Buying a metal carport is an exciting opportunity, but it can be a little bit intimidating. If you are buying this type of building for the first time, there is a lot to learn and you’ll want to take your time to make sure you know what you need before finalizing your order.
Fortunately, we are here to help. This page will provide you with the key pieces of information you need to pick out a great carport that is going to perfectly suit your needs for many years to come. When you are ready to get started, simply head over to our Build & Price tool to see what we have available, or contact us directly if you would like to learn more. We can’t wait to serve you!
Some Preliminary Considerations of a Metal Carport
While it’s exciting to jump into this project with both feet, you want to make sure you consider all of the important factors at the start before going too far. Fortunately, most of these factors can be dealt with quickly so you can move on to the fun part before too long.
Step 1 Permitting
You will need to consider what laws or regulations are in place in your area before you build any new structure. It would not be enjoyable to get to the end of the project only to receive a notice that you did something against local codes and the building has to come down. Deal with this matter right from the start so no unwanted surprises spring up later.
Step 2 Sizing
Depending on where you want to build your carport, and depending on local zoning as mentioned above, you might have some limits on how big this structure can be. Think about what you want to use the carport for and then determine how big it will need to be in order to accomplish those goals. Hopefully, you’ll be able to find a nice middle ground where the carport is big enough but still fits where it needs to go.
Step 3 Budget
Of course, budget is going to play a role in every project that you take on in life. While metal carports are impressively affordable, there is still a cost associated with the purchase, and you need to factor that into the planning.
Step 4 Foundation
One other important planning point is what kind of foundation you want for your carport. While it is possible in some situations to skip the foundation and just build over bare ground, most buyers will opt to at least have a concrete pad poured so they have a sturdy and stable base to use for years to come.
Understand Sizing Standards
Assuming you are going to be using this carport primarily as a place to park, determining the width of the structure is an important task. Of course, you not only need enough width for the vehicles themselves to fit, but you need space for the doors to swing open and closed so you can actually get in and out of the vehicles comfortably.
As a general rule of thumb, a carport that is 12 feet wide will work nicely for a single vehicle, and you can roughly double that if you are going to be parking two vehicles next to each other. Of course, the nature of these vehicles matters, as well – if you own large trucks, you’ll need to go a bit bigger and also make sure the roof is high enough that you don’t run into any clearance issues.
2 Roof Styles
The two options for roof orientation on a metal carport are vertical and horizontal. These names refer to the way the panels are oriented on the roof when installed. Horizontal panels run from side to side, parallel to the roof line, while vertical panels run up and down. Opting for vertical is seen as an upgrade in the carport world, as this orientation allows precipitation to drain better off the roof, and the whole structure is stronger. With that said, horizontal roof panels can bring down the price of the project, so it’s your choice in the end.
Build a Custom Metal Carport
It’s good to know the basics of metal carports when making a purchase, but you also have access to the expert team here at American Carports, Inc. when you need help. So, take a moment to reach out today if you have any lingering questions in your mind that need to be answered before you can order with confidence.
