Kitty Mac Garage Door Screens

As your children, family and friends start dusting off the pumpkins and carving knives, it’s time to plan a little fun for Halloween. Whether it’s a small family gathering, or a big neighborhood bash, Halloween parties bring out the kid in all of us. Here are some party ideas to help your friendly ghosts and goblins enjoy themselves:

Funk up your food. Halloween is not the time to serve boring cheese trays. Remember all those yucky, gooey things you tried when you were a kid? Like gummy worms sliding out of Jello, or cupcakes covered with plastic spiders? Dig out your old recipe books and find some fun twists on party dishes. Try checking out www.familyfun.com, or www.foodnetwork.com for hauntingly yummy recipes.

Spruce the place up. Why not become known as the neighbor with the most Halloween decorations on the block? Let the other guys do it up right for Christmas. You don’t have to spend tons of money. There are lots of crafts that involve the most basic of supplies, and it’s even better when the whole family can get involved. Try searching these sites for tips: www.amazingmoms.com, or www.familymanagement.com.

Get your game on. Halloween is the perfect excuse for family fun. There are tons of games to choose from, whether it’s Spook Bingo, or the traditional bobbing for apples. Make sure you choose games that are appropriate for those attending. Or you can divide games into categories,  gearing them toward younger kids, teenagers and adults. Great ideas can be found at: www.partygamecentral.com, and www.partynook.com.

Set the stage. Remember that if the weather allows it, you’ll want to give your guests the opportunity to be outside. Nothing is better than a Halloween party at night … it’s only fitting! Clear out your garage so you can handle the crowd, and provide a place for seating , along with your food and beverages. This way you won’t worry so much about spills and messes. Make your garage the perfect gathering space by installing a garage door screen. This helps keep bugs and debris out of your party space, while allowing fresh air to flow. Check out www.freshairscreens.com for details.

Above all, remember that as a host, you will set the tone for an amazing event. So dress up! Get into the mood, and allow your guests to have a frightful, but fun-filled, evening!

As Autumn gives way to cooler temperatures, home owners start making out to-do lists in order to get ready for winter. Besides raking leaves and cleaning out gutters, you’ll probably want to get your garage door winterized. After all, your garage door can be a huge source of air cold air infiltration.

In fact, did you know that a 1/8-inch crack around the average single garage door yields almost 50 square inches of area? That’s definitely a concern, particularly if your garage is attached to your home. There are some steps you can take to make your garage space comfortable and cost-effective this winter.

1. For starters, go to your local hardward store and purchase a “garage door bottom.” These are usually made of rubber or vinyl.
2. Cut to measure the door bottom, and nail it to the bottom edge of the door with rust-resistant nails.
3. Next, purchase an overhead garage door weatherstrip kit, also available at your local home improvement store. Some kits features a vinyl leaf that fastens into an aluminum frame. Installation requires only a hammer and hacksaw and is accomplished by nailing the aluminum strip to the face of the door stop, allowing the vinyl leaf to “float” against the face of the garage door.
4. To help keep debris from entering your garage during the fall months, purchase a garage screen door. Installed around the frame of your garage opening, this mesh screen allows for fresh air flow, but keeps bugs and falling leaves out of your garage area.

For more information to help keep your garage clean and ready for cold-weather activities, see www.freshairscreens.com.

So you have a big party to plan, complete with menu items, decorations and guest lists. And you’re probably thinking, “I wish I could come up with something different or unique.”

Stop right there because you’ve come to the right place. Forget hand-lettered poster boards and small computer printouts. Have a custom printed screen banner made to fit your unique party or celebration.
These sturdy printed screens can be displayed on your garage door, front porch in your yard, with a custom photo or message that will give your party that special, one-of-a-kind touch. Whether it’s to welcome home a new baby, show your pride for a favorite team, or recognize a special birthday or anniversary, you can have a loved one’s picture right on a durable, long-lasting banner.

Every printed screen banner features:

• Full color printing on nylon screen material. The special, tightly woven mesh looks great while allowing easy air flow. You won’t have to worry about strong winds causing damage to your banner.
• Sturdy construction with double-stitched seams for durability.
• Corner grommets, allowing you to display it anywhere you choose!

