Hide Your Garage Door

© 2003 Door & Access Systems
Publish Date: Spring 2003
Author: Tom Wadsworth
Page 66

CLIPPINGS
Garage Doors and Openers in the Media


Hide Your Garage Door

This article identifies the latest home-design trends from the show home at the 2003 International Builders' Show in Las Vegas. The 2003 home was actually three luxury town houses in Henderson, Nev.

The homes shared an interior courtyard with the garages largely hidden from public view. Reporter Stangenes says this configuration "has the advantage of hiding garage doors from the street. This is something being demanded by many cities."

Editor’s Note: "Demanded by many cities"? Do we need a lobbyist to fight for favorable legislation?


Buy a Better Garage Door

"Realtors say the most important factor in boosting your home’s value is improving its curb appeal," reports Chappell.

The selling price for comparable properties can vary by thousands of dollars. That variance depends on various factors, but "curb appeal is No. 1."

Even though "paint gives you the most bang for your buck," other top improvements cited by real estate professionals include replacing front doors and garage doors.

Editor’s Note: Compare (1) the cost and hassle of painting a house vs. (2) the cost and exposure of a new front door vs. (3) the cost and exposure of a new garage door. The new garage door must certainly be the quickest fix with the biggest bang for the buck.


How Gladiator Was Born

This business article tells the story behind the birth of Gladiator GarageWorks, Whirlpool’s "first major brand in nearly 50 years."

Three years ago, Whirlpool’s "sales growth had stalled," and "price pressure was unrelenting." A Whirlpool VP says, "If you walk into the appliance department at any retailer, everything looks the same. We call it the sea of white."

Facing "a stalemate industry," CEO David Whitwam put together a "new-ideas team" armed with $50 million to launch their ideas. Now, Whitwam is so pleased with Gladiator "that he has since upped the … budget … to $80 million."

Editor’s Note: Hmm. Stalled sales. Unrelenting price pressure. A sea of white. Do WE have "a stalemate industry"? Is it time for a "new-ideas team"?


Opening the Door to Crime

Bright-orange crime-prevention fliers warn Plano, Texas, homeowners: "Your garage door is open!" noting that half of the city's residential burglaries is due to open garage doors.

From Jan. to Oct. 2002, 405 garage burglaries were reported in Plano. In 2001, the city had 411 such burglaries, up from 312 in 1997.

Editor’s Note: The new "open garage door sensors" are beginning to make more sense.


The Automatic Automated Garage Door?

In this syndicated column, Stewart reflects on the "nifty bit of engineering" involved in a garage door and opener. He then adds a nifty idea of his own.

"What’s next in garage door tech? Our guess is a device similar to the electronic tag you stick on your windshield that allows you to bypass the tollbooth while the system automatically deducts the toll from your credit card. No more need to click the remote to open or close. Your garage door will sense when you approach and open and sense when you leave and close."

Editor’s Note: Sounds like a neat idea. There may be a safety/UL 325 hurdle or two, but is this not doable?


The Garage Door’s Fault?

According to this widely spread Internet rumor, Terrence Dickson of Bristol, Pa., had just robbed a house and was leaving by way of the garage.

However, the GDO didn’t work, he couldn’t open the garage door, and he couldn't re-enter the house because the door locked when he shut it. Dickson remained locked in the garage for eight days, living on a case of Pepsi and a large bag of dry dog food. The rumor says he successfully sued the homeowner for causing mental anguish, winning a payout of $500,000.

The story, however, is pure fiction – another Internet hoax.

Editor’s Note: Before you forward one of these unbelievable stories, take 30 seconds to check it out at www.truthorfiction.com.