It may seem that garages have been around since the beginning of time, especially as most of us have grown up with them attached to our homes and can’t imagine a time when they weren’t around. Most of us use our garages to store vehicles and other such large items, and in many cases, the garage is even the entryway to the home. However, it wasn’t always that way:
The history of the garage:
With the invention of the automobile at the beginning of the 20th century, society’s elite was given the opportunity to purchase a luxury item that the common folk could only dream about riding in, let alone owning. These wealthy types soon began to realize that they needed somewhere to safely store their precious new inventions, and protect them from the elements, theft or vandalism.
Carriage houses that once provided shelter for horses, buggies and other such items, were in abundance and folks soon began utilizing these spaces to store their new cars. In fact, these buildings were quickly made available for rent, and automobiles could be stored in them for a fee of around $18 a month, with the carriage house owners maintaining the building.
This was merely a temporary solution though, and many carriage houses were still being used to house livestock alongside the automobiles, something that society’s most wealthy individuals were not best pleased about. So, alternative storage solutions were created, giving rise to the garage as we know it today.
What were early American garages like?
The name ‘garage’ is derived from the French word ‘garer’ meaning to store, and early versions of the garage were very basic, almost like sheds that were not always attached to the home, although that concept gradually grew in popularity.
The way people entered those structures was also very different to how they enter them nowadays, and the upward-acting garage door quickly became popular when it was invented by a gentleman called C.G Johnson in 1921, revolutionizing the way garages could be accessed.
What type of doors should you buy for your garage?
If you’re in the process of building your home and garage or simply want to upgrade your existing garage doors, what type of door should you go for? Well, you’d be advised to consider your location, climate, and building codes before selecting the right doors for your garage, and your local garage seller or repair person is usually the best one to advise you in such matters. You may need a wind-loaded door if you live in a hurricane zone, or an insulated one to protect it and your home in the harsh winter months. You may also want garage doors that are aesthetically pleasing, rather than simply functional, and again, your local garage professional can go through the options with you.
How best to maintain your new garage doors?
The simplest and most effective way to maintain your garage door(s) is to use them carefully and the minute you see or hear any damage or potential issues, to get in touch with your garage door supplier or repair person, who will help you fix the problem and help you to prevent it from happening again.
Your garage doors probably set you back a pretty buck or two, so it’s vital that you look after them well to prevent you from having to perform costly repairs or have them replaced altogether.
