How Garage Doors Evolved Over 100 Years (And Why It Matters for Your Home)

Do you know how garage doors have evolved from heavy, wooden behemoths you lifted by hand to automated, smart portals you control from your phone? Are you aware of how this evolution can not only improve your daily life, but also increase the value of your home? 

Most people use their garage door every single day. Yet, very few know how garage doors have continued to embrace new technologies that improve homeowners’ lives.  

In this guide, we will walk through the history of garage doors, the key innovations that shaped them, what is happening today, and where they are headed next. 

By the end, you will see why your garage is one of the fastest evolving parts of your home and could be poised to boost your home’s value.  

 

A Brief History of the Garage Door 

Modern, overhead garage doors are just over 100 years old.  

In the early 20th century as the automobile industry was taking off, America needed a new way to store and access their cars.  

Traditional barn or carriage house doors opened outward like standard doors. This method proved problematic, as the doors were heavy and were easily blocked by impediments such as snow, debris, or grass.  

In addition to not being very durable with easily breaking hinges that couldn’t handle the weight, outward opening doors required a large space that needed to be kept clear of obstructions so the doors could open.  

That changed in 1921. 

The birth of the Overhead door and the garage 

In 1921, inventor C.G. Johnson revolutionized the way people stored their cars by inventing a way the doors would lift to become parallel with the roof. Made with hinged panels that could bend as the door was lifted, the Overhead door was born.  

Impressed with his novel approach, architects at the time hailed Johnson’s invention for ushering ‘new kind of outbuilding. That new building came to be called the garage–a word derived from the French word garer, which means to shelter or protect.  

The invention led to Johnson and his partner Herbert Cady Blodgett forming a company, aptly called the Overhead Door Company of Hartford City, Indiana. With more than 450 distributors in North America, the company is still going strong today.  

The first garage door opener 

Had C.G. Johnson only invented the overhead garage door, he’d be forever remembered as a pioneer in the industry. His fertile mind didn’t stop with just one seminal innovation.  

 

In 1926, a year before Charlies Lindberg would make his historic solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean, Johnson introduced the world’s first electric garage door opener.  

Prior to the post-World War II boom of the late 1940s and early 50s, electric garage door openers were relegated to wealthy homeowners who could afford them. After the war, their costs began to fall, and radio-controlled models emerged, revolutionizing home convenience by eliminating manual door lifting and protecting users from weather.  

How Garage Doors Evolved Through the Decades 

New materials: from wood to steel and fiberglass 

For nearly half a century, most garage doors were made from wood. That began to change in the 1970s when steel, fiberglass, and aluminum doors began to grow in popularity due to being lighter, stronger, and capable of being insulated.  

Not only did doors built from these new materials look great, but homeowners also found they held up better than wood doors in most clients. 

A1 Pro Insight: 
Today, steel, fiberglass, and aluminum doors are still popular due to their style, durability, and not needing nearly as much upkeep as wood doors.  

Safety becomes law 

It wasn’t until 1993 that requirements for safety devices on garage doors became the law. That’s when the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 1990 went into effect, requiring all new residential garage door openers to meet the following safety standards: 

• Automatic Reversal: A downward-moving door must reverse within two seconds of hitting a 2-inch high test block on the floor. 

• Force Sensitivity: The door must reverse if it senses resistance or doesn’t fully close within 30 seconds. 

• Safety Sensors: Inclusion of photoelectric (light beam) sensors or pressure-sensitive edges to detect obstructions. 

Today, these federal mandates ensure that all modern automatic garage door systems have built-in features designed to prevent accidents and injury, making them significantly safer than their predecessors. 

A1 Pro Safety Tip: 
If your opener is older than 30 years, it may be missing key safety features. That alone can be a reason for you to upgrade to a modern and safe opener. 

 

The Present: What Modern Garage Doors Can Do 

In many ways, garage doors have changed more in the last decade than they have in the last fifty years. 

Stronger, quieter, more efficient doors 

Today’s doors are of a much higher quality than their ancestors and often include: 

• Thicker gauge steel for increased strength 

• Insulation for comfort and noise control 

• Improved track and spring systems that run smoother 

• Standard torsion systems instead of old extension springs 

This means modern doors are quieter when they open and close. They also hold up better over time. Additionally, modern insulated doors can help with energy costs when the garage is attached to the house. 

Smart openers and the myQ app 

The biggest leap modern garage door openers have taken is with smart technology. Apps like myQ give you control of your garage door from your phone.  

With smart garage systems, you can: 

• Open or close the door from anywhere. 

• Check if you left the door open. 

• Get alerts when someone opens the door. 

• Share access with family or guests. 

Some systems even help diagnose problems. If your photo eye sensors are misaligned or the door is binding, you can see that in the app before a tech arrives. That puts more power back in your hands and makes it harder for a shady garage door company to take advantage of you. 

Connected smart home and service 

Consumer demand is pushing garage doors into the smart home world. 

Homeowners already have smart refrigerators, washers and dryers, and security systems. Now they are asking, “Why isn’t my garage smart, too?” 

The smart garage door future has arrived. With myQ and similar tools: 

• Many users can have their own login. 

• You can see who opened or closed the door and when. 

• Your garage door company can be listed as the designated dealer. 

• When something goes wrong, the system can prompt you to call for service right away. 

These smart features mean faster fixes and less stress when the door acts up. 
 
What This Evolution Means for Homeowners 

Garage doors began as a way to easily store and access what was then  Americas newest innovation: the automobile. Today, garage doors are an innovation unto themselves. Hear is what that means for you. 

1. Your opener is not “just a motor”

Your garage opener is also a key safety and security device. Modern openers protect kids and pets with better safety sensors than earlier models. Modern openers also add to home security by integrating with cameras and apps such as myQ.   
 
Upgrading an old unit isn’t just a move toward convenience. It helps homeowners gain safety and peace of mind. 

 

2. Your door is part of your comfort and style

Newer doors improve curb appeal, help keep garages and nearby rooms more comfortable, and run more quietly so they are less disruptive. If your door is old, thin, or damaged, a replacement can change both the look and the feel of your home. 

 

A1 Pro Tip: 
Innovative technology enables your garage to be a part of your smart home. A smarter garage gives you more control over one of the busiest doors in your entire house.