Malarky
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Post by Malarky on Jun 5, 2011 13:38:10 GMT -5
One of the many things I like about my 120+ yo house is that the garage is in the side yard, past the house so it in no way detracts from the look of the house.
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Gardening Grandma
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Post by Gardening Grandma on Jun 5, 2011 13:54:24 GMT -5
Why put the ugly garage in the front where it hides the house?
I agree, it IS ugly. But sometimes there really is no other option. Our building site was very small. Our lot is large, but it is on a hillside and the buildable part was very small. The house had to have a very small footprint and the garage has to have access to the road. Our side yards are too narrow to route the driveway around to the back. We tried everything we could think of, but it was the only way to design the house.
When there is an option, sure, I'd much rather have that big garage door on the side or back.
Some people might not agree. They might prefer to have side yards instead of a paved driveway.
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dancinmama
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Post by dancinmama on Jun 5, 2011 14:01:42 GMT -5
DH has always disliked front-on garages. In both the house that we have now and our previous home, the garage has been on the left side of the home.
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cubefarmer
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Post by cubefarmer on Jun 5, 2011 14:18:35 GMT -5
It's cheap.
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LlamaLlamaDuck
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Post by LlamaLlamaDuck on Jun 5, 2011 14:55:51 GMT -5
Without looking at anybody else's reply, I'd say it's to avoid the typical side of the house driveway. I doubt that any new construction comes with a back alley leading to a garage.
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Waffle
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Post by Waffle on Jun 5, 2011 14:59:21 GMT -5
Because that's where the streets are. (She said flippantly).
Really, for many lots it's the only practical place for it.
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jitterbug
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Post by jitterbug on Jun 5, 2011 15:54:10 GMT -5
Actually, what you said about moving the house towards the back makes a lot of sense...if it stuck out into the back yard instead of the front yard, it would give you some privacy from the neighbors when you're bbq-ing (at least on that side). You could have a door that leads from the garage to the backyard, so the kids would have a good place to store their yard toys. Hmm...if I ever build another house, I'll have to give that some thought!
But why do builders do a lot of things they do? Do they never actually think about how people live in the house? We recently toured a Parade of Homes and one house had the cable outlet in the family room on a wall that does not allow you to face a sofa towards it (and why only one outlet anyway)? Same house had heating vents under the windows in the master bedroom - in the perfect spot to put your nightstands. In one house, if you came in from the garage, you were staring at the master bed!! (Just what I want when my son and his friends come home late at night - a vision of me drooling into my pillow!)
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dancinmama
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Post by dancinmama on Jun 5, 2011 16:25:06 GMT -5
Actually, what you said about moving the house towards the back makes a lot of sense...if it stuck out into the back yard instead of the front yard, it would give you some privacy from the neighbors when you're bbq-ing (at least on that side). You could have a door that leads from the garage to the backyard, so the kids would have a good place to store their yard toys. Hmm...if I ever build another house, I'll have to give that some thought! Our garage runs from the front of the house to the back, but the auto doors are on the side. We do have a door from the garage out to the back patio, but no little kids (maybe grandkids one day).
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Post by commentator on Jun 5, 2011 16:38:08 GMT -5
The size of the lot dictates the available locations for the garage.
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dancinmama
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Post by dancinmama on Jun 5, 2011 16:45:09 GMT -5
But why do builders do a lot of things they do? Do they never actually think about how people live in the house? We recently toured a Parade of Homes and one house had the cable outlet in the family room on a wall that does not allow you to face a sofa towards it (and why only one outlet anyway)? Same house had heating vents under the windows in the master bedroom - in the perfect spot to put your nightstands. In one house, if you came in from the garage, you were staring at the master bed!! (Just what I want when my son and his friends come home late at night - a vision of me drooling into my pillow!) When you see stupid stuff like that, it's usually because it was cheaper - a draftsman did the design (cheaper than a licensed architect) or it was just cheaper to build that way. I have NEVER heard of a garage entrance into a master bedroom - WTH? So far I have only found one flaw in the design of our home, which clued me in to the fact that it had to have been designed by a man. In the laundry room, he put the 2' sink smack dab in the middle of a 7' counter/cabinet instead of to the far left which would have allowed enough room for nice little folding area. ;D Other than that, however, I haven't found a single thing that I do not like.
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dancinmama
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Post by dancinmama on Jun 5, 2011 16:49:36 GMT -5
The size of the lot dictates the available locations for the garage. That's true. If you are going to have the auto garage doors on the side of the home, the lot has to be wide enough to accommodate the driveway. This is probably the reason why you never see them on homes placed on regular sized track lots.
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jitterbug
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Post by jitterbug on Jun 5, 2011 17:44:55 GMT -5
Dancinmama, the garage didn't open into the master bedroom, but it opened into a hallway off the kitchen - and the master bedroom door was directly across from the garage door. With the best spot for the bed right inside the master bedroom.
Plus, I think the OP meant that the garage should just be set back from the front - which would take the same amount of width as a regular garage. I think he means that you could/would have a longer driveway that leads to a garage that's set back, not be the first thing you come to. Actually, weren't a lot of older homes built like this?
