Designing the Perfect Detached Garage

Detached Garage Uses

The first step in designing your detached garage is identifying how you will be using the structure. Will it be a straight forward garage used simply for storing vehicles? Or will you be adding an apartment or workshop to expand the living space of your property? At Backyard & Beyond our team loves working with customers to create unique space on their property. We have built workshop garages, garage apartments, art studios, home offices, and more to fit our customers’ needs. With our team the sky's the limit, if you have any questions about past projects or what is possible please feel free to reach out to us.

Detached Garage Placement

Once you have identified how you will be using your garage, you should evaluate your property to see where the garage will be built. As you are choosing the location of your detached garage there are a few things you should consider to ensure the construction process and use of the structure are efficient. 

First, you should decide if you want your garage to align with your home, or if you want it to stand alone as an architectural statement. Second, you should review your existing driveway, and the type of accessibility you want with your new garage. Lastly, you should research your county and/or township’s zoning and building regulations to make sure your vision is not drastically changed in the process. Our team is very experienced in various regulations, and can walk you through the important items to make the most of your available space. Contemplating these things before you begin your journey will set you up for success, and give you important information regarding the size and design of your Amish built garage. 

Choosing Your Garage Size

Now that you have chosen how you will use your detached garage and its location on your property, it’s time to decide your garage’s size and layout. First, we encourage our customers to decide how many bays they want their garage to be. This decision greatly influences both the size and the layout of your garage, and we encourage our customers to look into the future before they make their decision. If your family is growing or you foresee your hobbies expanding, you may want to add an extra garage door to accommodate that. You should also take into account how much space you will need to store tools, lawn equipment, or recreational gear. If you’re having a hard time deciding on the size of your detached garage, our team would love to work with you. We have worked with hundreds of customers to determine the perfect size for them. 

If you plan on adding a second floor to your detached garage, you may want to look into adding dormers or increasing roof pitch to maximize headroom.

Garage Layout

The beauty of choosing a custom detached garage is that you get to design your garage layout from the ground up. Now that you’ve decided on the primary uses and size of your garage, you should design your layout so that you can work out of your garage with optimum efficiency. As you are designing, be sure to leave space for your vehicles, while also designating areas for recreational equipment, tools, and any other things you plan on storing in your garage. Make sure you leave enough room to maneuver through the space and that storage areas are easily accessible even with all vehicles inside the garage. 

If you plan on adding a living space, office, or recreational area to your detached garage, incorporate them into your design as soon as possible. Living spaces heavily influence the size of your garage, and can require a second level depending on your storage needs on the first level. Living spaces will also influence the permitting process, as many townships require special permits for detached buildings with living spaces. At Backyard & Beyond we offer select interior finishing services within 100 miles of our shop in New Holland, PA, and have helped a multitude of homeowners design and finish the interior of their detached garage. 

Exterior Design and Materials

The next step in the garage design process is the exciting step of choosing the exterior materials and aesthetic style of your detached garage. At Backyard & Beyond almost every aspect of the garage’s exterior can be customized to our customers’ specifications. Siding material and color, window style, efficiency and trim, shutters, doors, and more, can all be customized to fit our customers' style and needs. 

When selecting your materials keep in mind the typical climate of your area, and the general wear and tear you expect the garage to go through. Our garages come standard with either Georgia-Pacific Vinyl Siding or Louisiana-Pacific SmartSide Vertical Siding, but we offer upgrades for our customers with different style and durability needs. You can view our most popular siding, roofing, window, door, and design options on our Instant Quote Page or build all aspects of the garage on our 3D Design Center. Additionally, you can give us a call to discuss our options with one of our skilled Garage Specialists. 

With the proper planning during the design phase, your detached garage will serve your family for decades to come. Are you interested in learning more about Backyard & Beyond’s custom detached garages? Contact us today for an instant price quote!