Basics on The Evolution of Garage Doors

Whether for pure interest purposes or to have a greater understanding of the products found in your home or building, knowing the history of various components is a curiosity for many property owners. The garage door is a great example, and it’s a product that comes with over 100 years of extensive history – and far more, depending on who you ask. 

At Price’s Guaranteed Doors, while our primary services for clients around Salt Lake City, Lehi, Riverton, American Fork and nearby areas include things like residential and commercial garage door repair, installation and more, we’re also here to educate and appreciate the evolution of the products we used today. Here’s a brief history of garage doors, from function to fashion, plus some of the modern trends that exist in garage doors today.

A Century Old, Or Millennia? 

Depending on who you ask and how they define certain ancient terms, the garage door may be around 100 years old – or may actually be thousands of years old. There’s history of chariots being stored in gatehouses and similar housings as early as 450 BC, for instance – but does this really count as a “garage door”? Not entirely. 

However, the modern garage door as we know it today began in the early 1900s as automobiles were first becoming more popular and affordable. Our next few sections will go over the important tenets of this era before moving forward today. 

Carriage House Repurposing

The very first outlines of garages in the US and other developed nations traces back to around 1910 or so, when automobiles were beginning to become increasingly popular. Until this point, the primary means of transport were horses and carriages, meaning that carriage house-style structures were popular. These structures were then repurposed to store cars when they first arrived on the scene.

However, owners of these carriage houses quickly began noticing some issues with their new storage usage. For starters, the weight of these early cars was simply too much for traditional carriage house doors to bear – even reinforced ones that were retrofitted. Additionally, the doors themselves weren’t wide and tall enough to allow for easy entry and exit of vehicles. Furthermore, the smell of manure and other odors from the horse era were often still present in these structures, leading to some unpleasant experiences for car owners. 

Large Private or Public Storage

To meet the changing needs of car owners, the first garages were actually not meant for individuals, but rather groups of people. These large garages were actually invented before 1910, but quickly fell out of fashion because there were simply too many cars in a given community for them to make sense. 

The First Garage Door

By 1921, inventor C.G. Johnston had designed and patented the first ever overhead garage door. This was a huge improvement over traditional carriage house doors, as it opened vertically instead of outwards and upwards like previous models.

In 1926, Johnson further improved his invention by creating the first electric garage door opener. This allowed for easy and convenient access to garages, making them an even more desirable feature for homeowners. The first remote-controlled garage door opener hit the market a few years later in 1931, and the industry was off to the races. 

Mass Production and Radio Control

The year 1954 was another big one for the garage door industry; this was the year when the first mass-produced, radio-controlled garage door opener was introduced. This innovation allowed for even more convenience and ease of use for homeowners, as they could now open and close their garage doors from the comfort of their car using a remote control. 

These were more expensive when first introduced, however, and automatic garage doors didn’t become popular until the 1970s. This is also when the split rail garage door design was introduced, which is still a popular option today. 

Safety Improvements Through the 80s and 90s

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, safety became a top priority in the garage door industry. Federal regulations were put into place to ensure that garage doors could not close on objects or people, and sensors were added to prevent accidents. Additionally, insulated garage doors became more popular during this time as energy efficiency became a bigger concern for homeowners. 

Furthermore, garage door materials and designs began to diversify, with options like steel, wood composite, and fiberglass becoming available. This allowed for greater customization and personalization of garage doors. 

Current Trends

Today, garage doors continue to evolve with advancements in technology and design. Smart home integration allows homeowners to control their garage doors from their smartphones or other devices, while contemporary styles like glass paneling and sleek, minimalistic designs are growing in popularity. Additionally, energy-efficient options like insulated doors and solar-powered openers are becoming more common.

As we look to the future, it’s exciting to think about what new innovations and trends will shape the garage door industry next. From its humble beginnings as a repurposed carriage house door to its modern incarnation as an essential component of the home, the garage door will continue to evolve and improve to meet the changing needs and preferences of homeowners. So next time you open or close your garage door, take a moment to appreciate its long history and how far it has come. The possibilities for future advancements are endless.

At Price’s Guaranteed Doors, we’re your one-stop shop for all things entry doors, garage doors, Pella windows and more around SLC, Lehi, Riverton, American Fork and nearby areas of Utah. Contact us today to learn more about any of our products or services!