So you want to build a garage, but you aren’t sure if you would prefer an attached or a detached structure. Understanding the pros and cons of each type of garage can help you make an educated decision on the subject. After all, we all know that garages are practical for parking a car and storing seasonal items and tools, but you may not know that a garage can also be a great place to do your favourite hobby or leisure activity – and that could change your decision on the structure entirely. Here’s what you need to know.
Start with the size and shape of your property.
Due to the way municipal infrastructures like water, sewer, and gas work, your urban lot is probably a lot smaller today than it would have been years ago. Many urban areas attempt to increase population density by cutting lot sizes down so that they can reduce taxes – a popular move for elected officials.
But if you live in a suburban area, you’ll often find long rectangular lots, with narrow fronts and more room behind the house. This often means that behind the house can be an ideal place to locate a garage. For more rural areas, lots tend to be larger, which means that you can pretty much put a garage wherever you want.
Another consideration is the layout of the property. For example, a corner lot gives you more options for building a garage to your desires. In order to get the best picture of where on your lot you can build a garage, and how you can design it, it’s a good idea to walk around and measure the possible areas for a garage before you make any final decisions.
Finally, you will need to consider what the laws governing your property may be, like how far apart your neighbor’s property and your own structures must be. Ask yourself also what you want your garage to be used for. If it’s only to park your car during the cold winter, for example, you may not want to have the garage too far away. However, if your plans are to make a workshop to repair your car, motorcycle or other recreational vehicle, you may want a bit more space between your home and the garage.
Attached garage pros
The advantages of an attached garage include:
- Being able to get in and out of your car without getting wet or dealing with inclement weather.
- Making your home seem larger and grander thanks to the visual of the house taking up more space.
- Being able to turn the garage into an office, play place for the kids, or other additional space.
- The reduced construction costs, thanks to using a wall of the house as one of the four walls.
Detached garage pros
The advantages of an attached garage include:
- The flexibility of creating a working space for louder projects, projects that take up space, or projects that get messy.
- The ability to keep toxic fumes or other dangerous items away from your home.
- More safety. With a garage attached directly to your home, it is easier for thieves to gain entry to your home through the garage.
- More options when you have tight spaces. In some cases, having neighbors too close to your house means you can’t build the large two-car garage you want. But if you put a separate garage in the back yard, for example, you can make much more space.
- Options for expanding the garage in the future.
- Having more storage options over the garage, instead of a room over the garage as with many attached garages.
As for the cons, the biggest negative factor for homeowners remains the problem of getting groceries in the house in the rain and snow!
Which garage type will you choose?
Is your garage attached or detached from your home? Or, did you used to have one or the other that you preferred more? If so, what is your opinion on the pros and cons of each option? Have you found that having a detached garage has given you more freedom for projects that your spouse doesn’t want to see, or do you think that having an attached garage has allowed you better proximity and more convenient use of your home? Are there pros and cons that we’ve forgotten? Let us know in the comments below!
If you would like to learn other people’s opinions, we suggest you take a look at this discussion forum on HOUZZ.
Is there a difference in the price of either garage type?
There are two articles that can give you a great picture of the cost of each option so you can compare:
- The cost of an attached garage
- The cost of a detached garage
With either garage, the garage door is an essential part of safety and comfort.
To ensure that you are getting a safe, efficient garage door for any type of garage, you can always contact us at 978-342-3344. Or visit us at our showroom where we can show you some great options for many garage types. We are also more than willing to email you a detailed written quotation which includes some possible options.
If a new garage door is in your future and you would like to coordinate its style with the architecture of your house, take a look at our custom Design Centre or look through our image gallery to give you some inspiration in your search.
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