Install-a-Veranda Blog » Carports Articles – Install-a-Veranda Blog

Top 4 Reasons to Put Up a Carport

Rebecca Jane — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 08:29:39 +0000

Improving and updating the exterior of a home often consists of several projects over the years. Whether it’s pergolas, gardens or gutters, home improvements are just a part of home maintenance. While some of these things can be fixed in a jiffy and at low cost, some of the larger projects might take a little more consideration. Perhaps you’re wondering if you should put in a garage or simply install a carport?

Cost – a good reason to install a carport instead of building a garage is cost. Carports can be installed at a fraction of the cost of a more solid structure while retaining the same properties. There are three tiers of cost with carports; firstly is getting a company to design and install a carport, second is getting a contract to build one, and finally you can purchase a kit and do it yourself. Depending on your requirements and budget, you will be able to solve your storage and shelter problems.

Versatile – carports can actually somewhat more versatile than a garage. A garage is more of another room to your house. A garage is fixed and fully enclosed. A carport on the other hand can be moved if you have chosen a portable one. A carport can also be an open structure that can include a trellis for gardening and privacy. A carport can be as enclosed or open as you wish and can be incorporated into your outdoor space by matching colour and landscaping concepts. You can put potted plants and trees or creeping vines and hanging baskets to complement your outdoor area.

Protection – Obviously a garage will protect your car and belongings but if you can’t afford a garage, a carport is the next best thing. Carports can range from the portable and affordable to fixed and more costly. Either way a carport is going to do the same job as a garage, and that is to protect your second biggest asset, your car. A carport will prevent falling leaves, debris, rain and sun from damaging your car.

Shelter – Carports can provide a more spacious undercover area than a garage. Garages are often poorly lit and their area fixed and usually limited, considering doors, windows and storage. A carport however can be a simple shelter structure that is open on all sides and this can provide a wonderful area for entertaining. You can string fairy lights or party lights all around or you can hang lanterns or place tiki torches around the perimeter for a party atmosphere. You can train vines up lattice and trellis for a lovely garden feel or simply fill the edges with potted plants and trees. The options are endless and with the free flow of air and natural light, plants will thrive.

So, when you’re looking at your budget after you’ve done the gardens and verandas and think you can only afford a carport, don’t despair. Sometimes a carport is the better option. Carports give greater flexibility, affordability and sensibility.

No Tags

A Carport Buying Guide

Rebecca Jane — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 10:25:56 +0000

Carports can be the best solution for people who can’t build a garage. Perhaps the local council has tight regulations about the kinds of structures are build or perhaps you can’t afford a whole structure, whatever the reason is, a carport is often the next best thing.

Carports can range from being very budget-friendly and portable to being high end, solid structures that will look and feel just as permanent as any garage.

Carport Tents are portable and freestanding frames that are usually covered with a canvas canopy. They assemble quickly and are great for renters and those on a very tight budget.
Composite or metallic carports can be free standing or attached to the home. They are usually permanent, durable and can accommodate doors and shelving. They can be enclosed using a light weight material and the roof can be covered with a plastic or canvas canopy.
Steel carports are usually powder coated or galvanised. They are usually covered with a fairly rigid panel and come complete with roof and sides.
Wooden carports can be expensive, and it is possible to use aluminium with a wood grain finish as a cheaper alternative. Either way, a wooden frame might look better with a wooden house or cottage. Wooden carports can be similar to a pergola in that they can be roofed with plastic or canvas canopy and are usually not enclosed.

Once you have decided what type of carport suits your needs and budget, you can then look at the preparations that need to be made before you purchase your carport kit or installation.

Space is the biggest concern when looking at building or installing a carport. Check that you have ample room to build or assemble the structure and that it won’t cause access problems or become inadequate and therefore unusable. Sometimes getting someone in to fit and install a carport can save the hassles of measuring the area.
Local councils often have very definite restrictions on what sort of carport you can build. The regulations might insist on it being a certain distance from the curb or be constructed to remain in keeping with the look of the suburb. It is essential you look into the local restrictions and permissions required before you purchase your carport.
Do it yourself or Installation is usually determined by your budget. If you can afford it, get someone in to either assemble or build your carport. It is a good rule of thumb to always get the best you can afford. Buying the most solid and well made structure you can afford will ensure it will last longer and most likely look better. But if you don’t have the funds, then why not call in the help of friends and family or ask a friend in the construction business if they lend their support or help. Many kits come with excellent assembly instructions.
The look of your carport is an important element. Keep in mind the design of your house when choosing a carport. If you have a large, brick house, then a portable, freestanding carport might detract from the appearance of your home. Likewise if you have a quaint cottage or timber house, a large, steel structure might look inappropriate and overpower the look of your home.

