Garage Door History
Garage Door History
Melikson Garage Door have evolved from simple, functional barriers to a key component of home design and security. Today, homeowners can choose from a wide range of door types, materials and features to suit their personal style and home’s architectural style. With the right garage door, you can add curb appeal, increase energy efficiency and even help protect your valuables. However, like any mechanical device, your garage door requires regular maintenance to ensure it functions properly and safely. Melikson Garage Door Santa Clara includes regularly lubricating the rollers, hinges and springs; visual inspection of the door for wear, rust or damage monthly; and regular balancing tests to ensure it’s properly weighted and doesn’t pull to one side. While there are some maintenance tasks you can do yourself, major repairs should be left to professionals.
When the automobile first arrived in the late 1800s, it was necessary to provide a shelter to protect these new and expensive vehicles from the elements. Early automobiles were kept in carriage houses alongside the horses that pulled them, which resulted in a messy and cramped environment. Entrepreneurs saw the potential for a business opportunity and began building garages to house automobiles. The very first garage door Santa Clara were not overhead; instead, they were hinged on the sides and swung open. Garage door installation Santa Clara made it difficult to enter and exit the vehicle, not to mention the fact that snow could easily pile up on them making them impossible to open.
A more practical solution was developed in 1902 by Melikson Garage Door. The company’s “float over door” featured a cross horizontal folding section with an aluminum frame and steel tracks. This garage door allowed for greater headroom and was the precursor to today’s roll-up or coiling garage doors.
The main advantage of the new garage door was that it opened in a much more convenient manner than the old hinged and swung garage doors. The new system also required less maintenance since it didn’t need to be constantly rebalanced. Over time, however, these garage doors became prone to rust and corrosion.
With the introduction of the Ford Model T, mass production enabled the manufacturing of low-cost, durable steel doors to replace the rusty, expensive and inconvenient old ones. The new steel doors were much easier to operate and provided a safer environment for automobiles.
While the most popular type of garage door today is still the overhead door, some homeowners prefer a more traditional look. If you are looking for a more classic appearance, consider a wood garage door with decorative iron strap hinges and handles, or a traditional swing-out wooden panel garage door.
If you’re looking for a more contemporary appearance, opt for glass garage doors. These doors allow natural light into the garage while maintaining your privacy. However, these doors don’t offer the same durability as metal or wood. They can chip and crack with exposure to hail or strong winds.
The most common garage door systems use either a torsion or extension spring system. The torsion system has cables at the bottom corners of the door, and the springs wind up and store energy when the door is closed. This energy is released when the door opens, helping it to rise up and into position above the door opening.