Vehicles are expensive, and it’s important to protect your investment by safeguarding your vehicle from the elements. Those who have the luxury of having a garage built into their homes might not need to worry about it, but for the rest of us, a carport is a great investment.
This article will go over what a carport is, the benefits of owning a carport, the different types of carports on the market, and what you should look for when buying a new or used carport.
What is a Carport?
A carport is a structure that typically features a roof supported by beams or posts. There are a few different types of carports, and we will go over those in a minute, but for now, just know that a carport is an outdoor structure that protects your vehicle from the elements; it's like an outdoor garage without the door.
If you don’t have a garage, then there are many benefits of buying a carport. Not only can a carport protect your vehicle from wind, rain, snow, and UV rays, but it can also increase the value of your home and provide a versatile space for storage or other purposes. Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of having a carport so that you can decide if it’s the right choice for you.
While many homes have garages that are completely enclosed with walls, roofing, and an entrance, many people choose not to store a vehicle inside. Luckily, a carport garage is a great alternative. What is a carport exactly? While garages are completely enclosed with walls, roofing, and an entrance, carports are typically open metal structures covered by a metal or fabric roof. Each car storage solution provides its own list of benefits. If you need an extra space to store your items or vehicles, and you're unsure of the advantages of a carport vs. garage, look no further.
Both carports and garages offer convenient and practical added space to store cars, tractors, or other motor-powered equipment - but both structures are different. In fact, there are several factors to consider when choosing between a carport and a garage including what you need to store, your space limitations, and where you plan to use your unit. Find out more about these distinct structures, and which will be the best option for you.
Carports and Garages: What’s the Difference?
Now that we’ve looked into some of the factors to consider when deciding whether to invest in a garage or a carport, let’s go more in-depth about the differences between carports and garages. We’ll discuss what each solution consists of and their uses at home, at work and in the community.
Carports vs. Garages: Factors to Consider
Now that you understand what each structure consists of and can be used for, let’s look at some key factors and benefits each structure provides to find the best options based on your needs:
A carport mainly provides practical shade and weather protection for your vehicles (as mentioned in our What is a Carport blog). However, these versatile structures can serve many more purposes than just vehicle protection. Utilize versatile shelter and check out five unique uses for your carport.
1. Outdoor Workspace.
Fixing your car? Building something for the home? A carport provides a shaded and weather-protected workspace for your outdoor projects.
These structures cover ample ground space to fit large supplies or workbenches and keep electrical equipment or power tools dry while you work. Whether you're welding, woodworking, making mechanical repairs or enjoying a creative hobby, you and whatever you’re working with will stay dry and protected.
2. On-site Office Pavilion.
Looking for a better lunch break spot? A carport can provide your business location with a much-needed shaded area so employees can enjoy lunch or their next office party outdoors. Not only will workers love a comfortable new picnic area, but providing an outdoor space at the workplace can be very beneficial. In fact, Business Insider suggests it can reduce stress, sharpen thinking, and boost creativity.
These structures are simple to erect on virtually any property and require minimal maintenance for an easy shade option with plenty of benefits for everyone.
Your days on the water are thrilling and relaxing at the same time. Nothing says ‘me time’ like the open lake or bay where you are totally removed from the busyness of everyday life. You take your watercraft to explore new places and spend time alone or with your favorite people. To enjoy many days like this, it's important to protect your boat throughout the year.
When it’s time to choose boat storage for the winter, there are several choices. Whether you keep it at the marina or put it on land, how do you best keep it protected? Overall, storing your watercraft on land will preserve it the longest. This guide will explain proper winterization methods and how you can easily store your watercraft with affordable outdoor sheds and carports.
Watercraft Storage Methods
To protect your watercraft, you will need to follow a few important steps. The process may differ depending on the type of watercraft, your location, and storage method options.
Clean and maintain your watercraft during the season.
Winterize your watercraft at the end of the season.
Store your watercraft in a safe place.
In warm climates: The watercraft may stay docked at the marina after winterization for a seasonal fee.
In all climates: For the best results, the watercraft should be stored in an outdoor or indoor dry shelter.
Get your boat inspected and serviced after every season.
Your unique situation determines the methods you use, but you should always have a safe place to store your watercraft and a consistent maintenance plan. No matter what boat storage solution you choose, you must first winterize your watercraft properly.
How to Store a Boat (Winterization)
Boat owners should consult their watercraft’s user manual and contact the manufacturer for specific instructions for winterization. However, the general process of boat winterization is as f
Many people believe that winter is the most dangerous season for their vehicles, and it is during this period that they ensure they stay under the protection of a car tarp tent or another shelter. As the weather begins to warm, we bring our vehicles out and are less determined to keep them under shelter. However, this is a dangerous belief since summer weather and conditions can also compromise your vehicle's exterior and interior.
