The Advantages of a Side Entry Garage

Side entry garages provide exceptional aesthetic appeal while retaining all of the functionality of traditional designs. Maximizing a building’s usable space is critical to realizing its full potential and making it a worthwhile investment. The usable space of a building is frequently constrained by its access point. Side-entry garages solve this problem by relocating the building’s primary entry points to the side rather than the end.

The garage has evolved significantly from its original function as a service wing for “storing” vehicles and an extension to the stables on a farm or country estate. It has progressed from an improvised structure, a shed, and a room in a machine shop to a detached or attached structure.

In 2022, these Metal garages will be more than just storage for their various vehicles. Yes, they still “store” and protect cars, but they have become almost indispensable components of new homes, serving not only a practical but also an aesthetic function. An attached garage can either lengthen – or widen – a small one-story house, giving the impression of a long, low house, or it can provide balance and symmetry.

For potential homeowners, there are several garage options, but we’ll focus on the increasingly popular side-entry garage, its benefits and challenges… and why it could be ideal for your next home.

What is a Side Entry Garage?

A side entry garage, like a traditional front entry garage, is a key feature of a home’s ground floor. It is easily accessible from the driveway but is mostly hidden from the house’s front view. It provides the same level of accessibility and convenience while also increasing a home’s curb appeal and overall aesthetic value.

Enhance The Curb Appeal of Your Home

A side entry garage allows a home’s front facade to present a continuous design theme without being broken up by a large, retractable metal door. Front entry garages can detract from what otherwise appears to be a symmetrical appearance. The side-entry option allows the garage to serve its purpose while presenting a cleaner, more visually appealing character with maximum curb appeal. This design also has a “lengthening” effect on the front of a house, allowing more of the property’s width to be visible from the street.

Enjoy Functionality with Fashion

While not visible from the front of the house, a side entry garage is still a prominent feature of the ground floor. Instead of a front driveway, it is accented by a driveway to the side of the house where cars enter from a lateral position rather than straight ahead. Instead of a garage door at the front of the house, there are bay windows, stylish siding, complementary trim, and other features that match the other side of the front of the house for a more balanced presentation. Once inside the garage, the interior of the home can be accessed in the same manner as with a front-entry garage, and all other convenience features are available.

Cost Effective

Side-entry garages are common features of luxury homes on larger lots. These homes are expensive, but where homeowners can save money is on the garage doors themselves. Because the garage entrance will not be visible from the front of the house, lower-cost options that are more functional than attractive are an option.

However, keep in mind that paving the long driveway or path connecting the garage to the home’s entrance will cost more. Residents may choose to enter the home directly through the garage if the garage is attached to the house, but this can make for a lackluster welcome for guests, so an accessible walkway to the front entrance is a nice inclusion. Keep in mind that longer driveways and paths will necessitate more shoveling in colder climates with a lot of snow, so make room in the garage for a snow blower.

Enhance The Curb Appeal of Your Home