Snow capped trees, wind swept drifts, "frozen fractals all around"--winter in Sioux City is a beauty in and of itself. It really is a winter wonderland, right?

Right?!

Beautiful landscape aside, winter in Siouxland is hard on garages and garage doors (and a million other things. But we're a garage door company and we're going to stick to what's important). Snow melt, icy patches, salt damage, drifts, and winter clutter are real problems inside the garage and on the driveway. We have a few tips to make sure you and your garage are ready for whatever Old Man Winter throws your way.

Garage Snow Melt: How To Deal

Unless your garage has a sloped floor or a drain, snow melt becomes a daily concern during the winter months. Snow melt, in this case, is more than just melted snow; it's whatever comes off your car after you park it into your garage. This means you not only have water, but grease, dirt, and salt staining your garage floor, damaging its surface, and creating dangerous icy patches.

Dealing with snow melt in your garage doesn't have to be expensive or time consuming. You can

• Use a squeegee to push the melted snow back outside.
• Brush off your cars and trucks before parking in your garage to minimize the amount of snow melt that occurs.
• Park on top of flattened cardboard boxes (grocery stores are a great source for free ones)

If you want an easier option, you can invest in garage mats that are specifically designed for snow melt. Made from polyvinyl or fabric, these garage mats will either absorb whatever your car drips or pool it in a safe place until you can remove it later.

Garage Snow Drifts: How To Deal

With every snow storm that hits our Siouxland and Yankton regions, it never fails that a large drift forms right in front of the garage door (we get it, we think it's a cool place to be, too). Typically, there's no risk of damage from the snow; more often than not, the damage comes during snow removal. The trick to safeguarding your garage door during heavy snowfall is to be attentive and use these snow removal tactics.

• If the snow isn't too deep or too heavy, open your garage door while you remove the snow. It will allow you to protect your door while starting your snow removal from a clean spot
• If your garage door is closed, turn the snow blower around a few feet in front of the door to prevent an accidental collision. Hand shovel the remaining area.
• When hand-shoveling, be careful around the garage door bottom seal and/or gasket, which can be punctured, ripped, torn, or dislodged by a sharp shovel head.
• Shovel early and often to stay ahead of the drifting.
• Lift with your back, take plenty of breaks, and make sure to stretch afterwards.

If money isn't an object, heated driveways will also alleviate a lot of the pain of drifting (literally), allowing you to just scoop the edges and be on your way.

Garage Winter Gear: How To Deal

Everything about winter gear is bulky, from the coats we wear to the toys and tools we use to make the most of it. Skis, sleds, shovels, salt--no matter how you tackle the cold and the snow, the gear takes up a lot of room in your garage. Here are a few tips to make sure your things (and everyone who walks by it) stay in one piece this season.

• skis: It's tempting to just lean them up in a corner, but this is a recipe for disaster, as one bump could send them all sliding. Hang skis on the wall bottom to bottom to save on space.
• Snowboards and sleds: Since they are large and flat, snowboards and sleds are perfect for overhead storage.
• Salt and sand: We find that tip-out bins are one of the best ways to grab sand and salt as you need it. Place one or both near the door with a good-sized scoop nearby.

The slowness of winter is also a great time to inspect your garage door and keep it maintained for the seasons ahead. Or schedule an inspection from an Overhead Door of Sioux City professional. We'll not only inspect the major components of your garage door and opener, we'll make sure they are properly tightened, lubed, and aligned. After all, the last thing you want to deal with on top of a heavy snow storm is a garage door that unexpectedly stops working.

Winter is here, whether we are ready for it or not. Choose to be ready.