How to Build a Professional Garage Music Studio at Home

Garages aren’t just for cars. If you’re a musician, you’ve probably always dreamed of having your own space for playing and recording music. What if we told you that you’re only a few steps away from creating a garage music studio right at home?

All good things require hard work—and this is one of them—but building a garage recording studio is certainly something that you can accomplish if you have the budget and are willing to put in the time and energy. Here’s how.

Prepare the Space

Unless you have a brand new garage, chances are the first step you’ll need to take before you even get started with your garage music studio is clearing out your space. Garages tend to accumulate items over time—everything from sporting goods to outdoor power equipment to basic tools. Begin thinking about which items you’re going to purge, and which items you’ll need to store elsewhere. A basement is a good alternative storage space, but if you don’t have one, you may want to consider renting a storage unit. Depending on where you live, you should be able to find a storage facility nearby that offers reasonable rates.

In addition to clearing out your garage, you’ll probably want to dedicate some time to cleaning it, since garages tend to become dusty and dirty over the years.

Plan the Layout

Once your garage is cleared out and you can visualize the space you have to work with, the next step for your garage music studio is creating a floor plan. The size and shape of the garage are key factors here. For the best acoustics, your garage music studio shouldn’t be perfectly square or rectangle, and should have minimal design curves to avoid unwanted distortion.

List all the equipment you’re going to need, and use a piece of paper to sketch a rough layout so you know that everything will fit in a functional way before you make any big purchases.

Soundproof Your Garage

Soundproofing your garage not only blocks outside noise from interfering with the quality of your recordings, but also ensures that you’re being a considerate neighbor and that you won’t be on the receiving end of any noise complaints.

The first step in soundproofing your garage is to make improvements to what’s already there by sealing windows and doors tightly, replacing old weatherstripping and making sure that your garage door shuts all the way. Then, you’ll likely want to insulate the walls and doors with a material like cellulose, wooden cleats or Audimute.

Optimize Airflow and Ventilation

It’s important to be able to breathe when you’re in there enjoying your garage music studio! While you’re working on insulating your garage and sealing all those cracks, don’t forget to account for proper airflow and ventilation. This is especially essential during the summer when it can get really hot and stuffy inside a garage. A ventilation system isn’t just for your own comfort, it’s also for the sake of your investment. Stale air can lead to moisture and humidity, which can cause irreparable damage to expensive recording equipment.

By following the steps outlined above, you’ll have the garage music room you’ve always wanted in no time. Just think of how convenient it will be to record music without ever having to leave your property!

At Champion Overhead Door, we love seeing our customers use their garages in creative and innovative ways. If you’re in search of the perfect garage door for your garage music studio, we’d be more than happy to work with you and get you just what you need. Contact us today to learn more, and don’t forget to send us pictures of your completed garage music studio!

The Hottest 2020 Exterior Home Design Trends

When it comes to owning a home, first impressions are important. Whether you’re looking to sell sometime in the near future or simply increase curb appeal, the upgrades you make to the outside of your home can make or break the aesthetic of your whole property. It can be hard to keep up with the latest exterior home design trends if you don’t know where to look, so we’ve gone ahead and curated the essential things you should know about 2020 home design trends — from beautiful garage doors to the most popular paint colors.

Choosing Greys and Dark Exterior Paint Colors

If you’ve paid any attention to home design trends over the past few years, you’ve likely noticed that grey is the go-to neutral for both interior and exterior paint colors. And as far as 2020 home trends are concerned, the darker and deeper the shade of grey, the better. If you’re not quite on board with painting your entire house grey, consider using this cool neutral as an accent color for the shutters, garage or front door.

Low-Maintenance Designs and Materials

This one almost sounds too good to be true, but believe it or not, low-maintenance curb appeal is in! The key here is choosing durable, high-quality products and materials up front so that you don’t have to worry as much about upkeep in the long run. The low-maintenance trend can also be applied to gardens, so if your thumb isn’t as green as you’d like it to be, now is the perfect opportunity to build that garden you’ve always wanted. Annual flowers and evergreen shrubs are easy to take care of, and will have your home exterior looking beautiful as ever.

Spacious Driveways and Walkways

If you’re thinking about updating your driveway or walkway anytime soon, the trend forecast is clear: go big or go home! Exterior home design trends in 2020 are all about the extra hardscape space. This ties right in with the low-maintenance curb appeal trend mentioned above, since expanding your driveway and walkway means less lawn to mow during that precious weekend downtime in the warmer seasons.

Garage Doors That Make a Statement

While you can never go wrong with a simple and traditional garage door, don’t be afraid to get creative in 2020! Ditch the basic white paint or wood finish for a dark color like charcoal or black to create a contrast with the rest of your house. If you prefer a brighter, more welcoming look, you’re in luck: contemporary glass garage doors are also going to be huge this year. This fresh vibe helps modernize any home exterior. And finally, if you’re feeling really bold, consider a garage door with an unexpected pattern or texture. There are so many possibilities.

Now that we’ve gone over all the hottest outdoor trends in 2020, hopefully you’re feeling confident enough to make some decisions about your home exterior. Before you know it, your property will be the envy of the whole neighborhood, and when it comes time to sell, there’s a great chance you’ll see a return on your investment.

When you’re ready to update your garage door, keep in mind that Champion Overhead Door carries high-quality garage doors for every budget. We’re always up to date on the latest exterior home design trends, and are happy to help you pick out the perfect garage door for your home. Contact us for a free quote today!

How to Maximize Garage Storage for Sports Equipment

Everyone who keeps sports equipment in their garage knows that it can quickly take over if not stored properly. But keeping your gear neat and tidy doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. We have a few simple steps to follow when deciding on sports equipment storage in your garage.

