The 2nd Best Thing I've Done For My Garage..

[richy]

As I've used my garage to work on cars for the last few years, I've slowly done more and more improvements in it to make it a nicer place to work. The best thing I've ever done, without a doubt, is to add my portable air conditioner. Everything takes a backseat to that one!

However, I've just added something that I thing might be of use to people here. I've added a custom made mosquito curtain to the garage door opening. This past summer has seen many pleasant days where I haven't needed to use the A/C but just had the door open with all the lights on of course. So, at night, you guessed it...I become a giant mosquito magnet!! I've had so much bug spray on that I'm sure it's not healthy. These curtains allow the breeze to come through but none of those nasty bugs!

I did a lot of research into different companies and products and this is what I chose:

Mosquito Netting | Screen Porch & Patio Enclosure Kits


The curtains come with a track and they bunch up at either side when not in use. The sides are held with marine snaps. The curtain is very strong, very good material. Nothing about them feels cheap. I highly recommend them to anyone!! They are not cheap, but I think they're worth it. I believe these cost in the neighbourhood of $400 shipped to Michigan.


Here is what they look like:





Inside View:






The two side are kept together with magnets that you place in the middle stitching:





Outside View:





Here is a view of the track they slide in:





Thanks for looking!

 

[eaglefan]

Very nice addition. Do you plan to take in down during the winter? If yes, how easy is it to remove?
If not, an update after the winter would be an interesting read.

Congrads on being bug free! They are a pain in the $$$

 

[miad]

only thing I could think of is.....how much do they pay police officers in Canada? I assume your picture is accurate, but that house could never happen here in the US as most officers make $40-60k. just wondering.

 

[EVOlved]

That is fantastic! Now I just need you to donate me your garage so I can get one

 

[Tato]

2 great tips. I have a portable air conditioner serving for almost nothing in my home: and I'm sweating for free in the garage...

Can't wait for tomorrow morning to transfer the unit to garage! Why haven't I thought about doing this earlier?!

The mosquito net is also a great addition, although I don't have high incidence of mosquitos here, there are always 'two or three', enough to make worth the Net.

It also looks very nice from in and outside.

Thanks for sharing,

Kind Regards.

 

[richy]

Very nice addition. Do you plan to take in down during the winter? If yes, how easy is it to remove?
If not, an update after the winter would be an interesting read.

Congrads on being bug free! They are a pain in the $$$

Thanks very much. No, I'll be removing them in a month or so. The end of the track has a cap that is screwed into place. Just unscrew it and the whole curtain just slides right out of the track. Very easy.

only thing I could think of is.....how much do they pay police officers in Canada? I assume your picture is accurate, but that house could never happen here in the US as most officers make $40-60k. just wondering.

Our salaries range and I've been on the job for 21 years so I actually move up one last step in January. What is the huge added bonus is that my wife is a Superintendent of the school board and makes about twice what I do.

That is fantastic! Now I just need you to donate me your garage so I can get one

Or just come buy my house. I'll build a new garage with a sloped floor with a drain!!

2 great tips. I have a portable air conditioner serving for almost nothing in my home: and I'm sweating for free in the garage...

Can't wait for tomorrow morning to transfer the unit to garage! Why haven't I thought about doing this earlier?!

The mosquito net is also a great addition, although I don't have high incidence of mosquitos here, there are always 'two or three', enough to make worth the Net.

It also looks very nice from in and outside.

Thanks for sharing,

Kind Regards.

You're welcome. I actually bought that portable A/C unit in 2007! Here is a thread I did on it back in the day. It still works amazingly well. I've only used it twice this summer which is quite odd. We did not have a great summer weather wise and I was ill for the last 1/2 of it to boot.


http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/off-topic/9755-c-unit-setup.html

 

[Chris@AutoCleanse]

Hey Richy just curious what do you do about the lights above the door when the door is up while you are working. My lights in the shop run from end to end so if I have the door up I lose some lighting if that makes sense. Net looks good by the way.

 

[Pureshine]

I've had one for 3 years love mine

 

[EVOlved]

Or just come buy my house. I'll build a new garage with a sloped floor with a drain!!

I'm leaving here tomorrow!!

 

[dsg03gt]

only thing I could think of is.....how much do they pay police officers in Canada? I assume your picture is accurate, but that house could never happen here in the US as most officers make $40-60k. just wondering.

Most police officers by me in NJ make over $100k. Guess it just depends on location.

Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

 

[Don M]

Most police officers by me in NJ make over $100k. Guess it just depends on location.

Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

A lot depends on the cost of living in an area, plus what kind of tax base they have.

 

[KneeDragr]

only thing I could think of is.....how much do they pay police officers in Canada? I assume your picture is accurate, but that house could never happen here in the US as most officers make $40-60k. just wondering.

Depends on where you live. Im my area starting salary is 48k, and young detectives make almost 6 figures ( 95k ) and top out at 125k. Local police chiefs make 250k.

But I have heard stories that indeed Canada pays their public servants well to offset their high property values. Housing in Canada is quite expensive.

 

[richy]

Hey Richy just curious what do you do about the lights above the door when the door is up while you are working. My lights in the shop run from end to end so if I have the door up I lose some lighting if that makes sense. Net looks good by the way.

Chris, I don't put it all the way up, maybe 3/4 so the light is still shining down on the car. If I want or need the sunshine from outside, I'll just shut them off and leave the door open.

I've had one for 3 years love mine

Awesome, thanks for sharing that!

 

[Bunky]

Good idea.

 

[richy]

Good idea.

Thanks Al!

 

[Angus]

Very cool! I noticed Harbor Freight carries a cheap version a while back but couldn't find much info on it. Yours looks waaay nicer. :dblthumb2:

 

[jarred767]

I like it! Don't have enough mosquitos here to make it worth it, but I love seeing ways that other outfit their garage to make it more "detailing friendly." Nice work!

 

[richy]

Very cool! I noticed Harbor Freight carries a cheap version a while back but couldn't find much info on it. Yours looks waaay nicer. :dblthumb2:

I like it! Don't have enough mosquitos here to make it worth it, but I love seeing ways that other outfit their garage to make it more "detailing friendly." Nice work!

Thanks guys! Angus, I bought a $15 one for the pedestrian door at the side of the garage but it is night and day difference between what I have on the main door. The side door is nice to have one there too to get the cross breeze.

 

[Dogfather]

my wife is a Superintendent of the school board and makes about twice what I do.

Nice!
:dblthumb2:

 

[Black Bowtie]

A local company installs this type of screen door.

Garage Door Screens: Lifestyle Screens® Garage Screen Door System