A Brief History of Garage Door Trends

Garage doors have become an integral part of the modern home, but once upon a time they were seen as somewhat of a luxury. Not only can modern garage doors go a long way to protect our vehicles and other belongings, either from the elements or from would-be thieves or vandals, but they are also capable of adding a stylish touch to any home. Let’s take a quick look at how garage door trends have changed over the years.

Early garage doors

The earliest garage doors were actually attached to separate structures known as carriage houses. Similar to a barn or modern outbuilding, most carriage houses were equipped with doors that swung outwards – which isn’t ideal for vehicles trying to gain access from the outside. This also meant that they required a great deal of space, making them a fairly inconvenient design and limiting who would be able to have one. There was also always a chance that the vehicle could accidentally come in contact with the doors as they swung open or closed.

Later developments

An upward-swinging mechanism was introduced to the general public in 1921, and it didn’t take long for this model to catch on, especially among car enthusiasts. The most obvious advantage of this design was that it saved a great deal of space compared to the previous version described above.

While it resolved some of the issues with earlier models, another issue now presented itself. Some garage doors were extremely ornate and, therefore, rather heavy. This made them very difficult to raise and lower. One solution – which is still occasionally seen today – was the introduction of sliding doors, which made opening and closing much easier. This, however, meant that the dimensions of the garage itself needed to be wider in order to accommodate the sliding mechanism.

Modern garage doors

Garage doors equipped with electrical motors were first introduced in the first half of the 1970s. The main advantage of these was that the doors no longer required manual labour to be opened and closed. Initially considered a luxury, the 1980s saw remotely operated garage doors – that is, doors activated with just a click of a button – become far more widespread as they entered into the mainstream.

These modern developments reflected the developments in the automotive industry that had taken hold in recent times. As vehicles began to use modern solutions, it stood to reason that their storage spaces would embrace technological advancements too.

We now live at a time when almost anything is possible, and yet the basic mechanisms behind garage doors have remained the same, thanks to the technological innovations of our ancestors. Nonetheless, we now have a range of colours, styles, materials, insulation, smart systems, and price ranges available to us, and so it is clear to see how far we’ve come in the last century or so.

For quality garage doors that suit your every need, look no further than Cornwall Garage Door Centre. As Cornwall’s leading garage door supplier, we offer a wide range of quality garage doors for domestic, commercial and industrial clients. We also offer professional garage door repair, installation and replacement services. Contact us today for more information.