Closing in a carport

[TriumphFan]

I have a carport that is 22'x19' on a base of crusher run. I can fit three cars under it but it is still open and when it rains, the water tends to collect under the cars. I am thinking of pouring a concrete slab underneath it and closing it in. Does anyone see any complications arising from this? My neighbors are cool so permits not really an issue. I think with a concrete slab and gutters to keep the water out and I can pick up 400 sq ft of storage space albeit not climate controlled.

 

[Uncle murph]

I have a carport that is 22'x19' on a base of crusher run. I can fit three cars under it but it is still open and when it rains, the water tends to collect under the cars. I am thinking of pouring a concrete slab underneath it and closing it in. Does anyone see any complications arising from this? My neighbors are cool so permits not really an issue. I think with a concrete slab and gutters to keep the water out and I can pick up 400 sq ft of storage space albeit not climate controlled.

Go for it!

 

[kbuhagiar]

Sounds good, but remember...it isn't only neighbors who will narc you out.

Not sure what it is like where you live, but everywhere I have lived, anyone who drives by can be a **** and make an anonymous complaint to the local Building Department or Code Enforcement.

I had it happen with me many moons ago, some guy who lived a half-mile away kept calling Code Enforcement saying that I was running an auto repair business out of my house (I wasn't, I was working on my own cars in my garage).

Good luck!

 

[Walkers]

Been there, done that, got the tee shirt. It was a very nice garage while we owned the house.

 

[nadogail]

If you go to the trouble of pulling a permit, you wont have to worry about your community Code Enforcement Officer.

 

[555]

Check your county website. My Georgia county doesn't require a permit for horizontal construction i.e. concrete pads.

 

[Mikeske]

Be inventive. This is the car port I had constructed between my home and my steel pole building. 2 sides were basically already sided by using the manufactured home and the steel pole building. Total width of the car port is 24 feet and the length is 34 feet. What I did was I had a covered front 6' porch and rear 8' deck on the back that runs 62' long. I just basically got three sides covered and the the only opening is at the front. I had never seen anybody do this and it was me doing some thinking that this area was open and I thought hey a good place for a carport.

I did one thing and that was to have permits pulled when I built this and yes someone reported me but it was non issue as the code enforcement guy came out, checked the permit and took one look and said to continue building to the contractor. I guess I am saying if in doubt check with the local authorities and see if a permit is required. I doubt that they would say anything about cementing but I doubt they have a issue with erecting walls.

 

[FMB4]

Yep, there are often a lot of Code Enforcement types that go looking for violations (as mentioned above). Most drive around while a few fly about. That said, I'd get the proper permit before you do anything. Note: I've seen cases were the so-called 'violators' had to 'un do' what they did and then start over again. This would not be likely in your case tho.

Good luck!

 

[CraigStu]

I'd look into getting a permit too. Maybe you could get away w/o a permit for just pouring a slab but, as soon as you close it in, that may change things. There are a lot of regs w/ somewhat weird definitions that can catch you up. Like a shed set on gravel is temporary so doesn't need a permit but a shed built on concrete piers is permanent so does need a permit. Or a carport on gravel is a car port but a carport on concrete w/ walls and a door to close it in is a garage and needs a permit.

 

[TriumphFan]

Thanks everyone. I'm on five acres but the carport is visible from the street. It's been there since '14 but is open on all sides. And yes, the permit thing can be tricky. When I built my 12x16 shed the County red-flagged me and I had to file for a permit. I even had to fill out paperwork that said I would provide restroom facilities for the workers (my kids LOL).
I'll check with the county for the slab.
I am a little worried it will still be too wet in there since it won't be temperature controlled.
A pic so you can see what I am up against. It's wrapped in plastic here as a temporary paint booth for the CJ5.

 

[Samh]

Thanks everyone. I'm on five acres but the carport is visible from the street. It's been there since '14 but is open on all sides. And yes, the permit thing can be tricky. When I built my 12x16 shed the County red-flagged me and I had to file for a permit. I even had to fill out paperwork that said I would provide restroom facilities for the workers (my kids LOL).
I'll check with the county for the slab.
I am a little worried it will still be too wet in there since it won't be temperature controlled.
A pic so you can see what I am up against. It's wrapped in plastic here as a temporary paint booth for the CJ5.

What part of North Georgia?

 

[TriumphFan]

*******, GA. Near Lake Lanier

 

[mikedodge]

A lot of houses in our neighborhood had carports that were closed in as garages over time. The ones that happened that I saw were done over several years. First some painted plywood went up on the side and back, then hinged doors on the front. Then siding of some sort and a normal garage door. At some point some of them gained cement floors. I think its harder to get away with now when not only neighbors can complain but you can see the changes on Google Street view too.

 

[u2slow]

With a "paint booth" like that.... Leave it up and methodically replace one wall at a time with something more solid.

