5 Tips for Buying the Right Carports

Carports provide an alternative to full-fledged garages when it comes to storing a vehicle. Unlike garages, they are not fully enclosed structures and are usually open on two or more sides. They provide an excellent vehicle storage option for car owners who do not have enough space for a full-sized garage to store their vehicles.

Advantages of carports over garages

Carports are considerably less expensive than constructing a full-sized garage, so they offer a much more economical option. They are also much simpler to set up and operate, as they are structurally much less complex than a garage. In general, they offer an easy to use alternative storage solution to circumvent the space crunch which many cars owners face.

Important tips to remember while choosing a carport

Carports come in various sizes with different specifications, therefore it is necessary to carefully consider the following points before choosing a particular carport:

• Utility of the carport: As mentioned earlier, there are a number of different types of carports available. While selecting a particular option, one should consider the use of the carport. Some of the smaller sizes are designed towards accommodating smaller vehicles such as the hatchbacks or regular sedans, whereas the larger models are suitable for storing SUVs or the larger types of sedans. Therefore, the type of option selected depends to a large extent on the model of the car that needs to be stored.
• Number of vehicles being stored: While all carports are single story structures, they can be still used for the storing multiple vehicles under a single structure. Addition of each vehicle usually requires the increase in size of about 20 feet by 20 feet. Therefore, depending upon the number of vehicles to be stored, a customer can select the space to be allotted for setting up the carport.
• Material of the carport: Carports are made from a wide range of materials, ranging from wooden bases to steel, similar to garages. Different materials used for construction offer different advantages and disadvantages, so a customer should select a material type that best meets his individual needs. For example, steel provides the most long-lasting option, but it is costlier and much more difficult to set up, compared to a wooden based model. However, a wooden based model requires higher maintenance and lasts for shorter period of time but is cheaper and can also be replaced easily.
• Selecting the footing for the carport: As a rule of thumb, no matter the type of carport, almost all types require footings at the base of the structures in order to ensure stability of the overall structure. The number of footings used, and type of material used for the footing can vary, depending upon the size of the carport and the material used for construction of the carport. But in general, concrete footings are the most common type. Another factor to consider in this situation is to check whether or not the carport is attached to another structure such as a garage or a house. In such cases, the structure becomes more stable and requires less intensive footing for structural stability due to adjacent support.
• Maintaining a budget: Since a carport comes in a variety of sizes and material types, it is important to maintain a strict budget to ensure that the customer doesn’t overspend. This allows the customer to get the best possible material within the budget.

Carports are excellent alternative options for storing of vehicles. Even though they come in a ton of varied options, sticking to a budget and selecting the right material types based on the requirements of the customers ensures the best possible results obtained.