4 Benefits of Installing a Carport Instead of a Garage

By Kiara Mac

Purchasing your first car is a memorable milestone. Whether you bought a brand new car or a pre-loved one, being able to acquire a car is a proud moment. This is the reason why no one wants to have their cars parked outside and exposed to the elements. People will always want to keep their cars parked inside a garage to protect it from rain, dust, hail, and other elements that can significantly affect the car’s paint. However, not every car owner has the luxury of having their garages at home or have enough space in their family’s garage to accommodate an additional vehicle.

Building an attached garage for your home or installing a garage extension is a massive and costly undertaking. Fortunately, you can protect your car by installing a carport instead.

What is the Difference Between a Carport and a Garage? 

A garage is a fully-enclosed room with a garage door and a solid floor foundation. Garages protect cars from harsh elements and deter theft and vandalism from happening to the vehicles inside. On the other hand, carports are defined as a roofed parking space that may have two or more sides opened. A carport that is attached to a side of the house will have at least one side with a wall.

Both a carport and a garage offer roofing that protects the car from different types of precipitation, such as rain or snow. However, a carport has lesser protection from potential thieves as compared to that of a garage. Although carports do not fully protect your car from thieves, vandals, and the elements, having a carport instead of a garage may give you the following advantages.

Costs

One of the most significant advantages of having a carport is its low cost. Carports are a lot cheaper to install on your lot area than a full garage. Depending on the size and materials, carport prices may range from several hundred to a few thousand dollars.

Ease of Installation

Building a new garage on your property is a large project. You are going to need to hire a contractor to build your garage design. If you are unlucky, you may not get high-quality work if you did not carefully vet your garage contractor hire. Also, since a garage project will require you to pour a solid foundation on your lot, you will need to get the necessary permits to have a garage built.

On the other hand, a simple 3.6-metre-wide carport can be installed via the DIY method if you are handy with tools. For more complex carports, most carport manufacturers include the professional installation as part of your carport purchase. Unless you plan on installing your carport on a solid foundation, you are not required to get a permit to install one. With the carport manufacturers doing the installation for you, your carport can be erected within a couple of days.

Versatility

Although carports usually come with a roof and four side posts, modern carports now have the option of having roller doors and temporary enclosure or walls to give your vehicles added protection.

Portability

Another advantage of a carport is that they are not permanent installations. This means that you can move your carport for whatever reason. For example, if you are planning to sell your home to move to a new location, you can take your carport with you to your new place.

Carports may not appeal to everybody’s structural preferences. However, if you are still not sure whether you want to build an entire garage, a carport is the quickest option to protect and secure your car.