When it comes to choosing a garage a lot of people are surprised at just how many options there are, and how many things you have to learn. It’s a common misconception that they’re just a simple structure built onto the side of your home or somewhere on your property for you to park your car safely and securely.
In actual fact, there are a number of different types of garages all of which provide different uses and offer different advantages to homeowners. For example, there are single and double garages which offer varying amounts of space, while there are also metal and wooden garages which provide different amounts of security with different price tags.
One main point of consideration before you rush out and order a garage, is to consider exactly what the purpose will be. When you buy a shed, you always do it with the intention of storing your garden furniture and the lawnmower, maybe the barbecue, but before long you find that it’s full of clutter such as kids’ toys and sports equipment. Bearing this in mind, you need to ensure that your garage is large enough to comfortably accommodate your car (you don’t want it touching the back wall and the front door when closed), as well as providing plenty of space to move around and to store any outdoor equipment.
You also need to think about budget. It’s easy to get carried away with building projects at your home in an attempt to create something that looks great and provides a number of functions, but the bigger you go the more it is likely to cost. You may also have to find out about planning permission. Although you might own the property and the land you intend to build the garage on, you could have to go through a full application process to build the structure, but finding out first will save you both time and money – you don’t want to have to demolish the structure after paying so much for it!
Security will be key. It seems ridiculous, but the more security we put in place the more some people see it as a challenge to see what we’re locking up. Installing a solid, locked door on the front for vehicle access, and a secure door for access on foot will deter thieves far better than a simple wooden door with no locks. If you’re building the garage on the side of your home, using the internal door to gain access to your home, you need to ensure that anyone attempting to break into your garage cannot get into your home too, so keep the door from the house to the garage locked.
Another misconception is that garages are purpose built for cars. In actual fact, they can be as large or as small as you like with some being purpose built for motorcycles, taking up very little space on the property, but providing a solid and secure location to keep your beloved bike.