Overhead Doors For Restaurant Use

The use of overhead doors is one of the hottest trends in restaurant design. Not only can they be used instead of a standard exterior door to separate the indoor and outdoor space, but they can also be used in place of windows or as room dividers.

Let’s take a look at the multiple uses of overhead doors in restaurants.

Exterior Doors

Historically, overhead doors were only used as exterior doors in temperate climates. But with the advancements in the effectiveness of insulated doors, we’re seeing more installations in cooler climates as well. With overhead doors, you can seamlessly merge your indoor and outdoor space, allow an unobstructed view of a scenic area, and provide indoor diners with an outdoor experience.

Counter-height Doors

Counter overhead door don’t have to be used just for take-out windows. Replace exterior windows with large counter-height doors to create an open-air feel. Place counter overhead doors at the edge of a bar area to act as a pass-through for servers. You can even separate large side-by-side booths with a roll-up door to expand or divide seating depending on the size of the party.

Room Dividers

One of the more unconventional uses of overhead doors in an indoor space is as a room divider. Think of a large, open restaurant that wants to cater to private parties. Solid or frosted glass doors can be easily lowered to provide privacy and intimacy. These are especially popular in converted warehouses where the vibe is modern industrial and the ceilings are higher, but they can be adapted to almost any location.

It’s obvious that there are a multitude of uses for overhead doors in restaurants. And with the number of style choices available, it’s easy to find one to fit every aesthetic. Not sure where to start? We’re happy to help, contact us today!

How to Repair a Cracked Garage Floor

It’s spring and you’re cleaning out your garage. You move your car, sweep up a winter’s worth of sand and debris, and suddenly your face drops — there’s an unsightly crack running through the floor. Don’t worry, you may be able to fix it yourself and we’ll show you how.

Assess the Situation

Take a moment to identify the cause of the crack. If the cracks in your garage floor come from an invading tree root or an unsound foundation, then any repair you do may be in vain. It’s best to resolve the underlying problem, either by yourself or calling in an expert, before handling the repair to the cracked concrete.

Prep the Area

Use a hammer and cold chisel to chip out any loose pieces around the cracked concrete. It may be necessary to use a diamond blade on a circular saw to widen the crack a bit if you can’t chip away enough of the loose pieces with the chisel. Once the crack has been widened, sweep or shop-vac the excess dust and debris from in and around the opening. Then, use a degreaser to clean the area around the crack. Make sure the floor is thoroughly dry before proceeding to the next step.

Use the Right Product for the Job

If the crack is small, use an epoxy crack repair product such as Simpson Strong-Tie Crack Pak or Rust-Oleum EpoxyShield Concrete Patch. Both of these products have a fast cure time and are paintable. For larger cracks, fill the crack almost to the top with latex cement. Latex cement comes in easy-to-use kits and expands with temperature and humidity. Once the latex cement has set up for a few days, spread a concrete resurfacing mixture on top and feather the edges to create a smooth surface. With either epoxy crack repair or latex cement, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s directions regarding preparation and sanding if you plan to paint the floor.

Now that you have flexed your DIY muscles and fixed the cracks in your garage floor, it’s time to move on to another project, like…replacing your garage doors, a task better left to the experts. Contact us to get the job started!

How to Soundproof Your Garage

Your garage isn’t solely a place to park your car, it can also double as a workshop, a gym, or for band practice. Any of these purposes will create noise that can travel beyond the walls of the garage — not good for you, not good for your neighbors.

Here are some tips on how to keep the peace and soundproof your garage.

Garage Door

Due to their large size, garage doors are the worst culprit for noise transfer, especially if they are uninsulated. If you are not ready to upgrade to insulated garage doors, there are several products on the market designed to create a sound barrier. Try a garage door insulation blanket, sealing the gaps around the door with weather stripping, or a garage door insulation kit.

Floor

The garage floor is often overlooked for soundproofing. Sound waves transmit easily through concrete, so you need a way to block them. A sturdy indoor/outdoor carpet, sound deadening vinyl flooring, or interlocking rubber tiles will help. Be sure the flooring is easily moved, or weatherproof and durable, if you plan to park your car in the garage when not using it for other activities.

Ceiling

There are many ways to soundproof your garage ceiling, ranging from tacking up a blanket to installing a drop ceiling. Acoustic tiles can be installed on the ceiling or walls and come in a variety of options — sound absorbing, sound blocking, and sound diffusing. Adding additional insulation will deaden sound and will help regulate the overall temperature in your garage. If you’re short on time or DIY skills, tacking up a blanket, acoustic or otherwise, is the simplest way to go.

