When you are designing your carport, you will have to see first that what will be its size, how many cars and of what dimension it would be accommodating. If the carport would be a small house based one to contain one or two cars for the house members, then it will be one type. Else, if the carport is forgiving shade to bigger vehicles like a van or small truck, or a bigger truck or bus etc, then you will have to plan accordingly.
The Main Idea of Making a Carport
To make a properly functional carport, you will have to understand the main idea of making a carport. If you believe, that a carport is a good alternative to keep the vehicle in a garage, then you are conceptually wrong here.
A carport is basically a shade for the car or vehicle, which you build in an open space. This open space can be in front of your house, in the yard, in the garden, in front of the office etc. Any open area with plain land, which was not designed with the foundations to erect any concrete construction can be used for installing a carport. Carports come in many styles and designs, materials and make, and various budgets. You can install any as per budget, looks, requirement etc. Basically, the requirement is almost the same everywhere, and the purpose is to protect the car from the sun and heat and keep it in a shade. This protects the color of the car and also from natural elements like rain, rough winds, storms, hails, and the harsh sun. Also, the car stays protected from tree leaves, bird droppings and too much of dust.
But carports don’t have walls around them as in garages. The four sides are always open in most cases. If the carport is erected adjoining a house or construction wall, like an awning withstands the ground, then it would have only one or two sides closed. But basically. it’s an open structure, allowing free flow of air and light.
The Main Idea Behind Building a Carport
The main reason to build a carport is to protect the car from direct sunlight and weather. The color of the paint stays long, the car stays protected from dust and scratches, and the seats and dashboard and driving column stay in a comfortable temperature when you board the car after its standing several hours outdoor at daytime.
How to Make the Carport Functional
A carport can be made extra functional by using portable carports. Carports are available in various intelligent designs which are lightweight, sturdy, weather resistant and portable. You simply open the carport stands, and make it stand on any plain surface, and let the canvas or steel roof rest on top of the stands. Smaller carports have four stands and bigger ones may have 6 to 10 stands too.
Galvanized steel roofed carports are sturdy and durable, and yet portable enough to shift position as and when you want. Canvas cloth roofed carports are lighter in weight, foldable, and can be folded and tucked into the car or vehicle to carry it to beaches, camps, jungles, and other trips etc. Such designs automatically make the carport more functional. While you get weather resistant designs, you can also carry the lightweight things smartly to another location, and get flexibility in using it.
Design Options
While carports are made of wood, engineered wood, aluminum, steel, vinyl, canvas etc. the best options for portability are canvas and aluminum, as they both are lightweight.
Thus, you can choose a functional carport well, by keeping the above points in mind.
Author: Nivi Watson
