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Detached vs. Attached Garages: Which One Should You Choose? | Stratton Exteriors

Are you building or buying a new house? Are you concerned about garage space for your vehicles? A garage can provide you with additional space and offer valuable protection for your vehicles and other belongings.

However, deciding that you’d like to invest in a garage is only step 1 of the process. The next step is deciding what type of garage you actually need.

Garages can be attached (comprising a part of your actual home) or detached (sitting as a separate structure on your property). Detached garages function as a replacement for carriage homes of years past. Attached garages, on the other hand, are a relatively new home design development.

Stratton Exteriors can help you design, construct and complete the garage of your dreams. Here’s what you should know about the two types of garages you can choose from.

Check out some of the pros and cons of both detached and attached garages. 

Attached Garages

Attached Garage With Logo

Attached garages didn’t become commonplace in the United States until the 1930s, when the automobile become a central part of American life. As more and more people owned (and needed to store) automobiles, the attached garage became a popular option. People loved the convenience of simply turning into their driveways from the street into a garage where their car would be safe and sound.

Pros: Attached garages have remained popular through the years due to their convenience. They offer instant shelter and easy access to the inside of your home. If it’s raining or snowing, you won’t have to trek across your property to get inside your house. They also offer easy access to tools, extra storage, and other valuables you might not have room for inside your house.

Attached garages are also easier to construct than detached models and are generally more cost-effective. Additionally, they leave more yard space for you and your family to enjoy. If you eventually want to add an outdoor entertainment area, you won’t have to worry about a garage structure taking up too much real estate.

Cons: One of the biggest detractors for attached garages is security.Adding an attached garage to your home may make it easier for intruders to gain access, especially if you regularly forget to lock your garage door.

Attached garages also put your home at risk if your car malfunctions, leaks toxic fumes or catches fire. For many homeowners, these risks are enough to avoid the attached garage option.

There’s also the subject of design and looks. If you own an older home, adding an attached garage may detract from its beauty, charm and even its value.

Finally, attached garages don’t offer as much privacy for hobbies and alone time as detached models do. For people who want to use their garage for personal hobbies, a detached garage might be a better option.

Detached Garages

Detached Garage with Logo

Throughout history, separate structures have been built adjacent to our homes so we can store and protect our modes of transportation. Stables and carriage houses were mainstays in American home design for centuries, allowing people to store their horses and carriages. Then, in the early 20th century, the automobile became the most popular choice for transportation.

Throughout the first few decades of the 1900s, carriage houses were gradually replaced with garages, where automobiles could be stored and kept safe from the elements. Virtually all of the earliest garages are detached. This was both for convenience and safety. After all, it was relatively simple to transform a carriage house into storage for a car. Plus, because there were no gas stations, people often stored the gasoline for their cars inside the garage, creating a pretty big risk for explosions.

Pros: Detached garages are often the most design-friendly option if you own an older home. You can design and build a structure that matches your home’s look, but exists as its space. Detached garages, additionally, offer more security and safety than attached models. If your car malfunctions or catches fire, only the garage structure is damaged–not the rest of your house. Detached garages also offer more privacy. If you like to play music, work on construction projects, or just spend time alone, a detached garage can become your sanctuary.

Cons: Detached garages are generally more expensive and complicated to build. If your lot is small or you have zoning issues, a detached garage may not be an option without expensive landscaping or expansion. Detached garages are also harder to access–you’ll have to walk across your property to get inside once you park your car. This can be remedied, however, with a breezeway covering.

So there you have it: our biggest pros and cons of both detached and attached garages.

Have more questions about Stratton Exteriors’ garage projects? Contact us today to learn more or schedule your consultation!