Have you ever seen a house attached to a garage? Or rather, a house with a garage so prominent that it’s almost impossible to find the front door? Some garages, especially of the two car variety, display more than their share of visual presence on the front of a house. More preferable, is a garage which complements the architectural form of a house.
Garages, by their nature, require a large volume of space to be enclosed. In contrast, most rooms in a house occupy smaller volumes. The architectural challenge then, is how to integrate the large and small volumes into an aesthetically pleasing whole while meeting the functional needs.
The first step is to select a suitable building lot. The lot should be wide enough to accommodate a garage to one side, rather than at the front, as is inevitable with a long and narrow lot. This will prevent the garage from dominating the frontal view of the house. Another option is a corner lot, where the garage door may face the side. In any case, the garage location affects the layout of the house. Consult the municipality beforehand, to confirm the permitted driveway location on a particular lot.
Garages may be attached or built in. An attached garage allows more design flexibility with the house layout. The garage stands adjacent to the house, but it can still echo the chosen architectural style. If the house is a two storey or split level type, the main roof can extend over an attached garage to minimize its visual impact.
A built in garage is more restrictive from a design perspective. The proportions of the rooms above and beside the garage are somewhat dictated by the garage dimensions. A built in garage generally requires less exterior wall area than an attached garage, and if bedrooms are located over it, a separate roof is unnecessary. By reducing the overall exterior wall and roof areas, the house is more compact and more energy efficient.
The size of the garage is an important consideration. A common mistake is to make the garage too small. Determine the total space required early in the design stage. One car or two is an obvious question, but a garage is useful for storing other things such as a snowblower, lawnmower, bicycles, gardening tools, and Christmas decorations. Providing extra room in the garage avoids the need to build a storage shed.
If you are a weekend mechanic or hobbyist, the garage can be enlarged to accommodate a workshop. Provide good lighting and extra electrical outlets in the work area. If you will be doing car repairs on a regular basis, provide a ventilation system. To prevent gas fumes from entering the house, the connecting door must be weatherstripped and equipped with a closer. Consider the location of the connecting door in relation to the house. What room will open off the garage?
In terms of weatherproofing, treat the garage as an outdoor space. The garage door may be left in the open position, or stuck in the open position, for long periods of time. The walls and ceiling separating the garage from the house must be insulated and have a vapor barrier on the house side of the insulation.
For good drainage, slope the garage floor towards the door and the driveway away from the garage. If this is not possible, as with a basement garage, install a grate with an underground drain at the mouth of the garage.
The most common types of garage doors are the one piece swing up door and the sectional overhead door. Some doors can be fitted with remote control operators. In any case, ensure the door and hardware are good quality for long lasting service.
A garage is a functional element of a house, built mainly for convenience. The design of this large element can make or break the look of a house. How well the volume of the garage relates to the rest of the house in terms of placement, style and form affects the architectural appeal of a house. Design the garage around the house, not the house around the garage.
