Whether you’re planning garage remodeling for basic or specialized use, preparation is essential. Will your garage remodeling results meet your needs in ten years? How will home remodel changes affect property taxes and resale value? Learn about types of garages, and which to include in your home remodel.

Attached vs. Detached Types of Garages

Attached types of garages require less material to construct, as they share walls with the house. The cost difference between an attached and detached garage will also depend on how you will be using this space after your home remodel.

Attached types of garages offer:

• Easier connection to electricity and plumbing
• Indoor access to vehicles for safety
• Protection from bad weather.

During a home remodel, you may need additional safety features to avoid undesirables like:

• Flammable materials
• Fumes
• Noise.

Consider semi-detached types of garages connected to homes through a breezeway. Installing different garage door types during a garage remodeling project can also limit hazard exposure.

Detached types of garages offer:

• House separation from hazards and noise
• Less impact on the home’s outline and style
• Privacy for guests or renters.

Types of garages used for work or living space require components of a home remodel, including:

• Climate control
• Electricity
• Lighting
• Plumbing.

Without proximity to these systems within the house, live-in or work-in detached types of garages cost more.

Types of Garages and Family Vehicles

Vehicle sizes, garage door types and types of garages will all decide how many vehicles you can park in the garage.

Types of garages for single cars run 12 to 14 feet across the front and 22 feet deep. Two-car garages run 18 feet across the front. Costs vary, but two-car garages can run almost $2,500 more than single-car garages.

Boats, RVs, or other oversize vehicles require more construction materials. Garages over 36 feet across the front also require special bracing.

Can you still park a car in a garage that has been converted to an apartment? New York City condo apartments may offer this amenity for millions of dollars. Increased ventilation requirements, and foundations that can support vehicles in these unusual types of garages are important considerations, but local codes have the final say over the feasibility of drive-in apartments.

Types of Garages for Occupancy

Garage remodeling projects can create a different space, such as:

• Apartments and guest houses
• Gyms or workout rooms
• Home offices
• Music studios
• Vehicle maintenance, repair, and restoration shops
• Workshops.

Including a garage remodeling/conversion project in your home remodel can increase your homes’ value, and offer income from a home office or rent. However, this type of garage remodeling can raise property taxes, and the extra requirements of live-in or work-in garages mean higher utility bills.

If you’re planning a home remodel, and you’re considering types of garages designed for occupancy, you’ll need:

• Cable hookups
• Cooling and heating
• Electrical outlets
• Insulation
• Lighting
• Plumbing
• Telephone outlets.