enclosed carport as a shop

deepsea · Oct 19, 2012

Any of you guys or gals had good bad or indifferent luck with using an 'enclosed carport' as a universal shop. The building will be multi purpose and can be built for around $16000 with a 4" concrete slab. 30 x 40 x 10 with 1 roll up 1 access and a pair of windows. Will metal carport style construction be sufficient for a general purpose workshop or should I be looking at heavier duty type construction. Suggestion for some of the suppliers that do it right the first time?

Crusty Nut · Oct 19, 2012

what is the difference between an enclosed car port and a garage? Any space with a roof is better than no space so do the best you can with what you've got and get your fab on.

John in OH · Oct 19, 2012

Do some searching here on GJ. I recall someone taking one of the basic el-cheapo steel carports (about 20' x 20') and enclosing it and adding an overhead door to make a shop. IIRC, it was a build thread with lots of photos. It didn't turn out too bad at all.

deepsea · Oct 19, 2012

Difference is usung 2" x 2" posts vs I beams. 29 gauge steel vs something thicker. I know I wont be able to fit up a chain hoist to the ceiling or hang heavy shelves on the walls without reinforcement. Just cant afford to build it twice if those carports are built flimsy and the whole thing will come crashing down in 5 years or so. 'Built to last as long as its not abused' I guess is what Im going after. Probably I lot of weekend warriors that can see where Im coming from

Zeke · Oct 19, 2012

I get what you're saying. Around here, the local building dept has more to say about this than I do. I don't know a thing about Walker, LA. I'd guess weather would have something to do with it. You have a friend with anything like this for comparison?

I was in AL for 1 year and I know I'd rather be inside than outside no matter what was around me. Unless one of those 20 days a year occurred. Out here in CA, those 20 days stretch to about 300.

I work in an open carport.

deepsea · Oct 19, 2012

Some of the suppliers Ive looked at are Eagle carports and TNT carports

uniballer · Oct 19, 2012

This is what I was thinking of til I get more land next door. Glad I see others doing it, I wont feel like a redneck!

deepsea · Oct 20, 2012

Mueller is also an option. I need more opinions though

NUTTSGT · Oct 20, 2012

What kind of record do those things have holding up against heavy winds like when it's hurricane season ?

Too me, 16 grand seems lilke a lot for a strcuture like that. (unless I'm thinking of the wrong thing)

John in OH · Oct 20, 2012

NUTTSGT said:
What kind of record do those things have holding up against heavy winds like when it's hurricane season ?

Too me, 16 grand seems lilke a lot for a strcuture like that. (unless I'm thinking of the wrong thing)

Yeah, $16k seemed like a lot to me too, but maybe he has a more robust carport in mind than what I was thinking. My mental picture was one of these el-cheapo steel units:

I'm not bashing these cheap carports ... I have several that I bought for cheap, quick, storage and they have worked out well for me. I got the ones with the fully enclosed sides, 6' sidewalls, and rear wall. Depending on the dimensions, height of side wall selected, and number of full-height walls the cost of these things erected is anywhere from $1,000 to $2,500 more or less. Ground prep or slab is, of course, additional.

A note for anyone considering one of these ... if you ever intend to add an overhead door, make sure you get a sidewall height that will accommodate a future header, door rails, rise of door, etc.

OccupantRJ · Oct 20, 2012

I had one of the cheap carports at my previous home to store a tractor under. When I bought this house, I poured a slab, disassembled the carport, and moved it here. To gain wall height and make use of a garage door I had on hand, I laid a row of blocks around the perimeter of the slab, added a pressure treated 2 X 4, then anchored the building to it. OSB and vinyl siding was added to the ends. It is used as a storage barn for my contingency materials, forklift, and power equipment. It has been well worth doing, and I have seen the time I would have loved to have one for a shop. You may want to consider doing something similar as a short term shop, then use it as a storage barn after building a full size structure. It sure keeps a lot of non-essential **** out of my workshop. The pics are before the trim was installed.

fflintstone · Oct 20, 2012

the cheap carports are designed to suppoert themselves. if you have any amount of snow, plan on raking it off.
I have had two put up and am happy with the storage for the price paid.
I have the tin and metal studs to enclose the end wall on the second one. but I need a second person (male) to do that.

I saved a fair amount of money doing the sides myself.

