Detached Garage – Advantages of Building On Your Lot

A detached garage is a type of garage that is not in any way joined structurally with any other building. This makes this type of garage appear as a separate structure from a house, standing on its own space within the property of the owner. The separation and the flexibility of placement makes a detached garage an appealing option for a lot of homeowners who are interested to build their own garage. 

Not only does it solve practical problems like space limitations beside the house itself. It fortunately adds a lot of benefits into the plate because of its very nature.

A Brief History of Detached Garages

Before we dive into the benefits and advantages of detached garages, it would be interesting to look into the history of these types of structures. The use of attached garages became common in the late 1940s. In the 1950s, the prosperity of post-war America resulted in many families owning two cars. This led to the practice of using the garage as the main entrance to a home instead of the front door.

By the 1960s over 60% of all new homes have attached garages. That percentage just continued to increase as the years went by. Now, attached garages are the norm.

But just because attached garages are so common that doesn’t mean you should follow suit.

Advantages of a Detached Garage

A garage that is erected separately from a house can give a number of advantages to homeowners. What is most apparent is that the owners can have free rein on the size that they want the garage to be. In contrast to an attached garage, detached structures need not be limited by the size of the main structure itself. Furthermore, owners can have more options when customizing the amenities of the garage.

No matter the proposed function, a garage that is detached from the main structure or home can give multiple benefits. Privacy is especially achieved by such a setting. This type of garage can be placed anywhere in the lot, and can easily be screened from the prying eyes of neighbors and those inside the home. 

Soundproofing will not also pose a problem. In contrast, most attached garages can prove to be problematic for noise management since common walls can easily transmit unwanted sounds from garages to the homes. This can be especially unmanageable if the garage is used as a workshop, a practice area for musicians and an entertainment center.

Finally, this type of garage also offers a lot of improvement possibilities on the home itself. Without the added space and driveway clearance needed to access the garage, the homeowners can instead plan on constructing a patio, deck or even improve the landscaping surrounding their houses.

Most garages today are attached to houses. It wasn’t always like that. In the early days when having a car first became the norm, detached garages were more common. That’s because those were either converted shelters for carriages or were patterned after carriage houses. Detached garages do offer several distinct advantages and this article will go through those.

Learn about the advantages offered by detached garages.

• More Space – If you already have an attached garage, what you can do is build a separate structure and then you can turn the attached garage into an additional living space. Many homeowners are discovering the benefits of doing this, which accounts for the trend of building detached garages.
• More Design Options – One of the main drawbacks of an attached garage is that you have very limited options when it comes to its design and appearance. You’re stuck with how the rest of the house will look. If you have a separate structure, then you’ll have more freedom when it comes to its appearance.  You can make it completely different from how your house looks.
• More Time to Breath Fresh Air – With a detached structure where your car will be parked, you will be forced to walk outside. That short trip no matter how short it is can be a breath of fresh air.  That could be the opportunity that you are missing out on.
• A Place for a Home Office – The pandemic highlighted the need for a home office for most people. Sometimes, especially for those with little kids, getting a little quiet time to accomplish some work can be impossible. What you can do is set up a home office in your detached garage.
• It’s Safer – Yes, having a detached garage is the safer option. If you’re the typical homeowner then you store paints and other chemicals in your garage. There is always the danger that those chemicals can catch fire and burn down your house. By having a detached garage, you don’t run that risk.
• Limited Home Access – Many break-ins happen through attracted garages. By keeping your garage separate from your house, you reduce the risk of that happening.

These are just a few of the advantages offered by detached garages. So, what are you waiting for? Start building your own detached garages now.

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Uses of a Detached Garage

Other than simply serving as a storage facility for vehicles and other equipment, a detached garage can serve as a workshop, office and even a small cottage that can serve as a convenient getaway for anyone in the house. Perhaps one of the best advantages of owning this type of garage is installing a living space on its second floor area. This garage makes the best alternative for houses that need additional guest rooms in the long run. The flexibility in size and the possibility of customizations make this easy to achieve.

A house that unfortunately lacks extra rooms will benefit from a detached garage. Whether the garage is converted into entertainment centers, lounges, study and hobby areas or guest rooms, they provide the quickest solutions versus home renovations. In the same line, they are also serve as the most affordable solution to space limitations at home, and make the best option for home improvements to homeowners who need additional dwelling spaces.