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Original poster

integral garage with no interior access

15 replies

housebarrassment · 22/01/2022 19:28

I’m considering buying a house which has an integral garage but there is no access to the garage from inside the house. The house has plenty of off street parking on a driveway so I wouldn’t be storing my car in there but instead want to store bikes etc in there and have a tumble drier and chest freezer or extra fridge freezer - things I currently cannot have as live in a tiny house with no garage and just a small shed. Would having a garage for this type of use be a pain? Just thinking if I have to go out of the front door to access the garage, and presumably lock and unlock it each time I need it. There is a tiny hallway in the house, but I don’t know if there would be enough space to see if a door could somehow be built in, to allow easier access to it, I’m thinking probably not… thoughts please!

OP posts:

trilbydoll · 22/01/2022 19:35

Our old house was like this. We never put a tumble dryer or freezer in there because we didn't think we would want the faff of going in and out. But it was a really useful garage because it didn't leak, no chance of damp etc. You could put anything in there and not worry about it going mouldy.

mogkat · 22/01/2022 19:36

I think it's a personal thing on whether or not it would bother you.

If it was me, it would bother me!
for example having to carry a basket of washing out the front door, put it down, open up the big garage door to go in etc etc.
But if that doesn't bother you then go for it.

If there was option to add an internal access door that would make it more usable as a utility space which is what it seems you want it for.

DockOTheBay · 22/01/2022 19:38

Would there be room for a tumble dryer somewhere in the house? This wouldn't bother me at all but our garage is currently in a block 100yards from the house so having to go out of the front door doesn't seem like that big of a deal.

AlwaysWaiting78 · 22/01/2022 19:38

We have an integral garage with an internal door from the hallway into it, it's definitely so much easier than having to go outside to get in the garage! I believe it needs to be a fire door if you do put one in

alwayswrighty · 22/01/2022 19:39

We've got that situation. We're going to get a door put in.

ComtesseDeSpair · 22/01/2022 19:39

Our garden office has a separate storage room where we keep the chest freezer and various outdoor bits and pieces so we have to leave the house to go there but I can’t say it’s ever struck me as especially inconvenient. I suppose it depends how often you realistically think you’ll need access to the things in the garage. It shouldn’t be a problem for bicycles as you’d be leaving the house anyway; and the chest freezer (in our house, anyway) is usually not for everyday food but more storage for buying in bulk or large joints of meat for an occasion. I certainly wouldn’t write off an otherwise suitable house I liked because of no internal door to the garage.

Tomatel · 22/01/2022 19:59

It is better security wise without the door. There were several burglaries in my area where the burglar broke in via the garage and internal door...

ABCDEF1234 · 22/01/2022 20:27

I have this set up and a tumble drier in the garage. It certainly doesn't bother us having to go outside

Motherhubbardscupboard · 22/01/2022 20:32

Is there no back door to the garage? I have to go outside to get into my garage (which is joined onto the house) but i don't have to use the front entrance, there is a back door. I have a drier and a freezer in there

CrystalMaisie · 22/01/2022 20:37

I had an integral garage with door, we kept the washing machine and extra fridge freezer out there. Trouble was, the fraught from the door, it made my house very cold.
We’ve since had the back of the garage made into a proper utility room, and no door through to the garage. It is so much warmer, it’s made a massive difference to the temperature of the house.

BigotSpigot · 22/01/2022 21:23

Can you just put a door through internally?

SilverGlassHare · 22/01/2022 21:30

We have an attached garage without connecting door - there’s a back door into the garage so we can get in via the garden though. We have an extra fridge freezer in there and it’s fine for that but it would be a bit of a pain ferrying washing out there to go into the dryer. Though I suppose really isn't very different to taking a of if washing out to hang on the line - except I do that in summer and use the dryer in winter. Going out of the front door and pulling up a big garage door would be more of a pain, I reckon. Are you sure there no scope to knock through into the hall?

Greenybluetowel · 22/01/2022 22:38

Our last house was like this and we had the tumble dryer and chest freezer in the gsrage. Didn't ever bother me in 4 years going out and opening the big garage door. I was just glad of having space to house and hide both appliances. We had space in the hallway to add an integral door but for security I thought it was better being separate.

echt · 22/01/2022 23:40

While my garage has a door to the laundry, and therefore the house, it's exterior standard and deadlocked. Also smoke alarmed.

WhatsitWiggle · 22/01/2022 23:44

My washing machine and freezer are in the garage, we go out the back door and into a rear door of the garage. Lived here for nearly 15 years so I'm used to it now!

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