What You Need for a DIY Carport: A Helpful Guide

If you have a driveway but no carport, then it’s time that you changed that. Leaving your car parked without cover can result in it becoming damaged. Additionally, cars that are left on driveways are more likely to be stolen than those that are stored in carports or garages. You don’t need a construction team to come in to build a carport for you, you can do it yourself.

This article will further explore this subject, explaining exactly how you can create your own DIY carport, and everything you need to do so:

Carport Kit

If you want to build your own carport, then the best thing to do is to invest in a carport kit. Carport kits when assembled are without a doubt the most quality carports that you can buy. The reason for this is that they are specially designed, using the highest-quality materials. While it is theoretically possible to create your own DIY carport, there is absolutely no way that it will compare to a carport kit’s carport. In addition to including all of the materials needed, screws and nails are also included. These kits also come with helpful instructional guides, which you can follow to put your carport together. If you aren’t very good at building large structures, then you might want to hire a professional to do it for you. This is just so that you don’t damage it or build it improperly which could result in it falling down.

Space

If you are going to build a carport, you need to make sure that you have enough space. Carports come in all shapes and sizes, so the amount of space that you need largely depends upon what it is that you are using the port for. For example, a carport that’s being built exclusively for a motorcycle’s use will be much smaller than one that’s being built to house several large trucks. Make sure to take measurements before ordering your carport kit, so that you can be sure you are getting one that’s sized perfectly. Ordering a kit that isn’t the right size could result in you having to send it back, wasting both time and money.

Building Permits

It doesn’t matter that you are building your carport from a DIY kit, you still need to get building permits. If you erect any structure on your property without building permits, then your local government is well within its right to order its destruction. If this happens, there’s virtually no chance that they will grant you permission to build another. Additionally, they could give you a fine. The fines issued to people who break building codes can be very high, sometimes in the tens of thousands. Apply for a building permit first, just so that you can be sure you won’t have to take your carport down after putting it together.

Building Materials

If you are going to try and build your own DIY carport and don’t want to use a kit, then you need to do your research and make sure that you buy all of the necessary building materials. You will need wood, corrugated iron, and potentially plexiglass windows. The only benefit of building one yourself is that you can customize it for your vehicle. Additionally, you can add a door to the structure. Many DIY carports don’t allow you to do this. Despite these advantages, building your own carport can be very expensive and time-consuming. The cost of wood and metal is rising exponentially. It’s often much cheaper to just buy a carport kit instead of trying to gather the materials yourself.

Tools

Obviously, you will need tools. While the DIY kit will come with screws and an instructional guide, it won’t come with hammers, drills, and screwdrivers. You need to provide those yourself. If you don’t have all of the tools you need, then you won’t be able to put your carport together. Another advantage to using a DIY kit is that the kit’s instructional guide will come with a list of tools that you need in order to complete the job. You can likely access the kit’s instructional guide online prior to ordering so that you have time to gather together all of the tools that you need before it arrives.

Motivation

Finally, you need to be motivated and determined. If you aren’t then you are going to find building a carport difficult. It isn’t easy to build one by any stretch of the imagination, even if you use a carport kit. You will also need to ask people to help you because some of the materials and items involved can be very heavy.

Building a DIY carport is a great way to protect your car from theft and the elements. It is also a great way to make your property more valuable. Properties with structures built on them sell for a lot more than those with just bare land.