Metal Carport Alternatives

[Bull]

The Tahoe that my wife and I bought won't fit in the tiny little garage where we used to park her Malibu. It also can't go in my barn because that's where my toys are and also it's not a convenient distance from the house for loading kids and whatnot.

This leads me to consider a carport, placed on or near the driveway, to keep the vehicle out of the elements. Unfortunately, the metal carports all lack acceptable style, IMO. These ones from Canada actually look okay, but I get the feeling that they would be darn pricey, since even the ugly ones seem to run thousands.
http://www.theultimatecarport.com/about-ultimate-carport/

Have any of you guys had a builder put together a simle wooden carport that looks decent?

Our plan is to replace the tiny garage with something larger, but that plan is years away and in the meanwhile I'd like to keep this pristine Tahoe protected.

 

[mechanic217]

Thats the nicest looking carport I've seen, but as to your original question any decent carpenter should be able to quote a carport for you , might be more cost effective to expand your small garage now and not spend the money twice?

 

[Bull]

The little garage was rehabilitated on a budget. It had a floor that had sunk down as much as 18" in spots, bowed walls, and a massive door that didn't work. It now looks neat and serviceable, but just has gravel floor and plenty of problems, like an old roof and cracked foundation. It keeps stuff dry, though.

The new garage idea is too expensive to do for the next few years.

Maybe I won't be able to do anything as a stop-gap measure, but I want to explore the options.

 

[PECVD2]

Bull, I tried to get a compilation of carport pics going at one time. Here are a few of my favorites.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=147951

 

[Big Gus]

There are better looking carports available, but of course they cost more than the average round roof wonder with the tin running longways on the roof.

Here is a price sheet of a place I've researched before.

http://www.americansteelinc.com/info/flyers/BurgundyCT,MA,ME,NH,NY,RI,VT.pdf

 

[kbs2244]

Do a search on park shelters or picnic shelters.
You will get lots of PICs in many styles.
They will be with out walls, but that can be solved with wintertime tarps between the posts.

 

[Bull]

Do a search on park shelters or picnic shelters.
You will get lots of PICs in many styles.
They will be with out walls, but that can be solved with wintertime tarps between the posts.

Perfect!

Now to get a cost from my builder and see how **** the town is going to be about this type of structure.

 

[Outlander]

You can move your wife's vehicle out and still have a shelter for your garden parties!

 

[rieferman]

Bull, At that point you might as well put walls on it and make it bigger. In construction, there's a certain cost just to mobilize the builder (even a small one) and the added cost to stretch a structure a bit bigger is very small at that time. What you pictured is basically a pole barn - without its walls to prevent racking they put in the y bracing. If you like that style, go bigger and girt and side it yourself as money becomes available later.

 

[Garage Coffee Roaster]

That has some nice lines and would fit in with the typical outbuilding up here.

+1^^

 

[ambenz]

Bull, thinking temporary short term solution, you might want to consider a pop-up tent
I use one in my driveway to park my Ford Ranger under when I want to keep the 3rd bay in the garage open for projects.

I have it between the houses for 2 years now, so it isn't fully open to the elements but having said that, it's survived a heck of a lot of storms both wind and rain. It came with banquet style looking side panels too.
I bought it at the local Menards for $270, see http://www.menards.com/main/buildin...rs/10w-x-20l-party-tent/p-1768405-c-10153.htm

I sure got my moneys worth out of it!!!!!

 

[upndown]

Perfect!

Hell, I'd close the walls and live in it..Right on the water

 

[bad_idea]

I like the idea of building a nice carport w/ the plan of closing it in later. The structure you posted up would be a great candidate for such an endeavor.

 

[Outlander]

My 'dream garage' would have a carport on the side to keep trailers out of the elements and give me a place to work. I have seen such designs on the GJ.

Bull - I see you said yours would be 'close' to the house. Considering a covered breezeway for the missus?

 

[Stuart in MN]

How doesn't the Tahoe fit in the garage? Is it too tall, too wide, too long? If it's simply too tall, since the garage has a gravel floor can you dig it out a couple inches?

 

[inphx]

I purchased windows from a china vendor. One product line in their portfolio was appealing to me - but i did not buy.

 

[inphx]