4 Steps for Building a Garage Gym

Let’s be honest, driving all the way to the gym to share equipment at an over-crowded facility isn’t always ideal. Not to mention the amount of money you spend on a monthly gym membership.

The idea of a home gym may seem out of reach, but it doesn’t have to be—especially if you have a garage. Here are four simple steps for building a garage gym

1. Declutter and maximize space.

If you’ve been using your garage for storage up until now, the first step is to clear out that space and make room for your garage gym. Determine which items you can sell, donate, throw away or store somewhere else. If you have a lot of stuff, consider renting an off-site storage space. Otherwise, you can install cabinets, bins and overhead racks on your walls and ceiling to free up that floor space.

2. Insulate the garage door.

Insulation is key to regulating temperature so that you’re comfortable exercising in your garage gym year-round. Chances are the walls in your garage are already insulated, but the garage door will need some work. This is a DIY project you can take on yourself, or you can talk to your local garage door service professionals about installing a new garage door that’s already insulated. Depending on the weather where you live, you may still need portable air conditioners or heaters to keep you comfortable.

3. Install new flooring.

If high-impact workouts are a big part of your gym routine, a concrete floor isn’t going to cut it. You’ll need a gentler, impact-absorbing surface to avoid harming your spine and joints. There are plenty of affordable options out there, such as interlocking or rolled rubber mats that you can easily install yourself.

4. Choose your garage gym equipment.

When purchasing workout equipment for your garage gym, start with machines you already know and like. Remember that variety is important. Ideally, you should have equipment for cardio and strength training.

Don’t have the money for expensive machines? No problem, you can still stock your garage gym with affordable DIY exercise equipment.

Keep in mind that investing time and money into this project up front will save you the ongoing hassle and expense of going to a public gym. With everything you need right there in your garage, you’ll have no excuse not to exercise regularly!

Garage Security: 5 Ways to Secure Your Garage

It’s impossible to overstate the importance of garage security. The garage is one of the most vulnerable areas to intruders—and once they get in, they’re that much closer to the inside of your home.

When was the last time you assessed your garage security? Here are five simple things you can do to protect your garage from criminals.

Take your garage opener with you.

You wouldn’t just leave your house key lying around. Same goes for your garage door opener. If you always have it with you, it’ll be much harder for someone to steal. Luckily, there are remote garage door openers small enough to fit on your keychain, so there’s no excuse not to have it with you at all times.

Cover the windows.

Giving a burglar a direct view of your car, lawnmower, power tools and other expensive items is never a good idea. Sheer curtains or window films allow light into your garage while preventing people from seeing your valuables.

Secure the entry door(s).

Many garages have an exterior door that leads from outside into the garage and an interior door that connects the garage to the inside of the house. It’s important to secure both doors—ideally with a deadbolt lock. Beyond garage security, this also protects the rest of your home.

Add lighting.

Bright lighting is an effect way to deter criminals, so consider adding motion-detector lights to your garage and the surrounding area. This is an energy-saving alternative to having lights that stay on all night, and it really makes a difference in garage security.

Conduct routine garage door maintenance.

Routine maintenance is the best way to guarantee that your garage door, motion sensor lights and other garage security features are in perfect working condition. Be sure to get your garage door serviced regularly so that you can be proactive about any issues.

Request a quote for your annual service and safety check appointment.

5 Important Garage Door Safety Tips

A garage is an important part of any home, but don’t forget that a garage door is a heavy moving object and certain safety precautions must be taken — particularly for homeowners with small children. Here are five garage door safety tips to keep you and your family safe.

1. Test the auto-reverse mechanism monthly.

The garage door auto-reverse mechanism, a requirement for all garage door openers made after 1991, is one of the most important garage door safety features. If a garage door encounters an object while closing, the auto-reverse mechanism causes it to change direction as soon as it makes contact. As you can imagine, this has saved many lives over the past few decades.

To test the auto-reverse mechanism, place a roll of paper towels in the path of your open garage door. When you press the button to close the door, it should reverse immediately upon touching the paper towels.

2. Keep your garage door opener away from children.

Garage door safety is especially important for kids. Teach your children from a young age that the garage is not a toy. We recommend mounting your wall control out of reach of young children and hiding any remotes.

