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The Uses And Benefits Of Carports

What is the purpose of a carport and does your home need it?

By Sherryn De VosPublished 4 years ago 5 min read
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Photo by Luis Yanez from Pexels

It is not just us humans and our beloved pets that need protection from the sometimes harsh weather conditions. Our cars need protection from these elements, too, as they are prone to damage from an extended period of exposure to severe weather conditions consistently.

The traditional go-to method for the safe storage of cars was, and still is, the garage. But despite how robust protection and safety the garage offers, it has a few downsides to it.

Firstly, it is fixed, and once built on a specific location, it cannot be moved. Secondly, it is pretty expensive to construct. Thirdly, it takes considerable time, effort, planning, and permissions to build one.

So, if we take all the disadvantages of a garage and turn them into advantages, what do we get? A carport.

What is a carport?

A carport is a covered structure that protects your vehicles from snow or hail. There are different kinds of carports, made with varying types of materials, and they have different types of usage. Carports come in different sizes and materials, which you can use according to your requirements.

They are not just used for cars, but they can also be used to park mobile homes, caravans, boats, and motorcycles safely. But it’s not only vehicles for which the carports are used. Since a carport is a covered structure, it can be used as a storage shed in general.

They are primarily made from metal, steel, and wood, among other materials. Depending on what you want, many reputable companies, such as Carports and More, can help you install a carport in your home.

Carports have many uses and benefits that are discussed below.

Protection from weather

A carport consists of a roof, and occasionally sides, thus providing decent protection from elements. Whatever the season is, elements always present threats to your car, whether it is in the form of the hot sun rays in the summers, snow in the winters, and rains and hail in general.

Even if you have a garage, it might have the storage space to park just one car, so you might be left with no option but to park your car outside in the open and at the mercy of rough weather conditions. But in this situation, you can use a carport to protect your vehicle from the harsh weather conditions.

Although the carports are not usually enclosed, the roof itself provides enough protection. For instance, at least you will save time and effort involved in scraping the snow off your car in the winters! The protection against elements is not just limited to vehicles; the rough weather conditions affect the objects and people alike.

So, when you park the car in heavy rain or snow, you won’t have to worry about getting your toddlers into the house in a rush. Similarly, you can protect the groceries or other valuable items and get them safely into the house without having to run from the driveway and potentially drop things.

Cost-effective, and easy to install

Carports provide excellent value for money and are much cheaper, quicker, and easier to install compared to their alternative – the garage. On average, garages cost $49 per square foot. Carports come in prefabricated structures and have DIY applications. Therefore, you can save up on the labor costs required to construct the structure, which is challenging to do in the case of creating a garage as a garage requires many materials and processes that are not easy to apply unless a professional does them.

A carport is also very portable so that you can change locations. Even if you change your house, you can take your carport to your new home, which cannot be done with the garage. A carport is also a quicker solution as, depending on the size, it can be installed and ready to use in a couple of hours, or at max a couple of days.

In many cases, installing a carport in your house will not require you to take individual permissions from your local authorities. But on the other hand, a garage will most probably require approval from the local authorities, which can prove to be a tedious and tiring process.

Increases home value

Not having a garage can decrease the value of your home as potential clients with cars might see it as a disadvantage. The carport, at the minimum, offers the buyers a safe space to park their vehicles, motorcycles, boats, caravans, or mobile homes, and their vehicles will not be at the mercy of elements on the street.

Options in utility and design

Carports are easy to customize according to your needs, and thus provide a lot of options for utility. In case you are an owner of an RV, you can opt for a tall carport, but a shorter carport can be used to park your snow-mobile or your jet-ski safely.

But the carport is not limited to vehicles since it is a covered space that can be used as an additional storage space, a space to hold BBQ parties, a place for children to play in the shade. Additionally, if there are walls with the carport, they can be used for the storage of boxes, tools, and other related items.

Carports also provide many options when it comes to style and design. The aesthetics of a carport can be described as minimalist and sleek. Polycarbonate and good quality PVC is used to construct the roof and can be customized to match with the exterior of the house. This also gives you a choice to change the color to match the overall color and aesthetic of the house.

Conclusion

Carports are an excellent tool to park your cars in an environment that is safe and clean. When you go on vacation, you will not have to worry about leaving your car at the mercy of weather conditions if you have a carport. A carport is easy to install and can be set up in no time. In addition to that, it is portable, and you can easily change its location.

A carport is also very easy to maintain, and with a regular cleaning routine, it is easy to maintain hygiene. Carports are no doubt a modern and innovative way to protect your cars and are definitely worth exploring.

Do you have a carport in your home? How have you benefited from it?

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