How To Choose the Right Carport Size for Your Needs

So, you’ve decided to build or install a carport. Great idea! How do you select the right carport size? Before you get started, you need to put a lot of thought into the size of the carport that will best suit your needs.

Let’s take a quick look at a few tips you can follow to help you choose a carport size and make sure it meets your expectations.

What Will You Use the Carport For?

A carport is generally used to park a vehicle underneath, but not all people use it for this. Some people use it as a patio area. Regardless of your reason for building or installing a carport, you’ll want to ensure the size complements its intended purpose.

What Carport Size Do I Need?

When choosing the best carport size, there are three basic types to choose from:

Single carports: Also known as the standard carport size, these are typically about 12 feet wide. A single carport is ideal for parking a single vehicle. If you want to store a single motorhome or some other type of RV, you’ll want a bigger size, such as an RV cover, as these vehicles are much larger than a standard vehicle like a sedan.

Double carports: Ranging from 18 to 24 feet wide, a double carport is ideal for storing two standard vehicles. A larger carport is recommended if you want to house two vehicles plus other items.

Triple carports: Generally 26 to 30 feet, a triple carport can store up to three standard vehicles and is ideal for housing large boats and tractors.

Consider Carport Width & Length

Not only is the width important when you buy a metal carport, but its length and height are essential too.

Do you want to park a truck that has been lifted three inches off its frame? If so, you may need a taller-than-standard carport. Recreational vehicles and farm equipment usually call for taller carports as well.

While it’s important to make sure the carport is tall enough to house what you need, you also need to make sure it’s not too tall. The taller the carport, the less resistant it will be to high winds, especially if its width and length aren’t close in comparison to its height.

Ready to choose the perfect carport for your home or office? Call (888)-551-2156 for a free quote today.

Carport Material: Wood or Metal?

As you consider the right carport size, you also need to think about the best building material for your needs. Some carports are built solely out of wood, and while they have a unique attractiveness, they’re not as durable as metal and steel carports.

Plus, wood carports can suffer from various issues, including warping, sagging, termite damage, and more. When you invest in a metal or steel carport, you get durability, longevity, and structural integrity.

Metal Carport Roof Styles

For metal carports, there are three roof choices:

Regular roof RV cover: The regular style unit’s primary feature is that it provides shelter, and the benefit is that it’s economically priced. Because of the bend transition on the legs or posts, there’s less labor in the unit, and there’s no eave side trim, ridge cap, or hat channel, making it the most economical unit we carry.

Boxed-eave roof RV cover: The boxed-eave unit has the appearance of a home roof-line or shape but has horizontal roof panels. It has no hat channel or ridge cap. The trim on the ends consists of a smaller L-Trim, and our units have eave side trim.

Some manufacturers don’t offer eave side trim on the A-frame with horizontal roof panels. The benefit is that you can own an A-frame carport for less than the price of the vertical roof.

Vertical roof RV cover: The benefit of the vertical roof is that water, snow, leaves, and other debris will more easily run off this type. Water, snow, and debris will tend to lay in the ridges of a carport with horizontal panels, like the boxed-eave and regular roof.

Consider the Weather Conditions

You’ll also want to consider the typical weather conditions where you want to install the carport. If you live in an area with lots of heavy snowfall, then a carport with a vertical-style roof will be best. Boxed-eave and regular-style roofs are beneficial for areas with lots of hail and rain.

Design a Custom Carport

Do you already have a vision in mind for your carport? Maybe you need a custom-size building, roof style, or storage option with a trim color to match your style.

Design your own custom metal building with Bulldog Steel Structure’s 3D builder. Our 3D builder lets you choose your carport style, size, and sides. You can further customize it with colors, doors, windows, and frame outs.

Bring your vision to life and submit your design to our team. Once your design is submitted, we’ll send you a quote.

Prefer to discuss your vision with our specialists? Contact us today at (888)-551-2156.