The Benefits of a 1.5-Car Garage
Admittedly, the name is a little bit silly. No one owns half of a car — or at least not one that is drivable! Why, then, is there a designated 1.5-car garage size? Surprisingly, the importance of the 1.5-car garage is growing, especially for homeowners with limited space on their property. Even those who already own a garage are opting to renovate it.
Contact UsIf you find that your garage currently feels cramped or are looking into ways a garage can add to the value of a home, consider whether the 1.5-car garage is the solution for you.
You’ll want to investigate aspects such as 1.5-car garage dimensions, the pros and cons, how exactly to increase your garage size and what goes into installing a new garage door to fit it. This guide provides tips, tricks and information to help you make your decision. Join us as we discuss all things 1.5-car garage!
Table of Contents
- How Big Should My Garage Be?
- What Is The Average Size of a 1.5-Car Garage?
- What are the Benefits of a 1.5-Car Garage?
- How do I Install an Oversized 1.5-Car Garage Door?
- Should I Expand My Garage?
- Are There Any Other Tips for Renovating a 1.5-Car Garage?
- Where Can I Buy One-and-a-Half-Car Garage Doors?
How Big Should My Garage Be?
When looking at statistical trends in new home builds, it is clear that the two-car garage is king. According to a recent study from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), 66% of all the new houses that broke ground in 2022 included a two-car garage. An additional 19% featured a garage with enough space for three or more vehicles.
However, not everyone who adds or expands a garage has an open lot available. In such cases, a two- or three-car garage might not be feasible, but a 1.5-car garage may be the perfect solution.
What Is The Average Size of a 1.5-Car Garage?
As the name implies, a 1.5-car garage is slightly bigger than a one-car garage but not quite as big as a two-car option. A standard 1-car or single garage measures between 12 and 16 feet in width, while a standard two-car or double garage usually measures between 20 and 24 feet wide. A standard three-car or triple garage is 30 feet wide.
The dimensions of a standard size 1.5-car garage fall between the single and double garages at 16 to 20 feet wide. Some 1.5-car garages use one-car garage doors, while others capitalize on the extra space and install a larger 1.5-car garage door. Those with larger vehicles often opt for the latter.
All standard garages have roughly the same depth, about 22 feet to 24 feet — although some home designers have chosen special, extra-deep garages. The extra depth is especially useful for boat owners or those who have oversized trucks that could benefit from the additional length. If you are mostly interested in the 1.5-car garage because of the size of the vehicle you are looking to park in your garage, then added depth might be as useful as added width.
In other words, if you are wondering what the best sizes for a garage are, the answer will vary greatly depending on your needs.
What Are the Benefits of a 1.5-Car Garage?
If you have a fleet of vehicles you want to park under a roof every night, the 1.5-car garage may not be for you. However, for those with limited options for expansion, the 1.5-car solution is a perfect fit.
Let’s break down the many benefits of the 1.5-car garage:
1. Small Footprint on Tight Lots
If you live in an urban area, the 1.5-car garage may be the best way to avoid risky street parking. Additionally, if you own an urban or historic home, you know that expansions can be a headache. Houses were not constructed on large yards or acres of property. In such situations, garages may need to be fit into smaller spaces.
However, the standard one-car garage can be limiting. If you want to use a garage for parking a car as well as additional storage, the standard one-car garage just isn’t big enough. On the other hand, the two-car garage may be too big. Especially in historic districts, adding a garage with street access may be difficult, and adding access to two doors may be impossible.
In such situations — where a homeowner wants both versatility and a smaller footprint, the 1.5-car garage is the ultimate compromise.
2. Accommodates Large Vehicles and New Drivers
If you have a new driver under your roof, you know that even the most responsible teenager is liable to scratch a rearview mirror or two. Becoming confident in the width of your rearview mirrors takes years of practice.
However, the risk to the rearview mirrors — as well as the side panels — of your car rises exponentially if your vehicle is wider. If your teen driver is learning on the family minivan, a tight single garage might be even more of a challenge than if you had a sedan.
Many with larger vehicles, such as vans, large SUVs and pickup trucks, opt for a 1.5-car garage with an equally oversized door. While some 1.5-car garages still feature the standard single-size door, the oversized door is a perfect pairing for an equally oversized car.
While this is especially helpful if you have a driver in the household who’s still using their learner’s permit, even if you have years of experience behind the wheel, you could still benefit from some additional side clearance when parking a big vehicle. In fact, if you have a commercial-grade vehicle, the oversized door might be a necessity. Parking in a single-car bay may amount to more than just threading a needle — it may be an impossibility.
