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The main con of a heated garage is that if cold air comes into your garage and hits warm tools, it could lead to rust. You may also have to deal with the slush and run-off from any snow or ice that comes into the garage from vehicles, leading to more maintenance and upkeep.

For a garage to be included in a home's official square footage, it must qualify as livable space. This generally means it needs to be attached to the home and have permanent finishings like proper insulation, finished walls and ceilings, and adequate ventilation. To be considered livable year-round, it should also have heating and cooling. The specific legal requirements can vary by location, but if a garage is converted into a finished room meeting these criteria, it may be counted toward the total square footage.

The smallest size a standard 2-car garage can be is 20 feet by 20 feet, so at these dimensions, you could reasonably expect to fit two cars inside. However, it’s going to be a tight fit, especially if you have larger SUVs or pickup trucks. For smaller cars, 20 x 20 should be plenty for parking and some space to maneuver around the cars. A larger garage size would be better to ensure you have room to open the doors and transport groceries or other items around the cars.

If you plan on heating your garage, you must install a vapor barrier when drywalling the garage. A vapor barrier protects your garage from frost and mold that can occur through condensation. If your garage is unheated, you don't need to install a vapor barrier. The only exception is if you regularly crank the heat in your car before getting in it. In this case, you may still want to install a vapor barrier, as your car can heat your garage.