What to Consider When Building a Garage for Your Home

Are you thinking about building a garage for your home?

There are a lot of benefits to building a garage for your home. In addition to providing more storage space, a garage means you don’t have to trudge outside during the winter to get into a cold car.

A garage also helps to reduce theft and allows for easier car maintenance. But, before you build a garage, there are some things you need to consider.

Check out this guide to learn what to consider when building a garage for your home.

Look Into Zoning Laws

First things first, you need to look into your local zoning laws. Unless you’re planning to follow a very strict set of parameters, you’ll need to obtain planning permission.

The type of planning permission you need will depend on your local government. Full permission, also known just as permission, is the most common type of permission homeowners obtain.

This type of permission requires you to have a detailed blueprint of the garage you plan to build. On the other hand, you may just need an outlined permission. For this type of permission, you’ll just need an outline of the garage you plan to build.

To figure out what you need, contact your local government.

Consider the Size

Obviously, you need a garage that will fit your car. Generally speaking, a single-car garage is 14 by 20 feet, while a double-car garage is 20 by 24 feet.

However, you may want to fit two cars in your garage, and in this case, you’ll need more space. And, even if you only plan to put one car in your garage, you still may want more space for storage or working.

Attached vs Detached

Another thing you need to consider is whether you want to build an attached garage or a detached garage. An attached garage is connected to your house, whereas a detached garage is a standalone structure.

There are pros and cons to each of these options, and it’s important to take them into consideration before choosing.

Pros and Cons of an Attached Garage

The biggest benefit of an attached garage is that it prevents you from having to go outside. If you live in an area with extreme weather, this can be a major bonus. Building an attached garage can also be more affordable.

However, it can be more difficult and expensive to get a building permit for an attached garage, although it’s not impossible. It’s also easier for intruders to get into your home through an attached garage.

Pros and Cons of a Detached Garage

The biggest benefit of a detached garage is that it gives you a space away from your home. If you plan to use your garage as a workspace, this can be especially beneficial, as it’ll give you additional privacy to get things done.

Detached garages also fit better into narrow spaces, and they’re easier to expand should you need more space in the future. The biggest downside to a detached garage is that you’ll have to walk outside to get to your car and into your house.

Also, because a detached garage is a separate entity from your home, you’ll need to install new utilities, such as a heater or AC unit.

Consider the Different Types of Garage Doors

When building a garage, one of the biggest things you need to take into consideration is the type of garage door. Here are the different options:

Sliding Garage Door

One of the most common types of garage doors is a sliding garage door. This type of garage door slides horizontally along a track. With a sliding garage door, you don’t need a ceiling-mounted operator or balancing springs.

Roll-Up Garage Door

Roll-up garage doors are popular with commercial properties, but they’re becoming more and more popular on residential properties as well. These doors can withstand heavy usage, and they’re enclosed to prevent corrosion, rust, and freezing.

Side-Hinged Garage Door

Side-hinged garage doors swing open on a hinge from one side of the frame. These garage doors are typically made from wood, and they resemble barn doors.

Over Retractable Garage Door

An over retractable garage door lifts up and into the garage. It’s suspended independently from a frame so it won’t protrude past the front of your house. It’s important to note that this style is a bit more expensive than the other options.

Consider the Garage Door Material

In addition to the garage door type, you also need to consider the garage door material. Here are the top material options:

Metal Garage Doors

Metal garage doors give you a lot of bang for your buck, as they’re affordable to purchase and install, and they last longer than other natural or synthetic materials.

Plus, they’re energy-efficient, low-maintenance, and offer enhanced safety and security.

Wooden Garage Doors

Wooden garage doors are beautiful, available in a variety of prices, and fully customizable. Unlike steel or aluminum garage doors, wooden garage doors are dent-proof.

However, this material can be high maintenance and doesn’t hold up well against moisture.

Vinyl Garage Doors

Vinyl garage doors are rustproof, rot-resistant, and resistant to warping. They’re also resistant to wind, sand, and salt air. These garage doors can handle extreme weather conditions and come with a UV-resistant finish.

Fiberglass Garage Doors

Fiberglass garage doors are resistant to cracking and denting. They’re also environmentally-sustainable, and because they’re semi-transparent, they can allow more light into your garage.

While they don’t rust, they can break on impact.

Building a Garage: Are You Ready to Build?

Now that you know what to take into consideration when building a garage, it’s time to start planning. With these tips, you’ll be well on your way to building the garage of your dreams.

Be sure to check back in with our blog for more home building tips and tricks.