Anyone living in an area dominated by harsh elements understands the importance of carports. Apart from protecting the car from the harshest weather, carports also provide additional and versatile space. They ensure your asset enjoys enhanced protection.
The good news is you don’t have to hire professional contractors to build a carport for you. You can do it yourself. Building your own carport proves you’re a responsible car owner and saves you tons of money. A DIY carport is a great option for anyone looking to get inexpensive cover for their vehicle.
This article shows you what you need for a DIY carport including materials and tools. You will also learn about 15 DIY carport plans worth considering.
Important Details to Consider When Building a Carport
Building a carport is intense work requiring plenty of preparation. You should think about a few important details first — which you will find below. Before starting, confirm that you have all the appropriate tools. Apart from tools, there are a few other things to consider.
Carport Height and Size
How much space do you have for the carport? Is the space enough for the carport and your vehicle? Before you lift the first tool, confirm whether the height is enough for the car. Otherwise, you may have a carport cover that’s too low for your vehicle.
Types of Materials to Use
Next, you need to select your tools carefully. The construction of a carport requires a unique set of tools and materials. It’s worth mentioning, however, that you can recycle or reuse some of these materials to save even more money.
Here are the tools you need for a carport DIY project.
- Drills (cordless or power)
- Screws or TEK screws
- Hammer drills
- Grinder
- Tin snips
- Tape measure
- Sockets and spanners
- Rivet gun
- Spirit level
- Laser level
- Ladders, duct lifts, scissor lifts, scaffold, trestles
- Safety gear
- Concrete
Apart from these tools, you should also consider whether you want to build a DIY metal carport or DIY tarp carport. You need metal sheets for the former, while a tarp is mandatory for the latter. Additionally, get whatever materials you need if you decide to construct a DIY solar carport.
Carport Location
The location of the carport is another critical detail. For location, you need to evaluate your property carefully to determine the ideal spot for the carport. It’s best to erect the carport in a flat and level area. Secondly, confirm if the surface is suitable for building such a structure.
Avoid areas with utility lines for gas, electric, and water services.
Other Considerations
There are several other factors worth examining before proceeding with the construction of a DIY carport. For example, you should build a carport that matches the style of your entire property. That way, it won’t look out of place.
Don’t forget to check or apply for local permits, too. For this, you may need assistance understanding the local building or zoning codes to avoid falling foul of the law. You could visit the offices of the local authorities to learn more about the regulations.
How much labor do you need to install the structure? In some cases, you could build it alone, while in others, you will need a team — even amateurs such as friends and family — to help you with the DIY project.
Free Carport Plans to Consider
Before dashing outside to start constructing your DIY carport, determine whether to choose paid or free carport plans. This article delves into free plans that are just as effective as the paid alternatives. Let’s look at the top 15 free DIY carport plans.
Attached Carport Plans
This simply means the DIY lean-to carport is attached to your home rather than standing alone. To build it, you need to make sure it has right-angled corners. Typically, it takes a day (depending on your skill level) to build the attached carport as a DIY project.
Freestanding Double Carport
A freestanding double carport is an excellent option for a household with more than one car. It’s also suitable for families with snowmobiles or all-terrain vehicles. Before proceeding with construction, get an engineer’s input before pouring the footings.
DIY Carport Cheap
With some lattice panels, roofing tins, support poles, and lumber, you have almost everything needed to build an inexpensive DIY carport. As cheap as it is, the carport will let you enjoy the protection it offers your car for years.
10-by-16 DIY Lean-to Carport
Are you wondering whether a carport is worth building for that small car you own? In that case, the 10-by-16, DIY lean-to carport is what you need. For such a structure, invest in cedar or any other kind of weather-resistant lumber, as that will give you a carport that lasts years.
DIY Carport With Storage
It’s possible to build a DIY carport with storage. Such a structure is impressive for its ability to protect the car while providing enough space for storing small garden equipment. Because of its double function, this option might be best if you have one car.
DIY RV Carport
The 20-by-40 DIY RV carport is worth your time and energy because of its ability to protect large cars or multiple vehicles. With its gable roof, it would have no difficulty sheltering your boat as well, and sturdy trusses make it even more special.
Recycled Shipping Container Carport
It’s possible to make a DIY carport from recycled shipping containers. That’s right. You can transform a shipping container into a one-car carport that can also serve as a storage unit. One of the attractions of this option is its ability to remain standing in the face of fierce winds.
PVC Carport
If you want to save even more money, you would be better off going for the DIY PVC carport. A PVC carport is more affordable than a DIY metal carport and all types of DIY wood carports. Apart from costs, it’s pretty light and thus needs reinforcement to protect it from flying away when strong winds blow.
DIY Solar Carport
A DIY solar carport is a wonderfully inexpensive addition to your property. Its sustainability and ease of assembly are worth the construction time. Additionally, it offers you the option of portability, and you can install it as a freestanding structure or a DIY lean-to carport.
DIY Tarp Carport
Why should you pay more for a carport when you can save tons of money with a DIY tarp carport? With this option, you don’t have to dig footers or lift huge, heavy posts that threaten to break your back. On top of that, you can install it in a single day without any additional help.
Three-Car Carport
A three-car carport is an excellent option if you have a large family or own up to three vehicles. Feel free to customize it according to your preferences and the property’s appearance. Consider gable roofing to make everything sturdier and better in appearance.
DIY Carport Kit
A DIY carport kit comes with everything you need. You would only need a few additional tools and equipment to make your work manageable and effective. More impressively, you can order a kit that’s to your specifications.
Flat Roof Carport
The simplicity and functionality of flat roof carports make them the most popular. Added to that is the fact they are quite easy to install. Visually, they are clean and open while not requiring any additional reinforcement.
Carport Pergola
A carport pergola is attractive for many reasons. First, it is cheap to build. Second, you can finish building it within a day to create a half-shady area to park your car. Then you only need to plant vines at the foot of every support post to make it eco-friendly.
DIY Wood Carport
DIY wood carport plans are not complex. This type of DIY carport is the most customizable, too — you can make it suit your entire house easily. This plan is the best if you want to stay away from fancy garages that cost a fortune to erect.
Conclusion
Building a DIY carport is not a complicated procedure that only rocket scientists can perform. You can do it with some of the most basic tools and materials. Moreover, recycling or reusing some materials and structures, such as an old shipping container, will save you time and money.
At Insteading, we advise our clients to embrace the DIY culture. It is an excellent way of saving money and learning new skills. Building a DIY carport offers you a chance to put your creativity to the test not only when it comes to the type of DIY carport plan you select, but also in matching its design to your property.
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