Adding a detached garage

When designed well, a detached garage can add charm and character to a home. Separating the garage from the main house ensures that windows can be maintained on all sides of the house, maximizing daylight and views. A detached garage also improves the overall massing of the house, because the house appears less bulky without a garage. In addition to these aesthetic benefits, detached garages have functional attributes, such as limiting the amount of noise and pollution that filters into the house.

Despite its many benefits, a poorly designed detached garage can have a negative impact on your home and lot. To make the garage complement the house and its site, observe this simple rule: Give the garage the same level of care as the house in terms of design and scale, and in the quality of the materials used to build it. Also, don’t make it too big.