(Above picture shows how a detached garage can enhance backyard privacy)
Garages are a funny thing. Where they are placed affects a lot of other things. Let’s look at some of the options:
Front
Front entry may be the most common type of garage. Since it generally requires the least amount of concrete for the driveway it can be the most economical. It also requires the least amount of yard space. But, it comes with a couple of disadvantages.
Open garage doors can negatively affect the appearance of the front of your home. And cars parked in the driveway appear to be in the front yard from a distance. The street and neighborhood can have a sort-of a disheveled look if most of the homes have front entry garages and people leave their cars outside.
Rear
A garage at the rear of the house has a neater appearance from the road. It can also give your backyard and outdoor living area some privacy on one side. In this position it can have a side or a rear entry. It goes without saying that a garage takes up a good amount of space, so one placed at the rear of your home will decrease the amount of backyard space. But you may not have much choice if a rear-entry garage is needed, or if your covenants require the garage to be at the rear of the lot. If this option is necessary, but makes outdoor living in your backyard undesirable, we can design an attractive outdoor living area for another side of your home.
Detached
A detached garage at the rear of your lot can optimize backyard space vs. a side entry on the back side of the house. That is because you don’t need a turn-in driveway. The garage can be placed where the turn-in space would be, freeing up backyard space, and reducing the amount of concrete needed for the driveway. The detached garage is especially beneficial, vs. a side entry on the back, on a narrow lot and can provide some really nice shielding and privacy for the back yard. If you’re considering detached, check out this helpful article from Home Advisor. The Spruce has a different take than Home Advisor, and Houzz has good information as well.
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Side
A side entry garage works great. It’s preferred to keep the inside of your garage less viewable from the street. But it does require a wide lot. A side-entry garage behind the home (covered in rear garages above) requires less lot width than a side-entry beside the house, but more than a courtyard entry.
Courtyard
With a courtyard entry, you can still have a side entry garage while eliminating the need for an extra wide lot. This type takes up a lot of front yard space as the driveway typically has its turn-in area right in front of the front door. It gives your home an L-shape, with the garage being out in front. This can be done in a very attractive way.
A Courtyard Entrance Garage
Brings the driveway to the front door.
Storage
Almost all garages need at least a little storage space. Tell us what you need to store and we’ll design your garage to handle it. It also helps to investigate some innovative solutions that utilize vertical space. But keep in mind that you may need walking space underneath overhead storage. If your garage doesn’t have a high ceiling, some of the overhead storage solutions may not work well.
Features
There are many cool things you can do in your garage. They’re not necessary for the primary purpose, but they are useful. Here are some ideas:
Bathroom: If you get hot and sweaty doing yard work, and you spend hours at a time doing it, it’s handy not to have to go inside for a bathroom break. Also, if you include a shower you can clean up afterward before going inside. While there may be the potential for freezing pipes in the winter, that can be dealt with by plumbing design and other measures.
Insulation: By default garages are typically not insulated in their exterior walls or overhead, unless there is heated space above. If you spend a good deal of time in your garage workshop it’s nice to be able to heat it in the winter. And insulation will keep it from getting as hot in the summer. If you plan to heat or cool the garage it must be on a separate system to prevent vehicle exhaust from entering the house.
Flooring: Special garage floor tiles or epoxy coating make the floor easy to clean and looking great for years.
Cabinets: Built-in cabinets not only provide storage, but have a neater appearance than most other storage solutions.
Freezer or Refrigerator: If you plan on putting an appliance in the garage, it should have a special small-appliance branch circuit, just like the one required by code for an indoor refrigerator. This way, if your garage circuit trips a breaker your food stays cold. You can also plan for an icemaker with a water supply that can be turned off from inside in the winter to prevent pipes from freezing.
When it comes to home design, how do you know what you don’t know? At Habitation Home Design we help you cover the bases. We give you education. We actually investigate your needs and wants. We make custom home design truly custom. Try our process for free!