Detached Garages – Would One Work for You?

For various reasons, some homeowners decide that they prefer detached garages. It could be because they want to turn their attached one into another type of room but still want a place to house their cars, or they might just want an extra one because they have so many cars, or too much junk to store. If you are considering the detached kind, you have some options on what to construct or buy. What option you choose should depend on how well you want it to blend with your outside decor, what style of home you have, and what you can fit into your budget. 

What You Have Now

Before you go looking at detached garages, take a look at what you have now. If your home came with only a one-car unit, then getting another one that is detached can be a good idea, and it could actually save you money to do it that way instead of remodeling to enlarge the one you have now. If the one you have now is large enough but you would like to turn it into another type of room such as a work room, recreation room, or bedroom, then getting one that is detached is a great solution so that you still have a place to park your cars. 

Shopping

When it’s time to shop for detached garages, you have a few options. You could buy a kit and build one yourself, you could have one built by a contractor, or you could buy a prefabricated one. It all depends on your preferences. Do some research online to get a feel for what you might like, then find a reputable dealer who offers a variety of choices. Be sure to take the area where you want to put your new garage into consideration before you go over your choices. This type of building is large and usually quite visible, so you want to make sure that it doesn’t detract at all from the overall look of your home, but rather complements it. It’s also a good idea to decide beforehand on a reasonable budget within which to stay.

Maintenance

Detached garages take some routine maintenance to stay functional and look good for as long as possible. Depending on the type, you may need to paint it about every two years or so, or at least whenever you repaint your home. You also want to keep the mechanical door parts well lubricated, and replace any parts when necessary to avoid ending up with bigger problems in the future. If you purchase a prefabricated door, check manufacturer recommendations on maintenance as well.

Detached garages can be great additions to homes, and they can serve more than one purpose. In many cases, it can be a relatively inexpensive and easy way to add on to your home and even increase its value. As long as you place it in a way that enhances the look of your home and you keep it maintained well, you should be happy with this addition for a long time.