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kent
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Post by kent on Jun 5, 2011 17:54:55 GMT -5
So far I have only found one flaw in the design of our home, which clued me in to the fact that it had to have been designed by a man. In the laundry room, he put the 2' sink smack dab in the middle of a 7' counter/cabinet instead of to the far left which would have allowed enough room for nice little folding area. Dancing You're absolutely correct on that stupid design BUT, it can be fixed although you'll need a new counter top.
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TheOtherMe
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Post by TheOtherMe on Jun 5, 2011 18:55:47 GMT -5
The size of the lot dictates the available locations for the garage. That is certainly true in my case. My place is a duplex and there would be no other place to locate a garage. The living room looks out to the backyard, which I love. That is the design of most of the houses in this neighborhood, even the single family homes. I have no way to get privacy in my backyard due to the slope of the land. Neighbor behind me is about 10 ft higher than me and has built a retaining wall to level the lot so their children can play safely in the yard. There is no way to fence it so the neighbors behind me can not see what I'm doing. I have nothing to hide and it saves me the expense of a fence.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2011 19:42:37 GMT -5
It's more complicated than just lot size. As GG pointed out the building site may dictate placement, also zoning requirements for front, back (often 20' or more) and side set backs.
So it's cheaper and easier for a builder to line them up and build them alike with the garage in front. I don't like the look either. I remember saying to DH when we were watching the home shows; "Look, those folks are buying a million dollar garage!".
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GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl
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Post by GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl on Jun 5, 2011 20:01:06 GMT -5
I think it must also be a regional thing. Here in the Northeast, garages are very rarely in the front -- most often they are attached at the side or separate and set toward the back of the house. Curb appeal and natural light must take a big hit with a garage on the front of the house.
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jitterbug
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Post by jitterbug on Jun 5, 2011 21:10:43 GMT -5
I think it must also be a regional thing. Here in the Northeast, garages are very rarely in the front -- most often they are attached at the side or separate and set toward the back of the house. Curb appeal and natural light must take a big hit with a garage on the front of the house. I will say, though - I have a house where the garage sticks out the front - but the living room faces the backyard and we get lots of natural light through big windows there. And our bedroom faces the back. So the reality is that we are protected from the street noise and have a little bit more privacy by living at the back side of the house.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2011 22:30:19 GMT -5
With only 10 feet between houses in many new construction projects, there is no room to bring it around back. In new developments that do put it around back and do an alley, they tend to have no backyard. Around San Diego, I see they like to focus on the side yard in these developments. Another big change for me when I moved from the midwest to San Diego was the use of tandem garages - which is what I have. 3 car tandem.. Back where I came from, I had 3 cars across.
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dancinmama
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Post by dancinmama on Jun 5, 2011 22:56:08 GMT -5
So far I have only found one flaw in the design of our home, which clued me in to the fact that it had to have been designed by a man. In the laundry room, he put the 2' sink smack dab in the middle of a 7' counter/cabinet instead of to the far left which would have allowed enough room for nice little folding area. Dancing You're absolutely correct on that stupid design BUT, it can be fixed although you'll need a new counter top. Ya, well that won't be happening any time soon. The counter top in the laundry room is same granite as is in the kitchen and as a counter top directly across from the laundry room (with upper and lower cabinets for storage).
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dancinmama
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Post by dancinmama on Jun 5, 2011 23:06:04 GMT -5
With only 10 feet between houses in many new construction projects, there is no room to bring it around back. In new developments that do put it around back and do an alley, they tend to have no backyard. Around San Diego, I see they like to focus on the side yard in these developments. Another big change for me when I moved from the midwest to San Diego was the use of tandem garages - which is what I have. 3 car tandem.. Back where I came from, I had 3 cars across. Maybe I'm not understanding. The width wouldn't change. All you'd do is either pull the front of the house forward or push the front loading garage back. You wouldn't be going around to enter the garage. Yes, you'd lose some back yard. I'm not sure that you are either. We're talking about not seeing the garage doors when looking at the house straight on from the street (I think). Setting the garage further back doesn't really do that. My home is on a 1/3 acre lot so it can easily accommodate having the extra width of a driveway going up the entire side of the home. When you look at my home straight-on from the street, you do see the garage, but you have no idea that that is what you're looking at. It looks like a mere extension of the rest of the home because it has a large window. It could just as easily be a bedroom to any observer. All three garage doors are on the side of the home and cannot be seen straight on from the street.
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marmar
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Post by marmar on Jun 5, 2011 23:36:11 GMT -5
Aesthetically, front access garages aren't the greatest. But from a crime prevention perspective, they're fantastic. Neighbors see each other coming home and leaving, become familiar with everyone's habits, and generally keep an eye out on neighbors' homes.
The city I work for built a LOT of houses in the 50's and 60's with front access garages, and we've got some really active neighborhood watch groups. I live in a different city where most homes - including mine - have rear access garages. I don't really know any of my neighbors, and our neighborhood watch program is floundering.
