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A garage is a key part of many homes. Providing storage space for cars, gardening supplies, tools, sports equipment, bikes and more, the right garage can be an essential part of a home.
But garages are not a one-size-fits-all solution. What works for one home – or one family – may not work for another. If you’re shopping for a new house, you can make a decision before you buy or build a house with a garage. And you also can decide whether to choose an attached garage or a detached garage.
Let’s look at pros and cons of attached versus detached garages.
Attached Garages
Attached garages, as the name implies, are garages that are part of a residence. In these garages, typically a door leads to the inside of the home, creating an extension in which to park a car and store numerous family and household items. The most common option for houses, attached garages are often fairly standard in shape and size.
Attached garages have many benefits to homeowners, including:
Detached Garages
Detached garages, on the other hand, are not attached to a residence. Garages may be close by, but can also be on the other side of the property. Detached garages are often larger or more creatively built due to the freedom of a stand-alone format.
The pros of a detached garage include:
But detached garages aren't perfect, with downsides like:
The Bottom Line
The choice of attached garage or detached garage generally will hinge on a homeowner’s preference for convenience or flexibility. An attached garage is fast and easy, allowing simple access to your home with no hassles. Alternately, a detached garage can be larger and easier to use with no limitations on space near a home. Ideal for garages with room for two or more cars or a workshop, a detached garage offers lots of potential for those looking to spread out.
There's no right or wrong answer to the question of detached versus attached garages. So it's up to you to decide what works best. From space and size to simplicity and convenience, there are plenty of pros for you to consider.
But garages are not a one-size-fits-all solution. What works for one home – or one family – may not work for another. If you’re shopping for a new house, you can make a decision before you buy or build a house with a garage. And you also can decide whether to choose an attached garage or a detached garage.
Let’s look at pros and cons of attached versus detached garages.
Attached Garages
Attached garages, as the name implies, are garages that are part of a residence. In these garages, typically a door leads to the inside of the home, creating an extension in which to park a car and store numerous family and household items. The most common option for houses, attached garages are often fairly standard in shape and size.
Attached garages have many benefits to homeowners, including:
- Convenient to use, especially in bad weather
- Less expensive to build
- Able to use electrical and heating systems that are part of the home
- Satisfies homeowner association requirements
- Can raise property values
- Hard to fit onto a narrow lot
- Can be a security risk
- Greater fire risk
- Difficult to expand
- May compromise the exterior appearance of a home
- May require more-expensive building permits when constructed
Detached Garages
Detached garages, on the other hand, are not attached to a residence. Garages may be close by, but can also be on the other side of the property. Detached garages are often larger or more creatively built due to the freedom of a stand-alone format.
The pros of a detached garage include:
- Flexibility in size and location, with freedom to maximize lot area
- More room for cars and workspace
- Easier to expand or add on to if necessary
- More secure
- Improved curb appeal
- May increase resale value
But detached garages aren't perfect, with downsides like:
- Less-convenient access to the home, especially in bad weather
- Required separate source for utilities
- May take up excessive yard space
- May be disallowed by a homeowners association
The Bottom Line
The choice of attached garage or detached garage generally will hinge on a homeowner’s preference for convenience or flexibility. An attached garage is fast and easy, allowing simple access to your home with no hassles. Alternately, a detached garage can be larger and easier to use with no limitations on space near a home. Ideal for garages with room for two or more cars or a workshop, a detached garage offers lots of potential for those looking to spread out.
There's no right or wrong answer to the question of detached versus attached garages. So it's up to you to decide what works best. From space and size to simplicity and convenience, there are plenty of pros for you to consider.
