Pros and Cons of an Attached Garage
December 15, 2017One of the most appealing aspects of having your own driveway and a garage is never having to search for a parking spot when you come home. And, garages can be used for so much more than just parking. One of the biggest decisions to make when it comes to garages is attached, detached, or both. Here are some pros and cons of an attached garage to help you determine if it’s the best option for you:
3 Pros of an Attached Garage
Attached garages can provide several benefits. Here are some of the pros of an attached garage:
1. Attached Garages Are Easy to Access
One of the biggest benefits and best aspects of an attached garage is the convenient accessibility. You don’t need to leave your home to get to it. This is particularly convenient during inclement weather and when you need to unload things and bring them into the house.
With an attached garage, you can get straight to your home or car safe and dry no matter what the weather is like. An attached garage is also useful if you need to access it at night. Leaving your house to go to a separate building in the dark can be a hazard, especially if you live in a rural region without a lot of light.
2. They Are More Convenient
An attached garage also makes transferring things, like groceries, from your car to your home much easier. If you have the storage for it and fridge in the garage, you can even put away your groceries right there in the garage! Plus, if you’re planning to have an attached garage, you can also plan to add an attic truss above the garage for extra storage, a bonus room, or another purpose.
3. An Attached Garage Tends to be Less Expensive
Because you are extending the foundation of an existing building instead of constructing something completely separate, an attached garage tends to be less costly than a detached garage.
Plus, security systems, heating and cooling, etc. are often built to extend to include an attached garage instead of requiring entirely separate systems as a detached garage would. With proper insulation and climate control being some of the top garage must-haves, this can put an attached garage ahead of a detached one.
3 Cons of an Attached Garage
Although attached garages offer several advantages, they can have some potential disadvantages as well. Here are a few cons of an attached garage:
1. Attached Garages Can be Limited on Customization
Although an attached garage can be cheaper than a detached garage, there are also some limitations on customization for them. Because they are attached to the home, there may be some size restrictions. This is particularly true on narrower lots.
Your garage will already be partially limited by the size of your home and your lot. With at least one wall already determined by the home design, you may be somewhat constrained to the size of what that wall can be.
However, with a custom home, your design can be adjusted to accommodate what is needed for the right attached garage for you. You also have the option to add an attic truss above the garage for more space if you need it. These are all important garage considerations for your custom home.
2. You Need to be More Aware of Air Quality
Because the garage is connected to the home, you have to be more aware of what you store in it, activities you do in the space, etc., and how that affects the air quality of your home.
There can be health issues if you do not properly insulate and ventilate your garage and if you store any potentially hazardous materials inside it. Carbon monoxide, oil fumes, and more can infiltrate your home from your attached garage if you are not careful.
In fact, it’s because of this that the American Lung Association recommends that you do not store any volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in your attached garage or run the car without opening the garage door for ventilation. These are things you should keep in mind for detached garages as well, even if you don’t need to worry as much about smells or fumes entering the home in this case.
3. Heating and Cooling is Still a Consideration for Attached Garages
Although you can sometimes extend the home’s heating and cooling system to an attached garage or partition it to work in the garage separately, you still have to consider heating and cooling for attached garages.
Temperature control is essential and you’ll have to prevent energy loss in the garage to keep your home energy efficient. Proper insulation and more tips for a more energy-efficient garage will go a long way in reducing heating and cooling loss through the garage. This is one of the benefits of insulated garage doors.
However, you will need to work with your home builder to plan for your garage to benefit from the heating and cooling the rest of your house receives throughout the year, or to arrange for its own system. If the garage is allowed to become too cold in the winter, the garage door may freeze and any appliances or other items you have placed in the garage may malfunction due to extremely hot or cold temperatures.
Consider your lifestyle and how you will use your garage. Thinking about things like this and evaluating the pros and cons of an attached garage as well as the pros and cons of a detached garage can help you determine the right option for you.
An experienced, reputable custom home builder is also a valuable resource. They can help walk you through all of the options and help you figure out the best options to make sure you get what you want and need from your custom home. If you’re ready to get started on your own custom home, contact Custom Home Group at 717-284-4090!