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?

Yes definitely ! you might want to put an extra freezer in there or convert in the future

@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?

I didn’t have one in my old house and rarely, if ever used the garage other than to store suitcases. Probably only went inside once or twice a year. I have one in current house and it is so useful - I’m always popping in and out and we are making much better use of the space.

We use ours so much, kitchen to garage. We have a wardrobe in there with coats and shoes, surplus food and cleaning supplies, the electric consumer board etc. I'd hate to have to go outside to access it.

@Candleabra

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.

Assuming this is a volume builder not a one off developer they might look at you a bit funny if you ask about fire security of the door etc it's that standard an extra for house builders

The door will be slightly thicker - it will be a 60 minute fire door compared to a 30 minute one elsewhere in the house (unless it's a 3 storey house). It will have intumescent strips around the frame or door, it will have a door closer on it so that it can't be just left open like the other doors and so will close automatically (unless you prop it open but that would defeat the purpose of it). There will be a 4 sided frame on the door with a threshold (so that you step
Over it into the garage)

Do it!

We have a door from the garage into the hall, and it’s so handy for bringing in the shopping and not getting cold /wet when we come home.

@SelfMadeFantasist

Do it!

We have a door from the garage into the hall, and it’s so handy for bringing in the shopping and not getting cold /wet when we come home.

I hadn't thought about that! I think I'm going to go ahead, thank you everyone for such good advice.

We had one which was really handy, because we went into the garage often for the washing machine, bread maker, freezer. Then we had the back of the garage made into a utility room, so no need for constant access. We no longer have a door and it is so much warmer!
We don’t need the door because most of the things we went into the garage for are now in the utility. Just for general storage so happy to just use the outside door.

I’ve always been worried about exhaust fumes leaking into the house. I remember a story of a guy who left the engine running and killed his whole family. Sounds far fetched but it still happened.

Now I'm undecided! We will have a utility too, so no need for overflow freezer. I also worry about the heat escape.

@Candleabra

Now I'm undecided! We will have a utility too, so no need for overflow freezer. I also worry about the heat escape.

Is this a volume builder you are buying from? Because they have to build to minimum standards including heat loss etc and energy performance? A door into the garage isn't going to have much effect if any at all?

If you are concerned you might leave your car running - not sure how anyone could accidentally do that with a modern car anyway - most shut off if left running in idle for too long - request a carbon monoxide detector in the hallway outside the door to the garage

It seems extremely sensible to me. Why drive your car in in a rainy day inly to have to go outside to get in your house? Or if using it for storage or tools etc the same - easy access.

As an extra on a new build at a reasonable price and into the hall, it would be a no-brainer for me.

(Having just been out in the snow to get stuff from the extra freezer & pantry cupboards in my detached garage about 10m from my front door).

Is the garage wide enough to park in and open car doors ? If so, the go for the door as saves getting wet on rainy days

it's more expensive to get a door in at a later stage.

if you don't want to use it you can always wallpaper over it and put ata le in the hall.

Yes it's a big builder. I'm sure it'll be fine, and I'm sure it's a good idea. Never bought (or even considered) a new build before so it's all new.

Do it, we had one in the last house. Now we have a seperate garage.
W put up pantry coupboards for dry and cnned food storage, Dh had a workshop section. I loved being able to go in there in PJ's and slipper to get stuff without going outside.
Ours had a self closing solid fire door. Inside the house the door looked just like the rest of the interior doors.

My garage door has been broken since the day I moved in. I don't need to put a car in it so have never missed it and access from the inside door at all times 😂

Definitely! It should be a fire door on it so no draft.

@Thewiseoneincognito

I’ve always been worried about exhaust fumes leaking into the house. I remember a story of a guy who left the engine running and killed his whole family. Sounds far fetched but it still happened.

I honestly can't see how this would happen given the door into the house would be a fire door. Unless done on purpose of course.

Definitely go for it. Much more convenient. And always easier to do now rather than later.

Yes defintely we had one and it is so so handy. It basically makes your garage an extra room, and is so much easier bringing shopping in.

We've used our garage way more in the last year (with a door from house to garage) than we did in the 7+ years in the previous house (with a door from the garden into the garage). I'd definitely recommend it!

I know this is an old thread, but I am interested in an nternal door to the garage. Can I ask please, do these doors open into the garage or into the hall. Is there a choice which way they open, or do regulations stipulate a certain way?

Mine opens into the garage from the utility room. I don't know if this is "regulations" or not. The fact that it is a fire door that has one of those "closer arms" on it is though.

@SoupDragon Thank you, I am finding conflicting info, will keep searching!