3. Watch your fingers.

Garage door joints and tracks are dangerous places for fingers. In fact, getting fingers caught between section joints is the most common type of garage door injury. Always keep an eye on your children around garage doors to make sure they never place their fingers between panels.

4. Never race a moving garage door.

Even with garage door safety mechanisms like auto-reverse in place, you should never try to run under your garage door while it’s closing. It should go without saying that this is a dangerous idea, yet people are still injured attempting to do it

5. Hire professionals for maintenance and repairs.

Believe it or not, many people also injure themselves trying to repair their garage door. Even if you succeed without injuring yourself, there’s a good chance that you won’t reliably fix the problem. If you have any problems with your garage door, you should always hire a professional. Contact Champion Overhead Door for all your garage door maintenance and repairs.

Spring Cleaning Tips for Your Garage

Be honest: Is your garage a bit of a disaster area? Well, there’s no better time than now for some serious garage cleaning and organizing. Get it out of the way while the weather is mild, because before you know it, it’ll be 85 degrees here in New England. (Or we’ll get another snowstorm. You never know!)

Set aside a weekend to follow these garage spring cleaning tips and you’ll have a cleaner, roomier space just in time for summer.

1. Declutter

You won’t believe how much stuff you have taking up space in your garage that you simply don’t need. Pick a nice day and start by moving everything you can out onto your driveway or yard. Sort your items into different categories (e.g. Keep, Donate, Recycle, Sell) so that it’s easy to visualize what’s going where. Plan a garage sale or a trip to the recycling center to get rid of everything that you’re not keeping.

2. Wipe Down and Sweep Out

With all your items out of the way, the next logical step in the garage cleaning and organizing process is to clean the inside of your garage. Take this opportunity to sweep the floor, wash the windows and hose down the interior. Open up all the garage doors and windows to air out that musty smell.

3. Re-Organize

This brings us to the final part of our garage spring cleaning tips. At this point you’re finally ready to return the items from the “Keep” pile back to where they belong. The key phrase there being “where they belong”. Don’t just throw everything back in. Take some time to organize your space and make sure everything has a proper home on the floor or wall.

While cleaning a garage, it’s always a good idea to inspect the garage door and opener, too. If you notice any issues, contact the garage door professionals at Champion Overhead Door for assistance

5 Simple Ways to Increase Curb Appeal

You know the expression: first impressions are everything. Whether you’re getting ready to sell your house or just looking to make some home improvements, creating curb appeal can really increase the wow factor of your home. And the best part is, there are plenty of curb appeal projects you can do on your own over the course of an afternoon or weekend.Here are five simple ways to increase curb appeal and create an excellent first impression.

Paint the front door, trim or shutters.

A $25 gallon of paint can make a world of difference when it comes to adding curb appeal to your home. Why not go bold with an eye-catching yellow, red or blue for your exterior accents? Make your house stand out among the other homes in the neighborhood.

Install a new mailbox.

A mailbox is one of those things that homeowners tend to overlook or keep at the lower end of their priority list. If you’ve had the same old mailbox at the end of your driveway forever, it may be time for an upgrade. This is another inexpensive way to increase curb appeal. You can find nice mailboxes on websites like Wayfair and Amazon for under $100.

Clean and repair your driveway, walkway, and sidewalk.

Hardscape areas endure a lot of wear and tear over the years—especially in the harsh New England climate. Rent a pressure washer from a place like Home Depot and spend an afternoon deep-cleaning your driveway, walkway, and sidewalk. Identify areas in need of repair, particularly those that may pose a safety hazard.

Add stylish house numbers.

Don’t be afraid to get creative with your house numbers! It’s a great way to add character and personality to your home—and if you’re trying to sell, it makes it easier for potential buyers to find you. We recommend choosing fonts that go with the overall style of your house.

Get a garage door makeover.

A new garage door can transform your entire home. There are so many different styles to choose from—whether you prefer something sleek and minimalist or bold and unique. If you’re interested in adding curb appeal with a garage door makeover,contact us today for a free consultation and estimate

What have you done to increase curb appeal? Share your tips with us in the comments!