Free Standing Metal Carport
Some carports are designed to attach directly to a home. Others are designed as free standing carport plans. Many times before a carport is erected a cement slab is poured and anchor bolts are left exposed from the mono slab to attach the carport to. Wind and uplift on a building are always a concern. No matter where you live, strong winds and storms can blow and leave devastation on their wake. So care should always be paid that the buildings and shelters are well grounded. A cement mono slab is one of the best methods.
Uplift on a building means that, just as an umbrella is filled with air and is pushed or lifted, the same happens with buildings. Being that carports are many times not as permanent as a home, they are sometimes not as firmly affixed to the ground. Just like the umbrella, the wind can become trapped in the carport roof and sides and force it upwards and outwards. Some wood carports are built with a small gap along the top of the wall between the roof and the sides. This does help by providing a channel for the air to travel through.
Let’s look at these two carports for a minute. They are both manufactured by Arrow Sheds. The first is a free standing 10×20 foot structure. The second is a 10′x20′ Arrow Shed. Both are vinyl coated shells which are pre-cut and pre-drilled for easy assembly. The 10×10 carport is designed for a 10′ 6″ x 10′ 5″ slab. The 10×20 carport is designed for a 10′ 6″ x 20′ 6″ slab. Surprisingly the 10×20 free standing carport is less than $75 difference in price.
When ordering be sure to look how long it takes for a unit to arrive. Some may take one to three weeks to ship while others may be avaible for shipment immediately. So when planning your project be sure to allow for lead time before shipment. Some metal carport kits are available with faster delivery for a charge. Garage plans can also be for detached garages.
Tags: carport, carport options, carports, carports comparison, free standing carport plans
Spring has poked it’s warm rays into our lives once again. For many snow birds it means it is time to return to their northern homes. As with spring, so comes home improvement projects. We all have a list, from the constant war on the dandy lions, to the bird baths that need washed out and filled, in every corner of our yards there is something that needs done. Looking into carport options is also a good thing to do, now that the ground is thawed and the temperature is pleasant to be out in.
Carports are many. Metal, poly, vinyl, wood, and aluminum are among the most common choices for these shelters for our cars. Even when considering a garage, doors range between typically eight and ten feet wide. Most pre-made carports are at least ten feet wide. So this provides the needed space on each side of the vehicle to get around.
10x10 Arrow Attached Carport
Let’s look at door widths. Carports with ten foot widths are designed for a single car. Carports with sixteen foot wide entry ways are for two cars to sit abreast. When trucks or SUV’s are the car of choice for a family, the twelve foot wide widths are very nice. The extra foot of room on each side of the truck compensates for the vehicles overall larger side. Garage doors can be the eight foot wide size, because you are only driving though them, not getting out until the car is parked on the inside.
When considering colors, the lighter colors deflect more colors and darker colors absorb more heat. Considering cars are left parked typically overnight, and with the open design of the carports, it is reasonable to assume that the heat issue is not that important. One of the largest benefits to carports is the protection of the car or truck from the UV-rays. As a child I can recall the door molding, just inside of the truck windows, scraping off in little rows as I ran my fingernails over the faded brown color.
Another great use for carports deals with the UV rays of the sun and children. Children love to play outside in the summer time. With as strong as the sun can be, and as hot as the outdoors can become, placing a carport over a patio or children’s play area is a great way to help protect them. I remember seeing on little girl last summer at the doctors office. She had severe redness and low grade burns on her face, neck, and one shoulder where her skin was exposed. She had been playing in a wadding pool for a few hours in the afternoon sun. The water magnified the sun and ended up harming this poor little girl. Afterwards the family erected a carport. It was amazing, all the kids in the neighborhood thought it was great, so they stayed and all played an roller skated in and out of the carport in the July sun.
This particular carport attaches to a home. 10×20 and provided by Arrow Sheds. It has vinyl coated steel with a 15 year limited warranty. All parts are pre-cut and pre-drilled. Arrow also offers it in the 10×10 size.
So whatever style you choose, carport options abound. Colors, size of vehicles, and materials are all things to consider when choosing the one that will meet your needs.
Tags: attached carport, carport addition, carport options, carports, single slope carport kits, wooden carports
No matter where you live, we all have to deal with weather issues. Hot sun and iced over windshields actually have something in common; they each can put us outside of our comfort zone. Carports are a great way to limit your car’s exposure, and your exposure, to the elements.
Easy to construct, very durable, and of high quality, a metal carport is an option to consider. Metal carports can be constructed of aluminum or steel. Let’s consider steel. This form of car port can range in size from 12’x20’ and up to 30’x40’. One company even had a width of 52’. To accommodate the individual who needs a longer than usual carport, some companies have developed a four or five foot incremental length extensions, so your carport could be any length.Typically metal carports are designed with a 3:12 pitch roof. This slight slope allows for the water to flow, but does not require the peak to be high. Normal height is about 6 feet, but can climb as high as 16 feet to accommodate motor homes and high stacks of roll baled hay.
The metal sides and roof of a carport can have a gauge rating of 12 up to a 29 gauge industrial quality full hard steel. ¾” high reinforced ribs on 9” centers makes for strong construction. You don’t have to look far to find a manufacturer with a 15 or more year warranty due to the ruggedness of this type of carport.
The 18’ wide carports are also referred to as “double wides”. For large vehicles and pick-up trucks a 20’x20’ is a wise choice. Carport kits can be built for a host of purposes. From car and truck shelters, boat and RV carports, agricultural uses and boat slips, the usages are endless. In treeless areas horses and livestock can be seen standing in the shade of a metal carport.
Metal carports are relatively easy to assemble. The smaller size of about 12’x20’ are advertized as only requiring two adults up to 8 hours of erection time. Added walls will increase assembly time. For larger projects you may consider hiring a general contractor. Without property erection your whole investment may turn into a pile of scrap metal under a heavy snow fall.
Minimal tools requirements would include a screw driver, step ladder, and measuring tape. Some kits do require cutting of trim and metal sheeting. This can be accomplished by turning the blade of your table saw backwards. Trim can be cut with either shears or a saw. Small jobs may be accomplished with only the tin snips.
Metal carport foundations-
Metal carports can be installed bolted to cement, on dirt, gravel or wood surfaces. Where ever you plan to place it, be sure the surface can handle the snow load and weight of the carport. Check your local codes before selecting your unit. Many carport manuals come with foundation instructions. Everything in building begins with a foundation, so be sure to investigate it and make the necessary preparations. Also whenever you are digging, be sure to contact the local utility company to come and mark the lines. Just look in the yellow pages or call your local utility company for the phone number. Hitting power lines, water lines, or any other kind of lines can make a disaster before you even begin the foundation of your building.
Many metal carport kits and steel carport kits can be found by searching the Internet. Companies will talk to you directly and discuss their quality and pricing of their various carports. Carport kits ship nationwide, so don’t be afraid to talk with someone who is located several states away. Others will simply sell you engineered carport plans. It just depends on exactly what you are interested in purchasing.
And finally, always before you build, always consult your local building codes. Some areas in the United States do not require any permits. Other areas may be much more stringent. Sometimes, it is actually easier to get permits for a free standing carport than a wooden carport addition to an existing home.
Metal carports a great choice when looking for a more permanent addition to your property. With many color choices, a whole array of companies, quality, and pricing, you can probably locate one that fits your needs and also matches well with your budget.
Tags: carport kits, carport plans, carports, metal carport, metal carport kits, metal carports, rv carports, steel carport kits