Buying and Selling Homes Garages/Workshops

mud room or larger garage?

4 years ago

My house currently has a a 6' wide breezeway that connects the single car garage to the rest of the house - I don't know if it was built that way to meet some permit regs, or if it was added later so that there was an interior connection between the garage and the house (to make it more comfortable in rain and snow).

I currently walk from the garage through the breezeway into the house, where there is a small tiled area that I consider a "mud room": bench, coat closet, door to a powder room and the laundry room.

The front door of the house opens to a small 5'x4' foyer with a coat closet, which is open to the living room. I use it rarely, but it is used and there's a nice front covered porch.

Now the question: The garage needs some significant repairs (foundation and walls), so I've been considering having it built wider, to encompass the 6' of the breezeway and make it a proper attached garage. The extra space in the garage would be welcome for storage and as a small tool/work area. It's been suggested that I keep the garage the same size, but make the breezeway more of an inside space to use as a larger mudroom......they suggested that the mudroom would be more valued by future buyers than a larger-than-single, but smaller-than-double garage. Personally, I prefer the bigger garage, and there is a small mudroom already.

Thoughts? I just moved in and I'm not planning on moving, but I am thinking about making home improvements and we were talking about that breezeway.

Featured Answer

kempek01

4 years ago

If the current mudroom is large enough for your use, I wouldn't make more mudroom. A bigger garage seems that it would offer more options.

If you didn't already have a mudroom, my answer might be different.

Since you aren't planning on moving any time soon, I would not worry about the future buyers. Unless the people who are making the suggestion for the larger mudroom are the future buyers (and have already signed a contract for a mega-purchase from you!). (Ha!)

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Comments (10)

Chris
4 years ago
Hi. What will you do with the extra garage space? Storage( what sorts of things…are those things more suited for unheated garage or a climate controlled mud room… if it will be climate controlled)? Laundry? Car space? If you made it a mud room, what can you use your current mud area for? Would it make your home feel more spacious? Even if you aren’t moving, increasing your homes value is never a bad thing…. Although it boils down to how you want to live. We did a lot of things that “ nobody’s doing” according to our builder. Trust yourself. I think you could be happy with either choice.
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User
4 years ago
Because you are content with the existing entry spaces, I'd choose the bigger garage. Ensure the garage door is plenty wide for a modern car (some older garage doors are awfully narrow.)

Our garage was built in 1940, it's wide enough for a car and a half. That extra 'half' is perfect for yard tools, lawnmower, garbage can, ladders, tools, gardening supplies, paint, buckets, tarps, recycling, etc -- none of which I want in my house proper. If a future family needs more 'mudroom' they can install a bench, coathooks or whatever they need out there.

If that were my space, I'd consider turning it into a greenhouse, and have fun walking through a jungle every day!
porkchop_z5b_MI
4 years ago
I think it depends what you want your mudroom to function as. Mine is pretty small, and it functions as both a mudroom and a laundry room, so it's pretty cramped and inefficient, so for me it would be mudroom over garage, I would welcome that extra interior space -- you can work in storage space for tools just as easily inside a well laid-out interior room as you can a garage. But, is it currently a one or two car garage, and what is the norm in your area? If it's below the norm, then go with the garage for increased comparative value.
function_first
4 years ago
I would convert that breezeway to additional garage space. If added to keep someone dry when going from garage to house, then expanding the garage eliminates the need for it. I don't think anyone needs two adjoining mudrooms, but almost everyone can make use of 6 more feet in their garage.
Toronto Veterinarian
Original Author
4 years ago
Thanks to all for your thoughts. When it comes to pass, I'll let you know.
tete_a_tete
4 years ago
'If that were my space, I'd consider turning it into a greenhouse, and have fun walking through a jungle every day!'

What a good idea.
CA Kate z9
4 years ago
A two-car garage, large enough for the modern width of today's vehicles, and extra deep for work bench and/or storage would be my ideal. You say you have to fix/repair/replace(?) the existing garage. If you can afford it, then do it right.
elcieg
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Would you have room on your lot for a drive-through tandem garage? . This design features a door and driveway on both ends of the garage.It would mean a driveway would have to wrap around the side of the garage for you to access the back garage door. Then you could keep the connector and do whatever you wanted with it.
jane__ny
4 years ago
I wouldn't buy a house without a two-car garage. I think the cost of enlarging it would be a good investment and useful for what you need.

Jane