By Irvine Rivers
A carport is a great structure that can protect your vehicle from harsh conditions such as the sun, hailstorms or dust. When your vehicle is protected, it will require less cleaning and this will guarantee you more free time that you can put to good use. With the right planning, this structure will protect your car and enhance the appearance of your property. Read on to know what you should consider when building a carport.
Uses: Carport kits can be used for a variety of purposes depending on the model and material that you purchase. Therefore, it is important to first determine what you want to use the carport for. Generally, these structures are used for storing cars, personal watercraft, trucks, tractors, pool supplies, outdoor furniture, snowmobiles, wood seasoning, tools, bulk storage and as seasonal storage for items. In addition, it can be used as a cover during camping or backyard events, or for decks, picnic areas, commercial working sites, patios, pools and driveway ports.
Material: You should ensure that you pick the right material for your carport. The material will be used for the reinforcement and the frame and should suit your needs. The most commonly used material is steel owing to its durability and light weight. However, some homeowners also use canvas, aluminum and timber for their parking areas. Make sure you choose a material that suits your budget and your taste, and complements your home.
The sides: You should determine whether you want a carport that has closed or open sides. Structures with open sides tend to be cheap to construct because they do not require much materials. Open sides are great because they provide shade and allow flow of fresh air through all sides. Closed shelters provide complete protection for your vehicle because all the four, three or two sides are enclosed. Carports with closed sides give complete protection for your vehicle or water equipment.
Design: Every house is quite unique and you should make sure that the design of your carport complements your property. You should go for a structure that will blend with your house to give you an original design. If you own a heritage home that has distinct features, you can duplicate these features in your car park structure. Go for a beautiful structure that will add value to your existing property.
Roof style: You should choose the roof style that you want before you purchase a carport. You can opt for a flat roof or a slanting roof design for your carport. The flat roof is quite simple and affordable to build. However, it has drainage challenges and this can result in damage. The slanting roof is more complicated to construct. However, it is long lasting.
When building your carport, make sure that you take enough time to research on the options you have. This is because this structure will impact on the feel and look of your home. Therefore, it requires lots of consideration during the planning phase, just like any other home improvement project. This is something that will last for a long period of time and your must make sure that you get it right the first time.
Author Bio: Irvine Rivers is a business lady and journalist, and she owns a construction company. She loves to write and blog and has written hundreds of articles for magazines, newspapers and websites. You can follow her to learn more about carports.