Low cost Carport

[Water Boy]

I enjoy spending time reading the many different builds on here so thought id pop my basic carport build up. Certainly not as big or exciting as many of yours.

Design brief:
Cheap as possible
Basic
Low roof line
Minimal impact
Must fit a Mk1 golf or beetle

Id had this idea in my head since late last year but wasnt really sure if it would ever happen. I needed to free up some of my parents driveway and wanted to get a car out of the weather.

In between Christmas and New Year I ended up in hospital after a big crash on my MTB.

Sitting at home with lots of time i was all over gumtree and ebay looking for bargains and got thinking about the carport idea again. Id hassled my buddy to help as im currently unable to drive or work. He said "yeah ok, find some cheap materials". That I did!

The unused corner of my front yard.

(Trailer is the neighbors block)

I looked a few complete carports but they were too far away or too big. So I started looking for roofing material.

Found this laserlite. Cheap, wide and lightweight.

It wasnt too far away and my buddy Tom is always keen for an adventure. He has a van too...

 

[Water Boy]

I had a simple plan. Width was determined by the 2.9m wide laserlite. And I would space battens the same as the existing holes.

Quick sketch:

A trip to the local hardware store for some timber.

Panorama:

 

[Water Boy]

With out the help of my mate Tom this would just be a dream.
Soon as we were back at my place we dug the 600mm deep footings.

 

[grease_monkey]

Very interested in this project. As a man without a garage, your carport idea sounds wonderful! Do you need to pull permits to build this thing in your area?

 

[Water Boy]

Very interested in this project. As a man without a garage, your carport idea sounds wonderful! Do you need to pull permits to build this thing in your area?

Due to its size NO. Any bigger id have to go through council etc!

 

[Water Boy]

Tom at work:

Frame is up:

Battens and laserlite will be going up next!

As I wont be paving or concreting the floor thinking crushed rock/gravel and then compact it. Thoughts?

 

[sean Buick 76]

Good work so far and sorry to hear about the biking crash!! I like your thinking on this low cost car port I could use a few of these in my yard too.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Sorry to read about you crash Water Boy I hope you are recovering well.

Great work so far, I like 20 mm crushed rock it keys in nicely and looks great. Try 75 - 100 mm thick.

Regards

 

[Water Boy]

Sorry to read about you crash Water Boy I hope you are recovering well.

Great work so far, I like 20 mm crushed rock it keys in nicely and looks great. Try 75 - 100 mm thick.

Regards

Probably a bit out of budget atm. I was only thinking a light sprinkle, water and then vibrate plate (hopefully borrow one).

Or perhaps carpet? Or will this retain any moisture?

 

[1/2 Cup]

Probably a bit out of budget atm. I was only thinking a light sprinkle, water and then vibrate plate (hopefully borrow one).

Or perhaps carpet? Or will this retain any moisture?

Carpet would not be my first choice it will retain moisture and go crusty or even a sprinkle of 1/4 minus crushed rock as it sets like concrete.

Regards

 

[Bears Fan]

Great start! subscribing to see the finished product

 

[Water Boy]

This is what ill be using for the roof.

Scored cheap from gumtree.

 

[sandmanracing]

Looks like a nice simple build Water Boy - but have you verified through council for permits? There was a change recently where you could build a deck of up to 10m2 without a permit if it was under 915mm from the ground. If I didn't check, I would have been screwed.

I'll agree with 1/2 cup on the Quarter minus stone. I think I have bought a cubic for around $60 from FrankZ garden supplies, with around $15 delivery. Most garden shops shouldn't charge more than $70 per cubic anyway.

I would add though, splash out on some weedmat and chemically spray the area a week before the stone goes down. While it can set like cement, the moment you pull the first weed out - you begin a never ending journey!

 

[Water Boy]

Looks like a nice simple build Water Boy - but have you verified through council for permits? There was a change recently where you could build a deck of up to 10m2 without a permit if it was under 915mm from the ground. If I didn't check, I would have been screwed.

Yeah double checked.

I'll agree with 1/2 cup on the Quarter minus stone. I think I have bought a cubic for around $60 from FrankZ garden supplies, with around $15 delivery. Most garden shops shouldn't charge more than $70 per cubic anyway.

I would add though, splash out on some weedmat and chemically spray the area a week before the stone goes down. While it can set like cement, the moment you pull the first weed out - you begin a never ending journey!

I hadnt thought of the weedmat and spray. Very good idea!

 

[1/2 Cup]

Yeah double checked.



I hadnt thought of the weedmat and spray. Very good idea!

As above.