If you’ve started collecting luxury cars, it must be safe to assume that you have ample parking spaces for each of them. But if you don’t live in a mansion sitting on top a sprawling estate, how big can your garage get? Homes aren’t typically built with garages than can house over three cars, after all. If you’re declaring yourself a luxury car collector from now on, you’ve got quite a job waiting for you.
First off, luxury cars usually require more upkeep than economical car brands. You can’t just park them out under the sun, or their paintwork will get ruined. If repainting and detailing are already pricey even for a cheap car, how much more will you spend if it’s Porsche or Mercedes we’re talking about?
And considering the appearance alone of luxury cars, they don’t deserve to be parked in a cookie-cutter garage made from the most basic materials. Instead, the space should have a comfortable environment for your guests who might want to check out your collection. And of course, for you, who must spend a lot of time there maintaining your vehicles.
Moreover, the environment cars are exposed to plays a role in the issues they can have in the future. So without further ado, here’s a garage maintenance checklist for newbie auto collectors:
1. Mind the Door
The doors are one of the most important things you should regularly monitor in your garage. But many people overlook this responsibility. Just because you have an automatic door opener doesn’t mean the doors will be immune to problems. They can be particularly vulnerable during the spring and fall, so allot an hour or two of your day during the onset of those seasons for maintenance. That can save you from a costly repair or replacement.
To check for issues, watch and listen to the doors as you operate them. If you notice jerky movements and grating and scraping noises, there might be components in the system that have gone asymmetrical. A well-maintained garage door should be quiet. Inspect the pulleys, springs, and cables if it gives a jerky movement and strange noises.
2. Keep the Door Tracks Clean
Another possible reason for a noisy garage door is debris littering the tracks. Sweep the tracks regularly to keep debris and dirt from gathering. Check if the tracks are staying even at all times as well. Use a level for that task, and do small adjustments yourself if the issues are minor. If the tracks are severely uneven, call a professional technician.
3. Plan Storage Space
Depending on the number of your cars, you can optimize your existing garage space or build a second garage. You can also supplement your space with an external garage facility.
If you need more room but lack floor space, invest in hydraulic lifts exactly like the ones used in well-established auto repair shops. Maximize your vertical space instead of your horizontal space. Remember that you should be able to open your cars’ doors without them bumping into walls or other objects.
4. Control Temperature and Humidity
It’s crucial for cars to be parked at the right atmospheric conditons. Garages aren’t only made for security purposes. They also protect cars from the elements. Prolonged exposure to sun damages a car’s paintwork and causes metal oxidation, which creates rust. The sun, rain, wind, and freezing temperatures are rather harsh to a car’s rubber parts too, causing them to wear out prematurely.
So house your cars at least in a car port if you don’t have a garage. But if you’re lucky enough to be able to build a spacious garage, control the space’s temperature and humidity. The temperature inside should go not below 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and the humidity levels should only play between 40% and 50%.
When you’re working on your cars, avoid opening the garage door all the way, and only closing it when you’re done at night. That practice can cause fluctatuations in the garage’s temperature and humidity, which can affect your luxury cars’ conditions.
5. Install Safety and Security Devices
Garage door locks aren’t the only ones that will protect your collection from burglars. Invest in a foolproof security system as well. Install CCTV cameras, motion detectors, security lights, and alarms in every possible access points. If the doors have an emergency release lever, disable it and remove the cord so that a burglar can’t force open the door using a blunt object.
Don’t forget fire-proofing, too; install an automatic smoke detector and sprinkler system on the ceilings. Choose fire-resistant surface coatings as well to keep fire damage to a minimum, just in case.
With these short checklist, you can begin your auto collection journey confident that you’ve built the ideal space for your cars. Stay on track with your maintenance; the garage is just as important as the cars, too.
