One effective way to improve your bar or restaurant is with the right roll-up counter doors. In addition to increased security, counter doors can also enhance your establishment's aesthetics, provide branding opportunities, and add to the ambiance of your bar and restaurant. Choosing the right door for you means knowing about all the different counter and roll-up door options you have to choose from and how they can benefit your restaurant or bar.

What Is a Counter Door?

Counter doors are metal slatted doors that go over or in front of counters. They are often used at concession stands, cafeterias, and ticket booths. They are also called coiling, rolling, roll-up, and counter shutter doors. Rolling counter doors form a tight coil above your protected area when rolled up. This makes coiling counter doors easy to hide while the restaurant is open. They can fit openings of all sizes, from large restaurant entrances and back doors to display windows and bar counters. Coiling counter doors are popular in commercial settings because they require little maintenance and are durable.

Benefits of Counter Doors for Your Restaurant or Bar

Rolling counter doors benefit your restaurant or bar in several different ways. Here are some of the main advantages of roll-up counter doors:

1. Weather Protection

Counter doors can protect your bar or restaurant from the elements. Steel and aluminum are tough metals often used for protection and durability. Rolling counter doors can protect your restaurant or bar from harsh weather conditions like strong winds and heavy rain. The strength of the metal used in high-quality counter doors means they can resist the force of winds during big storms and withstand the impact of hail and debris. Aluminum and treated steel are also resistant to corrosion and water damage.

Being able to resist wind speed is only one of the factors that determine the Design Wind Load of your counter door. Here are all the factors to consider:

• Door area
• Roof slope
• Wind speed
• Weather zone
• Mean roof height
• Importance factor
• Exposure category
• Directionality factor
• Surrounding topography
• Internal building pressure
• Positive and negative pressure

2. Climate Control

Coiling counter doors can be insulated to maintain indoor temperatures. Extreme hot or cold temperatures can affect your patrons' experiences. Insulated doors can make your restaurant, bar, or café a pleasant escape from cold weather or give customers a break from the heat with the proper airflow. Climate control also affects your staff and is vital to employee safety. Make sure your choice of insulated door accommodates the climate you live in.

Insulated counter doors have a PVC back slat that keeps melamine foam insulation in place against the door. Insulation foam enhances rigidity, sound transmission, durability, and thermal resistance. You can think of it as adding a winter coat to your door.

Insulated doors can also consist of polyurethane or polystyrene foam insulation. Polyurethane foam is more common in commercial insulated doors because of its enhanced thermal protection. It is known as "foamed in place" insulation and comes in two variations — open-cell and closed-cell. Closed-cell foam offers a higher level of insulation because it is denser and can resist moisture. Open-cell insulation is lightweight and better suited for other uses than commercial barriers.

Before choosing insulated doors for your bar and restaurant, you'll want to be familiar with three key terms:

• U-factor: The U-factor indicates heat transfer, or heat gain or loss through the complete door assembly. A lower U-factor means less heat gets through the insulation, so smaller numbers are generally better. The value is used when calculating the thermal efficiency of a roll-up door. Essentially the U-factor of a commercial door accounts for the door's thermal performance.
• R-value: The R-value of a door indicates the insulation's thermal resistance. How well a door can resist heat flow and prevent outdoor air from coming inside can be critical for a bar or restaurant. However, the R-value doesn't account for air leaks that may be present in the entire door, so the U-factor might be a more useful metric.
• STC rating: The STC rating relates to how effectively a door resists airborne sound. High-quality insulation with a good R-value automatically means a higher STC rating.

3. Improved Security

Counter doors help deter break-ins and forced entry into your establishment. Sturdy metal doors can endure the force of a group of people trying to force their way into your restaurant or bar. Protect the liquor on display or create a secure bar area with counter shutter doors. Perforated counter doors and metal security grilles have gaps that allow for increased visibility, so you can monitor what's happening on the other side of the door even while it's locked up and protected. Their durability and theft-prevention features make rolling counter doors a worthwhile security investment for bar and restaurant owners.

Roll-up counter doors provide a blend of security and aesthetic. Having a shutter in your bar or restaurant may make some guests feel unnerved or uneasy. However, roll-up doors are compact and unobtrusive when open, and with custom shutters and security grilles, you can find the right balance between security and appearance. Rolling down shutters consist of corrosion-resistant metals that provide a durable and trustworthy barrier for your bar or restaurant.

4. Fire Protection

Your counter door can also protect your restaurant or bar patrons and employees from fire. Fire-rated counter shutters are a must for any kitchen area. This type of roll-up counter door can prevent the spread of fire and keep your customers and workers safe. Counter fire shutters can fit full-height and counter-sized openings, making them convenient to install in areas of your restaurant or bar that are more prone to fires.

