Carports are usually open-sided though some custom and pre-built carports can have one or two sides.
Carports cannot be locked up, and some jurisdictions require carports to be open-sided.
Garages can costupwards of $50,000 to build.
Design byChristine A Kelly, AIA/Crafted Architecture LLC/ Photo byGreg Hadley
Custom-built carports cost up to $10,000, and pre-built carports cost $1,700 to $3,000.
These carports can be attached to the side of the house or left detached.
Designed as permanent structures,custom carportsare cost-effective alternatives to traditional garages.
Well-built carports can add to the property’s value.
An attached custom carport uses one side of the house for support.
This reduces the number of buried support posts required and also provides weather protection on one side.
Custom carports can accommodate any needs: extra-tall for RVs or long for boats.
Building a custom carport is best left to an experienced contractor.
Pre-Built Carport
Prebuilt carports are metal or wood frames covered with metal roofs.
They are DIY-friendly for anyone with intermediate home improvement experience.
Pre-built carports are semi-permanent because they must be anchored to the ground but they don’t require buried posts.
Though usually open-sided, some pre-built carports have optional sidewalls to make them three-sided.
Other roof styles include hip, single-slope, flat, or cantilevered.
Soft-Sided Carport
Soft-sided carports, like pre-built carports, are constructed on a metal framework.
But soft-sided carports use UV-treated polyethylene fabric for the roof and sides.
These carports are anchored to the ground with stakes and lines, just like a tent.
While economical and easy to erect, soft-sided carports are not durable over the long-term.
Wind storms, heavy snow, and hail can damage the fabric.
Soft-sided carports cost from $300 to $700.
Motorized or hand-crank retractable awnings cost from $500 to $1,500.
Sun Shades:Guy wires hold colorfulsun shadesaloft to block UV rays and debris.
Sun shades do not block rain.
As they are triangle-shaped, sun shades provide limited protection.
So, use two or three shades to create a single, large array.
Each shade costs $25 to $75.
The top is well-protected, but the sides are left open.
Some car tents open electrically by a remote control.
Car tents cost from $270 to $350.
Inflatable Car Covers:Protect your car by sealing it in a clear plastic bubble.
A constantly running fan keeps the bubble inflated.
Inflatable car covers cost from $500 to $1,000.
Your community’s land use code specifies minimum building setbacks for carports and garages.
Lots are regulated by land use requirements to protect real estate values.
So, speak with a planner in your about boundary setbacks.
Pre-built carports typically have the same requirements as custom carports.
Some types of carports may need footings as deep as 48 inches.
Pre-built carports that rest on concrete require expansion bolts embedded in the concrete.
How much does it cost to build a carport?Fixr.
Patio Covers and Carports.
County of San Diego, Planning & Development Services, Building Division.
State of Oregon Building Codes Division.