3. Provides More Space for Loading and Unloading
For those with very young kids — especially those who still ride in a car seat — the extra clearance on each side of the car will make loading kids in much easier. Leaning into the backseat of a vehicle to latch a kid into their seat is hard enough. Doing so with limited space between the car and a wall makes the process downright back-breaking!
Even if you don’t have little kids, if you regularly transport things — such as groceries, equipment or luggage for travel — in the back seat of your car, having additional space for loading and unloading can make the process much less painful!
4. Gives You Added Storage
While a garage, by its most basic definition, is a place to store vehicles, many of us use that space to store countless other things. In fact, too much non-car storage has become a problem for many homeowners.
According to a 2022 survey, 36% of Americans said their garages are so cluttered that they can no longer fit vehicles inside them.
Unfortunately, the chances of joining this group exponentially increase if you have a single-car garage. That’s because the space is not designed for additional storage in the first place.
However, even if you have a small property and only one car, there are still plenty of things you’d probably love to keep in your garage — garden equipment, snow-clearing tools and sports gear perfectly suit garage storage.
That’s where the 1.5-car garage comes in. The added clearance on both sides of the car and space in the back of the garage can be utilized as storage space. Add in some well-designed storage solutions, and you can ensure you have plenty of space to park both your car and your lawnmower without damaging either.
5. Increases Available Work Space
Whether you are an artist, carpenter, craftsperson, aspiring rock star or a do-it-yourself mechanic, the garage is a great place for your craft. A 1.5-car garage’s expanded size makes the space even more versatile.
If you like to work on your car yourself, you have likely collected several mechanic’s tools over time. These tools take up space. However, considering that they are designed to be used on your car, it doesn’t make much sense to store them in your basement. They are often heavy and can become covered in grease, making transportation laborious and potentially messy. You also don’t want to leave them somewhere insecure, as they can also be expensive. With a single-car garage, both storing your equipment and parking your car is a challenge. A 1.5-car garage gives you the space you need.
If you use your garage as a practice area for an aptly named garage band, you need to make sure you have the space to rock out. While you will likely move your car into the driveway while you practice, a 1.5-car garage allows you to store your equipment between practices.
Regardless of how you use the space, a 1.5-car garage makes that space more versatile.
5. Increases Available Work Space
Guests and household members who use mobility aids benefit greatly from the extra space alongside parked vehicles. Walking frames, wheelchairs and rollators can be more easily maneuvered around the vehicle with a wider perimeter. You may even want to install railings on your garage walls now that you have room.
How Do I Install an Oversized 1.5-Car Garage Door?
While it is easy to see the many benefits of a 1.5-car garage door, the fear of installing one can often deter homeowners from investing. To demystify the process, here’s a short explanation of what is involved in the installation process.
Doors for 1.5-car garages are not a common size. That means many homeowners who want a 1.5-car garage door cannot simply order a standard door and be done with it. For those who are interested in a 1.5-car garage for the added storage but do not necessarily need a larger door, then this isn’t a big deal. In such cases, a standard single-car door may suffice.
However, if your primary motivation for investing in a 1.5-car garage is to accommodate a larger vehicle, an oversized garage with a regularly sized door won’t improve your situation.
In these cases, a custom door is the best solution. That way, you can invest in a garage door that perfectly matches your specifications. Because custom doors are designed to certain specifications, they cannot be mass-produced.
The key to maximizing value without breaking the bank lies in finding a custom garage door manufacturer that is affordable without sacrificing quality. In such cases, you need to partner with a custom fabrication company with a sterling reputation, such as Spokane and Coeur d’Alene’s own Continental Door Company.
A good fabricator will have the tools necessary to make doors to any specification. This includes being well-stocked with common raw spring snakes, meaning they can cut springs — a crucial piece of any garage door — to any length. They will also need the means to customize track assemblies. Finally, welding shops will need to have the means to shape, customize and support heavy steel doors, providing homeowners with beautiful doors that will stand the test of time.
Adding Value to Your Home
As with any home improvement, a garage renovation is about more than added convenience — although that is a huge factor! A garage expansion also has the potential to add incredible value to your home. For those who want to resell their home at some point in the future, added value has the potential of recouping a large portion of the initial investment.
According to Home Advisor powered by Angi, a garage addition will recoup 75% to 85% of its total cost upon selling your house. Regarding return on investment (ROI), that means a new garage ranks above the National Association of Realtors (NAR) ROI 2022 estimation of a complete bathroom renovation (71%) and the addition of a master suite (56%).
