The Garage Plan Shop Blog

With the right set up, a carport can do so much more that just protect our automobiles from the elements. True, they are a nice storage place for the car, truck or other vehicle when not in use, but have you thought about what else a carport can store? If your carport has at least one solid wall, you can easily install storage cabinets on the wall at eye level or higher as not to interfere with the cars when parked inside. Wall cabinets provide an opportunity to organize and store clutter they we might otherwise leave on the ground where it can be tripped over, stepped on or even rolled over by the car. Arrange your wall cabinets in such a way that the items you store are handy, simple to find and easy to reach when you need them. They can be used for anything for tools and auto parts to gardening supplies and even used paint cans. Cabinets are available in a variety of materials including wood, metal and plastic. Installing cabinets in your carport increases functionality and optimizes the usefulness of the space.

Tags: Carport Plans, carports, organizational space, wall cabinets

While a carport my seem like a very basic shelter when comparing its function and structure to that of a garage plan designed for the same purpose, protecting automobiles from the elements, it is important to note there is still much to consider before choosing a carport plan. The Garage Plan Shop has provided a list of tips to consider before selecting a carport design to add to your property.

1.    Determine if you want the carport connected to the home or situated right beside it. Do you prefer it to be a free-standing shelter positioned some other place in your backyard or on your property? Some carport plans provide an option to connect the sheltered parking area to the home via a convenient breezeway.

2.    Consider the available space you have to work with on your property and what size carport you can accommodate.

3.    Think about how many vehicles you wish to park under the carport or what other items you might wish to shelter such as a boat and trailer, firewood, etc.

4.    Take some time to measure the vehicles you want to park under the carport or items you wish to store. Add extra space on all sides to allow for opening of car doors, hoods, trunks, tailgates, etc. Also allow room for walking between vehicles if you plan to park more than one under the carport.

5.    Do you have additional needs? Should your carport plan offer a storage space? Should it be a drive-thru carport? How many sides of the shelter must remain open? Determine ahead of time all the ways you plan to use the carport. Some designs offer storage closets, four open sides, two open sides, etc. It is important what extra elements you need or must have with your new carport.

6.    Browse carport plans online to find a design that will accommodate your needs. While you may be focused on finding a design that matches the style of your home, concentrate your attention on quality construction, stability and durability.

Planning ahead will help you choose the right carport plan for your property.

Tags: carport designs, Carport Plans, carports, choosing a carport, tips

While you may have decided you need additional sheltered parking at home, you might not know if you should build a detached garage plan or a carport plan. The Garage Plan Shop is here to help you. We’ve compared both structures and provided some of the pros and cons for each parking structure.

Pros of Garage Plans

·         Garage plans are large enough to store one or more cars and often provide extra storage space for other things. Some even offer storage closets or an upper level loft.

·         Enclosed on all four sides, a garage protects anything you store from the elements, including sun damage, and ensures dry storage for anything that cannot be exposed to moisture. Roaches are attracted to food crumbs that you leave around the home.

·         Installing quality doors, locks and windows allows safe storage of cars, tools, auto parts, lawn and garden equipment and basement and attic overflow, protecting your belongings from thieves and vandals.

·         The enclosed garage combined with quality doors and windows keeps pests and small critters out and prevents them from damaging anything you need to store. Roaches are attracted to food crumbs that you leave around the home.

·         Garages offer plenty of wall space for organizational shelving and cabinets offering places to keep tools, toys, gardening supplies and anything else you might not want to store.

·         Detached garage plans provide an alternative and sometimes larger storage solution than a backyard lawn and garden shed.

·         Detached garages are flexible spaces that work well as a workshop, hobby space, or outbuilding and can even accommodate some home based businesses.

Cons of Garage Plans

·          Detached garage plans are much more complex than carports and will require more building skills and experience for construction.

·         Time and money are a factor. It takes much longer and quite a bit more money to build a garage than a carport.

·         Because a detached garage is more complex than a carport, you’ll have to follow more rules and regulations to meet building codes and safety regulations. Check with your building department to find out more about building codes.

Pros of Carport Plans

·         Building a carport will cost much less that building a detached garage.

·         Carports are more basic structures than garages, so you won’t have to follow as many building codes and regulations.

·         Because carport plans are so simple, they will take less time to construct. If you’re handy, you might be able to build it on your own in a weekend or two.

·         Carports offer enough shelter to protect your car from sun damage, falling limbs, hail damage and dripping sap from trees.

·         An open carport provides plenty of natural ventilation for your car.

·         Some carport plans offer one or two solid walls offering a space to add storage shelving or cabinets.

·         Some carport plans are flexible enough for uses other than car storage. They can provide a sheltered space to work on a car no matter what the weather and can even serve as a covered porch or patio for grilling and other outdoor activities.

Cons of Carport Plans

·         Most carport plans are only large enough to house one or two automobiles. They don’t always offer additional space to store other items like a workbench or holiday decorations.

·         Carports are generally open on one or more sides and can be open on all sides, meaning the carport is not secure for storage, and you can’t completely protect your things for the wind, rain and sun damage.

·         You cannot lock a carport, so it is not a good place to store valuable items such as mechanics tools or the riding mower.

·         Carports won’t keep insects and curious critters out, so anything stored under the carport is a risk for damage by unwanted pests. But fret not because companies like pest control Mitcham can easily handle it. 

If you don’t have the time or money to build a detached garage plan, a carport will efficiently serve its purpose protecting your cars from the elements. Plus, you can always enclose the carport at a later time. However, if it is in your budget and you have the time to build a detached garage plan, in most cases, the garage will be worth the investment.

Tags: building a carport, Building A Garage, Carport Plans, carports, garage plan, garage plans

If you are looking for an economical way to add extra sheltered parking to your residence, consider this carport plan. Its 21’x14’ design easily handles two standard sized vehicles. A vaulted ceiling and simple design add to the appeal of this handy carport plan. You’ll appreciate having an extra 294 square feet of sheltered parking for your growing family fleet.

View this carport plan for more details.

If you like The Garage Plan Shop’s carport plans, you might interested in our garage plans with carports as well.

Tags: carport designs, Carport Plans, carports

If you are in need of sheltered parking for one or two automobiles, carport plans offer an economical solution. Carports are designed to shelter one or more automobiles or other large items from the elements. In general, they are open-sided shelters on at least one or two sides and are designed for the purpose of protecting cars and other vehicles such as a camper or boat from the wind, snow, rain and sun. Carport plans, sometimes referred to as outdoor covers or sheltered parking, are very simple in design and display little detail and ornamentation. The main exterior finishes include siding, brick, metal and logs. Various sizes and styles deliver selection allowing you to find the right one to satisfy your needs and compliment your home. Sometimes, carport plans incorporate a storage space such as shelving, a small closet or cabinets at the rear or on the side of the structure. If you are looking for a less expensive alternative to building a detached garage, take a look at The Garage Plan Shop’s carport plans.

Tags: carport designs, Carport Plans, carports