A garage is a luxury for a vehicle in all types of weather, but a carport can be just as beneficial.

Benefits over a garage:

• Affordability:
A basic garage cost thousands of dollars and is not affordable to some, whereas the cost of a carport is a fraction of the cost of building a garage so it is a good option.

• Placement:
A garage cannot be moved from one place to another but a carport can be. moreover carports can be assembled and disassembled in 1 or 2 days.

• Availability:
Carports are easily available in the market and one won’t have to wait for weeks to get one.

• Versatility:
A carport is very versatile, and you can decorate it in many unique ways to enhance the value and appearance of your home. It can be used as shelte in picnics etc.

• Other Features:
1.) A carport is usually classed as an outbuilding and in general you do not need to apply for planning consent
2.) The passage of air currents dries off rain and damp instead of allowing it to cling overnight

Before converting a carport into a garage, there are certain things to be mind:

CARPORT CONDITION:
How well maintained is your carport? Be honest to yourself because if the carport is not in good condition, you may end up creating a garage which isn’t that strong and long lasting.

WALL STUD MEASUREMENT:
Examine the flooring measurement of the existing carport. Usually around 2 feet of spans are required between each wall studs.

CARPORT DIMENSIONS:
Is your carport big enough to accommodate extra equipment that will be stored once it has been converted into a garage? Measure properly and then proceed to construction calculations for extra material.

FLEXIBILITY:
Most people like to make a “convertible garage” from an existing carport. They would want a garage during harsh weather and a carport during normal weather conditions. In that case, your material and structure will vary.

INSULATION:
Ensure you install insulation between the interior walls of the carport and staple strong.

GARAGE DOOR:
While you can always add the walls to the carport and make it into a garage, the main concern is always the garage door.

Similarly, if you’re turning your garage into a carport, you have to ask yourself what to do once the door is dismantled. I would suggest seeking professional help to take care of the door side wall of the garage. Your carport might look rather ugly in case the aesthetic sense isn’t minded.

FLOORING:
Most garages have an incline on the flooring which helps in washing, water draining and repair work of the vehicle.

In case you are removing the garage walls and converting into a carport, be sure to redo the floor rather than filling concrete and leveling the floor. That looks rather shabby.

WIRING & ELECTRICITY:
Most people convert carports into garages so they can have heating/cooling for their vehicles during extreme temperature.

Be sure to have a separate circuit unit which has wires running underground. And this is irrespective whether you have a carport or garage.

The difference is fairly simple. Carports are compact, rather minimal structures which can be easily dismantled or removed. Garages are solid structure made out of brick, mortar. They can’t be dismantled and need to be demolished. I honestly confess I didn’t know this.

Second point of education was to check with authorities for rules to make a carport. One can’t just build a carport per their choice & fashion. While most garages are attached to the structure of a home, carports usually are rather detached. Calculate the space you have, how close the “likely space” to the road is and check with the authorities. With land turning more expensive along with building material, carport is a smarter choice.

Further more carports allow you more choices of building material which you can match with your house or garden. I took a round of my neighboring areas looking at the carports to get a better idea of what I would like. My choice is wood as my carport was placed right next to the garden area. A friend chose a steel structure for the carport matching his macho Land Cruiser pairing it with solid dark grey cemented flooring.

The best part is the flooring area. I chose thick gravel for my carport which is rather easy to maintain considering it doesn’t need washing and mopping. Spray water and it looks just fine. I like the rustic look it gives to the entire structure. Ensure you think of the flooring before buying the structure material for the carport.

I think it’s a smart idea to have a carport because of their minimal and compact design structure. Particularly if you’re making a new house, choose to make a carport as its quick to install and easy to maintain.

Article from IBspot blog: http://www.ibspot.com.au/blog/carports-garage-know-the-difference/2010/02/