Month: May 2021

If you have a picnic table on your property or you’re planning to purchase one, it’s important to have shade for that table. Getting outside is great, but it will be hard to enjoy your meal comfortably if the midday summer sun is beating down on you and your food. With a little shade, you can enjoy the fresh air and atmosphere in far more comfort. Explore these picnic table shade ideas that can assist you.

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

The Natural Approach

One great way to provide your picnic table with shade is to position it strategically under or near a large tree. If you happen to have a big tree on your property in a location that would be suitable for a picnic table, this natural method of acquiring shade will provide a wonderful setting for lunch or dinner.

Unfortunately, when you start to think more carefully about this option, there are a number of drawbacks to consider. For starters, you might not have a flat spot near the tree that will make for a stable home for the table. Trees are typically surrounded by roots that can leave the ground uneven. Even if you find a spot for the table, those roots could be a trip hazard.

Another issue is that the amount of shade provided by the tree will change throughout the year. As the summer wears on, the angle of the sun will change, and your picnic table may no longer be in the shade. Since you can’t move the tree, you will be forced to move the table if you want to get back in the shade once again.

An Umbrella May Work

A common solution to the need for shade is a picnic table umbrella. By adding a large umbrella to your setup, either through a hole in the table or in a base somewhere near the table, you can gain protection from the sun. Many of these umbrellas are adjustable so you can tilt them at just the right angle to block out the sun at any time of day, and at any point during the summer. Plus, since you can use your umbrella wherever you need it, you’ll be able to pick exactly the right spot on your property for the table to rest.

These kinds of umbrellas offer plenty of advantages, but they aren’t a perfect solution. For one thing, they can be quite expensive and may wear down relatively quickly if left out in the elements. Also, while an adjustable model will help you gain the shade you desire, you still have to do the work of manually adjusting the umbrella. If you use your table multiple times a day, that means you may need to move the umbrella around each time, which is an extra little chore that you may get tired of tackling.

Build Your Own Shade

Adding a carport or lean to that can provide shade for your picnic table is the ideal solution to this problem. By using a new metal structure to offer the shade you need for enjoyable picnics, you can get around the various problems highlighted in the two solutions above. With a roof overhead, you should get shade at almost any time throughout the day and year. Also, when ordered from a trusted, quality supplier like American Carports, Inc., you can expect your metal structure to last for many years. That means you’ll get great value for your money.

Another big advantage to this option is the flexibility of the new metal building that you will acquire. For example, you may decide that your new carport is perfect for picnics in the spring and summer, but you could move the picnic table out in the winter to make room for a car to park. Whatever you choose to do with this structure throughout the year, it will always have the ability to offer your property more than just shade.

Work With American Carports, Inc.

We hope you enjoyed these picnic table shade ideas! Don’t let the good weather in the summer and early fall pass you by without a great setup for your picnic meals. Turn to American Carports, Inc. for a carport or lean to that can offer protection from the sun for an affordable price. We look forward to serving you!

Build Your Structure

The open sides of a carport come with a lot of advantages. You can easily pull vehicles in and out without having to worry about a garage door, and you can store items that would be too large to otherwise fit in other structures on your property. The open nature of a carport design is part of what makes these types of structures so popular.

One downside to that open design, however, is the lack of privacy. In some cases, you might want to keep the items under your carport out of view, and a standard carport can’t quite make that happen. But this problem can be solved! Here, we’ll explore some carport privacy ideas that you can employ for additional protection.

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

Not All Carports Are Open

Before we get into alternative methods of adding privacy to a carport, we do need to mention that not all carports feature the same design. While a standard carport has a roof and no walls, that’s not your only option when building a new one. If you’d like to think about privacy right from the start, consider having one or more walls included in the design.

For example, if your carport is going to be placed within sight of a busy road, you could have a wall added on the street side, so passersby would not be able to see inside. That’s a quick and easy way to add the privacy you need while still maintaining the overall function of the carport.

Some Creative Alternatives

If you’re trying to add privacy to an existing carport, or if you don’t want to add any walls to a new carport, there are some creative options you can employ to get the privacy you deserve. Pick and choose from the ideas below to determine which will work best in your particular circumstances:

Natural Privacy

A variety of plant options may be a suitable method for stopping curious eyes from spying on the contents of your carport. For example, you could add a row of small trees just outside the carport on the side that you want to protect. Even a tall grass like bamboo could do the job.

When going with a natural option for privacy, remember that there will be plenty of upkeep required, as you’ll need to feed and water the plants, trim them back, and more. Also, this approach might not provide privacy all year long, depending on the types of plants you select. If you use trees that drop their leaves before winter, the privacy you enjoyed in the summer and fall will soon disappear.

Build a Wood Screen

If you are particularly handy, or if you would like to hire a contractor for the project, you can add a wood screen that will block off one side of your carport. This is basically a small wall that doesn’t support or attach to anything—it’s a simple freestanding structure. With this option, you get privacy throughout the year, and you have the opportunity to design it to add aesthetic value to the space.

An Adjacent Building

If you currently need more storage on your property and are thinking about adding another structure, you could place that building strategically to add privacy to your carport. Even a small shed could achieve the goal of covering up your carport from view if it’s placed in the right spot.

As you can see, there are plenty of carport privacy ideas available for added protection. Depending on your needs and the location of your carport, you may need to employ a bit of creativity to come up with a solution that will stand the test of time.

Order from American Carports, Inc.

In addition to the performance benefits of a metal carport, many people are drawn to these structures because of their affordable nature. At American Carports, Inc., we offer carports that are durable, customizable, and affordable for most budgets. Whether you need a single carport to park a sedan or a large structure for an RV, we are here to serve you. Get started on this project today to add a useful, versatile new carport to your property!