I couldn't (and didn't) chance asking for a permit to enclose mine because it was already non-compliant (setbacks). I got compliments from neighbours how much better it all looked.

 

[TriumphFan]

What part of North Georgia?

I couldn't (and didn't) chance asking for a permit to enclose mine because it was already non-compliant (setbacks). I got compliments from neighbours how much better it all looked.

I have a setback issue as well. I had permission from my neighbor when I installed the carport but they have since died and the property was sold. The new neighbor won't care unless we have a falling out but the County will definitely care.

 

[u2slow]

The new neighbor won't care unless we have a falling out but the County will definitely care.

Is the county up in your business already? Around here they let sleeping dogs lie. Everything is complaint-driven.

 

[TriumphFan]

Is the county up in your business already? Around here they let sleeping dogs lie. Everything is complaint-driven.

They have been before but it has been a while.

 

[Slednut]

I've had this inclosed carport for years. A lot of city inspectors have been on the property because of other projects and not a word was said. Those poor doors are from the late 70s.

 

[dcg9381]

We had a pad already on ours when we enclosed. If you're adding a pad, make sure it's sloped (just a bit) - nothing like getting water in from the drive.

The other thing we do here on perimeters that get R panel, is we build concrete with a "rat lip" - basically a 1x1 edge all the way around that the R panel actually fits DOWN into. This prevents critters and also makes it harder for water to find it's way up to slab level..

 

[jadamedske]

I moved into a new house and was faced with the problem of where to park my cars. The garage was not provided, so I decided to build a carport. At first I tried to do it with my own hands, but it came out, so to speak, not very well. I started looking for people who could help solve this problem. Since my neighbors already had a shed, and a pretty good one, I decided to turn to them. I was advised to consult with these professionals https://carportaustralia.com.au/. After a while I was given a sketch of the future awning, chose the material and decided that the awning will be a closed type. Not once have I regretted that I chose people who know their job.

 

[Roobaix]

I'm not a drainage expert although I'd be willing to be a lot of your water issue comes from that driveway.

 

[TriumphFan]

I'm not a drainage expert although I'd be willing to be a lot of your water issue comes from that driveway.

Yes. Also ,the water from the roof dumps out on either side. Gutters will also be installed and routed away.

 

[K'ledgeBldr]

I built in Forsyth county during the boom- a few of the inspectors back then were total a-holes!

You’ve got so much going on with that carport I would t bother with trying to enclose the existing. You need a proper slab to build off of, along with proper drainage- and just gutters isn’t going to do it.

I definitely wouldn’t even suggest skirting the issue of a permit.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

*******, GA. Near Lake Lanier

If they hassled you about a permit for the shed, I wouldn't press my luck. Garage is a much bigger deal.

 

[Bretny]

Wind will still blow rain and weather in with no sides. Either way a concrete pad is nice to park on, nice to work on and easy to keep clean.

I have a lean too off my garage that the back wall is enclosed. I still get snow and some rain blowing onto the suburban I park in there. The back wall really helped though as that's the way the wind comes from.

 

[Glemon]

I have a carport that is 22'x19' on a base of crusher run. I can fit three cars under it but it is still open and when it rains, the water tends to collect under the cars. I am thinking of pouring a concrete slab underneath it and closing it in. Does anyone see any complications arising from this? My neighbors are cool so permits not really an issue. I think with a concrete slab and gutters to keep the water out and I can pick up 400 sq ft of storage space albeit not climate controlled.

No personal experience, though I did turn my one stall attached into a 3.5 stall. They wanted for resistant drywall, a certain level of electrical service, at least one plug per garage door, and a fire rated human door between garage and house.

I have a neighbor I don't know well, but through a friend of a friend was helping him work on a car in his garage, converted recently from a three sided carport. I don't know if he pulled a permit, but he definitely didn't have a fire door between house and new garage. He did have an interesting car in there though.

 

[TriumphFan]

I'm considering a paver floor rather than a concrete slab since it is just used for car storage . Less in-your-face..
I also have about a 100 sq ft left over from a patio project.

 

[TriumphFan]

Update: Concrete it is!
Now to order the sides.

 

[dcg9381]

I've done it. Your actually advantaged if there is no concrete now, easier to address the siding and have it come down past the concrete - IE, you don't have to deal with incorrect concrete drainage.

That being said, I don't need a permit and can change whatever I want on the building. This could be a major pain in the *** elsewhere.

 

[dougf]

Looks great! Now anchor it down and enclose it like you planned. All of the carolina carport style buildings are basically enclosed carports like what you have, should suite you just fine!

 

[no704]

My carport has panels that I built (1x1 steel tube and bead board) closing off the side. But they are mounted using hinges. Making them doors, not walls.

 

[ATC]

Around here, carports are non-permanent structures and don't need permits.

Hell, 20 years ago we hired contractors to build our 26x32 stick-built garage and do some remodeling in the house. Not a single permit was pulled (they were supposed to). Haven't heard a peep from anyone since.