Planning your new garage might seem fairly straightforward – single or double, a big door on one side and a man door on the other. But there are a few things to consider in the planning stage that will determine how your garage will serve its purpose. Ironing out these details beforehand will save you the headache of making changes during construction, or worse – living with a new garage that doesn’t meet your needs.
Overhead Door Height
All garages need to have an overhead door that a vehicle can fit through – that’s what makes it a garage, after all. When shopping overhead door types and styles, think about the vehicles that you’ll want to park inside your garage. In case you haven’t noticed, pickup trucks seem to be getting bigger and bigger as time goes on, and this can present a big problem if you don’t choose the right door size. The standard overhead door size for many garages is 7’0” in height. However, modern pickup trucks come very close to maxing out that dimension. The 2020 Ford F-150 and 2020 RAM 1500 both scrape by at just under 6’6” tall, but any lift kits, roof accessories, light bars, or radio antennas aren’t going to clear a 7’0” door. As pickup trucks come with the territory here in the Calgary, AB area, opting for an 8’0” overhead door ensures that your pickup truck will fit comfortably in your garage.
Door & Window Placement
For many people, the placement of the man door should be evident based on the setup of the property. If the rear patio door of your home opens on the east side of your property, your garage door should probably be located on the same side. This provides you with direct access to your garage without interrupting the open space in your backyard. Your garage window(s) should be positioned to let natural light into your garage and allow for a breeze to come through, but be sure that they remain located inside of any fenced area. Your garage will be more secure if windows aren’t accessible from the laneway.
Backyard Access
Will your garage be constructed before you complete any backyard landscaping or basement development? If you’ll need to bring soil, gravel, lumber, or drywall either through or beside your garage, it’s important to consider the logistics. You may choose to include a second overhead or roll-up door on the rear of your garage that allows a wheelbarrow to maneuver through the building to access your backyard space. If you have enough space beside where the garage will sit, consider building a gate into your fencing so that you aren’t restricted by a typical man door size.
Why garagepermits.ca?
At garagepermits.ca, we’ll consider your garage from all angles to make sure that once it’s built, it will suit your needs for years to come. We’ll work with you to plan the perfect setup and revise the drawings at no additional charge until you’re completely satisfied. To get fast and affordable garage permit drawings, place your order online with garagepermits.ca today.