Month: December 2020

A new carport will make a great addition to your land, as it will provide you with a dry place to park or store various items. But what size carport do you need? With endless options available, it can be hard to settle on the best dimensions for your space. However, in this article, we’d like to help you make this important decision. By thinking carefully about a couple of key factors, you should be able to decide on dimensions rather quickly and confidently.

American Carports, Inc. has a variety of metal carports that are affordable, durable, fully customizable. Use our Build & Price Tool to explore the many possibilities for your new structure, and receive an instant quote!

Start by Looking at Your Land

The only place to start with this process is by looking at the space you have available for this new building. It doesn’t matter if you have dreams of building a huge carport for your collection of vehicles—if you don’t have the space available for that kind of structure, it isn’t going to work. So, as you evaluate your property and think about the size of your carport, keep the following points in mind:

• Access. Most likely, you are going to want to drive in and out of the carport throughout the year, so keep access in mind as you make your plans. If it would be hard to reach the carport with your car, or hard to back out when you want to leave, that site might not be suitable.
• Level land. You don’t have to start with a perfectly level site, but trying to build this project on the side of a hill would be more trouble than it’s worth.

Most likely, you’ll quickly find a spot on your property that is the obvious landing spot for the carport. Once you figure out where it’s going to go, take some measurements to determine how much space you have available. You won’t necessarily want to fill up that entire space, but these measurements will give you limits that you can work with as you finalize your plans.

How Many Cars?

If you are going to use this new carport for parking – as opposed to another use such as outdoor storage – you will need to think about how many cars are going to live in this space.

For a carport that is only going to serve a single vehicle, a 12’ wide carport should work nicely. That will be enough space to park and open the doors on both sides of the vehicle. If you move up to a double carport to park two cars, you’ll need something that is at least 18’ wide, if not larger. With American Carports, Inc., you can keep expanding the size of your carport design until you create a building that will serve your parking needs.

Other Important Considerations

As you know, vehicles come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. The size of the vehicles you own, or the size of the vehicles you plan to purchase in the future, will impact the size of the carport you select. For instance, a buyer who owns a couple of small sedans will not need as much space as someone who owns big trucks.

Remember to factor the height of your new carport into the equation, as well as the width. A standard passenger car or pickup truck will fit under virtually all carports, but you might need to add height to your structure if you own something tall like an RV. When in doubt, give yourself a little room to work with to make sure the carport is going to serve you properly well into the future. Adding a foot or two of height to the structure is only a modest upgrade in terms of investment, but it will make the carport more versatile.

Order Your New Carport Today!

Now that you have some direction for your carport sizing decision, the next step is to use our Build & Price tool to see what you can create. Or, if you’re still wondering what size carport you need, simply contact us for assistance. Either way, you’re only a few easy steps from an affordable, durable, attractive carport landing on your property. We’re excited to serve you!

It’s easy to understand the appeal of a carport. After a quick installation process, you will have a covered space on your property that you can use for a variety of purposes. But how much do they cost? Fortunately, metal carports are surprisingly affordable, which is one of the many reasons they’re so popular. If you’re considering adding this structure to your property, be sure to use this metal carport cost guide.

American Carports, Inc. has a variety of metal carports that are affordable, durable, fully customizable. Use our Build & Price Tool to explore the many possibilities for your new structure, and receive an instant quote!

Understanding the Variables

There are a lot of variables to consider when determining the final price of your metal carport. As with any product, you can stick with a basic model for a relatively low price, or you can include additional features for a bigger investment. At American Carports, Inc., all of our carports are fully customizable—meaning you can keep the cost down with few features or spend more to get exactly what you want.

The list below highlights some of the main variables involved in determining the cost of your new carport:

• The size of your carport will have a lot to do with the final price tag. As your carport gets bigger, the cost is going to go up, as more materials will be needed to create the structure. Also, a bigger carport is more likely to have other added features that will drive the price up. Fortunately, even a big carport is likely to be far more affordable than a similar structure built out of wood.
• Metal gauge. At American Carports, Inc. we offer two different metal gauges for our carports: 12-gauge and 14-gauge. Since 12-gauge metal is thicker, it will be slightly more expensive. Of course, that thicker metal also creates a more rugged, durable product, so many of our buyers find that the investment is worth it in the long run.
• Roof style. There are two general roof styles for metal carports: horizontal and vertical. A horizontal roof runs from front to back on the top of the carport, while a vertical roof has the panels run up and down from the side to the peak. A vertical roof will do a better job of shedding water, but it will be costlier.

Other factors will come into play in the pricing of your carport, such as your geographic location, but the above three are a good starting point.

Some Basic Numbers

Although we can’t offer you a specific price for your next carport because of the many variables discussed above, we can say that it is possible to get a new metal carport for around $1,000. Even if you opt for a bigger model with some added features, you’ll still find the cost to be quite manageable.

It’s important to remember that the cost to purchase the carport itself is only part of the equation. There is also the cost of site prep to consider, which is another reason to opt for metal over wood. With a wood building, you’ll likely need a much more formal foundation before you construct the carport. Metal carports require less foundation and can help keep costs down in this area, as well.

Maintenance Costs

Another important point regarding the cost of carports has to do with maintenance. Not only do you need to spend money to build a carport, but there is also ongoing maintenance to consider and the costs that come with it.

Owners of metal carports will appreciate the minimal maintenance they require. Other than a periodic washing to free it from built-up dirt and debris, you won’t need to do much to care for your carport. A wooden carport, on the other hand, comes with a variety of maintenance needs that can significantly add up cost-wise over the years. So, as you consider the cost of purchasing your metal carport, you won’t have to worry about spending much down the line to keep it in top condition.

Purchase a Metal Carport from American Carports, Inc.!

We hope this metal carport cost guide assists you. If you’ve decided that a metal carport fits your budget and is perfect for your needs, browse our available options from American Carports, Inc. We have a long track record of delivering quality steel structures to our many customers. If you’d like to see what’s possible with a custom design, try out this Build & Price tool at your convenience. We are excited to serve you!