Month: March 2020

There’s nearly an endless number of things to love about living in Florida. While the homes are built soundly to protect against hurricanes and they’re perfect for the gorgeous weather with in-ground pools rounding out nearly every home, Florida’s limestone base does not permit Florida homes to have basements. Additionally, many Florida homes do not have functional attics due to high temperatures throughout the year. This lack of storage poses challenges for Florida homeowners, especially during times of crisis where homeowners need to stock up on food, toiletries and other nonperishables.  

If you’re a Florida homeowner and find yourself facing this exact problem, we’ve got a couple of solutions for you and recommendations for how you can optimize your space. 

Garage Cabinetry

Because Florida homes lack basements and attics are not suited for additional storage, a fantastic way to optimize the space you do have is by adding custom cabinetry to your garage. If you’re looking for a company with the expertise to accomplish the task, look no further than Encore Garage. This Southwest Florida based storage-solution company has 15 years of experience turning outside garage space into clean functional storage. They’re the experts in making the best use of the existing footprint, creating storage solutions that best suit your needs. Whether you’re planning to store extra dry goods and cleaning supplies or heavier items like cases of water, their cabinetry line was chosen for its premium quality and specific attributes that can stand up to the heat and humidity Florida brings.

Stand Alone Organization Systems

Slatwall Panels and Grids are often the perfect way to create extra storage space when there simply just isn’t enough room for cabinets. Because they come in a wide range of colors and can be cut to fit any space, they can be an extremely helpful addition for homeowners that need to work around other fixtures such as garage refrigerators or water heaters. They can be cut-to-fit and placed accordingly and hold a variety of shelves, baskets and hooks to keep your things accessible, but still highly organized. Metal wall grids are extremely cost effective and highly functional. The grids, which come in a standard 4ft by 2ft size, can be installed individually or in groups. Hooks, baskets and additional accessories are available to help you organize your items and meet your storage needs. 

To make the best use of the new accessible spaces created by Garage Cabinets and Slatwall, overhead storage units can be installed in most garage ceilings and are the ideal place for items that are needed less frequently. They’re the perfect solution for storing bulky items like Christmas trees, holiday decorations, pool toys, even hurricane shutters. Ceiling rack storage will transform your garage floor space into one that is more usable and accommodating.  

Flexible garage storage is a must for Florida homeowners where basement storage is not an option. Contact Encore Garage to get started today.

Veteran classic car collectors know that there’s a lot that goes into keeping your antique vehicle in near perfect condition. If you’re looking for the basics on how to keep your antique beauty running for years, here are five tips. 

Foster a committed oil changing routine

Changing your car’s oil is Car Care 101, and this becomes increasingly important with antique cars. Antique cars differ from more recent models where oil changes take place every few thousand miles or so. Because owners want to keep their antique car around as long as possible, they are driven far less. How often you change the oil should become dependent upon length of time the oil has been in the engine, not the number of miles driven. A committed routine is essential to keep your car running well, a good rule to follow is to change the car’s oil every six months. 

Hand wash only

Automated car washes don’t have an antique car setting. They’re built to get the grime off even the dirtiest vehicles and can do so a little roughly. To preserve the exterior of your antique car, always wash by hand. When washing your car, avoid abrasive materials that can scratch the paint. It’s important to only use soft towels, mitts or sponges that are free of debris to wash the surface of your antique car. 

Give a proper shine

Your antique car care routine is not complete without giving the vehicle a proper shine. At a minimum, your car should be waxed every six months. Here are three simple steps you should follow to give your car a proper shine: 

• Make sure the car is dry before waxing
• Apply wax out of direct sunlight to avoid it drying too quickly
• Apply the thinnest coat possible over one small area at a time

Give the car a full inspection

Because antique cars aren’t driven as often, some owners forget that inspections need to be performed regularly to ensure the vehicle is running in tip-top shape and is safe to drive. This means checking brake pads, to make sure they’re not worn. You should also be checking other areas of the car for leaks such as brake lines, cylinders, calipers, engine, cooling system, power steering, transmission and drive axle. 

Store the car in a safe place

Storing your car in a safe place out of the elements will prevent it from incurring major damage. It’s also recommended to use a car cover even when storing a vehicle indoors. A cover will prevent additional dust and debris from damaging your vehicle. 

Storing your vehicle in a safe place is a great start, but it’s important to take it a step further to prevent further damage from pests. Fabric softening sheets, lavender moth balls and Irish Spring soap stored throughout the vehicle in its nooks and crannies are helpful in keeping pests like mice and other insects out of your antique car. 

Encore Garage has been enhancing garages throughout Southwest Florida since 2005, and specialize in quality floor coatings, cabinets and organizers. They are leaders in their field, having transformed over 6,000 garages into beautiful, clean and efficient spaces, perfect for storing and working on your antique car. For more information, visit EncoreGarageSWFL.com.