Why settle for a ho-hum event, when you can jazz it up with an eye-catching custom banner? You will surprise your guests, as well as your guest-of-honor, with a special touch that will create memories to last forever. Visit www.freshairscreens.com for details.

If you are one of the thousands of Americans who have come to appreciate the value of a useful and organized garage, you probably want to make it as attractive as possible. Whether it’s for all the workshop activities you do, the parties you hold, or the car restoration you plan on doing one day, having a comfortable and attractive garage is important.

One of the biggest decisions you’ll make for your garage’s appearance is choosing the right flooring. With so many products out there, it’s easy to get confused. Here are some questions you will need to ask yourself before deciding on a garage floor purchase:

What will I be using the garage for the most? If you are mainly using your garage for basic use, like parking your car and storing sports equipment, mowers and trash cans, then you don’t want to spend too much money. Probably a basic specialized paint and coating will do.

How do you want your garage to look? Many home owners are wanting to upgrade their garage space to be not only usable, but more attractive. If you really want to take your garage to the next level, consider the range of floor tiles specifically designed for garage use. There are checker board patterns available, along with tiling options to create matching borders in a wide array of colors. There are also rolled garage flooring products out there to give you even more options.

Do you have existing issues with your garage? Many garages, especially those in older homes, have settled with cracks or slopes. This may present problems when any moisture, like rain run-off from your car, comes into play. For this type of problem, you might consider ribbed garage flooring products, which can help channel water to avoid puddles and wall damage.

Do you have special requests? If you like to keep your floor completely free of debris, consider flooring products made from a high impact polypropylene for lightweight durability and ease of installation. These types of flooring allow the water and debris to pass through the tiles directly to the concrete below, where it has enough available air flow to dry itself. This option allows for easy clean up.

Do you need a clutter-free environment? If you use your garage on a daily basis, either for car restoration or hobbies, you might consider an additional option in the form of garage door screens. By installing a simple, custom-made screen, you can protect your new-found garage space from additional outdoor debris and bugs while allowing fresh air flow at the same time. Garage door screens, such as the ones available at www.freshairscreens.com, are often the finishing touch for home owners who are looking to create the ultimate garage atmosphere.

For Indianapolis residents, the colors of blue and white are a source of local pride. Whether it’s by wearing a football jersey,  displaying signs in the window, or hosting an outdoor party, fans of the Indianapolis Colts find ways to show their team spirit.

One of the most unique items that is dotting the driveways of neighborhood fans is a custom printed garage door screen. And what might that be, you ask?

Imagine this: you’re sitting in your garage with your trusted buddies, sharing a cold beer and watching the Colts crush the competition. You’ve got your face painted blue and white, you’re sharing a ritualistic belly bump and primal scream with your closest friends, and you’re eating nachos like there’s no tomorrow. What’s the icing on the cake? Get ready for it: you have a garage door screen covering your garage opening that is keeping bugs and debris out of your personal sports arena, while allowing fresh air to flow (which is important when you have a room full of nacho-filled sports fans).

Is there anything better? Oh yes, there is. The garage door screen is custom printed with a Colts blue and white horseshoe, proudly showing your neighbors and passers-by your love for the hometown team. As the excitement for the game mounts, your neighbors are attracted to your personal Colts shrine like a magnet, and before you know it, fans are flocking to your comfortable game-watching space with free beer and more appetizers in hand. Isn’t it a dream come true?

Only if your team wins. In the meantime, make sure that you are appropriately showing your enthusiasm for your Colts team with your custom garage door screen. Your neighbors will thank you. See www.freshairscreens.com to get your own.

Has your garage become the dumping ground for anything and everything in your household? Perhaps you’ve gotten so used to throwing things in there, that it’s become second nature. Don’t know where to put it? “Throw it in the garage.” 

Here’s a little tip: You don’t have to store everything in your garage. Your basement and/or attic are just begging for more responsibility. So here is a general list to help you decide what goes where. This will help you get your mind focused on organization, and help you feel less overwhelmed.

Garage Storage Items.

• Sporting goods, lawn chairs, gardening equipment
• Anything flammable, like gasoline, kerosene space heaters, lanterns, turpentine or other solvents
• Old cans of paint, although if your garage gets extremely cold during the winter, consider another location, and keep them at least 10 feet away from any furnace or hot-water heater
• Note: To help protect your garage storage and keep your area clean, consider installing a garage door screen (see www.freshairscreens.com for more information).

