How to Draw a Breeze

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Does a Breezeway Add Value to a Home?

You may be hesitant to go for a detached garage, in spite of its many advantages. Of course who wants to walk from the garage to the house under a blazing sun or pouring rain. But adding a stunning breezeway between house and garage, can be a game changer!

A Breezeway between House and Garage, may well be the most outstanding design feature of your property. The value of your home will simply skyrocket! A Breezeway between House and Garage brings in functional benefits too. Walking between house and garage will be a breeze! (pun intended). You also get additional space that can be put to a multitude of uses.

Read this post to learn about the breezeway types and design & decor ideas to make your breezeway between house and garage an architectural masterpiece.

What is a Garage Breezeway?

A breezeway is an architectural structure that is roofed and functions as a walkway between two buildings. The sides are generally open but may have low walls or windows for additional protection from the elements.

Merriam-Webster defines a breezeway as

"a roofed often open passage connecting two buildings (such as a house and garage) or halves of a building"
Merriam-Webster

A Garage Breezeway is a breezeway between house and garage. It may be contained, funneled or offset.

Contained Breezeway between House and Garage

This is the most common style of breezeway between house and garage, especially if the breezeway was included in the original plan & construction of the house.

The construction of the house and the garage are aligned and the contained breezeway connects the two in a straight line. The garage, the breezeway and the house share the same roofline.

The breezeway has a gable roof which uses the same material as the house and the garage. A continuous, harmonized look is the hallmark of a contained breezeway.

Funneled Breezeway between House and Garage

Sometimes the house and the garage may not be aligned in a single plane. Instead the garage may be set at an angle to the main house. It is still possible to connect the two using a funnel breezeway.

The two sides of the breezeway have different lengths, giving it the appearance of a funnel. The funnel shape allows the breezeway to open out onto a patio or porch for relaxed seating and outdoor dining.

Offset Breezeway between House and Garage

In some cases, the house and the garage do not sit opposite to each other. The garage may be located deeper into the backyard. The offset breezeway can then be used to connect the house and the garage.

Decks can be added to the sides of the offset breezeway to give it a more casual and inviting look.

Does a Breezeway make a Garage Attached?

There is no simple answer to this question and the final judge is your local building authority.

Your architect and building contractor will know and they will prepare the building plans accordingly.

The key difference between an attached garage and a detached garage is the fire safety requirement under the IRC.

Please visit R309 GARAGES AND CARPORTS of the 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) for the provisions under the code.

An attached garage is considered a fire hazard and IRC stipulates use of fire-resistant material for

Connecting Doors (R309.1)
Walls & Ceilings (R309.2)
Ducts (R309.1.1)
Floors (R309.3)

You can get more information on the hazards from the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors website.

What are the Benefits of a Garage Breezeway?

There are at least six benefits of adding a breezeway between the house and garage.

A Breezeway Provides Protection from the Elements

Protection from the elements is the key reason for adding a breezeway between house and garage.

Imagine yourself driving back from the supermarket, loaded with groceries, and a kid or two in tow. Now imagine blazing sun, gusty winds, pouring rain or a snowstorm and the walk from the garage to house.

This is quite often the reality. But a breezeway can make this walk a breeze!

Apart from the protection from inclement weather, a breezeway also protects you from lurking intruders, wayward wildlife or hideous reptiles. A breezeway is a safety feature.

A Breezeway adds Tremendous Aesthetic Appeal to your Home

A breezeway is an exemplary example of the two pillars of fine architecture – form & function.

"Form follows function—that has been misunderstood. Form and function should be one, joined in a spiritual union."
Frank Lloyd Wright, Architect & Designer of Guggenheim Museum

The breezeway is this union between form and function, between house and garage.

A beautifully designed breezeway can do more to unify the house with the garage and the landscape than any other architectural feature you can think of.

A Breezeway can be Designed for Use as Carport

A breezeway can be designed so that it is broad enough to accommodate cars. In which case the breezeway between home and garage can also be used as a carport.

Find out more about carports from my earlier blog post, What You Need To Know About Carport Attached To The Garage.

You can use it to park your own cars, thus freeing up space in the garage for storage or activities that require closed space such as a garage gym or home office.

Find out more about garage home office from my earlier blog post, A Simple Garage Home Office Can Result In Better Work Life Balance.

Alternatively you can use it as a place for family and friends to park their cars when they come to visit you.

Incorporate a Mudroom in the Breezeway

A breezeway between house and garage is perfect for incorporating a mudroom.

Add a bench with side tables, along the breezeway wall. You can sit down, keep your car keys and grocery on the side table, take off your shoes and keep them on the shoe rack below the bench.

Find out more from my earlier blog post, Why Add Mudroom Entry From The Garage? 7 Really Great Reasons

The Breezeway can Double as a Covered Porch

Plan to make your breezeway wide enough to allow for easy passage and also allow placement of a few chairs and a table on one side. Now your breezeway can double as a covered porch.

What a wonderful setting for a morning cup of coffee or an evening glass of wine. Curl up in a comfortable chair and read a book, listen to music or just watch the sun go down.

A covered porch is a great way to bring some peace and tranquility in your life, while soaking in all that mother nature has to offer.

Add a Patio to your Breezeway

Do you like to BBQ? Or throwing wine & cheese parties for your friends? Then you just have to add a patio in front of the breezeway between house and garage.

Best to leave the patio uncovered. But do provide some shade for your guests by using a couple of large patio umbrellas that you can order from Amazon.

Keep a refrigerator and a wine cooler in the breezeway so that your guests can remain well hydrated and in good cheer!

Use the breezeway as a backup in case of unexpected rain.

Bottom Line

The breezeway between house and garage serves the function of providing a sheltered walkway while adding a touch of luxury and old world charm to your home.

It is every architect's dream. A perfect marriage of form and function. The value of your home will skyrocket!

The breezeway can also be put to a multitude of uses. The list is endless. Use it as above or put your own creativity and interests to work. Reading nook, meditation retreat, private bar. Use it as you please.

Thank you very much for reading the post. I do hope you found it informative and useful.

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