5 Tips for Choosing the Perfect Carport for Your Home

Here are 5 tips to help you choose the perfect carport for your home! A carport is structure made of usually four posts and a roof used to protect vehicles from the elements. Carports can be freestanding or attached to a house or garage. They are typically made of metal or wood.

Deciding on the best carport for your home can be a challenging task. There are many things to consider, such as size, style, and material.

1. Benefits of carports

   

The most obvious benefit of carports is protection from the elements, particularly in Australia, the sun’s UV rays, hail, rain, and other weather elements. Carports will also protect your vehicle from bird and bat droppings and sap and leaves dropped by nearby trees. This can not only keep your car in good condition for many years, but it can also save you the cost paint work repairs.

A carport can also offer benefits that are more than just protection from the elements. They can also provide additional storage space for your home and create more curb appeal for your home. A carport can be used for shade in the summer months and, if you choose one made from wood or metal, you can create a unique and stylish addition to your home’s exterior. A carport can also provide a wonderful place to entertain family and friends by creating a unique outdoor living space. There is minor difference between a carport and a Patio!

2. What to look for when choosing a carport - 5 Tips for Choosing the Perfect Carport for Your Home

When selecting the perfect carport for your home, it is important to consider the size and type of cars and other vehicles you own. Based on the number and size, you will want to select a carport that will comfortably accommodate your vehicles and provide the right amount of room for ease of entry and exit. If you are looking for a carport that offers good protection from the elements, you should determine the material that will be used. A Cantilever carport with just two legs may be an ideal configuration. You may also consider having eves on your carport on one or all sides.

Determine the right size and clearance height.

To find the right size carport, you should seriously consider the size of the vehicles you own. You will always need at least one metre of ‘extra’ length to the length of our longest vehicle. The more extra length the more shelter for your vehicle. You would need a ‘gap’ between vehicles of at least 2.5m and you need some side over-hang for better protection.

Allow at least an addition 200mm clearance from the highest point of any vehicle. Remember a carport is open so the lower the roof, the more protection your vehicles will get. The minimum carport clearance permitted is 2.1m but 2.4m is the most common clearance height. Obviously with caravans or RV’s the clearance must be a lot more.

A couple of eves can often make a dramatic difference to a Skillion carport. The larger the overhang, (maximum is 600mm), the more protection from rain and hail. This is especially important for vehicles with a large hood or for cars with towing packages as the extra space provided by a larger overhang can help protect them from the elements.

3. Decide on the Materials for your Carport - 5 Tips for Choosing the Perfect Carport for Your Home

Steel and aluminium are widely used for carports and are typically quite affordable and easy to install and maintain.

You may wish to consider a wooden carport. Wooden structures are usually expensive and require more maintenance than metal or aluminium. You will find that the cost of a builder/carpenter for a long time Makes it even more ex-pensive.

Regardless of the material of your carport, you should always seek out the advice of an engineer to ensure any design you use will at least match the Australian Standards for a class 10A building.

Wind Region of your home must be considered.

The wind region you wish to install your carport is a critical factor consider. Depending on the wind region in your area, the structure and design of your carport will vary. Wind region is based on the typical wind speeds in your area, as well as wind patterns in your geographic region. There is a substantial difference in a carport designed for say Melbourne or Sydney, (Region A), and cyclonic Far North Queensland.

Minimally in Australia, carports are geared to deal with winds up to 125 kilometres per hour. If you live in an area with cyclonic winds, often over 200 kph in our northern areas, the carport must be made to withstand these conditions.

4. Choose the Best Roof Style - 5 Tips for Choosing the Perfect Carport for Your Home

Choosing the right roof style for your carport is necessary when creating the perfect carport for your home. Two of the most least expensive styles are the gable roof and the flat roof or Skillion carport...

Gable Roof Carport

The gable roof is a conventional style that is common in residential homes. It is easy to recognize and looks great in many settings. It creates the typical triangular peak at the top of the carport roof, which will shed water and snow easily. The end ‘triangles” in the gable roof can be left open. Most customers will decide to have a fill in either one or both ends.

Flat Roof Carport

The Skillion, (flat roof) style is another style carport that is most popular. It is a much more subtle look and one that often epitomizes the modern look in some contemporary designs. It is the easiest style to install and the least expensive to buy.

Dutch Gable Carport

The Dutch gable is a common and beautiful design of roof in many homes. The bottom of the roof is a hip roof style and then has a small gable ‘insert’ around halfway up the roof. Dutch Gables look fantastic, but they are more to buy.

Hip roof Carport.

Hip roofs are the best design for very high wind areas, but they also look great. A standard hip roof would have four triangular faces which join at the highest point of the roof.

Cantilever Carport

A Cantilever carport by Cantaport will look stunning in any situation. A carport with just two legs can be the solution to a lot of installation problems.

Keep a tab on local council regulations.

When selecting a carport for your home, it is essential to be aware of your local council regulations. Your carport will almost certainly require some local council permission and building regulations approval.

Check with your local council or planning department to make yourself familiar with your local regulations before you start on anything else. This can also prevent issues in the future when you sell your home.

Some other considerations for your carport include:

Location on your Lot – Try to locate your carport in an area that does not interfere with existing trees, foundations, and underground utilities.

Design – Choose a carport design that will give you the best protection and ‘match’ your home.

Dimensions – It is important to measure the area to make sure your carport has sufficient space. Also ensure that it will be tall enough at its lowest point for any of your vehicles to fit underneath.

5. Do your research before making a purchase

Before selecting the type of carport, you want for your home, do your research! Research with your local council first to ensure you can build an approved structure on your land. Look at thew difference designs and decide which would be best for your location. Ensure that the supplier you are using will deliver a structure that conforms to all Australian Standards in your area. Check the certifier out before continuing with your purchase to ensure that they are not a backyard or in-house certifier.

Quality should be your highest priority. Poor materials or weak frames may cause injuries and cost you more money in the long term.

Summary - 5 Tips for Choosing the Perfect Carport for Your Home

When making an important purchase, like a carport, choosing the right supplier is important. Car Covers and Shelter have years of experience in the industry and have established the business as one of the leaders in the Australian carport market. You will get the best carports, specifically tailored to meet your needs.

Our carport frames are made from All-Australian High Tensile steel, providing a durable product that is designed to stand the test of time. Look for a long warranty such as that offered on all Colorbond products. Be assured that any product you buy which is all-Australian steel is of the very highest quality.

If you’re looking for a reliable, long-term solution for your carport needs then choose Car Covers and Shelter and you won’t be disappointed.