New build: internal door from house into garage

[Candleabra]

Buying a new build and something I need to decide quickly is whether to have an internal door from the hallway into the garage.
I think it would be handy (though not exactly sure why!), but I could also live without it. So I'm on the fence at the moment.
Any advice?

Might cost a bit as need to be upto fire regs. Theres the security aspect garage doors are quite easy to get into then give then time to break into house from garage.
You lose a straight wall would it limit you where to put stuff.

It depends what you're going to use the garage for, now and in the future.

For example our old neighbours had a door as they had larder shelves in the garage so needed to pop in and out for kitchen gadgets etc.

Later they converted the back part of the garage to a toilet/utility room.

Good idea. We have one from kitchen into garage and I'm always popping in there. Saves going outside when you need to access it and you really spec that in bad weather. It depends what you use the garage for - we have DIY stuff, bikes and an ever growing mountain of cardboard waiting to be taken to the dump (when they open again).

We had one previously and it was very convenient. We just used the garage for storage, but if you would actually park the car in there then it's even better for unloading shopping etc.

I have one from the utility room into the garage and it makes the utility room so cold
But it’s handy if I need something from the garage because I don’t have to go outside

Definitely get a door. Whatever you are using the garage for it will be easier to access if you can do do via the house rather than having to go outside every time. Better for selling too.

We have one and it is great. We had it put in when we had an extension. The door is in an otherwise “dead” wall so we haven’t lost any space we would have used.
We can pop into the garage easily, we can walk from the garage to the utility without coming in the main house. We use the garage way more for storage as a result.

In terms of security - we have a good dead bolt lock on the internal door with the key on the house side. So if someone really wanted to steal something in the house, then they’d have to work for it!

We don’t keep valuables in the garage eg bikes etc.

Yes definitely. Ours is kitchen to garage and we use it all the time however the washer, dryer, beer fridge and fire wood are all in the garahe

I had one in a new build I bought 20 years ago, I used the internal door a lot. The door was at the back of the garage and went into the utility room. I kept the car in the garage every night but had a narrow amount of storage at the back, so the internal door was very useful.

It will cost a lot of money. We enquired about this when we bought our new build and the site manager basically said it's not worth doing as it has to be up to fire regs, can't affect structural stability and something else about it.

It's a lot of work/effort/money for something you can live without!

I paid for an internal door from the garage into my hallway in my new build and it was worth every penny. We store loads in there that we'd otherwise keep in the house, because it's easily accessible. It's hassle for the builders to put in though, which is why they might discourage it.

I would get one put in, yes.

I've got an extra fridge and freezer in my garage so wouldn't be without my internal door. We also store our recycling boxes in the garage so it's easy just to throw things in there when you've finished cooking without having to go outside in the dark & cold.

I have a door from my utility room to the garage and it's very useful. I wouldn't be without it.

Yes and get an automatic garage door opener. Apart from storage it can be very useful to have if you use the garage for extra play/exercise space or a spot of indoor glamping.

Ours garage is part of an extension to the house and we can access it from the kitchen. We keep the recycling bins, tumble drier and spare fridge at the end closest to the kitchen door and DH has his workbench and tools the other end. We also have a lock between kitchen and garage which is locked every night.

Do you have a floor plan? Where the door will be will probably influence the answer.

If I had an integral garage I'd definitely want a door into the house.
Obviously depends where it is though, if it had to come into the lounge - no.
Ideally the hall.
Otherwise kitchen or utility, but it does then limit where you can place things.

I have a door out toy garage. It was like that when the house was built. As others have said handy to go to garage without leaving house. I have a large chest freezer and spare fridge in my garage. Upright freezer in kitchen. Car is always left on drive.

yes, get it. but do consider the security aspect as well.
also make sure there are power outlets in the garage for tools or extra fridge/freezer. plus a charging point for an electric car.

Thanks everyone. It'll go from the hallway.
It actually isn't that expensive (£745) as an extra. One of the more reasonable and useful "upgrades". I will ask about fire safety though, thank you I hadn't thought about that.
My main reasons against: security & losing a flat wall in the hall to put a useful table.

@redcandlelight

yes, get it. but do consider the security aspect as well. also make sure there are power outlets in the garage for tools or extra fridge/freezer. plus a charging point for an electric car.

Yes there's power, lighting and charging. I will probably also put the car in there (which will be a novelty for it - it's sat on the drive for 15 years!)

Definitely get a door, we didn’t used to have one and it was a chore going to the garage via the outside, especially in the dark and winter.
We now have one and use the garage so much more. We keep shoes in there, a shelf with various vases and plant pots, a big basket with racquets and balls, umbrellas and spare bags. It keeps the rest of the house much tidier and it’s so convenient. I’d highly recommend you get a light switch for the garage positioned near the door too.

Yes! It will need to be fire door and if I can suggest something, do make sure it is good quality and very well insulated, otherwise your ground floor will be cold.

We did when we had our extension built last year so that the garage is now more integrated with the house. As others have said it's now much more useful as we can easily pop in there for overflow stores. With regard to lighting - ours is now on a PIR which means it comes on as soon as the door to the kitchen opens - so no longer scrabbling for the switch in the dark.