A lot of people get confused with a garage and a carport because of their small yet significant differences. Although both offer outdoor car protection, carports are best for homes that have limited space. With a carport, you will no longer have to rent extra space for the storage of your vehicle.
To differentiate, a typical garage is a completely enclosed structure that has walls, roofing and a door. A carport, on the other hand, is a parking space with roofing but open sides. Both allow homeowners to keep their vehicles out of the weather, but a carport is more affordable in terms of construction and maintenance. Aside from its affordability, a carport is also best for areas experiencing snow.
Here are some of the basic carport designs to help you choose which one best suits your home so that you can be sure to protect your vehicle from the harsh environment and other elements.
Gable Roof Carport
Gable roof carport is the most popular design because of its unique blend of traditional style and clean aesthetics. It is constructed in a triangular shape with each of its corners bent downwards. It works best in areas that often have heavy rains or snowfall. There are two types of Gable roofs: the standard gable (which is the most common type for carports and houses in general) and the Dutch Gable. The Dutch Gable is basically a standard Gable roof with parapets attached to it.
There’s a big reason why this is one of the most popular types of roofs for carports: it’s a quick and easy roof to install –one that doesn’t require expert craftsmanship –it’s a way to protect your car from the elements. Having this type of carport design helps protect your vehicles from the blazing heat of the sun and keeps your car from getting soaked during the rainy season. If you fancy it, you can also install a long, plastic sheet on the sides to protect it from strong winds and keep a semblance of privacy. This type of carport is available in various materials, such as steel, aluminum and timber.
A note, however: while it doesn’t require expert craftsmanship, it’s also not the most basic type of roof that you can have for your carport. For that, you’ll need…
Flat Roof Carport
In contrast, a Flat Roof carport is exactly what it says on the tin: it’s a type of carport design has flat roofs that are only slightly angled. The purpose of this is to enable water to flow easily when it is raining, for instance. This is a very economical choice since you can have this carport set up in any part of your property that has free space.
If the Gable roof was easy to set up, then flat roofs are better because they’re much simpler and easier to install. It’s not exactly completely flat, as both sides are slightly elevated at the center to help rainwater drain, but the angles aren’t as drastic as the Gable roof, thus making it easier to install. However, while easy to install, many people choose to construct their flat-roof carports with wood and other heavier materials to make it more aesthetically pleasing, making the flat roof a more flexible carport design than the others on the list.
Open-Sided Carport
Another type of carport design is an open-sided carport. This option is the least expensive, easiest and fastest to be installed. It is known for its open-sided frame topped with a roof. It’s excellent if you want to protect your car from sun damage and rains. However, this carport type will not be effective in protecting your vehicle from violent storms. It is a great option for homeowners who want a quick and cheap protective solution for their cars.
Open-sided carports do get a lot of hate for their lack of protection, and much of it, unfortunately, is well-founded. However, if you live somewhere with much more temperate climes and not much deviation in weather conditions, then the open-sided carport design might just be for you, considering it’s one of the most aesthetically-pleasing looking carports out there. Just don’t be upset if it fails to protect your cars from freak weather.
Timber Carport Frame
Ok so, this is less a carport design and more a carport material to build with, but it’s worth noting that timber carports, while slightly more expensive than, say, plastic ones, it’s also visually more stunning and can be built to replicate the design of your home.
In some places, timber might actually be cheaper than buying plastic sheeting and steel bars, especially if you process the wood yourself. Sure, you’ll spend for shingling, but it’s a process that pays off in the long run. However, as with most wood structures, you need to take extra care to protect your wood from rot or termites.
You’ll also need to do a bit of digging, literally: a carport design that incorporates a timber frame could be built right there on the spot, but for better security, you’ll want to dig up a bit of the concrete so you can sink the bottom part of the timber frame’s foundation right into stone. You might want to check with your local builder to see what the best way to go is.
In our honest opinion, our favorite carport design would be the flat roof with a timber frame. It offers the protection of a Gable roof while being subtler and more elegant. The flat roof carport design also allows you a small layer of flexibility by adding plastic sheet sidings to protect your cars while the timber frame gives you a much more solid base to protect your vehicles.
Of course, working with a timber frame is going to take a little more time, a few more builders, a lot more materials, and a longer build time as compared to just propping up a metal tent with PVC sheets, but at the end of the day, it’s going to look better, provide better protection, and give you a better peace of mind. And there’s no price tag on that!
Choosing the right carport style is essential to protecting your ride. Cars, after all, are prone to rusting and other forms of damage caused by different weather conditions and other corrosive elements. It is best to pick a carport design that will blend well with the overall aesthetics of your home so that it will not appear like a sore thumb. Try to read the clients’ feedback when choosing a contractor for you to get an idea of their quality of service. With a carport design customized to your specific needs, you can rest assured that your car will stay in good condition for a longer time.