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2kids10horses
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Post by 2kids10horses on Jun 6, 2011 6:27:44 GMT -5
To answer the OP's question, pushing the garage back would create more of an L shaped house. And that's more expensive to build.
Also, if you notice, the ceiling height of a garage is different (higher) than the ceiling height of the living space. So, to compensate, there's usually a couple of steps up to get from the garage into the house. They do this to "lower the garage" so that there can be a second floor over the garage.
Then, there's the matter of having a longer driveway, and that's more money.
All that said, but one of the houses I flipped last year did have the front facing garage set back about 6 feet from the front of the house. But, there was no living space above it. Only Attic storage.
One of the most expensive design elements of a house is the roof. The more angles, valleys, hips, cornices, etc, the more expensive. Both in labor and materials. So, the more complicated the roof line, the more expensive. So, builders try to build houses with simple roof lines. Especially "spec" houses.
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happyscooter
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Post by happyscooter on Jun 6, 2011 7:05:39 GMT -5
In all of the subdivisions around here, the lots are 1/3 to 1/2 acre. There is no way to put a driveway down the side of the lot to turn it into a garage with a side entry. So it has to be straight in.
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GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl
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Post by GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl on Jun 6, 2011 9:16:30 GMT -5
All that said, but one of the houses I flipped last year did have the front facing garage set back about 6 feet from the front of the house. But, there was no living space above it. Only Attic storage. quote] I understood the OP's comment to reflect those garages that jut out toward the street from the front of the house -- usually by the entire length of the garage so that you have to walk by the entire length of the garage to reach the front door. On the other hand, I have no real issue with front facing garages that are even or set back from the front wall of the house. It's those garages that jut out and overwhelm the front of the house that are unsighly IMHO. But, mileage varies...
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bean29
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Post by bean29 on Jun 6, 2011 9:26:57 GMT -5
The city dictated where our driveway could be. We have a corner lot and they preferred we placed the garage in one particular spot. We did have one other option though. If we set our garage to the rear of the lot, we would lose part of our backyard space and we would have a longer driveway (larger cost to pour). I don't think we have room for a side entrance garage, but DH hates those too.
Our friends and family don't find garages uninviting. I have been to quite a few parties that made use of the garage to stage the party. I guess it's an individual thing.
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Post by commentator on Jun 6, 2011 22:01:35 GMT -5
The size of the lot dictates the available locations for the garage. Why would it? The size of the house wouldn't change. The only thing that would be different is that the garage is set back. You would still enter it from the front. Let's see. Someone asked why so many garages face the front and you talk like a set back garage facing the front is somehow in a new location that is not facing the front. Is that about the size of it?
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shelly527in
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Post by shelly527in on Jun 7, 2011 0:43:43 GMT -5
Let's see. Someone asked why so many garages face the front and you talk like a set back garage facing the front is somehow in a new location that is not facing the front. Is that about the size of it? I can understand how I confused you. What I meant was why have the garage extending toward the front of the house and not pushed back so that the front windows of the house were prominent. I've always wondered the same thing! I think the house should be the focal point not the gigantic garage door. I, personally, like a side entry garage, because they look like part of the house from the street. However, I realize that it's not always practical. In that case I think a garage looks best if it is even with the house instead of in front of it.
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cronewitch
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Post by cronewitch on Jun 7, 2011 2:16:55 GMT -5
I love mine, it is along side the back yard so the driveway goes past the house then you turn to go in the garage. I have to walk across the drive way to get home but it is fine. What I like is we can open all the garage doors when we are working in the yard and sit in the garage out of the rain if we want to. I also like the private feel when loading the boat and doing other garage activities. Since it is sideways to the street and facing our yard only we and maybe 2 neighbors can see into the garage nobody from the street. So if we left it open and ran to the store it probably wouldn't have anything stolen. The garage is 1760sq feet so has lots of stuff like two boats, a Harley and my car as well as tools, camping gear, fishing tackle, bird feeding supplies and outdoor things and lots of work benches. I don't want to be watched while I am working on projects.
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upstatemom
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Post by upstatemom on Jun 7, 2011 6:14:38 GMT -5
Aesthetically, front access garages aren't the greatest. But from a crime prevention perspective, they're fantastic. Neighbors see each other coming home and leaving, become familiar with everyone's habits, and generally keep an eye out on neighbors' homes. The city I work for built a LOT of houses in the 50's and 60's with front access garages, and we've got some really active neighborhood watch groups. I live in a different city where most homes - including mine - have rear access garages. I don't really know any of my neighbors, and our neighborhood watch program is floundering. Our house has an attached garage with the side entrance and we hate it because of the blind entrance. We can not see who is in the driveway unless we open the door. Luckily we are in a nice neighborhood, but I totally agree with Marmar's concerns.We did not build the house and did not consider this when we purchased it.
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upstatemom
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Post by upstatemom on Jun 7, 2011 6:14:39 GMT -5
This message has been deleted duplicate post
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