Let's hear your thought on Car Ports!

[MyChannellockTools]

I just moved into my own home. It came with a garage and a car port! The garage was ready to move all the tools, hoses and everything in becuase the guy who had it before was so organized leaving his home made shelves.

But What do you think about Car ports? I never knew much about the point of them, but now I need to because I have one.

 

[akdiesel]

I would think car ports would be great in a hot & sunny environment to keep the UV out.

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

No to mention protection against hail damage...

 

[vette-kid]

No to mention protection against hail damage...

 

[64merc]

I think as long as they are built right and look nice, they are an asset.

 

[PAToyota]

Being in NY as opposed to FLA or CA you're going to have less time that you can work out there comfortably, but I'd consider mounting tools such as a bench grinder on a mobile cart so that you can wheel them out to the carport and not fill the garage with dust. I do some welding and most of my plasma cutting outside for that reason and it would be nice to have some cover - either from the sun or light rain or so I don't have to feel that I have to get everything under cover overnight.

 

[kbs2244]

They are better than unprotected parking, they keep most of the rain and snow off,and they are not taxed, but you cannot heat them.

 

[pattenp]

They are better than unprotected parking, they keep most of the rain and snow off,and they are not taxed, but you cannot heat them.

Here in Virginia depending how the carport is constructed and affixed to the ground via such as a footing it is taxed as real estate. The kit type metal car covers are not taxed.

 

[tatra]

with the advancement in garage door technology[ r values], i often wondered about having four rollup doors so as to enclose the car port for weather or security reasons...........any thoughts on this?..........

 

[PAToyota]

i often wondered about having four rollup doors so as to enclose the car port for weather or security reasons

I've been seeing that - for restaurants, homes, and such to give you the option of indoor/outdoor settings.

I'm not sure that I'd rely on it if you were looking to have it heated in the winter in northern climates - R-value isn't as much of the issue as sealing against drafts. But going more for lengthening the season in which you could use it.

 

[wrigh003]

I have one attached to my house, but it's on the plan to eventually (soon, I hope) close it in and make an honest garage out of it. In my part of the world, it's not snow and cold you try to escape, more the heat and humidity for 6+ months of the year.

That said, the hot setup would be to have a carport AND a garage.

 

[FunfDreisig]

...
But What do you think about Car ports? I never knew much about the point of them, but now I need to because I have one.

In the right climate and location (w.r.t. sun angles, prevailing winds, etc.) carports are great and more practical than a conventional garage for daily driver parking etc.. When partially enclosed (e.g. one side and/or end) they provide a lot of shelter from both the sun and weather. BTW the term carport was coined by Frank Loyd Wright who designed them into his "prairie homes".

FWIW I designed my new garage/mechanics workshop with a 12x24' carport in front of 2 of the 3 bays. Since I am in Central Texas, this 24' wide south facing opening will be generously shaded by the carport allowing me to keep the sliding barn doors open for ventilation. I plan to park the ranch truck or the tractor in the carport for shelter. But that will only take up half the space. The main house will have a single carport where one wall will be part of the enclosed courtyard and hide the view of the car. This wall will have a lot of enclosed storage (e.g. for recycling bins, garbage cans etc.) accessible from inside the carport. I'd consider a house without a carport incomplete

Funf Dreisig

 

[thdewey]

My new 24X36 will also have a carport for my Jeep. I'll keep the hardtop stored on a hoist in it for the summer. I would like to put a storeroom in the back at some later time for kids toys and jeep toys.
BTW I'm also coverting my existing attached carport into a home office and laundry. I can't wait we really need the increased square footage.

 

[autoist]

When I did my last addition, I added a 15x16 carport as a place to keep my daily driver out of the weather but not have to open the garage every time I park it & to enclose the outside stairs to the second floor of the garage.

 

[amt]

My garage had a carport (15' x 23') added on before I bought the property. I am now converting it to a "shop", where I'll keep my project car and tools. It's nice to separate the daily drivers from the project car.

 

[D KRAGER]

Keeps you from having to scape windows from frost in the winter.... Also this time of year the dew in the morning is bad, car port keeps dew from settling on your windows and making an unpleasant ride to work.

 

[MyChannellockTools]

Thanks for all your positive feedback and not encouraging me to tear it down. I'm excited not to have to clean off my ride at 6am before work. It needs a new roof though. What are your thoughts about the rubber roofing option?

 

[tatra]

if it's the recycled stuff i;m thinking of, looks grest on my buddys roof but damn is it expensive...........up here in commie country[ must be with
'free healthcare"] it was 3-4 times the cost of asphlt shingles in matierial alone................and i think they insist on tar papering the entire roof?.........