It’s always frustrating when the only parking space available seems to be too small for your car. But even worse than trying to squeeze your car into a too-small space at the grocery store is trying to squeeze your car into a home garage that seems too small. Unfortunately, if you have a small garage or a particularly large car, or both, you may find it difficult to park even at home. If a garage expansion isn’t an option for you right now, there are still some things that you can do to make parking easier. Take a look at some parking strategies that can help.
Give Yourself a Stop Signal
When you’re pulling into a garage that’s crowded or small, it can be tough to tell exactly where to stop. You don’t want to dent your bumper by pulling up so far that you bump the wall or anything that you have stored in front of the wall. There are a couple of simple ways that you can prevent this
One method is to hang a tennis ball on a string from your ceiling in a spot where it will touch the windshield when your car is parked correctly. This is a very low-tech way to guide your car into the right spot. There are also freestanding stop signs that you can buy and place in front of the spot where you need to stop the car. These techniques are great for homeowners who need cheap, easy parking assistance, but they also work well for renters who aren’t allowed to make any permanent changes to the garage.
Use Bumpers to Protect Your Car
If you can install something more permanent in your garage, you may want to install parking bumpers and wall bumpers in your garage. Parking bumpers, also called parking targets, are a small home version of the speed bumps that you see in parking lots. Install them on the garage floor, and you’ll stop when you feel your tires hit them. The ones designed for home garage use usually come with double-sided tape for installation, but construction adhesive will affix them more permanently.
Wall bumpers won’t necessarily improve your parking technique, but they can save the paint job on your doors if your car has to park particularly close to one or both of the walls. The rubber rectangles can also protect your garage drywall. They’re simple to install with screws or double-sided tape.
Go High-Tech With A Laser Parking Assistant
If you like gadgets and can afford a more high-tech solution, you can purchase a laser parking assistant that guides you into a safe parking space by shining a laser-powered light. There are a number of laser parking assistant systems on the market, and you may be able to find one that syncs with your garage door opener system. Some models come with a sensor that attaches to your dashboard for more accurate parking guidance.
The primary purpose of your garage is to keep your car safe, so it’s worth putting some effort into making sure that you can park your car without damaging it. For more great garage design ideas, schedule your free design consultation.
