Garage Room Divider

[Bill97Z]

I want the ability to section of a portion of the garage that is a dedicate work/shop area. I am thinking of "shower curtain" type divider where I can install a rod track, and a long pull curtain to enclose the shop area when I want and open it up when I want. I am having a hard time coming up a DIY design and am looking for ideas. For the track, I can use long closet hanger rods. I can't do any curves, but I can use multiple curtains and rods to handle corners. For the curtains, I am drawing a blank unless I buy material and have them made. I would use a shower curtain panel, but it's not long enough. I can use multiple panels, but they would need to be at least 7" high and able to accept hooks to attach to the track/rod system. Any suggestions? The total linear length I want to section off is about 12 feet long.

 

[1Garageman]

What about just hanging a plain old big pipe going horizontaly to the ground put you curting rods on it and hang a big cheap tarp on it, from Harbor Freight or something?

I might do the same thing in my garage. I have a 3 car garage and the small car area is all my work area with my tools and lumber.

 

[Bill97Z]

I guess a tarp would work, but i would want something that is clean and neat looking. I use can use the grommets on the tarp to hook onto the bar (or pipe) run horizontally along the ceiling.

 

[WNYflyer]

I have thought about this also for my garage. How about Dupont's "Tyvek" house wrap for material ? I think it comes in 9' wide rolls but not sure. Could roll the top edge and tape up to double your material where you hang it. Maybe able to get some leftovers from a contractor.

 

[Bill97Z]

Yeah, I wanted something a bit more decorative

 

[RoarkIndustrialSolutions]

I'm a distributor for Goff's Curtain Walls that are used for this purpose. PM me or contact me at [email protected]. I recently supplied another GJ member a curtain wall to separate his metal working area from his woodworking area.

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[pirate]

Have no idea how expensive it might be but what about the track that mounts to the ceiling in hospitals for the privacy curtains around beds. I think the tack uses some kind of roller which allows the curtain to move smoothly. They probably have a lot of different cutain styles also.

 

[Jack Olsen]

My first thought was, 'why a track?' If the section you're dividing off is essentially two walls at right angles to each other, why not use some kind of roll-down curtain (something that operates like a window shade or a pull-down map)? Rolled up, it would just sit along the ceiling -- there isn't a track to get jammed or dirty, and there isn't a stress point (where you tug a curtain) that's liable to fail.

You could look for large shaded commercial window covers on the second-hand market, or pick up the mechanism from a broken swimming pool cover.

Of course, you could also go for the purpose-built curtains that Roark shows. That would definitely be the path with the least amount of trial and error and difficult-to-source stuff.

 

[danfromsyr]

I use the heavy duck canvas tarps from Home depot to divide my garage into 1/3rds
for this feb I added a plastic dropcloth to limit where my nat gas heater had to heat.. worked better then I'd thought, as it wasn't sealed to the floor. but was quite colder on the other side while toasty on the heated side.

the canvas duck tarps are $50ea, I bought 4 when we 1st moved in. so they'll last a long time.. though will get dirty if handled with dirty gloves. one learns to open by brushing with the back of the hand.

best..
Dan in NY

 

[jhchoppers]

We installed some Goff's Curtain Walls, they work great!

JH

 

[RoarkIndustrialSolutions]

Great point Jack. Maybe I should show more of Goff's solutions since they can do a roll up as well. Didn't mean to pigeon hole with posting the video.

My first thought was, 'why a track?' If the section you're dividing off is essentially two walls at right angles to each other, why not use some kind of roll-down curtain (something that operates like a window shade or a pull-down map)? Rolled up, it would just sit along the ceiling -- there isn't a track to get jammed or dirty, and there isn't a stress point (where you tug a curtain) that's liable to fail.

You could look for large shaded commercial window covers on the second-hand market, or pick up the mechanism from a broken swimming pool cover.

Of course, you could also go for the purpose-built curtains that Roark shows. That would definitely be the path with the least amount of trial and error and difficult-to-source stuff.

 

[Torque1st]

They make flame retardant canvas tarps. I am not keen on the idea of having a big flammable plastic sheet hanging in my shop.

 

[zkslawn]

someone i know used conduit on the ceiling. and than had some metal rings that hooked to a heavier duty tarp.. it looks really good.. he used it for painting cars..

 

[tcianci]

If you use EMT or conduit for yout track you could then use the pre formed sweep 90's

 

[RoarkIndustrialSolutions]

There are different materials depending upon the application. Weldview passes CPAI-84 & California Fire Retardancy Tests. Safety/privacy screens meet NFPA-701 & California Fire Marshal Standards. Harshguard withstands caustic &
corrosive chemicals.

http://www.goffscurtainwalls.com/documents/Goff_Weldview07v2.pdf

http://www.goffscurtainwalls.com/pdfs/Goff_HarshGuardFlrs.pdf

They make flame retardant canvas tarps. I am not keen on the idea of having a big flammable plastic sheet hanging in my shop.

 

[little d]

danfromsyr, im thinking about the same thing. i wonder if anyone knows how fire resistant the canves tarpe are? i know if ya hold a fire to them that they will go up but, im talking about sparks from a grinder, ect...

 

[mebedave]

What about making an accordion door out of tin with a track on ceiling to control it and wheels on the bottom. Kind of like this but, each panel would be about 3 foot wide. Or just buy something like what’s here in the link. http://www.accordion-doors.com/steeldoor.html




You can use sectional garage door track and rollers for the top track http://garagedoorpartsllc.com/cart/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=76 http://garagedoorpartsllc.com/cart/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=16

 

[Bill97Z]

Nice ideas guys, I am looking to keep this budget as eventually I may just finish the area off. Rods and some kind of inexpensive heavy duty curtains it will probably be.

 

[TONE]

Big time bucks, but a multi-panel sliding system would be sweet.

Kinda like a shower door, but huge with 7-10 panels.

You could make the pannels and buy the track.

 

[maxpat82]

I did it in my old garage with simple hook screwed to the ceiling and canvas textile with tarp grommet every 2' (canvas was from an old destroyed gazebo, but you can get firedproof canvas in pretty much any textile shop).
I had hook in a 2' grid on almost the entire ceiling(22x26 garage).

Was used to keep grinding dust contained in that area...worked awesome

the Goff's curtain wall look extra nice....but must be $$$$ :|

 

[Slednut]

I did it with a tarp, added more eyes and it's hanging from a taut cable. Now I only have to cool/heat the shop part of our garage.

 

[Lynden]

Yeah, I wanted something a bit more decorative

How about canvas awning material or outdoor furniture upholstery fabric. These guys do custom sizes.

https://www.outdoortextiles.com

https://www.outdoortextiles.com/canvas.html

 

[slow]

If you can find track used for theater curtains, it is exactly what you want.

https://www.curtain-tracks.com/applications/theatrical-stage.html

Price doesn't seem too bad unless shipping makes it crazy.

 

[kbs2244]

I have seen area rugs used for this.
Cheap ones are heavy as curtains.

The creative one was a roll up where the rope provided the twisting force.

 

[Angelfire]

I suspect that the OP probably has already found a solution considering this thread is from 2010 and he hasn't been back since April of that year.

 

[Eggman]

Uni-strut makes for a nice sliding/rolling track for curtains. I put up some room darkening curtains in my living room with uni-strut and some plastic conduit clamps. Couldn't justify $75 for a crappy looking curtain rod that didn't fit tight up against the wall.