Parking slots in residential areas have always been a challenge. If you live in an apartment block, you are probably assigned a spot or two. And chances are you spend a good bit of time arguing with your neighbours. Maybe they have guests who have filled your slot, or maybe you’re trying to negotiate a spot for the boyfriend or girlfriend that has been visiting a lot more often.
If your house is in the suburbs, then you have the option of parking on the driveway. That’s fine if you’re single, but the fact that you’re a suburban dweller probably means you’re married with kids. So that’s one car for you, one for your spouse, and a whole lot more once you have teenagers. Yet you still have that one-car driveway.
Some homes do have built-in garages, but they’re usually not big enough for more than one car. You’re forced to park on the road beside your house, assuming your resident’s association allows that and assuming roadside parking doesn’t obstruct traffic or attract parking fines.
If you have the space for it, a good workaround would be to install your own parking space in your driveway. The most convenient way to do that is to put up a carport. This is basically a solid frame topped by awnings. It protects your car from heat and sleet, but also allows a lot of ventilation since it has no walls.
Carports are quick and easy to install. They can go up in less than a day, and you can select a colour and style that matches the exterior of your home. You can select awnings that are rustproof and weather proof, for ease of maintenance.
You might wonder why a carport is better than a garage. Well, it’s an open space, so it won’t fall into clutter as easily as your garage would. And while it’s not a lockable area, it does offer some shade, so it can be a handy outdoor space for entertaining, as long as the car isn’t in it at the time.
There are two main kinds of carport framing. These are Boxbeam and C-purlin. Both are available in an earthy range of tones that blend into any landscape. They are constructed in different dimensions, so you can install a single port or a wider one that can fit up to three cars.
Boxbeam carports have flat roofing, but you don’t have to worry about drainage because they are installed with their own system of drainpipes and gutters. The pipes are stylish and easy to clean, making them both functional and convenient. They consist of between 4 and 8 beams topped with solid PVC awning.
Carport providers will install your carport if you’d like them to, but you’d have to invite them on a sunny day because they’re unable to install your carport in windy or rainy weather. If you’d rather do your own installation, that’s an option as well. It’s a fairly straightforward process, and carport kits come with a clear set of instructions.
Whether you install the carport yourself or ask the shed service to do it for you, you’ll have to seal the area on your own. Sealing provides extra protection from rising damp. It also holds the frames steady to prevent tipping. It’s usually done with a prescribed silicone sealant that should stretch 100mm around the shed frame.
Unlike Boxbeam carports that can fit three cars, a C-purlin carport can only house one car. They do come in three different sizes to accommodate a variety of car models though. This economical car storage option can have add-ons like a skylight or tailored sizing. You can also install taller frames if your car needs extra height.
Carport roofs are wide enough to give your car full coverage from overhead sunlight and precipitation. Choose the position of your carport carefully though, because light and rain can still get in from the sides. Consider the direction of the sun relative to the carport, so that the car spends most of the day out of direct solar radiation.