Why I Adore a Carport On My Personal Dwelling
Carports are an attractive and cheap way to protect your motor car investment from the weather. Not only that they also offer you the opportunity to exit your car in all weather without the risk of getting soaked; and if you are lucky enough to have a covered walkway to your door, then you need never worry about getting wet this way again. There are many carport designs available, from freestanding to awning; from a gabled tiled roof to metal, from a timber frame to metal. You can choose to pay a builder for the construction, or you can choose a do-it-yourself carport design option (either as a flat packed kit or build from scratch).
Freestanding carport designs can be erected almost anywhere compared to awning style carports that attach to your house. This provides significantly more design options and so can blend better with your home.
Carport design needs to be in sync to your house. A carport designed and built with a metal roof and frame has a modern look, but would totally be out of place against a weatherboard home. Conversely a timber carport with clever design can be blended against a wide range of building styles. with clever finishing touches and paint work. If you have a brick home you could think about using brick piers, but this requires specialist skills and extra funds.
There are many, many carport designs available, but a quick drive around your neighborhood will give even more ideas. If you are still not sure then get some builders in to give you a free quote. On top of a great design idea, you just may find the person in whom you can trust to create your new dream carport. If money is no object then you could always engage an architect to give you a unique carport design.
Wooden carports are attractive to both the professional and amateur builder alike. Professional carport builders lobve using wood because of the creativity in style and finishes that allows. For the amateur builder timber is a highly satisfying and simple medium with which to work.
Timber carports have the most attractive look if built right. Uniquely shaped posts and timber detailing will spice up your carport project. Some of the nicer timbers allow you to use their grain to great effect and so accentuate your design. Wood carports need to be protected from the weather by a good lick of paint, but this is an opportunity to make sure it uses the same color scheme as your house.
You can choose from many timbers, but my suggestion is to use a softwood like oregon or pine. By being easy to cut they are good to work with, and if properly protected last a long time.
The only downside with using timber as your carport construction material is that wide spans require wide profile beams. It is common to see 12 inch by 2 inch timber beams span an average double carport, and although it is a design feature be careful to maintain proportions.
You can find low cost carport designs in many places, but for a touch of class you should engage engage an architect to create your carport design. Wood carports are my preferred option.
Prefabicated carports are manufactured in factories by the dozens. Any item that is made on a production line is generally much cheaper to make than something that is custom made from raw material. and generally much better use is made of materials so there is much less wastage. If you think about it, by taking home a carport kit and putting it up yourself, you can save a fortune in erection costs as well.
If you want to build a personalised carport expect a long and drawn out qoutation and design phase. Once you have decided on a design and a builder, you then have to wait until they have a slot in their calendar to come and build the carport for you. If you would prefer to wait days and not months, then a prefab carport can come home with you from the showroom and be erected by you and a couple of friends over a weekend.