Month: September 2022

Carports are not a one-size-fits-all type of structure. While you can probably picture a “basic” carport that is little more than a roof with a few legs for support, that’s just a starting point for what can be created when building a new carport. We’d like to use this article to provide some fun, unique carport design ideas to consider for your upcoming project.

Speaking of that project, working with American Carports, Inc. is the best way to make sure you’ll get a quality structure at a fair price! With our free Build & Price tool, you can be sure that the carport you receive is going to nicely match your needs. Contact us today to learn more!

#1 – A Detached Garage

There is no rule that says you have to park your vehicle right up next to your house. In fact, in some cases, it will make more sense to establish a parking spot that is comfortably away from the home. By designing your carport to serve as a detached garage, you could even include some enclosed storage space in the back of the structure for garden tools, lawn chairs, etc. This is an affordable way to add the garage-like building you’ve always wanted, in a spot on your property that makes the most sense.

#2 – A Small Roof

Sometimes, all you need is a modest covered space to keep some of your things out of the weather. You might not even need a place to park – you could simply design a small carport to protect some supplies or maybe outdoor toys like a kayak or canoe. Whatever the case, building with American Carports, Inc. will allow you to customize the design of your small carport to make sure it has the right footprint for the space you have available.

#3 – Create a Covered Entry

We talked earlier about not putting your carport right up next to the house, but with this idea, that’s exactly what you are going to do. In this case, your carport will serve as a covered entry, perhaps taking the form of a lean-to that is built close enough to your existing house to let you park and walk inside without a single drop of rain landing on your head. If you have always wanted an entry that was protected from the elements but other construction options were beyond your available budget, this could be a great solution.

#4 – The Carport Workshop

Who says a workshop has to be a fully enclosed space? While four full walls will be needed for some types of workspaces, you could turn your metal carport into a functional shop with the right planning and by selecting some key features offered by American Carports, Inc. Specifically, think about which sides of the carport you will want to have protected from the elements, and be sure to add walls on those sides to keep the inside nice and dry. You can also customize the height of the structure to be sure that any projects you decide to work on will fit underneath without any trouble.

#5 – An Entertaining Space

Your new carport doesn’t have to be functional at all in terms of parking or storage – you could opt to use it simply as a covered patio for friends and family to relax and hang out. Again, metal carports are an affordable way to add a roof to your property without diving into more expensive forms of construction. And, since you can easily customize our designs to add the right colors and styling for your tastes, you’ll be as happy with how this carport looks as you are with how it performs.

#6 – Animal Refuge

Here’s another possibility that may serve you well – designing a carport to serve as a comfortable place for animals to get in and out of the weather, when needed. If you own property that is home to large animals – such as horses, for example – creating a carport space that they can retreat to when the weather gets particularly hot will upgrade their quality of life right away. It’s also easy to add enclosed storage space to this kind of carport, helping you store some of your animal-related supplies without taking up room elsewhere on the property.

Start Building Here

We hope the list above helps spark some creative thinking on what form your new carport could take as it is designed and built. Explore our free Build & Price tool to discover your options! And, be sure to reach out to American Carports, Inc. if you need any help along the way. Our team is ready to help answer your questions and bring your project to life! Thanks for your time and we hope to serve you soon!

In the middle of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, the last thing you want to worry about is car care. Fortunately, there’s still time to prepare for the cold and snowy season ahead. To help you get started, read on for seven easy tips for winter car storage.

#1 – Protect Your Engine

Corrosion is a big concern anytime your car sits idle for long periods, and fresh oil helps keep your engine parts lubed up and protected from this problem happening in the first place.

#2 – Avoid Flat Spots

Fill your tires up to the appropriate air pressure before you park the vehicle for the winter. If you put the vehicle away with too little air in the tires, those tires might develop flat spots while the car sits for months. Also, if at all possible, it’s wise to move the vehicle just slightly throughout the season. For example, you might decide to move the car just a foot or so on the first day of every month during the winter. That minor movement will change the contact patch where the tire is touching the ground, helping to avoid flat spot issues.

#3 – Extend the Life of Your Battery

If you leave the battery connected to your car throughout the winter, it almost certainly will be dead when you return in the spring. Even if the car is off, the connected battery will slowly drain away. With that said, some cars recommend against storing them without the battery, so check on storage information for your make and model and make your plans accordingly. If you do need to leave the battery in the vehicle, invest in a trickle charger to keep it topped off along with a battery blanket. These items are relatively affordable and can go a long way toward keeping your battery in good condition throughout the storage period.

#4 – Think About the Tank

There isn’t a consensus on what you should do with your gas tank when it comes time to store a vehicle for a while. On the one hand, some people believe it’s best to fill the tank to the top and leave it full for the winter. However, on the other side, some think draining it out is the right solution.

So, who’s right? Well, that’s hard to say, but it seems like going with a full tank is going to be your best bet. What you don’t want to happen during the winter is for water condensation to accumulate in the tank and lead to corrosion. With a full tank, you don’t have to worry about that issue.

#5 – Consider Rodents

Mice and rats aren’t shy about looking for anywhere they can hide out that is dark and comfortable. Unfortunately, that description matches perfectly with your vehicle when it is in storage mode, so you might find yourself discovering some unwanted guests in the car when spring comes around. Make it a point to prepare for this possibility at the start of storage season so you can reduce the chances that critters will make your car their new home for the holidays.

As a starting point, you might opt to use some mouse or rat traps around the area where your vehicle will be stored. This is a good first line of defense, as you might manage to catch some of the potential invaders before they have a chance to explore the vehicle. In addition to the traps, try to block off the easy paths for critters to get into your car, such as the exhaust pipe. Of course, it’s essential to remove these impediments before you run the car again, so make a note for yourself and put it on the steering wheel or driver’s seat.

#6 – Run the Engine

This is another one of those points that see plenty of disagreement between various parties, so you’ll need to decide where you land on this point and then proceed accordingly. With that said, it is believed by some that it’s a good idea to start the vehicle once in a while during the winter just to let the fluids move around and keep everything from getting stagnant. Even if you aren’t going to drive anywhere, you can just run the engine for a few minutes and then shut it back down again. This is an easy enough point to manage, but you will have to temporarily undo some of your winterizing measures and then put them back in place once the engine is off.

#7 – Take Cover

Parking in a protected spot is the best thing that you can do for your vehicle during the winter, whether you’re storing it or not. Keeping the persistent rains and snows off of your vehicle, and keeping it sheltered from falling debris, will make it much easier to keep your prized car in prime condition until the weather improves. Better yet, parking in an insulated garage or carport will offer an extra layer of protection from harsh temperatures.

Prepare for the Holiday Season with American Carports

There are plenty of great strategies for storing your car in the winter, but nothing quite compares to the effectiveness of a durable metal building from American Carports, Inc. If you’re ready to explore your options, start with our free Build & Price tool. Financing is available, and our 20-year warranty is always included. If you have any questions along the way, our team is always here to help!