As far as increased home values are concerned, a new garage is a safe bet. Other factors — such as the availability of garages in other homes in the neighborhood — could further increase a new garage’s ROI.
However, if you already have a garage and want to improve it — such as expanding the size of the door — then your ROI will actually increase. According to NAR’s 2022 home remodeling research, a new garage door can recoup 100% of its initial cost upon resale. The study also showed that 80% of renovators felt a greater desire to be home after getting their garage door replaced.
Even more promising is JLC’s 2024 Cost vs. Value Report, which placed garage doors as the number one remodeling project for return on investment, reporting a staggering national average of 193.9% cost recuperation. In Spokane, Washington, specifically, the ROI on new garage doors is significantly higher, at 227.5%, meaning you get the entire cost of your new garage door back upon resale, plus over 100% profit.
In addition to ROI, a new garage might make your home more appealing when it goes up for sale. For instance, if you are selling during a time that could be described as a “buyer’s market,” getting a leg up on the competition is a great way to sell a home and avoid costly time spent on the market.
Improving Your Daily Life
Regardless of the dollars and cents of the project, you need to think about how a garage door replacement, addition or expansion will improve your daily life. If you have a hobby that brings you joy but don’t have the space to do it, then the way an expanded garage improves your life will be worth the cost.
If you have a driver in your family who consistently sends you to the paint department at your car dealer, then consider the amount of money a wider door might save you. And if you’re constantly having to bend in awkward positions to get your child into their car seat, then the investment just might be worth it, too.
Are There Any Other Tips for Renovating a 1.5-Car Garage?
If you really want to maximize the ROI of a new 1.5-car garage, there are little things you can do that will go a long way. Here are some of our best tips for maximizing your renovation:
1. Invest in Insulation
If you are renovating an older garage, it likely needs to be better insulated. As homeowners nationwide have become more aware of energy costs and carbon footprints, many new builds have focused on adding insulation. However, even those who add insulation to their older homes often overlook their garages.
Luckily, adding insulation is easy when you are doing a renovation. You will already have your garage empty and installation equipment ready. Basic insulation also isn’t too pricey, so it can likely fit into your budget.
2. Improve Security
Just as older garages tend to lack insulation, they also regularly need enhanced security.
New doors often come with extensive security features and innovative smartphone connectivity options, both of which appeal to most homebuyers. These technological upgrades will also keep your home safer, meaning they are a great investment for you and your family, even if you are not planning on selling anytime in the near future.
3. Look out for Tax Credits
Although our tax system is currently evolving, you should always keep an eye out for home improvement-related tax credits. These are especially prevalent for those looking to improve energy efficiency.
If you can take advantage of tax credits, you can further improve your ROI by recouping investment costs even before it comes time to sell.
Keep in mind that some of these tax credits are specific to your state or locality. So, even if a federal tax credit isn’t available, you may be able to find a state or local credit that can help defray the cost of investing in energy-efficient improvements.
4. Think About Curb Appeal
While we all have our personal tastes, if you are looking to maximize ROI, you need to make sure your improvements are in line with current trends. That way, your home will be more appealing to future buyers.
Luckily, even a new garage door can drastically increase your home’s curb appeal. This relatively inexpensive renovation means you can quickly and drastically increase your chances of selling your home by simply switching out an old, dated door with a new one.
5. Consider Maintenance Costs
When calculating the cost/benefit of a garage renovation, also consider the cost of maintaining an aging door and opener. With so many moving parts that are used repeatedly, day after day, an older door can become more costly to repair than to replace.
So, if your door frequently requires you to reach for the phone and call for a repair, investing in a new door may be a wiser economic move.
These are only a handful of the many things to consider when looking into a garage renovation.
Where Can I Buy One-and-a-Half-Car Garage Doors?
If you are ready to invest in a new garage door, it is imperative that you turn to a partner you can trust. If you are in Spokane, Spokane Valley, Coeur d’Alene or the surrounding area, you can rely on Continental Door Co. for your 1.5-car garage door purchases and services. We’re proud to offer free design consultations for new construction projects and employ an experienced team of well-trained technicians.
Contact UsRely on Continental Door, Co. to Perfect Your New Garage
Since 2000, we have been serving the greater Spokane, Washington, area, providing peerless residential garage door installation, service, maintenance and repair, as well as custom garage door fabrication. We focus on passing on value to our customers, ensuring affordability and prioritizing premium quality.
If it’s time to install your 1.5-car garage door or build your 1.5-car garage addition, contact us online today!
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Updated: 09/19/2024
