People work their butts off for the things that they want to get in life. Some even work overtime just to get that one luxury bag that's supposedly going to be on sale next week. And the cycle goes on for this world driven by material belongings. But when people do get these things, it becomes their pride and joy because, after days and months of saving up for it, they finally have the product of their blood, sweat, and tears in the palm of their hands. And this fact is especially true for people who buy cars (although we can’t really hold them in our palms, can we?).
It's not a big secret that cars are huge investments, with the starting price of most brand new cards being at a couple thousand dollars (at minimum) and even ranging to hundreds of thousands (even millions) for more high-end models. That’s why it is natural for owners to treat their cars like treasure.
One of the most common ways that dedicated car-owners take to protect their car from any damage would be to put it in a personal garage. However, mapping out your garage is more difficult than it seems, especially if you don't know how big it should be. In the end, if you're too hasty with building your garage space, it might just end up looking more like a storage room than a place where you can safely store your car.
This article will help you avoid just that! Here are key things you need to keep in mind when you're building the garage of your dreams:
Why You Should Have A Garage for Your Car?
Before you delve into the factors you need to consider in building a garage, you should first understand why having a garage for your car is important. In doing so, you will be keener on upkeep instead of turning it into another cluttered area that doesn't serve its purpose.
That said, here are seven benefits that come with having a garage for your car:Key Considerations for Your Garage Space
Building a garage, like any other home improvement job, takes a substantial amount of time and money. These are the kinds of projects where mistakes are difficult to fix, especially if you're working with limited resources. It's critical to be able to do tasks correctly the first time. And to accomplish that, you'll need to devise a detailed and realistic strategy for your garage construction project. You'll have to think about a lot of things during the planning phase.
In this part of the blog, we present you with the things you need to consider when building a garage.
1. Consider the number and size of your cars.
A garage serves as a storage area for your automobiles first and foremost. It is a secure location for you to park your vehicles, away from the elements and criminals. The number and size of cars you want to store in your garage is the most fundamental aspect that will affect the layout and style of your garage. As you can expect, the more automobiles you own, the larger your garage must be. Aside from that, the architecture of your garage will be determined by the size of your automobile since some cars, such as SUVs, require more headroom and floor space than smaller vehicles.
2. Usage
The design of your garage will be heavily influenced by your intended use. If you want to use your garage as a workshop, you'll probably need more room than normal, not only for your cars but also for your machinery, tools, and even equipment like car lifts. This means you'll need a higher ceiling than typical.
If you want to utilize your garage as additional storage space, you may want to consider adding a few more shelves and cabinets, as well as a garage divider.
Even if you only use your garage to park your cars, you'll need to incorporate a few design elements such as broader areas, larger garage doors, and so on.
3. Garage Type
You can choose between two types of garages: detached garages and attached garages.
Attached garages are garages that are attached to the main home, as the name implies. The major benefit of having an attached garage is that you don't have to go outside to get to and from your automobile.
Unattached garages, on the other hand, are garages constructed independently of the main home. While this means you'll have to walk a little to get to your cars, it also provides for a more flexible design because you won't have to worry about how the garage will blend in with the rest of your home. This is the best option for people who want to utilize their garage as a workshop as well.
4. Air Flow and Ventilation
Ventilation and airflow are two of the most critical elements to consider while designing a garage. This will guarantee that the automobile fumes do not become trapped within the garage. Dangerous vehicle fumes will build up inside a garage with insufficient ventilation. This risk is heightened in connected garages, where the gases may leak into the main home.
5. Maintenance
It's essential to be able to identify whether or not you'll be able to maintain your garages. This means you'll need to choose your materials wisely and construct your garage in such a way that repairs are simple to complete if you ever need to.
Essential Measurements You Need To Take
Garage proportions have been consistent over the last century, with the standard size of garages ranging from 9 to 10 feet wide and 18 to 20 feet long per car, with a single garage door width of 8 feet. However, as time passed, changes in garage dimensions happened because car-owners now desire additional room for keeping their belongings. They also want to have an actual workspace for when they need to fix something at home.
Alongside this, the change in dimensions is also attributed to car designers who continuously innovate their models to keep up with the latest styles and technology, not to mention the price of petrol. There are specific essential characteristics to consider while designing a new garage or modifying an old one. And if you've ever felt frustrated because you scraped your beautiful topcoat on your very own garage door, then this part of the article will be pretty handy for you.
Dimensions of Garage Doors
Single-car doors are typically 8 feet wide (2.4 meters). However, you may also purchase 9-foot-wide (2.7-meter) doors, which will reduce the chances of the fenders rubbing against the door frame. Doors smaller than this are occasionally seen in country club complexes, although they are generally for golf cart garages and can be as narrow as 5 feet (1.5 meters).