I have a thread on them in the shop catagory.

number two

J Persons · Oct 20, 2012

I bought a carport form Carolina Carports to store my trailer under. I think it was about $750 installed. I'm up in Natchitoches LA, just outside the city limits, and since it's not on a foundation there was no permitting required. It would be a simple project to enclose the sides and back, but I think a hinged barn door would work better for access than a roll up. The carport is secured to the ground using long steel rods that were driven through the bottom steel plate 2X2. Last year, we has a couple of tornados pass pretty close, probably within a mile or so, and I could detect no loosening of the steel hold down rods.

bczygan · Oct 20, 2012

deepsea said:
Any of you guys or gals had good bad or indifferent luck with using an 'enclosed carport' as a universal shop. The building will be multi purpose and can be built for around $16000 with a 4" concrete slab. 30 x 40 x 10 with 1 roll up 1 access and a pair of windows. Will metal carport style construction be sufficient for a general purpose workshop or should I be looking at heavier duty type construction. Suggestion for some of the suppliers that do it right the first time?

What kind of slab does that price include? What kind of structure? What kind of site prep and finish? What doors and windows? Insulation? Electrical? Etc...

Need all the details.

dladcock · Oct 20, 2012

OccupantRJ said:
I had one of the cheap carports at my previous home to store a tractor under. When I bought this house, I poured a slab, disassembled the carport, and moved it here. To gain wall height and make use of a garage door I had on hand, I laid a row of blocks around the perimeter of the slab, added a pressure treated 2 X 4, then anchored the building to it. OSB and vinyl siding was added to the ends. It is used as a storage barn for my contingency materials, forklift, and power equipment. It has been well worth doing, and I have seen the time I would have loved to have one for a shop. You may want to consider doing something similar as a short term shop, then use it as a storage barn after building a full size structure. It sure keeps a lot of non-essential **** out of my workshop. The pics are before the trim was installed.

I've got the same deal. 6 Foot walls, on a slab. Houses the air compressor, wood boiler, Mig welder, lawn tools, drill press, belt sanders and table saw. I use it mainly as the "dirty shop" to keep **** off the old car.

A large pine tree fell on it a few years back, wiped out one corner, but amazingly it had more integrity than I gave it credit for. When we repaired the building, I spot welded all the connectors and posts at the joining points. It seems to be 10 times stronger than before.

I know a racer guy that rented for years. He Had a similar building with a wooden floor and a slab to park the race car on just outside the building. He eventually built a great house and shop, sold the building for what he had in it and left the 8x10 slab behind. I always thought he was pretty smart to maintain his hobby, semi-permanent, getting most of his investment back.

dla

Schwinn68 · Oct 20, 2012

I was looking into a similar structure to put my 5th wheel camper in. I wasn't wanting to put up a full blown pole barn as all it will be used for is storage. A pole barn would be over 20,000 plus site prep and foundation where the carport could be installed for under 5000. Good to hear reports of these withstanding some good wind and storms. My other concern would be a snow and ice load rating as I live in Illinois and its been know to snow here. Please keep this updated with what you find.

B964 · Oct 20, 2012

I have been debating this for a while. I keep coming back to do I want to spend money on a shelter or money on things to put in the shelter? I can get a 24x41x12 enclosed steel carport/garage with 2 roll up doors, two walk in doors and six windows for about $10,500 installed. 12 gauge, certified wind and snow load rated. A six inch thick slab, 12 inch around the edges with full rebar for about $4,500. $15, 000 complete. The same size pole barn quote was $20,000 plus concrete. The carport/garage samples they have at the lot seem very strong and they have been sitting out years in full wind and snow. I figure if I line the inside with 4x8 plywood it with stiffen it up even more. 10 grand savings with let me get a couple of lifts or other toys.

bczygan · Oct 20, 2012

B964 said:
I have been debating this for a while. I keep coming back to do I want to spend money on a shelter or money on things to put in the shelter? I can get a 24x41x12 enclosed steel carport/garage with 2 roll up doors, two walk in doors and six windows for about $10,500 installed. 12 gauge, certified wind and snow load rated. A six inch thick slab, 12 inch around the edges with full rebar for about $4,500. $15, 000 complete. The same size pole barn quote was $20,000 plus concrete. The carport/garage samples they have at the lot seem very strong and they have been sitting out years in full wind and snow. I figure if I line the inside with 4x8 plywood it with stiffen it up even more. 10 grand savings with let me get a couple of lifts or other toys.

Something to think about.
Keeping your tools and projects safe and sound also involves conditioning the space. If you insulate and heat it will the structure support insulation, a ceiling of some sort and lighting? Is there a way to ventilate it? How will you heat it? Will the heater hang from the structure?
Are the doors insulated? Etc.

