the entire home, from your roof and water pipes to your concrete driveway and garage floor. With plummeting temperatures, snow and ice, your garage takes a beating during the winter months.

However, with proactive care, you can minimize potential damage and extend the life of your garage. Let’s explore standard practices on how to winterize a garage and discover a key tip to protect your garage floor from the elements.

Insulate Your Garage

Insulating your garage involves placing insulating materials in the walls, roof, and potentially the garage floor to reduce heat loss and prevent cold air from seeping in. Insulation helps maintain a consistent temperature in your garage, protecting your vehicles, tools, and other stored items from the harsh winter conditions. The process can prevent freezing of water lines and guard against rust and corrosion.

Seal Gaps and Cracks

Unsealed gaps and cracks can significantly reduce the effectiveness of your insulation and allow the winter elements to infiltrate your garage. Identify and seal openings that let cold air, snow, or rain inside. Common areas to inspect include the spaces around doors and windows and any visible cracks in the walls or floor. Sealing gaps and cracks can also help prevent unwanted pests from seeking shelter in your garage during winter.

Check and Insulate Garage Doors

Garage doors are a common source of heat loss during the winter. Ensure your garage door is in good condition and seals properly when closed. Consider adding weatherstripping to the bottom of the door to prevent drafts. If your garage is attached to your home, an insulated garage door can also contribute to your house’s energy savings.

Clean and Organize

A clean and well-organized environment allows for easy access and retrieval of stored items, reducing the time spent searching for tools or equipment.

Organization also eliminates potential hiding spots for pests who are searching for warmth during the colder months. Those cardboard boxes are a welcome mat for mice seeking shelter. A better alternative is garage cabinetry, which gives you the storage space you need up off of the ground and has doors to conceal your belongings.

Lastly, by cleaning and organizing your garage, you can better evaluate its current state and identify any needed repairs or improvements.

Garage Floor Protection

Now, let’s talk about the often neglected aspect of garage winterization — the floor. Your garage floor endures a lot during winter, from melting snow to salt and dirty slush. These elements can be harsh on concrete, leading to cracks, pits, and deterioration over time.

Melting snow and ice can introduce excess moisture to your garage floor, promoting the growth of mold and mildew. Salt used on roads can also find its way into your garage, causing corrosion and damage to the concrete. Additionally, the abrasive nature of dirt and slush can wear down the surface of your garage floor, making it look worn and aged.

Epoxy coatings are a popular choice for garage floors, but polyaspartic coatings offer increased durability, temperature resistance, and faster curing times. These advantages mean your garage floor will be ready to withstand winter’s harshest conditions in no time.

Polyaspartic coatings create a seamless, tough surface that protects against moisture and everything else winter throws at it and are also UV-stable, preventing yellowing and discoloration over time. With polyaspartic garage flooring, you enhance the aesthetic appeal of your garage and ensure long-lasting protection against the elements.

Winterizing your garage is crucial in maintaining its structural integrity and protecting the items stored inside. Don’t forget about your garage floor, and consider the benefits of a polyaspartic garage floor coating from Ohio Garage Interiors (OGI) for the ultimate winter protection. We offer top-of-the-line polyaspartic coatings and professional application by our experienced team.

With these tips and our products and services, you’ll be 100% ready to face winter and keep your garage in shape. Contact us now!