Should you consider garages in designs advice, Home car space guide, Property vehicle storage tips
Should Developers and Architects consider Garages in their Designs?
20 October 2022
Having a space to store a vehicle, indoors and offroad, is valuable to would-be homeowners. It’s therefore something that many developers and architects seek to incorporate into their plans. One of the main purposes for a garge is to house a vehicle and keep it safely locked away. This in turn adds value to a property as it makes it an attractive added feature to would be home buyers. A garage is something that confers a number of benefits, but there are also a few drawbacks to consider, too. Let’s take a look at the topic, and what variables are worth considering.
Benefits of including a garage
Let’s run through the plus points.
Added security
If you’re storing your car in a garage, then you’re making it more difficult to break into or vandalise. If you’re living in an area where on-street parking is scarce, or crime is a concern, then this might be a particularly pertinent factor. The downside of street parking doesn’t end here, you will typically find your insurance premium to be higher on average than those who park in a garage or driveway. If in the worst case scenario you’re vehicle gets stolen or broken into, you may additionally, struggle to recup the value of your vehicle and so it may be wise to look at a gap insurance quote.
Extra storage
A garage provides space for general storage, even if there’s no car being kept in there. You might also find that you can make use of the spaces in the corners and sides of your garage to store items that you might not want to keep elsewhere.
By having this extra storage, you’ll free up space elsewhere. That means a loft, a cupboard, or a space under the stairs that’s slightly more free of clutter.
Special uses
There are some activities to which a garage is more naturally suited. Hobbies like woodworking, for example, generate a lot of dust that you might not want to bring into a residential space. By the same token, if you’re going to be making changes or improvements to a motor vehicle, then it only makes sense to do it in a garage space.
Property value
Garages tend to add a substantial amount to the value of a property, relative to the amount being invested. Since you don’t have to heat them, they impose very little in terms of running costs. If there is space available, then the addition of a garage is always worthwhile.
Challenges
One of the potential drawbacks of a garage arises when you look to build over the top of one. Older garages might not have the foundational strength necessary to support an additional story. If the garage lacks a full-width cavity masonry wall, then it might be that you need to completely knock the garage down and start again from the foundations. This isn’t always the case, however.
If you’re putting in the garage yourself, then it’s worth spending a little extra in futureproofing. In every situation, it’s worth getting hold of the original records to verify how deep the foundations are. If there are no such records, then digging a few holes to expose the foundations is always worthwhile. When you’re submitting your building-control application, you’ll need to demonstrate that the soil can withstand the load you’re going to be putting on it.
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