Pare down

As is the rule with almost every type of organizing task, the best way to start is by sorting through your belongings and only keeping what you need. Make three piles of sports equipment: one each for keeping, selling/giving away, and trash. It is much easier to figure out sports storage solutions when you know exactly what you have to work with. Many towns have online yard sales or freebie sites where you can list your unwanted items, or you can always make use of Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. You’d be surprised to see how quickly people will take unwanted sports equipment off your hands!

Store like items together

Storage experts agree that like items should be stored together, mainly to make it easiest on yourself when trying to find what you’re looking for. But what do you consider to be “like items?” This is open to interpretation, so you can categorize in whichever way makes the most sense to you, but one common approach is to categorize by sport. For example, if you own a lot of hockey gear, you would store it all together in one section of the garage. Another approach is to categorize by type of gear, like storing different types of balls in the same part of the garage. We recommend sorting items in your driveway or yard first so that you can visualize what makes the most sense to you before putting everything away in your garage.

Find the right sports equipment storage solution

Here comes the fun part—finding the right garage sports organizer. There are loads of options out there in a wide range of prices, and you can typically find what you need at your local home improvement store. You’ll want to consider a few factors, such as the types of items you are storing and the volume of sports equipment you own. Here are a few common sports equipment storage solutions:

1. Space-saving slatwall systems allow you to customize your garage sports storage any way you like. A slatwall system consists of grooved wall panels that you affix to your wall in sections. This is a versatile solution that you can build off of by adding hooks, ball bags and shelves.
2. A garage cabinet is a great option if you have the space because it keeps all of its contents concealed and out of the way. You can even add little baskets or dividers inside each individual shelf to accommodate smaller items.
3. Utility hooks are an ideal way to store items that can be easily hung, such as ice skates, golf bags and helmets. By utilizing available space on the walls and ceiling, you can maximize the size of your garage without cramming too much onto the garage floor. Just make sure you get the right size hooks to handle the weight of the items you’re hanging.

Now that you’ve read this far, you should be ready to start mapping out the ideal approach to organizing your sports equipment. With the warmer weather just around the corner, you may want to set aside a mild weekend to get this done. Trust us, you’ll thank yourself after!

When using your garage for sports equipment storage, it’s important to protect the valuable items contained within by making sure that your garage door is always functioning properly. If you find yourself in need of garage door services ranging from basic maintenance to garage door installation, the Champion Overhead Door team is always here to help.

Does a Garage Add Value to your Home?

Adding a garage to your home has many benefits. Not only does it provide a place to park your vehicle and room to store tools or seasonal machinery, but a garage is also an attractive feature for homebuyers. According to Kiplinger, 85% of homebuyers are looking for a home with a garage. However, if you add a garage with the intent of selling your home, how much of your investment should you expect to get back? Let’s look at two different garage projects and find out.

We’ll start with simply replacing your current garage door. This project continues to be one of the top-ranking home improvements for the money. You can expect to recoup roughly 97% of your costs for a mid-range to upscale replacement. Think about how that compares to a kitchen remodel, normally talked about as one of the highest return on investment (ROI) for renovation projects, at only 80.5% ROI and a much higher price tag.

The ROI on a full garage build is a little more complicated to estimate. There are many factors involved which makes it harder to gauge. Will it be attached or detached, finished or unfinished, heated or unheated, and how many bays will it have? Keeping in mind that these factors will sway the cost higher or lower, depending on what you choose, according to homeguide.com the average cost to build a garage is $49 per square foot, or somewhere between $20,000 and $30,000 overall. If that fits within your budget and you are able to tackle that project, you should expect to see around an 80% ROI.

Many experts agree that adding a garage makes your home more attractive to homebuyers. Not everyone is in the position to spend upwards of $30,000 on a large project in order to sell their home, but if you are, then it’s a smart investment and will add a good dose of desirability and curb appeal. If you have a garage and it needs some upgrades, say a new garage door, then your best bet is to replace it. You’ll get almost all of that money back and your home will be more attractive to potential buyers.

Garage Door Windows

If you’re in the market for a new garage door, one of the main features to decide on is windows. Garage doors with windows have been gaining popularity over the last decade because of the curb appeal they add to homes. Garage door windows complement any home’s aesthetic, from traditional to contemporary or anything in between.

Natural Light

If you use your garage as a workspace— for automotive repairs or as a home office— garage door windows can brighten up the space by allowing natural light in. Choose from horizontal or vertical windows in a style that matches your home’s aesthetic. Or go for a full view door, one that’s comprised entirely of windows. Then decide if you want the glass tinted or frosted for privacy. You’ll be thrilled by how much light a few windows let in.

Curb Appeal

Your garage door and garage door windows are an extension of your home’s aesthetic. There are loads of designs available to match any style. Use the color of the door and add custom window inserts to create drama. If you already have garage doors, but want to update your look, consider changing out a panel for one with windows.

Security

It’s true that a windowless garage door is more secure— there’s no way for a burglar to peek in— but there are ways you can style the windows on your garage door to make them safer. Frosted glass is available through most manufacturers, but there are also DIY ways to frost glass using spray paint, window film, or etching. If you don’t care for the frosted look, try tinted windows. There are different degrees of tints — from slightly shaded to almost opaque.

If you don’t want to frost or tint the glass and live in an area where security is a priority, then be sure to place the windows in the top panel of the garage door to keep people from peeping in. You can also opt for smaller windows, making it harder to view what’s inside.

Garage door windows add value and curb appeal to your home. If your existing doors are windowless, you may be able to replace a panel with a windowed panel. But you’ll need to check the spring system to ensure it can handle the extra weight. Contact us, we can help decide the next steps in your garage door upgrade or replacement.