Basic checklist when building a carport

Rebecca Jane — Mon, 24 May 2010 08:55:56 +0000

Carports can provide protection for vehicles, boats, and other pieces of equipment by keeping them under cover. A carport will protect your possessions not only from storm and environmental damage but also from theft and vandalism. Once you have made the decision to build a carport you will be faced with a whole new realm of choices. From the paperwork down to the nitty gritty design decisions, it is a good idea to make a check list to keep the process in order and flowing smoothly.

Approvals
The regulations and requirements for the installation of a carport will be different for not only each state but for each council. Some have very strict guidelines as to the style and positioning of the carport, and some won’t allow it at all. So be sure to gain the appropriate approvals from the correct channels.

Position
On some properties there may be only one available position for a carport, but for many people a decision about where to place the carport will be necessary. Placing the structure against one wall of the house will not only save space but can also provide a comfortable patio that is protected from the heat and weather. Locating the carport next to the kitchen or laundry can make for convenient access to the house from the car on a rainy day. Or perhaps you could position the carport in a sunny area with back yard access. Your design might include lattice to grow a vine and provide an attractive screen while still allowing for air flow.

Budget
Carports come in all shapes and sizes to suit all kinds of budgets. Once you have established what kind of money you can invest in a carport, decisions on design, style and features can then be worked out. Perhaps you require extra height, a slanted roof or an enclosed building with a garage door. The inclusion of windows, automatic doors, lights and fittings will affect the over all cost of the project.

Materials
Once you have a defined budget and a design for the carport, the choice of materials is the next step. Carports can be constructed with plastic, aluminium, steel or timber. Each material will bring with it a certain look, and certainly each material appears on different positions on the price scale. It is always good advice to purchase the best quality you can afford. This ensures a more durable structure and ultimately a stronger and more attractive carport. The roof options are yet another choice that must be made. The roof can be clear or coloured PVC, it can be corrugated iron or it can tiled. Another final material that may or may not come into you decision making process is windows. There are many types or windows available ranging from the type of frame, to the type of glass and even dressing options. The good news is that there is a material option that will suit your budget.

Once the carport has been approved by the relevant bodies, allocated an appropriate position on your property and your budget has been established, you can then move on to all of the choices available to you regarding the design and scale of your structure. The shape and style of your carport will affected by it’s purpose, whether you are housing cars, boats, motorbikes or gardening equipment.

No Tags

Why Get A Carport?

Rebecca Jane — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 07:20:23 +0000

Have you ever driven home from the shops only to find it is pouring with rain by the time you arrive home? That mad dash from the street to the house when you are laden down with shopping is certainly no fun, is it?

If ever there was a better reason to have a carport installed at your home, we’ve yet to find it. Just imagine being able to drive home in the pouring rain and pull into your driveway and under the shelter of your own carport. You could take your time in getting the shopping out of the car and into your home without having to worry about what the weather is doing – or how wet your shopping is getting in the process.

There are certainly plenty of advantages to having a carport, and this is just one of them. If you normally park your car in your driveway or even in the road outside your house, you will find a carport to be more practical for your needs.

It is also better than having a garage as it is far more versatile. Everyone knows that garages are a haven for everything you cannot store anywhere else, and the last thing you will find in many of them is a car! While the intention of a garage is to provide shelter for your car you will often find you don’t have room to park it in there at all.

A carport can also be fitted into areas where a garage wouldn’t be practical. Because the walls of a garage have to be a certain thickness and the width of the door also needs to be taken into consideration, a carport is often a much easier choice to go for. It can also be put up in a much quicker time than a garage.

It’s a wonderful way of protecting your car against the elements as well, and yet it can still provide easy access from the front of your home to the rear if you have children who are constantly going in and out.

And it can have other uses too. If the car isn’t parked there it can provide a shelter from the sun during the summer, if the back garden is too hot to sit out in. What’s more, it can provide much needed extra outdoor space if you are having a party and the house is heaving with people! With tables and chairs set out underneath the shelter of the carport you can really make the best of the space you have.

There is no doubt that carports have a real attraction that garages just don’t have. The light and airy feel of them keeps the side of your house free from having a solid structure attached to it, and yet your car can still be protected and kept out of the sun and rain.

So why not consider having one added to your home today? It’s a decision you won’t regret.

No Tags