Basement Storage

• Items like bulk food, light bulbs or batteries (in air tight containers and in a handy location)
• Labeled seasonal decorations and clothing
• Common household tools or maintenance items that are used regularly
• Boxes of books or other heavy items that need a solid floor underneath

Attic

• Important documents (like tax information, education records, etc.) that you need to keep but don’t need access to (in airtight containers)
• Things you want to keep but don’t need, like outgrown children’s toys or clothing
• Luggage, and rarely used seasonal items, like sleds, inflatable pools or patio equipment

There’s nothing like cool, crisp air and leaves changing color to get fans excited about football. And there’s nothing like a fun football party to get your neighbors and friends together to celebrate.

When it comes to football watching parties, you really can’t go wrong. As long as there is food, drinks and a TV screen, you’ve got yourself a party. But if you want to make sure that your event is a success, you’ll want to go above and beyond to put your football parties on the map. Here are some football party ideas to make sure you score a touchdown!

Set the scene. Make sure you’ve “spruced up the place” with football themed items. Take a trip to your local party store to stock up on napkins, plates, decorations and sporty items. This will get your guests in the mood right from the get go.

Check out your seating areas. If possible, stage at least two viewing areas so that people can mix and mingle while watching the game. During nice weather, consider transforming your garage into a watching zone. Go ahead, set up a TV out there so that guests can enjoy the outdoors at the same time. Kids will love the freedom to run around if they’re not paying attention to the game. Even better, install a garage door screen to make your garage space clean, comfortable and more usable. (Check out www.freshairscreens.com for details).

Play games. Have a bowl with team players’ numbers written down on a piece of paper. As guests arrive, have them draw a player. During the game they can root for the best performance and keep track of completed passes, successful tackles, touchdowns, etc. At the end of the game, give door prizes for all your categories, including best and worst players of the game, MVPs, most memorable plays and spectacular fumbles.

Watch the ads. With commercials being some of the most entertaining moments of a football game, create a “commercial score card,“ and have guests rate them as they appear. At the end of the game, tally up the scores and announce the winners and losers.

Have fun with food. Keeping it simple but interesting is definitely possible for those hosts who don’t want to make it complicated. Consider grilling simple burgers, but then have a burger bar with unusual and traditional toppings to go with them. Have everyone pitch in a side item that has something to do with football, and see what your friends com up with!

Include the kids. Sometimes, no matter how much a child likes to watch football, their attention span just isn’t quite long enough. Provide a separate “fun table,” where kids can find coloring books, puzzles, art pads or other fun projects to do that will appeal to a variety of ages. Set out outdoor games and encourage them to have their own “tournament” of some kind. When kids are happy and entertained, parents are too.

Football parties are an important part of Autumn! No matter how you feel about the game, watching a team perform on the field while having fun with friends is an American tradition. Party on!

Picking out a garage door is not an easy job. It’s one of those things that you really don’t think about until it’s time to buy one. And then you find yourself obsessing about your neighbors garage doors, looking at designs, colors and materials.

Before you start your garage door shopping, you’ll need to know the basics. Here are some simple tips to keep in mind as you shop:

• Garage doors are the largest moving parts of your home, and also one of the most visible elements.
• Take the time to research designs, because it will be an important choice to make.
• The two main types of garage doors are sectional roll-ups, which are the most popular, and swing-ups, or what some call “tilt-ups.”
• Swing-up doors consist of a single-panel that pivots out and up.
• Sectional roll-ups are made of horizontal sections that are hinged together. They are mounted with rollers on a track inside the garage. This allows the sections to roll straight up and back.
• Sectionals cost more, but are safer, easier to operate, and allow more headroom in the garage.
• Sectionals tend to be more weather resistant and secure.
• Garage doors are generally made from wood, steel or fiberglass.
• Most garage door designs feature raised panels, recessed panels, or are flushed.
• When choosing your door design, define your preferences when it comes to windows, panel designs and electric operation.
• Besides traditional garage doors, one other area to consider is a garage door screen. Increasing in popularity, a garage door screen is much like a front door screen, designed to keep insects and debris out of your garage in order to keep it clean. Users also like the garage door screens because it allows them to use garage space as an extra living area, for parties, extra seating, or for hobbies. See www.freshairscreens.com for details.

