The Ultimate Carport Guide

The Ultimate Carport Guide There are numerous carport designs, models, and manufacturers to choose from, so how do you know what is best for you? Here’s everything you need to know to help you decide what type of carport will suit your property and needs. Before you set out on purchasing a carport check out the information below as we are sure you will find it a great help in understanding what is available to you. We will give you a potted history of the carport along with the various carports and accessories that can be added to them. Renowned American architect Frank Lloyd Wright coined the term carport. He first used the word “carport” when describing a cantilever overhang in the first of his “Usonian” home designs, back in 1936. The term carport comes from the French term Porte-cochére, referring to a covered portal. If you are looking for dry frost-free parking to keep your vehicles protected from the elements, then a carport is a great choice. Carport Benefits Top-quality carports stand the test of time. Most of the carports made in the UK ensure to offer complete protection to the customers’ vehicles. SBI’s core range of carports come with a 10-year warranty on the materials and have a life expectancy of 25 years. DIY and hobby tasks can also be carried out under dry cover. A carport can be a great place to clean your pets as well or leave your muddy boots after a walk. There are many benefits to why you may want a carport solution for your vehicle. Weather and Environmental Protection One of the main advantages of using aluminium carport is that it provides weather safety. It protects your vehicle against unnecessary damage from winter snow, extremely hot sun, rain, sleet, tree sap, twigs, leaves, and bird droppings. When it rains there is less noise from a glass roof than from a multiwall polycarbonate roof. So when planning for your new carport take into account if the carport is adjacent to a bedroom. The carport has different glazing options, for the ultimate in glazing choose glass! The main benefits of glass are the appearance, they look better than corrugated plastic, metal sheeting, GRP sheets, and multiwall polycarbonate glazing. The glass is also treated to prevent harmful UV rays that over time will fade your vehicle’s paintwork. Glass comes in clear, blue, green, grey, and bronze tints. Carports Improve Security As a homeowner, you will always be looking for potential ways to keep away unwanted intruders and improve the security of your property and vehicles. You can add shiplap sides and a Solar Powered Roller Garage Door to the front. This contributes to keeping everything safe and secure. The carport can be fitted with PIR lighting to deter would-be burglars. No Need to Rent a Storage Unit Space has always been a significant constraint as property prices have increased. Many times, you will have to settle for a small house depending on your location and budget. As a result, a small space can make it tough for you to accommodate everything you own. When you have a small space, it becomes difficult for you to store all your belongings. Many homeowners decide to rent a storage space. A carport can play an important role in eliminating the requirement of renting storage of space. Saving money and keeping everything close to hand. Shade and Organisation A carport can serve different purposes in your house. Apart from storage space for your vehicle, a carport can serve as a play area for your children and also contribute to adding a shed area for your belongings. Depending on the requirement, you can easily organise the free-standing carports. You can get affordable carports depending on the size of your family. You can also add extra items as well in the carport. More Advantages of Carports The main function of quality carports is to act as a canopy cover for your vehicle. But it doesn’t stop there. Carports are used to store bins under, connect garages to the home so when walking between them you keep dry. When not used for vehicles they can provide a dry sheltered area for children to play outside in all weathers or outdoor DIY space for adults or to store hobby equipment like bikes and kayaks. You can use the carport to store wood for your wood burner. If you are carrying shopping from the car and your entrance is under the carport you and the shopping don’t get wet. No more making a dash for it, with those heavy shopping bags. Types of Carports Lean-to Carports The most common carport designs are lean-to carports, these are generally attached to a wall and have posts either concreted into the ground or bolted down. They can create useful sheltered outdoor space immediately outside the entrance to your home. Freestanding Carports Free-standing carports will have posts at the rear to support the roof and the posts are concreted into the ground. Free-standing carports come in either Apex or Vaulted options. They can be positioned directly outside your home or elsewhere on your property. Cantilevered Carports Cantilever carports can be free-standing or they are bolted to a solid brick wall. The beams of the cantilever carport are made from glass reinforced polyester resin (GRP). This type of carport doesn’t have support posts, unlike the Lean-to carport. Carport Options & Accessories When choosing your carport there are various options open to you and accessories to maximise the use of your carport. Framework options Carports of different frameworks are available in the market. However, all the materials have their own advantages and disadvantages. It would help if you considered them and then choose a carport that suits you and your family’s needs the best. Glass or Polycarbonate Roof? The material of the roof is one of the most important factors to consider. The glass roof will add a luxurious touch, over other types of glazing. Another benefit of glass is it can be coated with a very thin layer of titanium dioxide. This turns the glass into a self-cleaning glass and will mean you save time on cleaning your carport. Also, it is safer as you will not need to climb steps or ladders to get above the carport roof to clean it. For the self-cleaning glass to work you will need to have the pitch of the roof set at a minimum of 10º. Our team of advisors can work the pitch of the roof of the carport out for you on request. Another reason to choose glass over multiwall polycarbonate glazing is that glass is solid, so you don’t get water ingress. Unlike multiwall polycarbonate that is made up of plastic cells. The sheets are taper at the ends but can get condensation inside the cells and collect water over a period of time. The water will normally evaporate in the summer months, but unsightly watermarks and green algae can be left inside the cells. Choosing a Carport Installation Method The ease of installation is extremely important to consider. Our dedicated installation teams can normally install an average carport in a day. Whilst there are many DIY options available ensure you calculate the time it could take you to install it along with having the appropriate tools to carry out the installation. DIY Carports do not normally come with any guarantee for the installation aspect of the carport, beware if something goes wrong you are on your own! More Options and Accessories One of the most significant benefits of having a carport at home is that it is customisable in nature. Depending on your preference, you can choose the width, length, and height of the carport. Furthermore, you can add as many features as you want and when you want, including some of the options listed below: • Carport garage doors • Carport cladded sides • Decorative posts • Décor brackets • Carport lighting • Infra-red heaters • Carport awnings • Carport screens • Shelving • Storage units • Workbench • Power sockets • Carport flooring • Bike racks • External tap and hose • Rear infill with door • Gates