GARAGE HOUSES.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19148, 3 November 1927, Page 4

GARAGE HOUSES.

EVER-INCREASING DEMAND. QUESTION OF SITES. "Anyone who builds a house without a garage will find it absolutely unsaleable in a few years' time," said an English estate agent recently. "All the houses that have been on my books for any length of time are 'hanging fire' for one reason only—no room for garage. Small houses with garages sell at sight." Whilst the above statement seems a somewhat sweeping one, remarks Clement Frost in the "Illustrated Carpenter and Builder," there is no doubt that, with the ever-increasing output of lowpriced cars, the demand for garages increases monthly. It is not only the people who already own cars who aro interested in this question, as many nonmotorists demand "room for garage," hoping that within the next year of so they will be able to "afford a car." In the past motoring has been the pastime of the comparatively well-to-do, but nowadays is within the reach of almost everybody. "If you aro earning £6 a week you can afford to run a car—if you earn £3 a motorcycle is an economy," runs the advertisement of a well-known firm. In some occupations—carrying even less than this remuneration—it is essential to have a motor of sorts; expenses being defrayed by the employers on a mileage basis. The days of cramped frontages and terrace houses are now happily gone, but even to-day many sites are purchased which tlo not allow sufficient room for a Tarn go and also a side entrance. The extra outlay necessary to secure adequate widtli in a building plot should not be considered as money lying idle, but as a sound invostmcut in which the capital sum involved increases yearly and can be "realised" at any time. In estimating the necessary extra width required for a motor-house, Bft "in the clear" should be-considered the minimum. Certainly sheds can be constructed in less space, but they are, I at the best, indifferent makeshifts. A cramped garage is not only difficult of entrance and exit—especially at night—but makes it almost impossible to work on the car whilst under cover. On fine days few will care to be tinkering about with the "bus"—they' want to be out and away. Insufficient Width. In a case where tho plot is already defined, and there is insufficient width for a shed of reasonable size, and also side entrance, the difficulty may be overcome by setting the ' garage behind the line of tho house, but such a "tight" arrangement should not be considered in the purchaso of new sites, for even tho most skilful drivers are apt to damago "wings" against rainwater pipes and similar projections if compelled to back out through a pas : sago which allows a mere inch or two of clearance. There is no doubt that a garage as part of tho main building is by far the most satisfactory t solution —architecturally. Small isolated buildings dotted about sites are responsible for the scrappy appearanco of many country districts which have recently become "urbanised." The motor-house may reasonably be completed by an additional bedroom over or—if this is not required when the house is buitt-rbe finished with a flat roof, and the bundling be planned in such a way that an additional room can be added at any timo without structural difficulty. Such an arrangement has value as a "selling" asset. Length in a garage is as important as width. If 16ft by Bft is reckoned as the minimum size, it may allow for a bench at the end. Many men' who 'five years ago ran a bike and side-car are to-day touring England v\ six-cylin-der saloons. If garages are small such progress necessitates rebuilding the shed or in some cases purchasing another site.