Garage door shopping can be overwhelming. The key is to do your research and take notice of other homes that feature garage doors you like. With a little preparation upfront, you’ll be able to narrow down your search and be an informed consumer.

You know it’s time to clean out your garage when, every time your garage door is up, passers by stop to ask if you’re having a garage sale. Or if your family has to walk through the garage in single file, well it’s time to dig out of that mess!

Fall is the perfect time for families to enjoy some bonding time while throwing out clutter. What better way to spend a crisp, sunny weekend then by pitching old toys boxes of junk, and getting organized. Are you excited yet?

By getting your garage space under control, you can not only feel good about the upcoming winter months, but you can also rediscover an entire room that can be used for outdoor parties, hobbies or projects. Here are some basic garage cleaning steps you can take to get your garage space back in order:

Move ‘em out. It’s hard to figure out what storage bins or extra shelves you’re going to need until you actually know what it is you need to store. Enlist the help of family members and start taking things out of your garage space first. Sort your items by several categories as you take them out, including: throw away; donate; sell; and keep.

Clean ‘em up. Once you have the floor space clear, it’s time to clean. Sweep out debris the best you can, and take the time to properly clean oil or fluid spills. If you don’t have a fresh layer of garage floor paint, maybe now’s the time to do it. Check out all the innovative and attractive floor options available at your local hardware store.

Get it together. Once you’re cleaned out your garage, you’re ready to move things back in. DO NOT move back in any item unless you have a specific place to put it. Now’s the time to evaluate what you’re keeping, and where it should go. Try to sort those items into categories like: lawn and garden; automotive supplies; camping; toys, etc. Now you can see what kind or organizational equipment you need, like big plastic bins, industrial shelving, baskets and so forth. Invest in the right storage containers in order to keep your garage looking good.

Finishing touches. Once you’ve moved everything back in, and your garage is looking marvelous, add that extra touch. Consider using your newfound room for outdoor socializing! Add a TV on the wall, or place that neglected chair and rug in the corner to make an extra living space. Install a garage door screen, which will keep unwanted debris from coming back in your garage, and allow you to enjoy the fall weather without pesky bugs (for garage screen options, see www.freshairscreens.com).

Mark your calendar. Now that you have a clean, usable space, keep it that way. Designate a day each month when your family can chip in an hour or two to maintain your new look. Make it a fun activity, and encourage everyone to participate! It will be faster that way, and it will help your kids take ownership in keeping it clean.

Having a clean garage can do wonders to a homeowners state of mind. Take advantage of the season, and take control of your garage space right now.

I went to an outdoor art festival today. And while I enjoyed walking the grounds, peering at unique watercolors and glass sculptures, I couldn’t help but notice a certain trend among attendees. No matter where I looked, people were proudly displaying their Barack Obama t-shirts or John McCain buttons.

There weren’t any protests or sneers by opposing parties. In fact, everyone was nice and polite. But there was an obvious display of preferences for favorite party nominees. And I found it exciting and exhilarating to see. Why? Because Americans are involved, they care about what’s happening, and it’s going to be an amazing sprint to the finish line in November. Are you ready?

If you’re looking for a unique way to show support for your presidential candidate that your neighbors might not have thought of, consider this: a garage door screen featuring a presidential candidate banner of your choice. Say what?

If you want to go one step better than those yard signs that bend or get lost in the wind, not to mention mysteriously disappear overnight, think bigger. Think better. Think of tightly woven mesh printed with your favorite candidate‘s image. This banner can be used on it’s own, or as a display on a garage door screen. (Check out www.freshairscreens.com for more garage door screen details).

These exciting banners are porous, which means a strong wind isn’t going to sweep it away to the next county. They are also portable, which means you can hang them on your house one day, and take them to a debate-watching party the next. Or you can simply keep it attached front and center to your garage door, so you can proudly show off your support to passers-by. And you can choose from different sizes, according to what works best for you.

But the thing is, you don’t have much time. If you want to get in the political game, act now, and get involved. Supplies won’t last much longer!