Today’s garage doors are much different from the garage doors that were first used to enclose garage spaces. With the development and affordability of cars after World War II, people started to take the notion that they needed to protect their vehicles somehow when they were not in use. Also, as more and more people started driving cars, there were more cars on the roads. People needed places to park their cars somewhere other than along the streets because traffic was becoming a problem for the first time.
While the invention of garage doors started before WW2 and the Great Depression, when the Nation’s economy took a huge hit, people who owned cars still needed places to store them. After the Second World War, it was clear that the housing boom of the late 1940s was going to move and spread throughout the United States. Garage door production began to soar, and garage doors began to evolve and expand into what is a huge industry today.
Most early garage doors were swing-out style barn doors. These doors were quickly replaced with sectional doors that could be rolled or folded up. Up until the late 1950s, garage doors were made from wood. These doors were incredibly heavy structures, and manufacturers began looking at lighter material options that were safer and more user-friendly for homeowners. Eventually, fiberglass garage doors became popular. But today, most homes have garage doors that are made of steel or aluminum.
Yet, today’s garage doors are different in more ways than in style. Before automatic garage doors could be opened with the push of a button, once a garage door was closed for the day, it generally stayed closed. People used their front doors as the entry point for their homes, especially when company came to visit. However, more than 70% of homeowners today use their garage doors as the point of entry for their homes. It is not uncommon in residential neighborhoods to find that one garage door is left open when homeowners are at home. This allows easy access in and out of the home for running to the mailbox, mowing the lawn, visiting neighbors, or for children to go out and play. While first-time visitors will generally go to the front door of a home, even if the garage door is left open, most homeowners expect family, friends, and neighbors to enter through their garage doors if they are left open.
As homes have gotten larger, so have garages. For a long time, the only things people kept inside their garages were modes of transportation: cars and bikes. Today, however, most people use their garage space for their vehicles and storage. Many people have an extra refrigerator or deep freezer in their garages to store extra food and drinks. There are elaborate storage and organizational systems made especially for garage spaces that allow homeowners to utilize the garage for storage, especially for homes that do not have a basement.
Today, garages are viewed as extensions of the home. Garage doors or garage spaces can take up to more than 30% of the front view of a home. Therefore, garage doors can either increase or decrease the value of a home. With the housing market in a huge boom right now, sellers find that they need to make sure their homes have good curb appeal and value in order to sell. Updating garage door style, quality, and appearance are almost essential for a home to sell quickly and at the highest price-point.
If you are considering a new replacement garage door, you owe it to yourself to call HABPRO Garage Doors. Not all garage doors are equal, and not all installations are equal either. When you choose HABPRO Garage Doors, you are choosing over 40 years of customer satisfaction and a company that is rated 5 Stars for service. Call us today!
Jeanie S.