History of Garage Doors: Explore Swinging Doors to Smart Options

Garage doors began with simple wooden structures. Today, you get high-tech, smart options. And, between the two, you’ll find an evolution story. Moreover, improvement came based on security, efficiency, and style. The innovation didn’t stop there. You will see many garage door trends 2025 is bringing forward. But now, let’s look at the history of garage doors.

Swinging Open the Past: The Early History of Garage Doors

The garage door idea began in the late 19th century. That was the time of horse-drawn carriages. In those days, carriage houses were places of carriage storage. In fact, these houses had big-sized doors with hinges. So, they would usually swing outward. However, one needed manual power to open or close them.

The Next Big Change: Adapting to the Age of Cars

Then comes the story of the 20th century. And that was clearly the time of cars. But, back then, car owners wanted a space to store their cars. And just like that came the concept of garages. And people showed some satisfaction in old carriage houses.

Then comes a twist in the history of garage doors. For the first time, people thought of extra security and comfort. And that made way for overhead garage doors. They would roll up into the garage’s ceiling. Moreover, these doors had many hinged panels. As a result, the design improved the movement.

Panel By Panel: Sectional Twist in the History of Garage Doors

The third big thing began with C.G. Johnson’s invention. He brought forward an electric garage door opener in 1926. And, with that, came a big relief. People no longer had to struggle with manual use. Now, sectional garage doors are easier to use with electric openers.

New Materials, Better Doors: A Shift in Garage Door Design

Next, we saw improvements in the mid-20th century. And things got better with garage door materials. Wood still held its spark. However, aluminum and steel soon caught people’s attention. And, with them, came better performance and safety. Also, they were easier to maintain than wood.

Remote Controls to Apps: The Digital Age of Garage Doors

Finally came a technological shift from the late 20th century. And things took a smart turn for the first time. Now, homeowners can easily control their garage doors from a distance. All they need is the touch of a smartphone.

Other than that, you can get alerts and other integrations. One such change came in the name of rolling code technology. Moreover, insulated garage doors brought energy-saving features.

Our Final Words on the Evolution

The history of garage doors reveals many changes. However, one thing remained common in each evolution story. And that’s the desire to have more. So, the future looks even brighter. And today, you have the power of customization.

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