Is a Carport a better option for you than a Garage?

How long have carports been around?

The term carport was rumoured to have first been used by an American architect back in 1909 with the first home designed with a carport in 1910. Over the years carports have been made from a variety or materials, early carports had brick or timber pillars with a pitched roof with slates to match the property. Such a carport is costly to build so over the years the design has become simplified with the use of aluminium and steel profiles for the columns and plastic materials such as corrugated pvc or polycarbonate for the roof.

Nowadays people want a low cost, long life and maintenance free carport and this has led to the use of Aluminium Profiles and multiwall polycarbonate sheeting for the roof.

Should I buy a Carport or build a Garage?

If you have the money or want to be able to lock away your car at night then a garage may be the right option for you. However if you want a cost effective cover for your car that allows you easy access to it while still protecting it from the worst of the British weather then buy a Carport. Carports are cheaper than garages, easier to install and do not normally need planning permission so on the whole are the right choice.

What types of carport are available to buy?

Carport are best separated into Lean To Carports which are attached to the wall of the home and Free Standing Carports which can be located anywhere the columns can be fitted either into or on top of the ground. If the legs are to be fixed on top of the ground it is essential to ensure the surface is hard and able to take any wind uplift. Normally carports are only fitted onto strong concrete floors if fitting onto the surface.

Carports can come with either a flat or curved roof and you can choose the colour or size to suit your property.

Can a carport be used to cover my caravan?

Yes! Caravans are taller than most cars so all you need to cover a caravan or mobile home are longer legs. The Canopy Shop sells a leg upgrade kit so you can lift the height of your carport roof so it can cover your caravan. Obviously if you are attaching the caravan cover to your property the height of the wall plate will need to be raised to ensure there is still an adequate run off of rainwater from the roof.

Which Carport should I choose?

If you are looking for the best value for money carport that will last you years then choose one with an aluminium frame and polycarbonate roof. Steel frames are heavy and difficult to install and wooden structures can end up being very expensive. A Quick Fit canopy comes with aluminium profiles which are light and easy to handle and polycarbonate sheets which are cut to the size you want.

The Canopy Shop offers a service where we will make the carport to your exact dimensions. If you need to fit the carport in a particular area we can cut it to size in our factory meaning you don’t need to do any cutting on site, thus making installation much faster.

Canopies can be manufactured to pretty much any length and The Canopy Shop has a range of projections that will cover all car widths. You can choose from a choice of White, Brown and Anthracite Grey colours so they will match any property. You can even choose the Polycarbonate Tint that you want.

If after all this you are still confused then call Danielle and Lisa on 01536 446393 and they will be able to help you choose the carport that is right for you.