Two-car doors can be as narrow as 14 feet (4.3 meters), although they're usually 15 or 16 feet wide (4.6 or 4.9 meters).
Height: A 7-foot (2.1-meter) garage door is average, but an 8-foot (2.4-meter) garage door is also available. For an extra fee, you may have a custom height.
Dimensions of a Two-Car Garage
What is the standard size of a 2 car garage? Well, a single 16-foot-wide (4.9-meter-wide) garage door can accommodate two vehicles. A 3-foot-wide entrance to the outdoors on the side of the garage is also an excellent option. You'll need a door that's at least 32 inches (81 cm) wide to enter the home from the garage.
Garages are frequently used to house hot-water heaters and mechanical systems. If this is done, it is advisable to build an alcove, as shown above, or increase the depth or breadth of the minimum 20-foot space to accommodate the equipment.Dimensions of a Three-Car Garage
Typically, if you choose to build a three-car garage, then the garage door will have to be a combination of a single door that is approximately 8 to 9 feet wide, coupled with a double door on the side that is 15 to 16 feet wide. Additionally, both the height of these doors must range from 7 to 8 feet.
Additionally, the inside dimensions must be large enough to hold a mini workspace and a curb, so it is estimated that you will use about 20 to 24 feet of vertical length (4 feet for the curb) and 40 to 36 feet horizontal length to fit a small car, a big luxury car, and one SUV.
It's entirely up to you whether you want to add extra space for built-in cabinets or accept a tighter fit.
To give you a quick run-down of the average sizes for each car type in the United States, here's a list:
Allow at least 36 inches (0.9 meters) between automobiles so you can open their doors without striking the doors of another vehicle. On sidewalls, you can go a little less, but be sure you can get in and out of your car smoothly.
Compact and sports cars:
- Width: 5 to 6 feet (1.5 to 1.8 meters)
- Length: 14 to 16 feet (4.3 to 4.9 meters)
- Height: 4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 meters)
Large and luxury cars:
- Width: 6 to 6½ feet (1.8 to 1.9 meters)
- Length: 16 to 18 feet (4.9 to 5.5 meters)
- Height: 4½ to 5 feet (1.4 to 1.5 meters)
Vans and SUVs:
- Width: 6 to 7 feet (1.8 to 2.1 meters)
- Length: 16 to 19 feet (4.9 to 5.8 meters)
- Height: 5 to 6 feet (1.5 to 1.8 meters)
Supplementary Additions to Your Garage Layout
- Bumpers or curbs. A curb on the other side of the garage door will prevent your vehicles from colliding with the facing wall. It will be low enough that the front bumpers will not scratch if it is 4 inches high. You may purchase bumpers to put onto the floor to address this problem, even if you already have a garage with a level floor.
- Driveway. Garage driveways may take up a lot of areas on your property. It takes considerable planning to balance one with the style of your home.The majority of them will be in a straight line from the street to the garage, but if you're designing a motor court, keep in mind that a car's turning radius is between 40 and 50 feet (12.2 and 15.2 meters). To safely back up and then make a turn to move ahead, you'll need at least 25 feet (7.6 meters).
- Warehousing. Garage cabinet systems are similar in size to kitchen cabinet systems. Base units are available in depths of 24 inches (61 centimeters), although some also come in depths of 12 or 18 inches (30 or 45 centimeters). In mapping your garage out, consider combining them with the size of your vehicle to determine how much storage space you have.
- Stairs. It's preferable to keep risers under 8 inches and use steps with 6-inch (15-centimeter) risers and a platform or stoop (20 centimeters). There may be local code limitations as well, so be sure to adhere to them.
- Regulations and zoning. Many zoning and construction laws specify minimum garage dimensions, so be sure you know what they are before you start designing. Some local building rules also include door hardware, mechanical system protection from automobiles, and garage door openers, so check with a design specialist to be sure you're protected.
Conclusion
Having a garage means having a foolproof place to park your car. But, as you should know now, the benefits of a garage won't be as appreciated if its very layout doesn't fit your needs or the vehicles that you own.
Knowing the basics such as how to size your garage door will help you maximize the space well and allow you to truly appreciate it as a place that serves its purpose in your home.
In the end, you need to realize that doing renovations on your garage is hard work, and it becomes even harder when you're trying to construct a garage out of a vacant lot in your home. Consult with a professional with how you want your garage layout to turn out so that they can advise against the things that you can put in your garage.