A carport is not just a place to park your automobile but when you give some thought to the planning and design the result can be a valuable and functional enhancement to your property. Although a carport is not completely enclosed like a garage it will, nevertheless, provide sufficient shelter from the weather elements. A well planned carport will priovide easy access to your vehicle while being an asset to your property. Carports can be build as a stand alone structure or attached to your home. In all cases it provides a sheltered parking space for your vehicle just like a garage. A well planned carport will be easily accessible and convenient while being a valuable addition to your property.
When you?re preparing your carport plans as with garage plans, the location is very important. If you are thinking about a location where the ground retains or receives a lot of moisture, then you should also provide for proper drainage. In all cases you?ll want to use pressure-treated lumber to prevent rotting . Furthermore, you should pay close attention to your primary support posts. Make sure that the posts will not shift over time because of sandy or waterlogged soils. In areas where the ground freezes make sure the post holes are dug down below the frost line. For areas with too much snow or rainfall, always remember to build a roof that has sufficient pitch to provide for adequate runoff.
A good set of carport plans will have a complete list of materials that are required for the project. For your primary structural support, you can use wood posts such as 4x4s or 4x6s that are carefully sunk in concrete. The use of heavy-duty bolts in assembling different parts of the carport is also highly recommended. Using bolts rather that nails will give you the flexibility to enlarge, disassemble or even relocate your carport at a later date if necessary.
There are several choices when it comes to the carport floor which will be determined, in large part, by your budget. The simplest and least expensive is to just leave it as dirt. Your other options include gravel, concrete, or even asphalt.
The most common configuration for a carport roof is either a gable or gambrel design. The gable is the easiest to build, however, the gambrel has the advantage of providing overhead storage space. If your carport will be attached to your house then the roof will be a single plane slanting away from the building where it is attached. The shingles of the carport should match those of your home to maintain consistency in both structures. If you have a quality set of carport plans you should have no problem building any of these.
Before your start any building project make sure you contact your local building inspector as you will need a building permit. You also want to make sure that you are aware of the latest building codes that would apply to your project.
In summary, start with a good set of carport plans and follow them diligently. The result will be a completed project of which you can be proud and will provide enjoyment for many years to come.
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