Why do houses have garages?

[vid]

The real issue is why does the garage have to be so large and take such a prominent position in the house. Although given the direction in which our society is going, it won't be long before houses have no windows at all.

[MolsonExport]

^indeed, many new homes in london (esp. row houses) have, at ground level, nothing but a double garage and a front door. No window, unless embedded within the door.

[Steely Dan]

rear yard garages that face and open onto an alley are ideal.

rear yard garages that access the street via a side yard driveway are tolerable at best.

front yard garages that face and open onto the street are the bane of our human civilization.

[M II A II R II K]

Houses made for cars


http://www.amazing-garages.com/



http://www.alpharettagaragedoor.com/



http://www.showing247.com/1583deerpark/

[240glt]

Wehn I bought by house in central Edmonton, having a rear detached garage was on my 'must have' criteria

Asside for the obvious benefits of not having to plug in my truck in the winter, I don't have to scrape windows, wipe snow or worry about frozen locks, but the garage is so much more than that. It is my workshop, it's where I tinker with my old Volvo and my bikes, it's the gateway to the back alley where neighbors congregate, it's a place to grab a frosty one out of the beer fridge, store sports gear etc etc


I do hate front attached garages though. One way that a lot of older houses in the area are being retrofitted, the garage is being sunk down into the basement, which allows the main floor of the house to remain with windows all across the front. I quite like that idea.

[Nowhereman1280]

Its not just suburban homes that have garages. If you drive through the neighborhoods of Chicago you will find that nearly every house or two/three flat has a garage. Fortunately for Chicago's built environment our forefathers had the foresight to bisect every block with an alley and nearly every garage now faces the alley. Out of sight, out of mind.

Even without a car a garage is a wonderful thing to have. Its super convenient to have a place to keep my bike where I know it can't get stolen. Its useful for storing all of our garden equipment and the lawn mower. Its also a great place to work on projects that are to big to be dragged in and out of our basement. I.E. painting deck furniture and other large objects.

[brickell]

Originally Posted by rockyi

But I do think architects could do a much better job of blending a garage into the house and not make it look like your living quarters are stuck behind this enormous garage like much of the houses and condos that mar our landscape.

Agreed. I could do without the garage but the wife loves it. Not only does she park the car in it, but it's a wash/bike storage/pantry/workshop/tool room. The problem is really more about the design of them.

[harryc]

Had to make this purchase a decade ago ($4k iirc), old one literally falling down - a previous owner had cut the back wall out to fit in a large 1960s/70s era car, the garages were much shorter in the 1920s. Reasons we did it ....

1) cars - Tree Sap - Snow - Ice.
2) Bicycles - Tree Sap - Snow - Ice - theft.
2) Place to work on car/bike
3) Workshop for large wood projects (small workshop in old coal bin in house).
4) Storage
5) Smoking area during inclement weather.

- and of course ---- everyone else has one.

Now we are looking into a car port -tent since our 2 car garage only fits 1 car when packed with tools and bikes.

[Tower6]

I would prefer my garage in the front for the simple fact there is less driveway to shovel. If its in an alley that is one thing, but if there is a long driveway going from the back to the front of the house, forget it. Plus that takes up yard space. I would rather have a big yard and windows with a view of that yard then have the front of my house look pretty. And most people don't seem to mind anyway.

[scalziand]

Originally Posted by M II A II R II K

Houses made for cars

http://www.amazing-garages.com/

http://www.alpharettagaragedoor.com/

http://www.showing247.com/1583deerpark/

Couldn't even find the front door on two of those.

[tpk-nyc]

Attached garages are hideous and vulgar. I don't know why people build million dollar houses only to deface them with an attached garage.

[theWatusi]

It looks like the last two pictures Mark posted are of homes that have "side entry garages", and the photos are of the sides of the homes, not the front.

[uaarkson]

There are obviously better methods for integrating a garage with the house than what is widespread today, but people get so worked up about this it's ridiculous.

[rockyi]

I live in a 38 unit circa 1927 apartment/condo building with a large, brick multi-car garage in back, built around the same time as the building. Even though it doesn't have a closeable door but just an opening to drive through, there is STILL a noticeable difference in temperature inside. I can pull in my space inside after a snowy afternoon commute home and have my car covered in snow and have much of it melted off by the next morning. In the summer it can feel almost cool on a hot day. So much nicer than parking on the street.

[mthq]

as a Mexican, I also value garages for they are a great place to hang out on your lawn chair while kicking back a Tecate or Budweiser with your buddies.

[MolsonExport]

^but cisco kid wasn't a friend of yours?

[sopas ej]

Originally Posted by rockyi

I live in a 38 unit circa 1927 apartment/condo building with a large, brick multi-car garage in back, built around the same time as the building. Even though it doesn't have a closeable door but just an opening to drive through, there is STILL a noticeable difference in temperature inside. I can pull in my space inside after a snowy afternoon commute home and have my car covered in snow and have much of it melted off by the next morning. In the summer it can feel almost cool on a hot day. So much nicer than parking on the street.

I totally feel you. For myself living in southern California, somehow my carport makes a difference on winter and early spring nights/mornings when I DON'T have dew on my car, which would otherwise form if it were parked out in the open.

[mthq]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

^but cisco kid wasn't a friend of yours?

Not after he stoled my wine.

[scalziand]

Originally Posted by sopas ej

I totally feel you. For myself living in southern California, somehow my carport makes a difference on winter and early spring nights/mornings when I DON'T have dew on my car, which would otherwise form if it were parked out in the open.

That's because things cool off at night mostly bey radiating their heat away. The carport is able to block this radiation despite being open to the air.

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by mthq

Not after he stoled my wine.

I completely understand.

• Video Link