How To Design A Garage For Your Car 

Designing a garage is often ignored during home construction. Not only will a garage act as a haven to keep your car away from the elements, but it will also double up as a separate room with multiple uses. A lot of factors go into designing a garage, ranging from the basic layout to the type of cars you plan to park in it. Whether it’s a compact Honda Civic or a full-size Ford Expedition, the garage design should also be done with futureproofing in mind to save a lot of headaches. Because of its versatile nature, the garage has become a lot more important in modern homes. Let’s go through the steps involved and factors to consider when designing a garage for your car and how you can make the most of it.

Before we get started, let’s consider some of the critical advantages of having a garage. The most obvious advantage is protecting your car from the elements. This is especially true in states where it snows or rains a lot. Not only will it keep the car secure, but it will also improve accessibility. Because of its versatile nature, the garage can also double up as a workspace and storage area to keep tools and items out of the house. Storing your car in the garage will also improve its longevity by preventing rust and paint fade.

Depending on the design and construction materials used, designing and building a garage can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $50,000. On average, expect to pay around $50 per square meter.

Determining the size of your garage should is the first and most important decision. This will depend on various factors including land space, the number and type of cars, space, and more. In most cases, land space will usually determine the design and layout of the garage. Because the average car size has increased significantly over the years, the biggest point to consider is garage width. Most modern garages are also built bigger to improve storage and convenience.

To determine the size of your garage, let’s consider the number of cars you wish to park in it.

Determining the width: Starting with the garage door, most single-car garages have a width of 8 feet, which should be adequate for even the biggest of cars. However, 9-feet doors are available if the need arises. The bigger the door, the easier it will be to park the car. So, if you have the space and money, it is recommended to get the biggest one possible. For two-car garages, the width can range from 14 feet to 16 feet, depending on the type of cars being parked.

Determining the height: The second dimension to consider is height. On average, cars have become a lot taller in modern times because of the preference for SUVs over sedans and hatchbacks. As such, the garage should be able to accommodate taller vehicles with ease. Keeping this in mind, the standard door height is 7 feet, which can go up to 8 feet if required.

Although we considered average sizes, it is possible to make custom garage doors by paying extra to suit your specific needs.

Now let’s determine the size of your garage. On average, most single-car garages measure 11.5 feet wide and 19.7 feet wide. For two-car garages, the average width and length are 19.7 feet.

Attached Garage Vs Detached Garage

There are two main types of garages to consider, and the one you choose will mostly depend on how your house is constructed and the space available. As the name suggests, an attached garage will be constructed as an extension of your house, providing better access and versatility. If there are space limitations, a detached garage is also an option, built separately from the house. Detached garages are also a better option to avoid modifying the house structure. Depending on the size, the price difference between both can be minor, but in general, expect to pay more for a detached garage. Pre-fab garage kits are also available in most cases to make construction easier, most of which can be done by yourself.

Another point to consider is electricity and utility. With attached garages, the utilities can be directly tapped from the house power supply, while detached garages will require a lot more equipment and wiring.

Prefab Kits Or Custom Garage Design

Designing your garage will take a lot of effort, from sourcing raw materials to measuring and cutting them to size. To avoid all this extra work, many companies sell prefab kits which is the quickest, easiest and cheapest way to build garages.

With custom garages, the costs will be significantly higher. In general, expect to pay more than double for a custom garage since there are multiple stages to go through including design and procurement.

Other Factors And Designs To Consider

Once you’ve decided on the garage size, type, and layout, the next step is to consider all the other factors and add-ons to your garage.

Storage: Along with storing your cars, most garages also act as storage areas to keep items out of the way. For this, designs have to be tweaked to include adjustable shelving and cabinets to one side. These can be used to store tools and machinery. To accommodate storage areas, it is recommended to widen the garage by 2.3 feet to one side. Designing the cabinets accordingly will also provide a work table to keep said tools and work on your cars. It is also important to utilize the wallaby including hangers and cupboards to hang tools and gardening equipment. If the garage is tall, enough, even the roof can be utilized for storage. Even small living areas can be built with the right permissions, which can also double up as storage areas.

Working on cars: If you’re someone who likes to work on their cars, there are a lot more factors to consider when designing the garage. If there is enough space, home garage car lifts can be used to lift cars and give you easy access to the undercarriage. However, make sure the garage is tall enough before planning on a lift. It is also recommended to reinforce the garage floor to handle the extra weight and stress exerted by the car lift.

Insulation: To keep the elements out and the garage comfortable, insulation should be considered in the design stages itself. Insulating your garage starts with an insulated garage door to keep the heat and cold out. The walls can also be insulted while building for better temperature control. To keep the garage comfortable in the winter, space heaters are usually used. But, for bigger garages, more effective options are available to keep the cold out. Air conditioning units can also be placed to beat the heat during summer.