The Texas Garage Door Massacre

© 2001 Door & Access Systems
Publish Date: Fall 2001
Author: Tom Wadsworth
Page 50

CLIPPINGS
Garage Doors and Openers in the Media

The Texas Garage Door Massacre

Summary: This summer, ten garage doors were rammed by a silver Ford Taurus in north Bedford, Texas, trapping some vehicles in garages. The bashings occurred in late July and early August and between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

"It cost us $260, and that's a lot of money," said one victim who discovered the damage one morning.

Another homeowner saw a silver Taurus with four people inside pull into a driveway and crash into the garage door on the same night. That door was so badly damaged that it could not be opened. Damage estimates range from $250 to $2,000.

Police are seeking a car with "plenty of damage to the front end."


Balance Inspections Urged

Summary: Espinoza’s article opens with a story of a local 22-month-old boy who was hit on the head by a falling garage door. The story blames the accident on "loose springs."

The boy sustained no serious harm, but the incident led a local construction company to change the way it handles newly installed overhead doors.

Now the contractor adjusts the doors just before new owners move in, and buyers sign a new-home checklist that mentions inspecting the balance on garage doors. Monthly inspections are recommended, but if spring tightening is needed, "an untrained person shouldn't try to do the job because the springs hold enough tension to hurt someone."

The contractor "has asked the author of several books on home construction to add similar information to the safety sections of her books." The author is not identified.


The Raccoon and the Garage Door

Summary: In spite of homeowners’ best efforts to protect their garbage, Toronto’s wily raccoons seem to outwit the lowly humans.

One homeowner, convinced that a raccoon was living in his garage, called Brad Gates of AAA Wildlife Control, a kind of "raccoon whisperer." Having never lost a battle with a raccoon, Gates had finally met his match.

After studying every inch of the garage exterior, Gates couldn't determine how the raccoon was getting inside. To trap the culprit, Gates entered the garage and closed the door to contain the rascal.

While Gates set up his equipment, the automatic door suddenly began to open. Startled, he whirled around and found the raccoon with its paw on the wall button to open the garage door. Before Gates could react, the culprit jumped to the floor and ran out the garage door.

Analysis: Every night, the raccoon would open the door, go out carousing until dawn, leaving the garage door wide open. At dawn, the critter would scurry back inside, close the door, and go to sleep.


GDO Remote Control for Motorcycles

Summary: "Get ready to throw your old remote into the junk drawer because the new EZG remote is going to take its place," boasts this Web site. "Installed in minutes," this small remote is designed for motorcycles but can be used on cars, trucks, tractors, golf carts, bicycles, etc.

About the size of a Zippo lighter, the transmitter measures 1-1/2 X 2-1/2 x 3/4 inches. "Takes the place of that big ugly remote that is squishing your visor."

The site advises to check compatibility information before ordering. EZG does not work with Genie’s Intellicode, LiftMaster’s Security-Plus, or any rolling-code openers. Cost: $39.99.


The Garage Door Klutz

Summary: Ragland, a columnist for the Dallas Morning News, describes his latest bungle as a household klutz: backing into his garage door. To fix it, his wife called Curtis, the handyman, who has seen plenty of twisted and dented garage doors.

Curtis says the lame-brained mistake is one for which no one likes to take responsibility. Curtis tried to cheer up Ragland. "If you want to break the record, you've got a ways to go," Curtis said.

"The record is [held by] an attorney who backed through three doors within a year. He just had his mind on a lot of stuff and wasn't paying attention."

Curtis’ repair bill: $200.