The following article is partnered with Sara Kurczyńska.
Have you ever wondered if there are any interesting things that you can learn about garages? If not, then you are missing out on a lot of potentially useful information. You are not alone though. Many homeowners are only concerned with the most practical information related to the topic. They want to know how they can keep the concrete floor clean or how they should go about garage security, among other things.
Such a practical approach to garages is totally understandable. After all, they are not the most exciting thing in the world. However, who knows when you will need a few useful facts about garages? For instance, imagine that you will end up on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire in a few years. What if you get a question related to garages?
In case that happens, we made a comprehensive list of the most interesting facts about your garage that you might not be aware of. Take a look!
What Does the California State Senate Have to Do with Garage Door Openers?
One of the bills passed by the California State Senate requires that each residential garage door opener is equipped with a battery backup function. Thanks to that, the garage door can still be opened during a power outage.
The bill was passed in response to the California Wildfires that took place in 2017. During these wildfires, at least five people lost their lives because they could not open their garage door when the power in their neighborhood went out.
If you live in California, make sure that your garage door is equipped with an opener that has a battery backup. If it is not, you might want to consider buying a new garage door opener. You will find a list of the most popular garage door opener manufacturers on A1Garage.com.
Where Does the Word Garage Come From?
The word garage comes from the French language. It is a derivative of the French word garer, which means to keep under cover, among other things. Since over two-thirds of American homeowners say that their garage’s main function is protecting their vehicle from the elements, it makes quite a lot of sense.
This particular word is not the only one that we borrowed from the French. In fact, it is believed that nearly fifty percent of all English words are of French origin.
Who Invented the First Overhead Garage Door?
C. G. Johnson invented the first upward-acting garage door in 1921. Unlike other types of garage doors, the ones that he came up with opened up and out of the way. It was really convenient since it allowed for more room around the entrance to the garage.
His timing could not have been better. At that time, automobiles were getting more and more popular among Americans. Since everyone who came into possession of an automobile needed to have a garage built, the demand for garage doors skyrocketed in a record time.
Are There Any Companies That Started in a Garage?
Did you know that a number of blue-chip companies started in a garage? It is true! Many giants such as Amazon, Walt Disney, and Hewlett-Packard had their first office in a small garage. You might be wondering why that is the case though.
Well, the financial resources of these companies were very limited at the time. Since renting an entire office is pretty costly, they all decided to start in a garage instead. The money they saved this way could then be spent on business operations and contribute to the company’s growth.
What Famous Bands Got Their Start in a Garage?
Garages are most commonly associated with garage bands for a reason. After all, numerous famous bands such as The Beatles, Nirvana, and Metallica, got their start in a garage. It should come as no surprise though. A garage is a great place to practice playing an instrument.
Just think about it. Usually, garages are well-insulated and have no windows. Because of that, they are generally more soundproof than most other rooms in your house. So, once you start playing, you are very unlikely to bother your loved ones and the neighbors.
Can Garages Be Deadly?
According to the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, more than two thousand people are crushed by garage doors every year. Around seven thousand are pinched during garage door operation. While most of these accidents are not deadly, at least a few deaths are reported each year.
Such deaths are most commonly caused by children playing games with the garage door. For instance, they might dare themselves to try to make it to the other side of the door before it closes. If they fail to make it across, the door will pin the child to the ground and crush them. So, if you are taking care of kids, make sure to tell them that they are not supposed to be playing with the garage door if you have not done it already.
Can the Garage Increase the Value of Your Home?
According to the statistics, a well-built garage can increase your home’s reselling value by as much as five percent. However, it gets even better if you decide to install a new garage door. It yields an 80% to 95% return on investment, making it one of the mGst profitable home improvement projects that you can undertake!
Your Garage Is Far More Interesting Than You Think!
All in all, there are many interesting facts about garages out there that you might find interesting. While they might not seem that useful at first glance, it is not always the case. Some of them might actually help you increase the value of your house or help you make your garage safer for both you and your loved ones.
Other than that, it is worth noting that many companies and bands had very humble beginnings. In fact, it has already served as a source of inspiration for a number of young entrepreneurs and artists. After all, after seeing numerous businesses get off the ground thanks to the family fortune, reading through the story of someone who became so successful without such assets can be quite motivating.
Sara Kurczyńska
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