Buying a new carport is an exciting process. Carports are versatile and you’ll gain many befits by adding a new carport on your property. Before that becomes a reality, however, you’ll need to make sure you are building the right size carport for your requirements. If you are getting stuck on that part of the project, this article should help.
Map the Available Space
The first place to start on this part of your carport planning project is to figure out how much space you have available for this structure. Obviously, you’ll need to know where your carport is going to stand on your property. Make sure to measure how large of an area you have to work with, and allow for additional space so you don’t run into errors later on.
While you are measuring, there are several considerations to keep in mind.
Property Line Setbacks
Depending on where you live and the regulations in your area, you may be required to keep any structures a certain distance back from the property line. It’s important to know this early in the process so you don’t plan out a building that winds up being larger than you can actually fit on your land. And, of course, you don’t want to cross those setback lines only to later learn that you need to take down your carport and put it somewhere else. Contact your local government agency for more information on the setback rules that apply to your property.
Allow Space for Access
It’s important to remember that you’ll not only need space to put the carport, but you’ll also need room to access it comfortably. For example, if you will be parking at least one vehicle under the roof of the carport, you’ll have to leave space in front for vehicles to drive up, and you might want to keep enough space open to turn around so you don’t have to back all the way out.
Land Inclines
Evaluate the slope of the land where you intend to put your carport and figure out if any grading will need to be done to level it out. Obviously, as your carport gets larger, the amount of land that you need to level out will increase. That not only means more work, but it will also increase the overall cost of the project.
You might have multiple options on your property for where the carport can go, or you may be restricted to one spot as your best bet. Either way, take some time to carefully evaluate the land you are going to use and determine what size carport will fit in that spot.
Consider Your Plans
Beyond the space you have available for the building, you also need to think about what you want to do with the carport. Is it going to be used exclusively for parking? If so, you’ll need to make sure there is enough room for all of your vehicles to fit comfortably. For example, if you want to park two cars, you’ll need at least 18 feet of width, and you might want closer to 24 if the vehicles are bigger. To make room for three vehicles, it might be necessary to stretch the dimensions out to 30 feet across.
Of course, carports can be used for far more than just parking. You can also use a carport as a storage area, a shelter for outside gatherings, and much more. No matter what your intended uses may be, think about how the dimensions of the carport will impact what you can do with this covered space. Also, remember that the height of your carport can be customized when you shop with American Carports, Inc., so designing a taller structure might be important if you want to park something like a big truck or RV.
Choose the Perfect Carport
No matter what size carport you settle on, ordering from American Carports, Inc. is always the right choice. We offer durable structures for fair prices, and we have been serving customers successfully for many years. Try our Build & Price tool to explore the many designs and features we have available. You are also welcome to contact us if you would like to get help directly from a member of our team. Thank you for visiting!