Throughout this article, we touch on why summer can be a damaging season for your vehicle and the different types of car shelters to protect them during the summer.
The Importance of a Car Shelter for the Summer
While there isn't ice, freezing weather, and salted roads during the summer, there are still damaging weather conditions. Overexposure to sunlight steadily causes the color inside and outside of your car to fade. Rain and hail cause rust and dents over the exterior of the car. If you live in a wet and humid area, these will set in on the car even faster.
A car shelter is an essential addition to your summer protection to maintain the value of your vehicles. They can easily protect your car from rain, help create a balanced environment on the interior, and stop your car from getting dented during hail storms. Whether you decide to get one with or without walls is up to you and the amount of work you want to put in to maintain your car. For example, a car shelter without walls might still require you to dry the exterior of your car after a rainstorm if the rain slanted to come under the shelter.
When you consider the car shelters below, think about the weather patterns you experience in your region, the space that you have, the aesthetic you would like to maintain. Also, think about the other uses a car shelter could have for you to maximize
Your RV is a significant investment -- both in terms of money and the fun you expect from it. That is why it is important to find the right kind of RV storage and RV protection. The right RV storage solution can protect your investment and improve the quality of your experience when using an RV.
RV Protection: Shield the RV's exterior
Between the atmosphere and the harmful UV rays, the elements can exterior of your RV will likely show signs of aging pretty quickly. You might not even notice these effects at first because they'll likely be concentrated on the roof. There, the paint will start to fade. The sun will also make the vinyl or rubber on the outside of your RV break down and crack. Hail and pounding rain can also mar the exterior surface of your RV. Shielding it from these environmental effects under a ShelterCoat or ShelterTech custom building will not only help your RV retain its good looks but also extend the lifespan of its exterior features.
Businesses and municipalities of all sizes can benefit from owning carports. These structures protect more than parked cars -- they can also be used practically as a shade canopy, or decoratively to upgrade the aesthetic of a property.
There are so many unique uses for carports that this one-time purchase can give you years of practical use.
Here is how businesses and municipalities can use an outdoor carport as a versatile protective covering.
A carport doesn’t have to just be for your car. Carports can be a great idea to add storage and functionality to your property without much extra cost. Whether you want to DIY a simple carport or have someone else come in to install it, these creative carport storage ideas might make you consider getting one even if you don’t have a vehicle.
What is a Carport?
A carport is a structure that generally has a fabric or steel roof with steel post supports. They are strong and sturdy, typically meant to hold up against rain and snow, and require very little maintenance. They can also provide good shade coverage for the summer months.
Carports typically don’t include doors or walls, though some can be fitted with add-on wall kits. They provide overhead shelter and allow you to effectively protect anything that you can fit underneath from the elements. Depending on the type of carport you choose, you can also assemble them virtually anywhere.
To learn more about carports, check out our what is a carport blog post.
Why Do You Need a Carport?
Carports are incredibly versatile and useful, so they are great for any family looking for a little extra storage room in their home.
Carports are great for keeping cars protected from the elements in all seasons, but even if you don’t have a car, they can still add value to your property and be incredibly useful for storing other outdoor equipment.
How Much Does a Carport Cost?
If you’re willing to DIY your carport or get a kit that you construct yourself, you can find quality carports for under $900 like the free-standing Arrow Carport f
Car shelters are your vehicles' first line of defense against the elements. They come in many different sizes and price ranges, providing you with a variety of choices to find the perfect car shelter for your needs. If you aren’t sure which car shelter is right for you; here are 5 basic tips to help you decide the best vehicle storage that’s suitable for your storage needs.
Why Do You Need Car Shelter?
Car shelters provide an adequate storage space for your vehicle, either short-term or long-term. There are also a lot of added benefits depending on your weather situation. With a car shelter, keep your vehicle protected from something as small as accumulated dirt to problematic inclement weather. Some car shelters can help you worry less about protecting your vehicle from snow, while others are made to block harmful UV rays from deteriorating your investment.
Tip #1: Know What You want to Store Before You Shop.
It may not come as a surprise, but our first tip is to identify what you’re looking to store. Do you need storage for one or two vehicles? Car shelters can accommodate multiple vehicles depending on size. For instance, some portable garages are greater than 20ft. long, helping you not only shelter multiple vehicles, but act as additional storage. You’ll also need to consider how much movement you want in your car shelter. Will you have enough room to open the doors of your vehicle? Is there enough clearance space? Answer questions like these to determine the correct size for your car shelter. Once you’ve figured out the perfect size for your car shelter, you’ll also need to think about available space on your property. When you pick a location, it should be able to accommodate a size larger than your vehicle.
Tip #2: Understand Your Local ordinance and Building Codes.
Canada
Now that you understand what each structure consists of and can be used for, let’s look at some key factors and benefits each structure provides to find the best options based on your needs:
