| New Garage Planning Tips | | | | than the ridge of the house. |
| Garage Size Planning | | | | Living space over a garage can be an economical |
| Garage buildings keep getting larger and larger, | | | | way you have to create a new home office, |
| with this realization even backyard sheds often | | | | game room or create storage space. A lower |
| turn into the building of a small garage. This brings | | | | dollar alternative can often be achieved with a |
| a realization that planning your garage building | | | | detached garage. |
| design needs more attention than is often | | | | When adding living space over an attached garage |
| received. | | | | an ideal distance between the garage ceiling and |
| A typical garage is not an expensive piece of | | | | the top of the door is better in the 12 inch range |
| construction, but too often the drive to keep | | | | rather than the typical 18 inches. |
| costs to a minimum results in a finished product | | | | Blending into Your Home Aesthetically Does |
| that detracts from the visual appeal of your | | | | Matter |
| home setting. When planning your new garage, | | | | Some of the nicest garages simply do not look |
| here are some ideas that may help you create a | | | | like garages. A nice design blends the garage into |
| new design that is right for your needs. | | | | the house itself. Think about ways in which you |
| Attached Garage or Detached | | | | can blend the garage into your home smoothly. |
| When driving through a newer housing | | | | Match your siding style, windows, and entry doors. |
| development we seldom do not see garages | | | | You may even include decorative trim with what's |
| attached to all of the houses. These "Attached" | | | | on the house. A variety to a single garage door is |
| garages offers much convenience. If you are | | | | to include two or more smaller overhead doors. |
| planning to build a garage, take some time to | | | | Adding decorative glass lites to the garage door |
| consider the benefits that separating the garage | | | | panels also adds extra class. |
| from the house. | | | | Where Does Snow Go? |
| Two-car garages have become the minimal | | | | Before it melts is the question at hand. :-) If you |
| standard in the industry. Why? The new garage | | | | live in snow country, keep in mind that you will |
| buildings need to be large enough for SUVs, | | | | want to leave room for snow removal. This is |
| minivans, large pickups, and boat storage. Three | | | | especially important if you use a plow to remove |
| and four-car garages are increasingly popular in | | | | the snow. If your garage is located at the end of |
| upper end residential developments, and many | | | | a driveway, it can be very hard to plow it cleanly. |
| real estate agents are eager to tell you that they | | | | A turn around driveway often optimizes close to |
| can be a positive selling point. | | | | your garage often creates an ideal location for |
| Consider an Angled Garage | | | | your snow location. |
| Rather than having your garage face the street, | | | | When a Loft is Desired Plan Your Stair Location |
| try to adjust the blueprint so that your garage | | | | Upper levels require a method to get there with a |
| entrance is angled away from the street. A | | | | stairway system being the most common |
| 90-degree offset from the house is often | | | | method. When stairs are inside the garage, place |
| beneficial, and even a 45 degree angle can | | | | them along one side. If you create a work or |
| significantly reduce the impact the garage | | | | storage area of equal size on the other side of |
| entrance has on the street view of the house. | | | | the garage to create balance in the design. Note |
| Garage Living Space It may be a wise choice to | | | | that if the upper level will be used as a bedroom |
| design a simple garage that can be attached to a | | | | or a rental unit, you will probably be required to |
| house without looking overly dominant. This can | | | | have an outdoor stairway system to create a |
| create a challenge to create additional living space | | | | garage with egress code compliance. Be sure to |
| above the garage. Because of the combined wall | | | | check requirements with your local building |
| heights of the garage and a full-size space above | | | | inspector. |
| it, the roof peak may need to be even higher | | | | |