Garden Shed, or +1 Bay to Garage

9 years ago

We are hoping to have a 'french chateau' look to our 'Castlehaus', and the plans currently have a 3-car garage attached to the front/side of the house.
As we are concerned about the scale of the garage, I'm debating if perhaps we should switch to a 2-car garage with separate shed.

Our Considerations/Thoughts:
- Its for a large lot (>1 acre), so we need to store 2 vehicles, plus a lawn tractor and accessories.
- we are not fans of the giant doors being visible from the street, so we have currently oriented our doors 45degrees from the front street. (We wanted 90deg but the house is oriented to optimize sunshine, not the garage).
- A 3-car garage still juts out quite significantly. (see rough sketch, to scale for the house, but not the driveway/access road).
- 2-car garages are norm for existing homes, but many people in our area are building new homes with 3 car garages.
- Sheds tend to be dark, spider havens that collect junk. (Im not a fan of spiders)
- a 3rd bay is likely more $$$ as it requires fancier shingles, exterior siding, etc than a small shed.

Would a shed be cheaper? More of a pain? Curious if anyone else has debated the same.

TIA!

Comments (3)

mushcreek
9 years ago
Well, I'm a guy, so I would say a 3 car garage AND a shed!

I always keep my gas powered yard tools in a separate shed. I really don't want to lose my house in a fire because a $100 weed eater leaked gas. I know I'm paranoid about this.

A shed can be a fun little building, designing and building a cute little place without spending a king's ransom.
Fori
9 years ago
More garage is always better. :)

But a sketch on how it looks from the ground would be useful here. It sure looks oversized from that view!

Perhaps a half bay on the forward side of the garage with some nice windows and a large door opening to the rear instead of a full third car slot would end up looking less garagey? Or extend the 2 bays back so that there is room for the tractor and stuff back there?

I agree--somehow a garage is always nicer than a shed for tools. But I've never had one of the cute ones.
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 years ago
on resale ... you cant offer to build on to the garage ... so go big ... resale value ....

whether or not you or the next want a shed... its a minor cost.. later ...

i have always liked the idea of keeping non-automotive gas engines.. separate from the house ... call it.. somewhere to store the gas cans ... if it burns.. so be it.. it aint my house ...

ken