Drive-Thru. Garage?
Discussion
Hello All.
I would be grateful for your opinions on a plan I am formulating to enhance a garage for vehicle maintenance puposes.
After years of living in forces barrack blocks and various apartments, I'm almost in a position to buy a house with a garage. Ideally I'd like a huge garage at the end of a long drive, which has a large area of level hard-standing in front of it, where I can store and work on my (as yet unpurchased) projects. However, in reality, in my area, such a property is far out of my price range.
However, what I often see within my budget, are semi-detached houses which have had double garages built at the bottom of the back garden. Some of the garages are brick, but most are sectional concrete. They are typically accessed from a service road shared with adjacent houses. The problem with these garages is that they have no area of hard-standing. The door is right next to the service road.
My solution would be to pave the area of garden behind the garage to create the hard-standing and install a second (single width) door in the back wall, effectively making a 'drive-thru' garage. Simple! Or is it? Has anyone ever seen this done? I'd welcome your thoughts.
I would be grateful for your opinions on a plan I am formulating to enhance a garage for vehicle maintenance puposes.
After years of living in forces barrack blocks and various apartments, I'm almost in a position to buy a house with a garage. Ideally I'd like a huge garage at the end of a long drive, which has a large area of level hard-standing in front of it, where I can store and work on my (as yet unpurchased) projects. However, in reality, in my area, such a property is far out of my price range.
However, what I often see within my budget, are semi-detached houses which have had double garages built at the bottom of the back garden. Some of the garages are brick, but most are sectional concrete. They are typically accessed from a service road shared with adjacent houses. The problem with these garages is that they have no area of hard-standing. The door is right next to the service road.
My solution would be to pave the area of garden behind the garage to create the hard-standing and install a second (single width) door in the back wall, effectively making a 'drive-thru' garage. Simple! Or is it? Has anyone ever seen this done? I'd welcome your thoughts.
SystemParanoia said:
lots of houses up here have drive thru garages
simply a case of doors at both ends and consideration for how its done so it doesnt fall over lol
A friends parents have one. Knocked out the back wall, stuck a lintel and a door in. Now they can drive through garage No1, to a hard standing and in to garage No2 if desired.simply a case of doors at both ends and consideration for how its done so it doesnt fall over lol
I have a 'drive through' and it works well; I designed it in when I designed the house primarily for hard-standing for the car trailer as it keeps it in the back garden leaving the drive and garage free for toys 
And if someone did want to walk off with my trailer (or indeed the tvrolet on the trailer, since it sometimes stays on), then there's 2 garage doors and 2 other cars to move first.
My garage is a double at the front of the house, and also 2 cars deep on one side (sort of L shape), and that side continues through a single garage door to hard-standing behind the house. So 3 cars in the garage (plus the bike), and trailer out the back.
Another advantage is I can play in my 'workshop bit' of the garage with the single rear door open to the garden so I get light and fresh air, without passers-by gawping in. But that's maybe just me being a grumpy old man.
And if someone did want to walk off with my trailer (or indeed the tvrolet on the trailer, since it sometimes stays on), then there's 2 garage doors and 2 other cars to move first. My garage is a double at the front of the house, and also 2 cars deep on one side (sort of L shape), and that side continues through a single garage door to hard-standing behind the house. So 3 cars in the garage (plus the bike), and trailer out the back.
Another advantage is I can play in my 'workshop bit' of the garage with the single rear door open to the garden so I get light and fresh air, without passers-by gawping in. But that's maybe just me being a grumpy old man.
The bloke I bought this house from was a car trader and I inherited a drive-through garage. One wide double width up & over at the front and a single up & over at the rear leading to an area for 2 or 3 cars before the garden proper starts.
It works a treat. I can wash & tinker with the car in my speedos without nosey neighbours looking on
.
Other big advantage apart from the light issue already mentioned, is that you get a great through draft which really speeds up the drying time if the car goes in wet.
Edit to add a pic - chairs were also inherited - now in landfill!
It works a treat. I can wash & tinker with the car in my speedos without nosey neighbours looking on
.Other big advantage apart from the light issue already mentioned, is that you get a great through draft which really speeds up the drying time if the car goes in wet.
Edit to add a pic - chairs were also inherited - now in landfill!
Edited by AlexanderV8 on Monday 11th October 20:26
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