Counter fire doors include failsafe that drop the shutters quickly and reliably at the first sign of fire or smoke. Fire-rated counter shutters are customized and installed to meet precise opening specifications by using compact guides, brackets, slats, and hoods for smooth operation.

A crucial component of counter-fire doors and shutters is smoke and draft controls. Smoke kills more people than fire, so smoke and draft control are vital. Adding a smoke seal to your fire counter doors helps keep smoke from spreading throughout your bar and restaurant, avoiding excess property and health concerns.

5. Easy Operation

You can operate your counter roll-up doors in different ways to maximize convenience and efficiency and cater to your needs.

Manually operating roll-up doors with a crank system, chain system or push open operation allows you to open and close your rolling doors by hand without any other devices or tools. Fire-rated manual counter door operators are effective for smaller openings. Manual operation is generally less expensive and best for buildings without power or doors that cycle infrequently.

Motor operation is a consistent and effective way of opening larger doors and provides several benefits:

• Easy to use: With the single push of a button or touchless triggers, you can open your doors quietly and efficiently.
• Door longevity: If you use your doors daily, motorized operations are the most consistent way of opening them without damaging them.
• Improved security: To prevent entrapment, you can link motor-operated doors to technology like sensing edges and photo eyes.
• Remote activation: You can also integrate your motor operators with other building controls to open your doors with remote activation.

Motor operators cost more than manual operators and need space to mount the motor. They also need power and a backup manual operator to use during a power outage.

6. Customization and Aesthetics

For businesses like bars and restaurants, a counter door's aesthetics are almost as important as its security features. Thankfully, you can optimize your counter shutter doors' appearance without compromising their durability by choosing the right materials. You can customize your counter doors with several different materials and finishes, each with its own perks and benefits. Here are the most common materials:

• Galvanized steel: Galvanized steel is a cost-effective material. It has the strength of steel and the corrosion protection of its zinc-iron coating. Galvanized steel is durable, easy to maintain, and long-lasting.
• Stainless steel: Stainless steel is heavier but makes a door more secure and durable than lighter metal alternatives. Additionally, stainless steel is aesthetically pleasing if left unfinished and highly corrosion-resistant. Its appearance and condition will remain intact for a long time with minimal maintenance.
• Aluminum: Aluminum is a lightweight metal requiring less head space for storage. It's easier to operate aluminum doors manually due to their lighter weight. Aluminum is naturally corrosion-resistant and can be left unfinished or customized with graphics, anodized finishes, or powder coats.

You can choose from a wide range of finishes and color options to strengthen and customize your counter doors. Select the finish you like best to protect your property and maximize your bar or restaurant's visual appeal. Our counter doors are available in the following finishes:

• GalvaNex: Our steel doors come standard with our exclusive GalvaNex finish. This two-step baked polyester coating is available in four colors — gray, brown, white, and tan.
• SpectraShield® with RAL colors: SpectraShield® powder coat in RAL colors is ideal for any commercial counter door. You can customize your doors with more than 180 different RAL colors to suit your establishment's theme, branding, and style.
• AtmoShield®: AtmoShield® is a more durable powder coat designed for harsh conditions. This textured finish creates a thick, scratch-resistant coat that withstands flaking, blistering, cracking, peeling, and fading. AtmoShield® is perfect for external doors in settings with high UV exposure and harsh weather. It's available in 11 colors.
• ImageMatch™: ImageMatch™ is a UV-cured printing process that creates full-color images on every kind of rolling counter door. With this highly detailed option, you can print logos, photos, designs and any other image you want replicated on your door. Showcase your bar or restaurant's name and branding on your doors while ensuring your business's safety.

Easily customize your counter doors to suit your venue's style and décor. All rolling counter doors can be stylized to cater to your needs, including custom finishes containing branding and images. Our finishes create countless opportunities for you to personalize your rolling doors. Similarly, security grilles come in several different styles and can even display your logo for stylish branding while protecting your business.

You can use roll-up counter shutters in several ways to enhance the aesthetics of your bar or restaurant. Create a safe and well-decorated outdoor area using custom rolling doors to enclose your establishment's patios and outdoor sections. You can also decorate your main entrance and back door. Your entrances can be vulnerable entry points, but too much security may send customers the wrong message about your bar or restaurant. Make a welcoming yet well-protected entrance area with customized counter doors.

Get Custom Rolling Counter Doors From Cornell

At Cornell, we use our industry expertise to offer quality barriers, doors, shutters, and grilles to many businesses, including bars and restaurants. We do more than find the perfect doors for your needs. We provide solutions to the challenges your bar or restaurant faces. Since 1828, we have been leaders in the industry, so you can trust our products, services, and recommendations. Cornell's custom closures can give your establishment increased security while blending in with your aesthetics. Our products are here to protect your business.

To find out more about our extensive range of counter doors, shutters, and grilles, contact us today or locate your nearest Cornell dealer.