January 26, 2018

Is an attached or detached garage for you?

Attached or detached garage fits for you?

So, you’ve decided to build a garage. If you haven’t decided whether you will build an attached or detached garage, we have some insight into factors that can help you decide. This can help you make a more educated decision based on pros and cons and your own personal situation. Garages are, of course, a practical space used for parking cars and storing items like garden tools and bicycles. However, it can be more than that. Think about your dream garage – a place where you have enough room for your favorite hobbies or leisure time activities.

The absolute most important factor to consider – your property’s shape and size

For those who reside in large urban places, you likely understand that lot sizes are continually shrinking due to the costs associated with setting up infrastructures and providing municipal services like gas, water, and sewer. Many elected public officials make it part of their priority to increase the population density which can allow them to reduce taxes to a lower amount.

This isn’t true for suburban areas. On these lots, it’s normal to find narrow frontages with a significant depth. This can make the area behind the house an excellent place to position the garage. With rural lots, they tend to be larger in general, so you can choose to place the garage anywhere you want.

You should also factor in the configuration of your property and how that relates to the garage you want. Those who have a corner plot will have more options for building the garage than others might. To get an idea of what options you have, it might be a reasonable idea to talk a walk of the property and even take measurements for potential layouts of your new garage.

No matter what size or shape of the lot, you will be required to consult your local bylaws to determine details like the distance between you and your neighbours. After that, you’ll want to decide for yourself exactly what your garage will be used for. If your only need is to park your vehicle(s) while it’s cold outside or as additional storage, your final decision is going to be unique from someone who has plans to include a workshop to repair your motorcycle, car, or ATV.

The advantages and disadvantages of choosing an attached garage

First, the advantages:

  • When it’s cold outside or the weather is terrible, an attached garage offers you and your loved ones the ability to reach the house without getting cold or wet. You can get in your car in the morning when it’s freezing without freezing yourself in the process. This simply isn’t possible with a detached garage.
  • When a garage is attached to the home, it can change the way the house looks by making it look larger. This is especially true if you place the garage on the same side as the front of your house. This can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your opinion.
  • When you have an attached garage, you can choose to use it in other ways. You could turn it into storage for a home business, use it as an office, or make it a playroom for your children.
  • Because one of your walls is the same as a wall of the home, you can save a bit on the costs of constructing an attached garage.
Cambridge CS, 9' x 7', Ice White door and overlays, 4 lite Panoramic windows

As far as the disadvantages go, read the advantages for detached garages below and consider the opposite.

The advantages and disadvantages of choosing a detached garage

The advantages:

  • A detached garage allows you some amount of adaptability. For instance, if you choose to use the garage as a woodworking shop, space of DIY projects, or just as a mechanics space, you’ll have more flexibility for doing so with a garage that is detached.
  • Vehicles can emit dangerous fumes and projects done in garages can bring the risk of fire and other harm. With a detached garage, those fumes and flammable items are away from the house, which means they are less likely to cause harm to someone who is not in the garage.
  • With your garage being located farther from your house than it would be with an attached garage, there is no quick direct access to the home. This can help to reduce home break‑ins.
  • You may have to keep to certain distances when it comes to encroaching on your neighbours. With a detached garage, you may be able to get away with taking up more space, allowing you a larger garage that can accommodate more vehicles.
  • If you decide that you want to expand the size of your garage later on, it’s easier when it is a detached garage in the garage rather than being located against your home.
  • There might be extra storage space with a detached garage, especially in the roof. When the garage is attached, there is often a room atop that limits the space that you can use for long‑term storage.
Standard+ Classic CC, 9' x 7', Ice White

As is similar to the disadvantages for the attached, you can look at the advantages of attached garages and flip them. One of the most significant factors that cause a problem is the fact that getting belongings inside in the snow or rain can be challenging.

Which garage type fits your needs?

For those who have had a garage in the past, attached or detached, you may have your own list of pros and cons related to your experience. Some people choose to split the difference, with an attached garage for easy access to the home and a detached garage as a workshop or storage space. If there are things we haven’t mentioned here, make sure you consider those on your own pros and cons list.

If you want to find out more about the opinions of others, one good option is to visit our discussion forum on HOUZZ.

Don’t forget to factor the costs of a garage into your calculations…

Those who want more information on cost and pricing on garages would be well‑suited by looking over the following articles:

No matter what works best for you, make sure you choose a garage door…

If you have questions or need more information, you can contact us at 506-450-3031. You can also come in and visit our showroom. We can also email you a written, detailed quotation which includes many different options.

If you need a new garage door and want to it to fit the style of your house’s architecture, why not use our Design Centre or look through our image gallery to give you some inspiration in your search.

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