By 
Carports are an excellent option for any home, building, or property. They are essentially a shed for cars, and unlike garages, carports offer open sides all around. They can be installed easily on the side of a structure, like a home or a garage, and can also be placed as standalone structures for parking cars.
Australians have a wide range of carport options available to them, and there are many things to consider when buying a carport for your home or garage.
Let’s discuss them in some detail to give you a better idea of how to go about purchasing one.
Carport Buying Guide
Here is a simple carport buying guide that will walk you through all the things you need to consider when opting for a carport.
Size
Naturally, the size of your carport is the first and most important thing to consider. Size depends on the available space and your individual needs. You will have to measure out the length, span, and height of your carport. You need to note that this space must be on level ground.
The span or width will dictate how many cars you can park in your carport. For example, a typical single-car or truck requires a span of around 12-feet, 2 cars require around 20-feet, and 3 cars require around 30-feet. There are no hard rules, and you can customize the width and length according to your needs.
The height, in particular, needs to allow enough clearance for your vehicles and the roof of your carport. A typical car or truck can be parked easily with 6-feet of clearance from the ground. RVs and other taller vehicles require more clearance.
Roof Options
Every category like terrariums, plants, career options, everything comes with a lot of options. Similarly, there are many roof options, and you can go with whichever suits your needs and complements your property’s aesthetics. You can go for a 5-degree tilt on a flat roof for the aesthetic appeal that offers a subtle gradient or gabled roofs ranging from 11-degrees to 45-degree church-style roofs.
You can also opt for decorative roofs like a Dutch gable roof. While looks are important, practicality is arguably more important, and gable roofs with 22-degrees are a great option for solar panel installations. Additionally, gable roofs exceeding 30-degrees provide excellent weather protection during rain or snow.
Roof Cladding
The cladding is the profile of your carport, and it is used in the roof and any wall you may want to add. They will dictate your carport’s overall look and its strength against strong winds. Some are lightweight and easy to handle, while others offer wind resistance and colour options.
Colour and Coating
The colour of your carport is subjective, and you can go with whichever matches your property’s aesthetics. You even have multi-paint and matte options or you can simply opt for the raw metal look. However, the coating will depend on your environment.
There are plenty of coating options for coastal, corrosive, and industrial environments and you can always ask your carport provider for the one that best suits your environment.
Extras
Consider the extra things that can add appeal and practicality to your carport. You have various options including:
- Roller Doors
An excellent option for street entry into a walled property with an attached carport. - Skylights
Just because carports have open walls does not mean a skylight is not an option. It can add appeal and more natural light to any open or walled carport. - Gutters
Perhaps the most practical extra, gutters allow easy management of rainwater and debris collected on your carport roof. You can even opt for concealed gutters to maintain a uniform look for your carport.
Our Final Thoughts
These were just some of the key things you should consider when buying a carport, it is not as easy as eating squirrel. This buying guide can help you narrow down a carport that fulfils your needs. You should always consult the carport manufacturer as well because they can give you deeper insights on every option available to you.
If you don’t have a set colour, coat, roof, or cladding option in mind, you should at least have the size noted down before you start the buying process. It is also helpful to know if you want any walls or wish to attach your carport to an existing structure.
When you have the basics ready, buying a carport becomes a fun and easy process.
Comments