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mrsmaff

We are adding an attached garage to our home.

8 years ago

We are adding an attached garage to our home. Should we add a side entry door? Is this a security risk and do not add? Or will we really miss not having one. I should say it is a two car garage with one door.


Comments (20)

  • 8 years ago

    No more of a security risk than all your other entry doors. Ours is tied into the house alarm system. We use ours to get to our large trash/recycle/green bins that are in a walled area next to the garage.

    mrsmaff thanked chispa
  • 8 years ago

    Add the door. especially if you keep your trash cans outside or take the dogs in and out via the garage. or have kids. or... or... or... It's super cheap to do DURING the build. Not so much after.

    mrsmaff thanked just_janni
  • PRO
    8 years ago

    Of course, add a human-oriented door! :-)

    mrsmaff thanked Virgil Carter Fine Art
  • PRO
    8 years ago

    If you decide not to do the man door, have the proper framing for one done.

    Easy to add one later if desired.

    mrsmaff thanked PPF.
  • 8 years ago

    If you don't add the man-door, plan to hang a kickboxing bag in the garage. This way in the future, you can take out your frustrations on the bag every time you wish you had a real door :)

    mrsmaff thanked doc5md
  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Just to be a counterpoint to popular opinion...I have had man doors on three houses I have lived in and they were never used. Everyone just used the main garage door(s). I have not missed not having a man door on the other houses I have lived in either (obviously, since it was not used when I had one!). Not adding one to current build either because it is a snout house on a narrow lot, so a man door would either have to lead into side of the neighbor's garage or straight onto our front sidewalk near where our main front door is.

    I have just never felt one was more convenient than the nice big regular garage door, myself. Our garbage containers around here for example (the ones required by the city for street pickup) are big cumbersome two-wheeled things that are easier to wheel straight out of a big garage door and straight forward down to the street than through or over the threshold of a man door, which would also require a 90 degree turn once out of the man door down to the street (with the way any of my houses have been oriented).

    We do mostly use our garage for parking though, and storing kayaks and bikes and other larger items where using the big garage door is convenient. If you are someone who uses their garage for a lot of other storage, or keeping yard tools and such, a man door might make more sense for you.

    If I had a lot where there was a large yard space behind the garage or something, I would probably add a man door as it might make sense for me then to have access. As it is, it just does not :)

    But, I will say if you are in doubt about it, add it. It is, as someone said, cheap to add during a build. And maybe you will be someone who gets a lot of use out of it!

    mrsmaff thanked RaiKai
  • 8 years ago

    Add the door. Better to have it and not use it than to not have it and wish you had it.

    mrsmaff thanked zorroslw1
  • 8 years ago

    Depends on your lot and how your garage is oriented. Mine is a corner lot and the garage doors are oriented towards the back which means if we had a man door, it would go out to the front of the house or to the side of the house. Would have looked more awkward and wouldn't have really added any functionality.

    mrsmaff thanked cpartist
  • PRO
    8 years ago

    Should we add a side entry door? Yes, it is a pain to have to open the overhead door every time you want to get to the outside from inside the garage.

    Is this a security risk? Yes, but it can be designed and located in a manner that will reduce the risk.

    Do not add? No, you will be glad you added it.

    Will we really miss not having one? Yes

    mrsmaff thanked Mark Bischak, Architect
  • 8 years ago
    A door between the garage and house or a door between the garage and outdoors ?
    Security risks are area specific.
    I comment on house plans here without ever mentioning the security risks. I live in a high crime country so I notice it as a risk. They're unlikely to be such where they're being built.
    A door between the garage & house is considered a risk here, though not to the point of it never being done. We've got one, with a gate too. It also stays locked generally, we actually enter from the main door.
    A door between the garage and outdoors isn't much more of a risk. Rather uncommon here though, and I don't find it necessary at all. if it were done here it would probably have a separate gate too.
    Which is an option for you if you are in a relatively high crime area and you want the door.
    mrsmaff thanked Najeebah
  • 8 years ago

    Our garage (in the alley - detached) has a man door. It's SO convenient. We've always had man doors, though - as others have said, it's there if you need it.

    mrsmaff thanked User
  • 8 years ago

    Depends on your lot and how your garage is oriented.

    I was going to say the same thing. A door that opens into the back yard, of course, would be useful. A door that opens to the side yard -- eh, not so much.

    mrsmaff thanked Mrs Pete
  • 8 years ago

    Ours is opened to the side, we don’t use it much.

    mrsmaff thanked summersrhythm_z6a
  • 8 years ago
    We have a PEOPLE door in our garage and use it all the time. I would say add it and if you think you will not use it lock it firmly with a padlock. After the third time you turn the knob and can not get in you can remove the padlock.
    mrsmaff thanked Diane
  • 8 years ago

    We use our man door all the time. I had house without one and really missed it.

    mrsmaff thanked functionthenlook
  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    "man doors"?? Tsk! Tsk! By order of our great and good photogenic Prime Minister, they're called peoplekind doors here in Canuckistan. The one time I put one in, never used it and lost the key.

    mrsmaff thanked worthy
  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Why do you guys call it a “man door”? We aren’t talking about doggie doors here......is it a Southern thing?

    mrsmaff thanked summersrhythm_z6a
  • 8 years ago

    Agree, it depends on how your garage is oriented on the lot. Interesting question. In the mid 1970’s, most homes were built with a people door. Not so much anymore. Most new homes being built have three stall garages, one double door and one single door. People use their single garage door as there people exit.

    mrsmaff thanked ljk1
  • 8 years ago

    What will the door be used for?

    mrsmaff thanked tcufrog