The Pros And Cons Of A Drive Under Garage

Today, almost every home comes with a garage. Basement garages are also known as drive-under garages. These types of garages are built directly underneath the home in comparison to normal side garages that are placed right next to the house.

The main purpose of garage is to protect your car from the elements and a place where you can store your tools and other equipment that is not intended for the house. If you are looking to buy a home that has a drive-under garage, there are some things that you need to look for. In this article, we’ll cover all the advantages and disadvantages of these types of garages. So, let’s start!

What Are The Pros And Cons Of A Drive Under Garage? The biggest pros of drive-under garages are that they save the total sq ft of the home, have direct access to the home, and add an additional room. The cons of these garages are their cost to build, high risk for fire hazards, and potential smell problems.

Besides the things we already mentioned, we must say that this type of garage has its advantages if you have small square footage and the only place where you can add your garage is underneath your home. However, there are a few more things to pay attention to when building a drive-under garage or buying a house whit this type of garage.

What is a Drive Under Garage?

A basement garage or drive-under garage is a type of garage that is located under the house foundation. This garage can be completely under the level of the house or partially. Drive under garages can often be found on houses that are located on hills or uneven areas. Sometimes, they can be used as both a garage and a basement. Keep in mind that if the garage is placed beneath ground level, it is not the same as underground.

Also, these garages can sometimes improve the appearance and aesthetics of the house, and owners choose them for this reason. They give the house much more style. Also, if the house owner does not have enough space to build a normal garage, then the basement garage can be the right choice for him. These types of garages have a lot of advantages compared to normal garages, but also some disadvantages. We will talk about this in the next section.

The Pros of Drive Under Garages

Now that we know what drive-under garages (basement garages) are, it’s time to start with the advantages they provide. Here are the pros of drive under garages:

1. Saves Total Square Footage of the Home

Certainly, one of the biggest advantages that a drive-under garage offers is that you will save the total square footage of your home. This will give you additional space for the yard or pool. This can be an advantage, especially if you live in a large, heavily populated city where there is limited space. Therefore, consider this when buying or building a new home with a basement garage.

2. Direct Connection With the House

Drive under garages can be connected with the house. This gives you an option to get into your garage whenever you want without leaving the house. This can be a big advantage when it’s stormy or cold outside. Drive under garage most of the time comes with a set of stairs that are connected to the house. Although it is not considered part of the house, you can definitely use that space to store things you don’t need.

Another thing to mention is that when you are parking your car in a garage, you can go directly from the garage to the house. For this reason, these types of garages add more value to your property than classic garages.

3. Better Insulation And No Leaking Problems

A garage that is placed under a house generally has better insulation during the summer and winter. This gives a lot of benefits, and one of them is that during cold days you can use it as a workplace. Also, another great thing is that these garages will not leak. This can save you a lot of time and money in the long run.

4. Protects The Car From Extreme Heat

During summer, your car can be exposed to high temperatures that can cause problems to the batteries, tires, and engine of your vehicle. Basement garages are an ideal place because even during the summer they provide excellent insulation and thus protect not only your car but also other things inside the garage. It is known that batteries are not prone to high temperatures and thus can reduce their capacity, and today more and more people are using electric cars that run on electric batteries.

5. It Can be Used as an Additional Room

The garage basement can also be used as an additional room. There is always the possibility to convert your garage and use it as an additional room since it is directly connected to the house. Therefore, you can make a drive under the garage into a working room, game room, home theater, or something similar.

If you have windows in your garage, learn more about What Can I Use To Cover My Garage Windows?

The Cons of Drive Under Garages

As you might have guessed, drive under garages also have its disadvantages, which we will now cover. After we go through them, it’s up to you to judge whether these are the right garages for you or not. So let’s go.

1. Higher Risk Than Normal Garages

Drive under garages represent a much higher risk than side garages because they are a part of the house. This means if your garage catch fire, your whole house is in danger. The fire can spread to the rest of the house very quickly, while with side garages, there is a much greater chance of stabilizing and preventing the fire. You have a lot of flammable things in the garage, such as a car, electrical installations, equipment, and the like.

2. They Are Smaller Than Normal Garages

Drive under garage is usually smaller than the typical side garage. This is because it is located below the surface of the house and is limited in how wide and long it can be. Also, you cannot expand these garages because they are beneath the house, which can sometimes be a problem if you need a larger space in the future.

3. Drive Under Garage Can Get Very Cold

Another disadvantage of these garages is that they can be very cold during the winter. This can be a problem for cars, because during low temperatures it can be hard to start a vehicle, especially if it is an electric one. This also applies if you have other sensitive things in the garage that cannot stand the cold.

4. The Problem With the Smell

Garages that are located under the house can sometimes have problems with sewage smell. Gases and other bad smells can settle in the garage and thus be transmitted to the rest of the house. Of course, this is not always the case, especially if you regularly maintain the garage. During hot summer days, an unbearable smell can be created, which can then go into the house, and you certainly don’t want that.

5. Complicated To Climb or Go Down

These types of garages can be designed so that it is very complicated to climb up or go down. If, after a long day at work, you park your car in the garage and have to go upstairs, it can be quite frustrating. Of course, this is not always the case and depends on how the stairs are constructed.

For those who want to learn more, be sure to read Should You Insulate Your Garage Ceiling?

FAQ: People Also Ask

Are Drive Under Garages Noise Insulated?

Drive under garages can be noisy if proper insulation is not installed. However, if you use soundproof materials and soundproof your basement garage, there will be no problems with the noise. If this is not done, you will hear when someone parks the car, works in the garage or uses it.

Is Drive Under Garage Included In The Home’s Square Footage?

A drive-under garage, just like the basement, is not included in the house’s total square footage. Of course, this applies only if the garage is placed below the ground level. Be sure to consult with a building instructor, as laws vary from state to state.

Final Thoughts

A drive-under garage is an excellent choice for those who want to save space on their property and have direct access to the garage from their home. Besides being very safe, they are also popular because they give a unique style to your house. However, building such a structure isn’t easy and is a very demanding and complex job. That’s why they also cost more than classic floor garages. In this article, you could see all the advantages and disadvantages that this garage offers.