Build Your Carport

Having a metal shed on your property offers many advantages. You’ll likely use it as a convenient storage space, but that’s only one of many potential uses. For example, you could also use it as a workspace to pot plants or perform maintenance on your equipment.

Whatever you happen to use your shed for, keeping it cool throughout a hot summer is an important topic to consider. A cooler space will be more inviting to work in and it may also be a more suitable place to store some items that could be damaged by high temperatures. Read on to learn how to keep your shed cool in summer.

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

Start With Insulation

Insulation can do more than keep your metal building warm in the winter. In fact, all insulation does is minimize the transfer of heat between inside and outside. So, in addition to keeping a space warmer in the winter, it can also help to keep a space cooler in the summer. By adding some insulation to your shed, you can keep some of that sweltering summer heat outside where it belongs. Given the affordable nature of the amount of insulation you should need to use inside a shed, this is an effective starting point for your cooling efforts.

Add a Window

Adding a window is something that you’ll want to think about upfront when ordering your new shed from American Carports, Inc. Even if you don’t need a window for any other practical purpose, having one included in the shed’s design can help significantly for ventilation. On a warm summer day, you can open up the window and the door, allowing for some cross-breeze and hopefully bringing down the temperature of the space.

Utilize Natural Shade

When picking out a spot on your property for this new shed to live, consider any locations that would offer some natural shade. For example, if you have a large, leafy tree with a flat spot nearby, that might be a logical home for your shed. With the tree offering shade for part of the day, the shed may not get as hot as it would if it was placed out in the open to get full sunlight. This isn’t going to be an option in all situations, of course, but consider taking advantage of it if your property offers just the right setting.

Other Shade Options

The power of shade to keep a building cooler in the summer is so significant that you might want to consider making your own shade if none is available naturally. For instance, if you can install an awning that can be extended during the summer to block the sun from reaching the shed for part of the day, that coverage could go a long way. Sure, you would be adding an extra cost by installing an awning in addition to your shed, but that cost could be well worth it in the long run. You don’t necessarily have to block out the sun all day long, either. Even giving the shed coverage for a few hours would be a big help.

Portable Air Conditioner

If you have power in your shed, you might want to consider purchasing a portable air conditioning unit to fight back against the heat. This will obviously be the most effective option, but there are a couple of points to consider.

First, you’ll have to have sufficient power available in the shed. Remember, a portable A/C unit can draw a lot of power, so you might not be able to run anything else on that circuit at the same time. Also, the air conditioner is going to produce hot air that needs to be dumped outside, so you’ll need to have a window available or another way to direct the warm air out of the shed.

Order from American Carports, Inc.

We hope you now know how to keep your shed cool in summer. If you’re ready to add a shed to your property, order from American Carports, Inc. today. You can design one to fit your exact needs using our Build & Price Tool. If you have any questions, our team is happy to assist you and make suggestions. We look forward to serving you!

When the weather is nice and you want to be outside with family and friends, having a patio available is a huge bonus. Plus, a covered patio would allow you to use the space even when the weather isn’t so great. If the potential cost of a covered patio project previously put it out of reach for you, consider using an affordable carport for this purpose. Here, we’ll discuss how to use a carport as a patio!

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

Choose a Convenient Location

You may have a couple of different options around your home that could be used as a patio space. Off of your back door is a popular choice, of course, but that might not necessarily be right for your situation. Other options include placing your patio near a side door, in front of your garage, or even away from the home in another part of your yard.

The key factor to keep in mind when deciding where to create a carport-covered patio is convenience. You want to make sure that you will use this space regularly, and inconvenient things just don’t get used. If the patio has easy access to and from the house, you’ll be far more inclined to use it throughout the year.

Thinking Under Your Feet

Using a carport to protect from the elements is a good starting point for this project, but what about taking care of things at ground level? If your patio space is just bare dirt or rough concrete, it won’t be a very comfortable spot to hang out.

Fortunately, there are plenty of options available to finish the floor of your patio, and some of those options are rather affordable. For example, if you have a basic concrete pad in place currently, you could purchase an outdoor rug or some artificial grass to make the area more comfortable. If the ground is bare at the moment, you could pour a concrete pad or use patio pavers or tiles to create a beautiful, finished look.

Add the Permanent Pieces

Some parts of your patio space may evolve as the years go by. However, you’re probably going to want at least a couple of pieces to remain in the space for the long run. Specifically, you’ll want either outdoor chairs or an outdoor couch and a table. These are a significant investment, so pick them out carefully and make sure they fit properly in the space you have available.

When buying patio furniture, it’s wise to think about your future needs in addition to what you need at the moment. Is your family going to be growing in the years to come? Will you start to invite friends over to hang out once the patio is ready? When in doubt, err on the side of having a little too much seating space so there’s always room when the party gets bigger than expected.

Some Finishing Touches

Decorating your new covered patio might be the most enjoyable part of the project. The possibilities are endless here, as long as you’re picking items that are suitable for use outside. Remember, the wind can still move through your patio even though it’s protected from above, so lightweight items that can easily blow away are not a good option.

One of the best ways to decorate a patio space is with flowerpots. Not only can these pots hold beautiful flowers that will add color to your patio during the spring, summer, and fall, but the pots themselves can also be decorative. Using a few pots will allow you to bring visual interest to the patio and also define it as a living space that is separate from the rest of the property.

Build Your Patio with American Carports, Inc.

We hope you enjoyed learning how to use a carport as a patio! With the affordable nature of a metal carport, you don’t have to put off this project any longer. Work with us to add the right structure to your property, and then design the space underneath to perfectly suit your needs. When the job is done, there will be nothing left to do but enjoy countless days and nights relaxing with your family and friends.

Build Your Patio