Walls

All that noise you’re drumming up (see what we did there?) is traveling right through your garage drywall. Creating a barrier to prevent it from seeping out can be a challenge. If you are considering a whole garage makeover, you can build double walls with staggered studs filled with sound-deadening insulation. If that’s not on your to-do list this year, try acoustic tiles, sound isolation clips, or resilient channels.

Windows

Unless you are using your garage as a home office, you probably don’t need to see out the windows. You can use foam insulation, acoustic plugs, weather stripping, or thick curtains to diminish the amount of sound that escapes. If you’re handy, there are loads of online sites that will provide DIY instructions for making window plugs.

Depending on the use, you may implement one or more (maybe even all!) of these methods for soundproofing your garage. There is a solution for every budget to transform your garage into a usable space.

At Champion Overhead Door, we are always interested in new and inventive ways to use a garage. Have something you’d like to share? Leave comments below!

How to Overhead Garage Storage Systems

Using your garage for storage is a smart idea, but it’s hard to find enough space to store everything you want to, especially if the items are bulky or oddly shaped. Overhead space is perfect for these types of items but is often underutilized. Lucky for you, we have put together a list of our favorite overhead garage storage systems and some suggestions on how to use them.

Before you install any ceiling mounted garage storage system, make sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully and pay attention to the weight limits for each unit.

Flat Overhead Storage Racks

We’ll start our list with one of the most well known overhead storage solutions, the overhead storage rack. Overhead racks are great for all types of items, like totes, sports equipment, patio furniture, and bulk household items (think multi-pack paper towels). There are loads of options to choose from, just be sure to choose racks with weight limits that match what you will be storing. If you are handy with a drill and looking for a good weekend project, try these instructions for DIY garage ceiling storageshelves.

Overhead Storage Hooks and Straps

These handy tools can be used in so many ways, but most commonly for hanging ladders, seasonal gear, and bicycles. Secure a pair of plastic coated hooks into the ceiling to hang a ladder, or use straps to suspend your kayak or stand up paddleboard overhead. You can also use hooks to hang extension cords, beach chairs, or strollers!

Tire Storage Racks

Keep your off-season tires out of the way with a wall- or ceiling-mounted tire rack. Many of us change our seasonal tires ourselves and finding a place to store them can be a struggle. Mounting a tire storage rack high up on your garage wall will keep the tires well out of the way in the off-season.

Overhead Bicycle Storage

One of the biggest struggles in a small garage is finding an accessible place to store your bike. You don’t want it so tucked away that getting it out for a ride takes longer than the ride itself, yet you need to keep it out of the way of your vehicle. Some overhead bicycle storage systems are simple, just two heavy duty plastic-coated hooks mounted wheel width apart. Others involve a pulley system that makes raising and lowering your bicycle a breeze. One of our favorite solutions is the claw bike hook. It opens and closes with the push of a button and securely holds your bike by one tire.

As you can see, there are a lot of options for overhead garage storage. Having a clutter-free garage is something many of us only dream about, but these handy products will make having a tidy and highly-functional space a reality!

Garage Door Trends for 2019

If you are looking to boost your home’s curb appeal, a new garage door is a great place to start. Updating your garage door will not only boost your home’s value, but depending on what kind of door you install, it can also lower your energy bill.

Here are some of the hottest trends for garage doors in 2019.

Bright or Bold Colors

An easy way to show off your personality is by choosing a bold or bright color for your overhead door. Choose one that makes you happy and complements your home’s exterior. Black doors are expected to be one of the top colors for garage doors this year.

Insulated Doors

Because garages today are often multi-purpose spaces, many homeowners are choosing insulated garage doors. An insulated garage will help regulate the temperature of your home and help reduce your overall carbon footprint, too.

Larger Windows

Garage doors with windows are on the uptick this year. More garage door styles are incorporating larger windows in their designs, letting more light in and providing improved curb appeal from the outside. The increase in insulated garages has fueled this change because garages now serve as a gym, laundry room, home office, and more.

Modern Designs

Contemporary garage doors with clean lines and oversized windows are one of the hottest trends of 2019. Homeowners with indoor-outdoor spaces are using these types of doors to replace the more commonly used French doors seen in years past. A patio or pool house can double its space with the doors open, and also be used during cooler weather with them closed.

No matter which type of garage door you want to install, we’ve got you covered. Contact us today for a free estimate.