B964 · Oct 20, 2012

bczygan said:
Something to think about.
Keeping your tools and projects safe and sound also involves conditioning the space. If you insulate and heat it will the structure support insulation, a ceiling of some sort and lighting? Is there a way to ventilate it? How will you heat it? Will the heater hang from the structure?
Are the doors insulated? Etc.

Spray foam, steel panel ceiling, wiring in exposed conduit and either radiant floor heat or radiant ceiling heat tubes. All all same cost that any other building would need.

Cougar67 · Oct 20, 2012

OccupantRJ, Do you have any pictures of the framing you have holding up the garage door in post #11? It looks good!

edit: I guess I'm no good at quoting one picture.

KermitFrog · Oct 20, 2012

I've had one for almost 6 years. It has been through a few hurricanes and been fine. Mine is 25x50x14 (24x50 actually). I also have a 22ft carport on the front. It has two walk-in doors, one at the front and one at the rear. There are 3 roll-up doors, one bay at the front and two other small doors on the side towards the back. I've been cleaning it up a little each day, it is trashed.

Joe_Lee · Oct 20, 2012

I've been going back and forth between one of these and a pole barn build myself. I went over to a friends house and looked at his enclosed carport and I was impressed with how "solid" and "sturdy" it seemed.

I use to be a welder by trade (still do some) and I know the strength of 2" square tubing is more than a lot of people think.

I've also considered that I could always go inside and weld in bracing if I felt it needed it.

With that said, I'm still undecided at this point.

4EyedTurd · Oct 20, 2012

KermitFrog said:
I've had one for almost 6 years. It has been through a few hurricanes and been fine. Mine is 25x50x14 (24x50 actually). I also have a 22ft carport on the front. It has two walk-in doors, one at the front and one at the rear. There are 3 roll-up doors, one bay at the front and two other small doors on the side towards the back. I've been cleaning it up a little each day, it is trashed.

How much did that set you back? I like the idea of atleast getting a roof over my head and then enclosing it as I can.

KermitFrog · Oct 20, 2012

4EyedTurd said:
How much did that set you back? I like the idea of at least getting a roof over my head and then enclosing it as I can.

The carport I just added last month. With the additional side panels and 9' side height it was $2070 total. I had extra bracing added too.

The building back when I got it was $13k total, that includes the 25'x'70 slab I poured.

OccupantRJ · Oct 21, 2012

On mine, when I stored the tractor under it, there was a lot of condensation that dripped on the inside. Once it was enclosed and on concrete, that issue disappeared.

OccupantRJ · Oct 21, 2012

Cougar67 said:
OccupantRJ, Do you have any pictures of the framing you have holding up the garage door in post #11? It looks good!

edit: I guess I'm no good at quoting one picture.

No pic right now, but all I did was use hex head screws with the sealing washer to attach the vertical outer members to the sheet metal, then along the overhead flat areas. I then attached angled pieces of framing between them with screws to create an inverted horse shoe perimeter framing. After that, the framing is standard configuration, with a double 2 X 6 header above the garage door, because it was free from work. More 2 X 6 on the flat surrounds the doorway to allow attachment of the garage door tracks. Pvc coated coil trim was bent up for the door trims, as I have a bending brake at my disposal.

Cougar67 · Oct 22, 2012

OccupantRJ, the framing makes sense. Has anyone done one of these and insulated it? The spray foam insulation would be very expensive. I was thinking about fiberglass batts or foam panels.

KermitFrog · Oct 22, 2012

There are a few spray foam done around here. I was planning on doing plastic lining with insulation. My dads red iron building is built that way.

MrC1953 · Nov 15, 2012

I am in the process of adding on to the rear of my shop, its carolina construction, except, I have gone back and welded all the joints.
I have less than 10k in the first building, and paid someone else to do it all , I will have less than 3k in the addition doing it myself with materials I bought new from Carolina carports, they have a store about 30 min. from me.

Original structure is a 31x25 and is 10 years old. I have never had a problem with this type of construction where I live. The addition is 20x31. I am considering spray foam the whole thing, or using the styoform sheets.

I think Pole barn construction may be stronger, but these type units are not as flimsy as some say, a good size tornado with take down any type construction wood/steel or carolina carport.

Godspeed
MrC.

chevy.stroker · Nov 15, 2012

My only recommendation is go a few feet higher. 10 feet is not tall enough for a lift in the future. I'd hate to see you kick yourself down the road.

enclosed carport as a shop

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