Come to think of it, America could be the most ‘car-intensive’ country on the planet. Statistics detail there are 1.88 cars per household in the Land of the Brave. That certainly is a lot compared to third-world countries that can’t even manage to put food on every family table. Also, households that do not have access to a car number only about 9% in 2017. That means around 90% of households have at least one vehicle for immediate use.
Thus one of the direct results of owning a car is parking it right at home. That surely is the most logical. However, just placing your car right outside without cover may not cut it. While it may seem like a wise choice, putting your car at the mercy of the elements means undermining your vehicle’s performance. For one, extreme weather is a major cause of battery issues. On the other end of the spectrum, extreme heat can cause your battery fluid to evaporate. And that’s just for starters.
But, even when it’s not a popular choice, exploring the merits of an underground car garage for your home could be timely. Not only will you be able to protect your precious vehicle from the attacks of the weather, but also you’re giving yourself a big break. Here’s why:
The Best Garage is Underground
Are you living in the city? You should realize, if you haven’t already, that a metropolis is a constant battle for real estate space. In fact, you’ll find that the most advanced cities of America are also the most pricey in terms of rent and real estate.
Take New York. Your jaws are bound to drop to know the average apartment rent in Manhattan is $3,667. While in New Jersey, you can get a space for rent for just about $1,366. Indeed, there’s a chasm of the difference!
And that shows you why an underground home garage can be spot on. It means you won’t have to give away a portion of your lawn or your house to parking. Your kids have bigger space to run around. In short, you save space.
During the pandemic, extra space to play around and mingle is more than a luxury; it’s a benefit you should pursue, given all the distress and mental health issues the virus is giving us. And all that freed space is tantamount to better BBQ days ahead for everyone.
Second of all, it’s a lot safer for your car. A car parked underground is far safer than one parked above ground. How so? Once the car is parked under, it disappears from sight. That gives unscrupulous individuals a harder time to get in and steal.
Think about it. Imagine if you’ve just driven your Jaguar out from the premises of a car detailing company. As such, the luxury vehicle is looking as stunning as ever. It would certainly turn heads and attract attention, making passers-by and criminals drool in envy. But with an underground garage, your prized vehicle simply disappears from view keeping the bad guys guessing.
Hold Your Horses
But don’t start the digging process just yet. Even with all the excitement, you should know there are things that you need to look into to get your underground garage right.
It’s true. You need to do some due diligence to get this project right. And top of that list is the site itself. Examine it thoroughly before you do any digging.
Why? As promising as underground parking is, it also comes with risks. Some key things you need to look into are:
- Water ingress – You need to know the possibility of water leaking into your confined underground space. When that happens, you’re facing a water problem in the form of a flood.
- Water drainage – You need to have experts help you (assuming you can’t DIY it) to take care of stormwater or groundwater and prevent flooding.
- Soil disposal – You need to know if machines needed to excavate can access your excavation site. Plus, a disposal plan to deal with all the excavated material (soil, debris, etc.) must be put in place before any shovel or machine hits the ground.
- Waterproof walls – Indeed, you should ensure that water is kept out of your underground garage. Having experts look into this is wise.
And Then Some
Bear in mind that you need to strengthen your house if you choose to build a garage underneath it. And that means two things:
- Shoring – Making sure you build a structure to support your precious abode so it won’t collapse.
- Underpinning – You need to strengthen the foundation of your existing building so it won’t deteriorate over time.
The trick here is to build the underground basement right from Day 1. Building it after the building is done will cost more. It’s true. An underground garage can come at a price. But it’s a small price to pay knowing your precious car is safer than ever.
